Penrith great Mark Geyer predicts the AFL is in for a 'rude shock' when the new western Sydney team enters the competition in 2012.
Born and raised in rugby league's heartland, Geyer knows better than most what makes the people of the greater west tick, and the former Kangaroos and NSW enforcer is adamant the NRL will remain the dominant code in the region.
"I'm just as concerned about the AFL threat as Melbourne would be about a second rugby league team - I'm not concerned really," a passionate Geyer said at CUA Stadium on Tuesday.
"You've got to show them respect and I think the fact that they've got Kevin Sheedy who's probably the equivalent to Wayne Bennett in AFL terms, he adds big points to their new franchise."
"But ultimately I think they're in for a rude shock once they get out here in the western suburbs and realise that AFL's just a game that really doesn't compete as far as rugby league goes."
Despite his confidence, Geyer, who was unveiled as the Panthers' No.1 ticket holder for the 2010 season on Tuesday, challenged rugby league fans to do their bit by becoming paid-up members of an NRL club.
"With the new AFL team confirmed I think it's time for league lovers to pull their fingers out and start showing with their back pockets how much they love their clubs," he said.
"Even though it might sound brutal that's something that all rugby league supporters have sooner or later got to come to that conclusion that by buying a membership in a club you become part of the club."
The larger than life Geyer also backed up Parramatta CEO Paul Osborne's assertion that AFL is a boring product and dismissed reports the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Michael Jennings are set to follow Karmichael Hunt to the rival code.
"On TV it is (boring) yeah," he said. "I remember in Perth when I played over there for a few years I loved going to the actual games and watching the games but it doesn't translate onto the box as much as rugby league does."
"The last time I looked there was no Polynesian players in the AFL and it seems to be what they're targeting and I think that's all baloney."
"I don't think the Polynesian player has the build for an AFL game ... but I think they're throwing up names willy nilly. Next minute I'll be getting thrown up as a ruckman."
Meanwhile, Geyer's premiership winning team-mate and current Penrith board member Greg Alexander admits the NRL is virtually powerless to stop further raids on top players but believes further defections are highly unlikely.
"If Michael Jennings wants to play AFL for $1.5million you'd nearly have to do it wouldn't you?" Alexander said.
"That's the easiest money, Karmichael Hunt's signed for $1 million a year and he doesn't do much for the first couple of it."
"If they've got that sort of money to throw around ... but I couldn't imagine the AFL wanting to sign more than one rugby league player because how successful could a rugby league player be?"
However, Alexander admits the NRL could have done more to sure up its position in recent years in preparation for the inevitable cross-code war.
"The NRL probably have been a bit reactive instead of being proactive," he said.
"The western Sydney academy probably needed to be out here five years ago instead of set up last year, but I'm sure the NRL realise just what a battle they've got on their hands."