Awwww poor little IBM is having a bad day.
Personally I really don't think it's rocket science. What is there to be optimistic about for Rugby League fans in Australia? That Rugby Union is doing even worse? Set that bar any lower and you're gonna need a limboist. The AFL is kicking the NRL's ass in pretty much every facet and it's not a fun thing to witness. Crowds, ratings, media coverage, they dominate all of it, and not because they necessarily deserve to do so, it's just that the NRL is so ineptly administered that 90% of the time, it's own goals that are damaging them, not anything the AFL is doing. We have State Of Origin for f**k sake, easily the biggest sporting event in the country involving a ball and still we can't bruise the chip chasing Seagull filth down south.
We just had the best Week 2 Finals crowds in the game's history, this is easily the closest finals series on record in a longggg time.
While comparisons to the AFL are unnecessary, painting them as 'ass-kicking us in every fact' is disingenous at best and a blatant lie in reality. Their overall crowds have trended down over the last five years (granted this year they have increased, but one swallow doesn't make a summer). Their expansion ventures are failing, even with GWS in the finals (14k to a semi final being the lowest AFL finals attendance since WORLD WAR ONE). Gold Coast are a routine basketcase, Brisbane Lions are in a never-ending hole... in fact AFL clubs in Queensland seem destined for failure if we're honest.
Todd Greenberg is out of his depth, it's as simple as that. All of this new shit like the RL commission and finally being free of Newscorp and their garbage, all of these big changes that were supposed to give us cause to think big about our favorite sport and all of it has gone off like a fart in a balloon. And don't even get me started on recent rule changes.
What's your solution to the commission issue? Who would replace Greenberg?
The way the NRL have been f**king with the rulebook in recent times just goes to show you how lacking in vision they are in everything else. The 2 referee system sucks and doesn't work like they said it would, neither does the bunker (what a monumental disaster that has turned out to be after all the hype), the 7 tackle set has ruined the playmaking potential of sides in attack because nobody wants to risk giving away an easy out of the opposition half with a flashy move into the in goal, the shoulder charge rule, well where the f**k do you start with that. Taumalolo had a textbook one on the weekend and he is playing next week. So what the f**k is the point then?
The two referee system is fine. I don't think many consider that to be much of an issue anymore. The 7 tackle set needs tinkering but I don't think it's bringing the game down.
As for the shoulder charge rule - it was designed (IMO) to prevent head injuries. If it's a simple body check leading with the shoulder into the other player's body I'm happy for it not to be charged. I think we're too busy trying to single out people for foul play rather than actually looking at the reason the rule was brought in and punishing accordingly.
I could get into Melbourne and their bullshit style of play that the NRL allows them to strangle the comp with but I've given up expecting anything to be done about that. It's old man shouting at clouds stuff at this point. I understand that people will read this and think it's just raw cynicism, I get why you would think that, but I really don't like it being that way. I love this sport with all my heart, and I want it to be the best it can be always, but it has gone nowhere but backwards in recent years and that is only accelerating. The JT/Cronulla fairytales don't do much to help the idea that the NRL have agendas they try to fulfill at the expense of others either, so why be so surprised that people are disenchanted.
I think this is complete rubbish tbh. The on-field product (particularly the quality of this finals series) is arguably the best it's been. As a fanbase and media we're way too ready to nitpick and refs fault at everything to appreciate that. We seem to microanalyse every game instead of just enjoying the game lately.
Before the dogpile begins, I'll say right now that the Broncos could win the Grand Final in 2 weeks and my opinion would not change one iota. This isn't about club loyalty, not a bit, this is about loyalty to the sport, and the desire for it to thrive instead of being throttled every week with either bad press or poor quality games.
The poor quality games ended a fortnight ago when the Tigers and Warriors signed off.
As for bad press - if you think that's a symptom of the game and not some of the journalists charged with covering it I think you're looking in the wrong places.
