/ Graham Cunningham / 17 January 2008 / 3 Comments

Graham Cunningham - Wigan born and bred - stands up for his sport...

Call me old fashioned, but if I go into a pub and some idiot starts talking rubbish with the sole intent of winding people up then I tend to ignore him.

With that principle in mind, I initially declined to pen a reply to Pablo Luna's intriguing analysis of the shortcomings of rugby league in comparison to rugby union.

But sometimes, whether it is in the boozer or on the internet, you just have to let rip at the bore in the corner. And, on this occasion, Pablo gets both barrels on the basis that he has managed to crystallise all that is wrong with union bigots in one short and poorly constructed piece.

Firstly though, it's as well I declare my interests here. I was born and bred in Wigan, the most famous rugby league town on the planet and a place where you only tend to gravitate towards the 15-man code once it is clear that you aren't good enough to shine in the 13-man game.

I freely admit that, as a young man, I would not have opened the curtains to watch a game of union had the England team been playing an international on my mum's front garden.

But I also happen to believe that, since the advent of professionalism, rugby union is now an infinitely more attractive sport and one in which the skill levels of the elite are on a completely different plane to yesteryear.

Clearly, Senor Luna's critique of league - draped thinly around a piece about the emergence of former Bradford Bulls star Lesley Vainikolo into the England squad - was intended to prompt a reaction.

It duly raised the hackles of numerous betting.betfair.com regulars and, although time is short, it's well worth addressing a few of the points he raised.

Luna kicks off by saying that league is "not famous for its grey cells, speed or skill."

Point one, to say that league players lack basic intelligence says far more about the brain power of the writer than any cauliflower eared league player.

Point two, the speed and skill demanded by rugby league at any serious level - never mind Super League - is a match for any sport, let alone one where thumping the ball as high as possible into Row Z is regarded as something akin to rocket science.

Now we move onto the really interesting stuff. Luna - or should that be Looney - contends that very few top league players have changed codes successfully.

He has a point, but those who suggested that Jason Robinson would never make it ended up giving him a standing ovation when he left the field in his final game for England and the likes of Matt Rogers and Lote Tuqiri have both played important roles for the Australian union team since switching codes.

Luna plainly thinks that people with a league background can never be bright enough to grasp the intricacies of union.

If that is the case, then why did Brian Ashton - who played plenty of league himself in his younger days - rely so heavily on league stalwarts like Phil Larder and Mike Ford to ensure that England's sweet chariot didn't come off the rails completely in the World Cup?

And why is former Wigan half back Sean Edwards one of the most sought after union coaches in the world, with offers from Wales and England on the table as he continues to enhance his reputation as the man who puts the sting into Wasps?

And why is it that Luna, with a bizarre comment that made my jaw drop when I first read it, tells us glibly that: "I am also told that he (Vainikolo) is intelligent and can hold a conversation."

Now I will listen to drivel as much as the next man, but of all the patronising, tired old crap I have had the misfortune to read about rugby league players switching codes down the years, this one line takes the biscuit.

Pray tell us Pablo, why would you assume that Lesley Vainakolo is not intelligent or that he cannot hold a conversation?

Is it purely because he hails from a league background? Is it because he is a hulk of a man who wouldn't, at first glance, be everyone's idea of a rocket scientist?

Or, perish the thought, could it be that your ignorance of what he might have to offer is based on the fact that his skin colour is slightly different to most of the beer and Barbour brigade who pack the terraces at union games?

Whichever it is, and it must surely be one of them, your piece on the man they call the Volcano certainly caused an eruption.

That was probably what you intended but, deep down, we all know what this sort of cobblers is about.

It's about class snobbery of the worst sort. You know it. I know it. It's just that you didn't have the skills to make it sound in the least bit convincing to anyone with enough "grey cells, speed and skill" to tie their own shoelaces.

Comments (3)

1. kevin troy | 17 January 2008

   Wow - i believe that is what you call a robust and trenchant response to Mr Luna's article.

   Although coming from a football background, i must concur with the majority of your comments.

   However, i do feel that your argument is weakened significantly by the introduction of the 'race ' issue.

   I think there was enough merit in your argument without having to drag up that issue!

2. Tall Paul | 18 January 2008

   I didn't realise league vs union was a racial and class argument - what does Graham think he's talking about!

   I thought the argument was about the abilities and skills required.

   Tabloid trash journalism with very little substance. Narrow minded idiot down the pub - I think so!

3. Sut Mae | 24 January 2008

   May I remind/inform readers that the original article was, quote - "the challenges of making the transition from rugby league to union and what we can expect from Lesley Vainikolo". Not which type of Rugby is superior. Neither are - some people support union, some league, and some people even enjoy both!
   

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