Don't believe it's that simple at all. Disagree with most of what you say. Seems everyone on here is starting to believe the news ltd.
Show me where a nrl CEO has said they prefer the money over crowds? Show me.....?
Priority on tv deal ....welI I better bloody hope so. It does fund rugby league in Australia/nz, slightly important. It's apparently always the Nrls fault. No one else. I'm sure the nrl would of got more if they let tv companies choose the games.
The clubs have to take responsibility for crowds/atmosphere at games. Clubs prefer to have 10 physios/masseuses and 10 doctors instead of spending money on marketing or stadium entertainment at games. Clubs try to blame the nrl on anything that is bad without fixing the real issue. Weather and lazy fans (comparing to melb) also play apart in lower crowds. You can't dismiss that. The Nrl did try to up the entertainment $$ in certain games a few years ago and the got nailed when they released the annual budget.
How about be a little positive about the crowds and the nrl. I personally hope the nrl never hit rock bottom. Let's hope big crowds this Anzac weekend.
I don't disagree with a lot you say but just because the NRL CEO hasn't said it publicly don't be deluded into thinking their priorities are skewed.
Internally the code has no confidence in what they're doing and from within other codes the NRL has gone from being seen as the number one winter football code to well behind afl and soccer (in regards to management and marketing and scheduling and the like). The nrl aren't even seen as a threat anymore.
But ok sure.. one good weekend of crowds on a sunny long weekend and everything is rosy. Until crowds ratings quality of football all start to suck again and we can at least go back to blaming state of origin by then.
Side Note - I've dealt with nrl and afl for various (and similar) marketing programs recently. The afl tell their clubs they need to fall in line and run the marketing in line with the over arching strategy and all clubs do as their told, provide players, run social campaigns etc. the nrl clubs tell the nrl how they want to run it and when the nrl tell the clubs to please try and be a part of the bigger campaign - the clubs threaten to pull out and say they'll do it but won't supply players and only run their version of the promotion when it suits them.
This is a snapshot of how little the NRL clubs respect the governing body. that has to change.