Monogamy is a thing of the past. Today’s athletes and fans are in an open marriage. Few Australians pledge undying loyalty to one game, club or colours along old tribal lines. We follow multiple sports and split our loyalties between teams local and global. We flirt and flit between stars of every game as fidelities shift and transfer, changeable as the weather.
That’s why the current “code war” between rugby union and rugby league is little more than a Punch and Judy show for public titillation. On-field and off, conflict makes for great drama. “Code hopping” fuels headlines and debate, encourages great athletes to consider up-skilling to a new game, and challenges fans to follow their favourite athletes – or even NRL and AFL rejects turned Super Bowl stars Jordan Mailata and Arryn Siposs – into new realms.
