AFL v NRL Round 1

The National Rugby League is suffering from a major inferiority complex. The only conclusion to be reached in the battle with the AFL is that the NRL is running scared.

This sporting rivalry is akin to New Zealand's paranoia to Australia. You see it all the time in sport, where the little guy takes on the big guy with a steely determination to score a few points. And the big guy, smug with his own success, barely bats an eyelid as the battle rages around him.

In outlining its intentions to grab a piece of the pie that is greater western Sydney, the AFL has ruffled the feathers of a rugby league heartland. The professionalism of the AFL is shining through, with announcements of the Bankstown Stadium redevelopment, the appointment of charismatic Kevin Sheedy as inaugural coach, the signing of league superstar Karmichael Hunt and the prospect of former Swans great Paul Kelly joining the franchise all creating big headlines. Worrying headlines from an NRL perspective.

Now, the old news that the AFL is keen to redevelop the Olympic showgrounds stadium really has the league guys in a lather. We're hearing from Eels boss Paul Osborne, former enforcer Mark Geyer and the recently retired Wendell Sailor all expressing concerns about the AFL push, almost on a daily basis. And that's not to mention the commentators, who are ranting about the NSW State government's apparent courting of the monster from Melbourne.

The AFL, meanwhile, is going about its business, seemingly oblivious to the raging bushfire it has created. And, perhaps, just a little bit happy to stoke the embers. Clearly, there's a lot of hot air out there.

All wars come at a cost, and the AFL is prepared to pay handsomely to fire off some pyschological shots. Karmichael Hunt, with his bulging contract already in the bamk, is one example. And now, speculation continues that the NRL's best player, Jarryd Hayne, may follow.

Hayne is yet to re-sign with Parramatta, despite indicating on the Four Nations Tour that he was set to do so. Things have changed in the weeks since, to the tune of $7.5 million. That's the figure said to be dangled in front of Hayne for a 5-year contract to defect to the enemy. And, quite frankly, that is ludicrous.

At $1.5 million per year, Hayne would be the highest paid player in the AFL. And he's never kicked a Sherrin! His league skills are spell-binding, but how well would they translate to AFL? He can run and tackle, but can he take contested marks, kick on either foot, handball, read the play? Big questions. An athlete of Hayne's talent would no doubt be able to adjust to a different code but, without a grounding in AFL, the chances are he would morph into no better than an average AFL player, and not a great. And for $1.5 million per year! What happens if the experiment failed in years one or two, with the bulk of the water-tight contract still on the table? Expensive publicity.

While the AFL is happy to pay for headlines (and much of them are coming courtesy of the NRL), surely the Hayne talk can be no more than a smokescreen. To get the NRL running scared.

In the Australian sporting landscape, the NRL is the little guy compared to the AFL, which draws more income, bigger crowds and bigger participation. The AFL is calling the tune in this battle and the league officiandos are dancing to the beat of the drum.

Further down the track, there's every likelihood the NRL will prevail in the war of the west. But the initial battle is certainly going the way of the southern interloper.