Rugby League legends Laurie Daley and Gorden Tallis have clashed after the former claimed AFL is a bigger sports code than NRL in Australia.
The discussion occurred on Fox Sports' NRL 360, with Tallis reacting to a comment initially made by Daley on The Back Page.
With the debate set to rage on, The Sporting News has all the latest.
Full transcript available below.
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What did Laurie Daley say about AFL/NRL?
Daley made his original statement on Tuesday night's The Back Page, when he declared the AFL was the biggest winter sport in Australia, with the topic being debated as Matilda-fever swept the nation.
The comment managed to avoid debate or scrutiny until Tallis highlighted it when the two greats appeared on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.
What happened during Laurie Daley and Gorden Tallis' argument?
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Out of the blue on Wednesday night's NRL 360 episode, Tallis confronted Daley about his comments stating AFL was a bigger sport than NRL in Australia.
Tallis asked Daley to explain his comment about the NRL being second to AFL, with the NSW Origin coach doubling down on his original statement, stating why he believed AFL was no.1.
Broncos great Tallis disagreed with Daley, before the Blues boss unleashed an extraordinary opinion about Dustin Martin and his status in New Zealand.
The full transcript of their discussion is below.
Laurie Daley and Gorden Tallis full transcript (NRL 360)
Tallis: Are you ok?
Daley: What do you mean?
Tallis: You on the Back Page last night saying AFL is bigger and better than us and the No. 1 game?
Daley: Yeah I just said it as a gambling man they play in every state and territory and they get 100,000 people at the MCG and 50,000 at the SCG when the swans are playing so I just said in my opinion I think they are a bigger sport than rugby league.
Tallis: Well the two states I live in, I wouldn’t know a GWS player, or a Gold Coast Sun and every kid in Queensland knows more Dolphins. You’ve got to be No. 1 around the country, not just Melbourne.
Daley: But they are, Gordy. On the west coast they’re more recognisable than what our players are, we’re only on the east coast Gordy. When we go to Melbourne and Perth for Origin we sell it out, but if we take an NRL game there hardly anyone turns up.
Tallis: We had 50,000 there the other week for an NRL game.
Daley: That was two (games). They could bring a game to anywhere they want to play it and they will sell the stadium out mate.
Tallis: We can go to New Zealand. What about their international game?
Daley: Dustin Martin is the biggest sports star in New Zealand other than an All Black.
Braith Anasta: Are you guys sweet?
Tallis: Yeah I just got a bit dirty with old mate backing another code.
Daley: Are you serious?
Tallis: Yep.
