League: Becoming quasi Aussies

Brian McClennan's league coup drew little angst. Photo / Dean Purcell

We should all be very grateful to Australian sport.

Year after year, much of the best sport in our lives emanates out of that vast land. Rather than living in Australia's shadow, the Ockers cast a bright light and bring a touch of the big time into this region. And our sports are like moths to this flame.

Imagine a Pacific sports scene without the magnificent Aussies. It would be barren indeed.

My major contact with Australian sport over the years has been in league, and it provided a glimpse into the differences in our psyches.

What always stuck out was the Australians' uncomplicated _ if sometimes roguish _ approach to everything from administration to selection and coaching.

Put it this way. They probably wouldn't bother with an essay on the relationship between Australian and New Zealand sport.

Whereas our own dear rugby union commissions report after report on its various disasters, the Aussies take a rip, shit and bust approach to identifying and fixing problems.

Examples of this? After a young Kiwi team had shocked Australia in the opening test of a series in Melbourne in 1991, a host of big names were axed from the Aussie side and replaced by the new young guns who blasted the Kiwis to smithereens.

There was no great wailing and gnashing of teeth over the demise of Wally Lewis and co. It was a simple business, and had to be done.

And when Brian McClennan's Kiwis ended decades of Aussie league dominance with a massive Tri-Nations win in 2005, the Aussies had no problem in handing over their world crown, but made it clear that they would be moving heaven and earth to get it back. Which of course they did.

The Tri-Nations defeat was also the end for legendary coach Wayne Bennett _ without a long-winded report in sight.

And then there was the rugby World Cup hosting fiasco. Australia's integrity could certainly be questioned over this, but the old enemy took no prisoners while we procrastinated over ridiculous problems.

Why the difference? New Zealand and Australia were settled by very different types. Straight talking, passionate Europeans and lovable rogues were at the heart of migration into Australia. Need a feed, so nick a loaf of bread. End up shipped off to Aussie, so start a new life.

New Zealand was largely settled by angst-ridden Victorian types.

But there is always another factor at play in Australia. You have to be tough to survive in sport over there, where rival codes battle for hearts and dollars.