Jim Dolan: Australian Correspondent on the NRL in Las Vegas, why American's are interested,

Australia have reached the semifinals of cricket's Champions Trophy after their last group game against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain and a wet outfield.

Chasing 274 to win, Australia were cruising at 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs before the weather had the final say.

Australia Correspondent Jim Dolan joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the 'farce' that is the Champions Trophy, the NRL in Las Vegas, and why young Americans are turning to the league. 

LISTEN ABOVE. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildegrave from Used Talks d B. Nothing but Sport. It's
the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Wildegrave on your home
of Sport Used Talks d B.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well, I see that Stuart's trying to tell me how
to pronounce something that I spat out and got completely
wrong act early in the morning. Okay, modus operandi, Yes,
I tried, but sometimes you stumble, Stuart. Thanks for pointing out.
I do actually love a corrector, because I'm one myself,
and I see here, Malcolm, Darcy, the did Kennedy's Viva
Las Vegas has no swearing in it. Go for it,

(00:42):
But Malcolm, it's got references to drug use, which I
don't think we go down particularly well. Jim Dolan joins
us now from Astralia. What you didn't get your ticket
clipped to go off to Vegas?

Speaker 3 (00:54):
What'd you do wrong? Jim?

Speaker 2 (00:55):
And welcome.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
I'm typing the root on your coattails, Darcy. I think
we should both be there.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
I don't have a coattail. I had to sell those
tales to pay rent. Just have a coach.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Love it not only single.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
It always on this singlet what Vegas like. I've done
some opinion around in Vegas. I think it's it's NUTSI
I mean, Valanders is a gambler, right, That's what he's
over there for trying to tapen. It's going to get
lost over there the Americans. That's not America, it's Vegas.
They don't care.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Ye.

Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, they had ten thousand people turn up to the
fan day they had, but again, just Vegas. If there's
a crowd, people are just going to go what's going
on to that must be good. I've had a look
they would have been thinking, Okay, that's a little bit different.
But yeah, Rugby League, as mister Landy's likes to call it,
prime to make a big impression, well, and impression in

(01:46):
the American sports market, leading sports consultancies all over the
Daily Telegraph today saying the physicality of the game, no
helmets and NonStop action will appeal to young Americans. So
we're turning off the NFL because of all the stoppages.
They don't like the free throws or the fowls in
the NBA because again there's stoppage. They just want go, go,
go and be over. So they think streaming services who

(02:09):
are desperate for content will be looking to add a
sport that attracts in the audience with a bit of
a buzz around it. Van Rasher, He's worked with all
the big major American sports. He says even a small
percentage of the American market is a big win for
the NRL. So I'm going to imagine they're shipping away
how many more years this can go on, or probably

(02:30):
going till all the teams have had to go over
there and then see what happened a reassess. We get
to see the Wires opening the season against the Raiders tomorrow,
followed by the Sharks and the Panthers. It's all a
bit of a buzz for the season. I think for
most Australian kiwis will probably feel that it starts next week.
But yeah, this is it's a fairy's our place. Las

(02:52):
Vegas around also a nightmare place with the things don't
go well. So yeah, only one offield atrocity so far,
which has been a surprise. I'd imagine the teams will
all be kept a very close eye on after the game.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
Atrocity. Wow, that's a new wonderful word. I like the
way you've got that Americans can't deal with in a reld.
There's not enough breaks for advertisements. What do you mean
forty minutes with no breaks? We're not playing that sport.
Get away won't work for them anyway.

Speaker 3 (03:26):
People they like the different stuff. Maybe it'll win them over.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, I can't talk for young people. Haven't been one
of those for a long, long time.

Speaker 3 (03:33):
Long time.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
It's walk away politely from Las Vegas, like I'll be
watching the AMT me wrong. I can't wait to see
a wide start. But I just find it curious that
the National Rugby League is starting the season off as
far away from Australia as they can get. Right, let's
move on Champions Trophy. You claim no one's watching it,
and they still won't watch it because it's going to

(03:55):
rain out right, the whole thing's going to be washed.

Speaker 3 (03:57):
That's It's on a streaming service in Australia and a
lot of people know where it's going on, but they
are following closely. Those who can watch it. Well, we
get to see fairver to rain because Australia has inexplicably
now been involved in two matches with unseasonal heavy rain.
As they've described it into the semi finals, will face
either the black Caps or the Indians. Of course they

(04:21):
decide tomorrow. It was the second reign of fest effected matches.
We just heard in the update against Afghanistan Australia. It
looks a whole lot better than England did as they
bout out of the tournament. So we wait to see.
And the other thing is that not only do they
wait to see if they play in the semis, it's
whether they stay in Pakistan or follow New Zealand and
travel to Dubai where the Kiwis now play India, and

(04:43):
it is certainly not raining in Dubai, so the black
Caps won't be getting a wash out there. Yeah, so
it'll be either New Zealand or India, and then of
course South Africa will play the other team. And then
they also have to decide whether the final should be
in Dubai or in the host nation of Pakistan. So
it's only happen in cricket and only with the BCCI.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
There's nice to know that they're still running things and
they're still well they they are. We're not playing there,
We're not playing there.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
Well, we're really.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
Likely because it is no okay, fine, where do you
want to play? I'll just prepare a nice ride for
you about our last topic of the day. And this
is someone We're still finding this curious and long may
it continue. That's what happens when you whittle five teams
down to four, a concentration of talent and ossie teams
are winning and super deeper rugby.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
That they there's still a work in progress, and there's
certainly the Cardiac kids with another close win twenty nine
to twenty four as we heard over the Fiji and Drewer,
and we have the Brumbies and the Chiefs this afternoon,
the reds of the Force, and as well as looking
for the teams to go well and keep Ozzie's winning,
there's also the added pressure on coaches Larkham and Kiss,

(05:56):
who are both front runners to replace Joe Smith at
the Wallabies, which both being rookie coaches, is a very
very interesting prospect. And this all comes with Mike or
Hooper this week, former Australian captain suggesting Australia should send
the best players overseas to improve their games. I'm not
sure that's going to impress or help the local Super

(06:16):
rugby clubs.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
Overseas.

Speaker 3 (06:19):
That could be in New Zealand, it could be well
that a really rub it hit of the super rugby clubs.
So I think he's suggesting further afield like Europe.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
No, they can play in PC. It's about their level
that's going to come back and bite me. Then, on
so many levels, I enjoy your weekend, mister Dolan, you
enjoy my non existent coat tails, and I might send
you a single if you're lucky. Thanks for your time.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
Brother.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
Viva Las Vegas indeed.

Speaker 2 (06:53):
Has the All Sport Breakfast on News Talks.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
Heb for more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave.
Listen live to News Talk sat'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio