NRL to buy share of Super League

[Perth Red]

regal trophy and GB internationals were on grandstand.

im sure the old 1st division was on ITV but quite possibly regional stations?

it’s definitely punching above its weight and with some investment could easily go up a few levels.

The main comp was only every Thursday night in a highlights program on itv In the north. This recent deal is the first time the first division comp, or SL as called now , has been on fta In living memory.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

The main comp was only every Thursday night in a highlights program on itv In the north. This recent deal is the first time the first division comp, or SL as called now , has been on fta In living memory.

This was the shape of FTA in the early 90s -

BBC - Regal Trophy and Challenge Cup. One game per round, plus both semis and final. It was around this time the Beeb kicked their nasty habit of only broadcasting the second half of some games. They also showed the final of the old Premiership comp on Sunday Grandstand.

ITV - First division fixtures on Granada, alternately with the Beeb's cup games. So each week, west of the Pennines, we saw a live game on Saturday afternoons.

Lead commentator for Granada was Clive Tyldesley with Brian Smith as pundit. This remains the best RL coverage I have ever seen on UK TV. Great pity it wasn't broadcast nationally. Could have opened millions of eyes and jolted the Beeb into sharpening up their act.

Over in God's forsaken county, YTV had Scrumdown. I always assumed this to be a highlights programme. However, there are videos on YouTube which suggest otherwise.

Fun fact (actually no fun at all but nonetheless illuminating) -

At the behest of the RFU, the ITV authorities forced Granada to take RL off the air during the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup.

 

[Perth Red]

I remember a behind the scenes RL show on ITV, cant remember its name but was funny as. Remember scrum down as a highlights show but its a while ago! They also bizarrely used to show the French comp on one of the fta channels with Alex Murphy commentating.

Fact remains now is the first time we have national FTA covg of the main comp. Well overdue! Just a shame it didnt stay with Ch4 rather than cheap arse production Beeb.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Its about the same as Queensland.

Haha You wish

 

[Foreign Legion]

25th minute....

 

[Pippen94]

25th minute....

Strong superleague and england gives NRL international fixtures it can sell rights to.

 

[taste2taste]

25th minute....

Did I hear that correctly ? Those 3 genius’s think the NRL wants to ‘buy’ the SL to make it a feeder comp to the NRL ?

Thats a new one Lol

 

[RL The greatest game]

25th minute....

Schofield has zero respect as a pundit, unlike when he was playing.
He has become a laughing stock with his comments.

 

[Lakemba Dragon]

25th minute....

Totally agree with Gary it’s a bad idea for Superleague to sell itself to NRL. Will totally lose identity and be the death of some historical clubs.
What some clubs are doing off field this year is brilliant- Hull kr, Wakefield and Leigh in particular. Crowds are actually up this year.

 

[taste2taste]

Totally agree with Gary it’s a bad idea for Superleague to sell itself to NRL. Will totally lose identity and be the death of some historical clubs.
What some clubs are doing off field this year is brilliant- Hull kr, Wakefield and Leigh in particular. Crowds are actually up this year.

That’s because of IMG and thier off field ratings. These clubs needed a kick in the pants to do something.

The NRL don’t want to ‘buy’ or ‘takeover’ the SL but if approached ( as they have been ) they’ll help them. The NRL has close to a billion dollars revenue pa and growth year on year with crowds, viewership and participation.

You don’t think the NRL could help steer the SL in the right direction?

 

[Lakemba Dragon]

That’s because of IMG and thier off field ratings. These clubs needed a kick in the pants to do something.

The NRL don’t want to ‘buy’ or ‘takeover’ the SL but if approached ( as they have been ) they’ll help them. The NRL has close to a billion dollars revenue pa and growth year on year with crowds, viewership and participation.

You don’t think the NRL could help steer the SL in the right direction?

What does ‘help steer’ in the right direction mean? No one knows yet. They definitely have the money and resources to help. But if that means culling a whole heap of historic clubs, that won’t be good.
Look at Leigh yesterday, sold out stadium, great game, awesome atmosphere. They are showing how the smaller clubs can compete.

There definitely is a tv funding issue, but these clubs can only continue to put their best foot forward to attract increased investment.

 

[taste2taste]

What does ‘help steer’ in the right direction mean? No one knows yet. They definitely have the money and resources to help. But if that means culling a whole heap of historic clubs, that won’t be good.
Look at Leigh yesterday, sold out stadium, great game, awesome atmosphere. They are showing how the smaller clubs can compete.

There definitely is a tv funding issue, but these clubs can only continue to put their best foot forward to attract increased investment.

“steer in the right direction “ could include anything from how to run a business day to day, putting in place better pathways, growing participation through simple ways such as tag, how to maximise revenue, effective advertising, how to sell your product to sponsors, how to maximise your tv deal…etc

The NRL aren’t going to suggest anything radical like culling clubs, the most radical idea would be rebranding a club like Salford as Manchester, a strategy that has been very successful for the Sydney Roosters formerly knows as Easts. Expansion is more likely than culling teams, making London and toulouse a success would be a high priority.

The flap capped paranoids think the NRL are going to kill of the game in England. These are the same people who kicked out Toronto. Seriously ?

Super League is hardly in a position where they can turn down help from the NRL. It would be the equivalent of Kirk’s turning down help from Coca Cola.

 

[Lakemba Dragon]

“steer in the right direction “ could include anything from how to run a business day to day, putting in place better pathways, growing participation through simple ways such as tag, how to maximise revenue, effective advertising, how to sell your product to sponsors, how to maximise your tv deal…etc

The NRL aren’t going to suggest anything radical like culling clubs, the most radical idea would be rebranding a club like Salford as Manchester, a strategy that has been very successful for the Sydney Roosters formerly knows as Easts. Expansion is more likely than culling teams, making London and toulouse a success would be a high priority.

The flap capped paranoids think the NRL are going to kill of the game in England. These are the same people who kicked out Toronto. Seriously ?

Super League is hardly in a position where they can turn down help from the NRL. It would be the equivalent of Kirk’s turning down help from Coca Cola.

Definitely be interesting to see the next progression with this. Gone quiet for a while. Might hear more in lead up to Ashes?
London is a critical one for me. Need to get that long term strategy right.

 

[RL The greatest game]

Definitely be interesting to see the next progression with this. Gone quiet for a while. Might hear more in lead up to Ashes?
London is a critical one for me. Need to get that long term strategy right.

IF i was involved with a NRL club i would certainly push for a joint venture with the London Broncos about setting up more junior clubs in London and tapping into a city with 9 million people, where it's a must that there are young athletic people who would make very good Rugby League players given the chance.

 

[Perth Red]

NRl are a hard nosed business, they'll only invest in SL if they think they can make a buck from it. NRL has never had to to try and battle the barriers RL faces in UK. Would be interesting to see if they could actually do anything.

 

[RL The greatest game]

NRl are a hard nosed business, they'll only invest in SL if they think they can make a buck from it. NRL has never had to to try and battle the barriers RL faces in UK. Would be interesting to see if they could actually do anything.

Well theres a huge potential junior playing base in London for any NRL club which is willing to set up junior Rugby league clubs there, and work in hand in hand with the London Broncos.

 

[taste2taste]

NRl are a hard nosed business, they'll only invest in SL if they think they can make a buck from it.

I might be naive but I believe the nrl is genuine about helping the SL. Abdo has said in interviews the NRL will only help the SL if they want it. It doesn’t appear to be a takeover or the NRL wanting to buy the SL.

Both the IRL ( Grant ) and NRL ( Abdo ) have said how important it is for England, France and wales to be strong.

Im not sure how the NRL could make a buck out of the SL ? But it would benefit the NRL ( who basically run Int RL ) to have England as strong as possible.

 

[Pippen94]

I might be naive but I believe the nrl is genuine about helping the SL. Abdo has said in interviews the NRL will only help the SL if they want it. It doesn’t appear to be a takeover or the NRL wanting to buy the SL.

Both the IRL ( Grant ) and NRL ( Abdo ) have said how important it is for England, France and wales to be strong.

Im not sure how the NRL could make a buck out of the SL ? But it would benefit the NRL ( who basically run Int RL ) to have England as strong as possible.

Think of money origin gets. Ashes can do same. Propping up superleague worth it.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

NRl are a hard nosed business, they'll only invest in SL if they think they can make a buck from it. NRL has never had to to try and battle the barriers RL faces in UK. Would be interesting to see if they could actually do anything.

That's exactly the opposite of what Vlandys and Abdo have said on the topic

 

[Foreign Legion]

So are they buying in or not?