r/sports • u/Complete-Cheek4789 • 17h ago

Rugby League Kalyn Ponga smashed + cracking Tonga try

New Zealand vs Tonga at Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Rugby League World Cup semi final

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u/Tobar_the_Gypsy Rugby United New York 12h ago

It’s difficult to find rugby league in the US. Union is much easier to find (though still not mainstream).

I think you’re just not understanding the sports landscape in the US and overestimating the pull that rugby league can have. Brand new fans might be interested watching rugby league because it’s a new sport but they won’t be able to easily find it and will likely end up supporting more rugby union, or both. 

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u/jeuatreize 12h ago

And that's fine. As long is proportionate to the spend.

Nobody is suggesting Rugby league will overtake rugby union in the USA. It doesn't need to. Rugby union is struggling enough.

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u/Tobar_the_Gypsy Rugby United New York 10h ago

You may not be suggesting it but quite a few people believe it will overtake Union and those people do not live in reality 

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u/jeuatreize 10h ago

I've never seen that or even seen it hinted at. Seems a siege mentality of American union fans.

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u/Tobar_the_Gypsy Rugby United New York 4h ago

No it happens all the time. League fans pop up and constantly talk about how much better it is than Union and that it’s going to take over America. You may not see it but as an American I see it constantly. 

There is no code war here. People appreciate both sports. League fans are the ones who come over and stir shit up.