A couple of questions about the NRL?

[GW.]

Asnito I'm certain the gloves were banned once. Saw an article years ago but I only have my memory to back this up.

If I am wrong then you are onto something. Players will catch on if they improve handling.

May I ask what brought you to our game? You seem knowledgeable enough for this to be more than just a random passing interest a lot of Americans have? In my experience Americans watch it, love it, them forget about it a week later when it's off the tv.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Let me ask you a question as far as jumpers go. I'm going to use Underarmor as an example.

UA just signed a 10 year 90 million dollar deal with the University of Notre Dame. This deal has them paying ND 9 mill a year plus they provide all the uniforms/jumpers for all their sports teams, football, soccer, violleyball...

If UA came in and offered the NRL, just as a hypothetical, 25 mill a year plus a cut of merchandising sales. The look at the NRL and say we think the NRL has what it takes to become a global brand and we're willing to supply all the equipment, jumpers, boots etc, as part of this deal.

For UA though they want to eliminate all advertising on the jumpers except for the UA logo, the NRL logo and they want the team logo to dominate the front of the jumper and the back to have the player name and a set number.

It would more than likely result in the NRL increasing revenues which would result in a trickle down effect of having a higher cap, better facilities and the ability to lure elite players from other leaugues/codes.

Stay with the status quo or try to grow the game?

Unlike the NFL, in the NRL each club sources its own playing kit. As such clubs deal directly with the jersey manufacturers for the playing gear and not the NRL. That is also why jersey sponsorships are handled by each club and not the NRL.

 

[bottle]

Let me ask you a question as far as jumpers go. I'm going to use Underarmor as an example.

UA just signed a 10 year 90 million dollar deal with the University of Notre Dame. This deal has them paying ND 9 mill a year plus they provide all the uniforms/jumpers for all their sports teams, football, soccer, violleyball...

If UA came in and offered the NRL, just as a hypothetical, 25 mill a year plus a cut of merchandising sales. The look at the NRL and say we think the NRL has what it takes to become a global brand and we're willing to supply all the equipment, jumpers, boots etc, as part of this deal.

For UA though they want to eliminate all advertising on the jumpers except for the UA logo, the NRL logo and they want the team logo to dominate the front of the jumper and the back to have the player name and a set number.

It would more than likely result in the NRL increasing revenues which would result in a trickle down effect of having a higher cap, better facilities and the ability to lure elite players from other leaugues/codes.

Stay with the status quo or try to grow the game?

You've constructed the question to deliver the answer.
However given that such a fantastical set of circumstances hasn't yet eventuated, and that any change under current circumstances would bring incremental financial benefit (if any at all), there is no reason to abandon our tradition just yet.

 

[Asnito]

Asnito I'm certain the gloves were banned once. Saw an article years ago but I only have my memory to back this up.

If I am wrong then you are onto something. Players will catch on if they improve handling.

May I ask what brought you to our game? You seem knowledgeable enough for this to be more than just a random passing interest a lot of Americans have? In my experience Americans watch it, love it, them forget about it a week later when it's off the tv.

I stumbled across by accident. Been battling an illness for a years so unfortunately I spend a lot of time on my a$$. I was following soccer just to see what it was about and the channels here cover pro 12, aviva primiership ESL and the NRL.

Union to me is like baseball if you don't follow/ play it as a kid the pace is too slow to enjoy it on TV. League on the other hand is very similiar to american football and the pace is fantastic.

I just enjoyed it so much that I subscribed to live sport and the various subsequent online stream providers. To me it just translates so well to the college football game where the majority of the teams run an uptempo fast paced offense.

I think it's a game that would appeal to college football fans, turned a few friends on to it, more so than NFL fans which are a different demographic.

 

[Asnito]

Unlike the NFL, in the NRL each club sources its own playing kit. As such clubs deal directly with the jersey manufacturers for the playing gear and not the NRL. That is also why jersey sponsorships are handled by each club and not the NRL.

Yeah I've noticed that but if you were a business owner would you prefer 16 small clients which are coming and going all the time or one big client that has infinite more spending power and a vested interest in seeing the league as a whole suceed rather than their small corner of the market.

 

[flamin]

2. Why aren't there teams in Perth, Adelaide, Cairns or Darwin?


Thanks

Perth will get a team soon enough. That and a 2nd NZ team are the only obvious places that don't have a team that could definitely do with one.

Cairns is covered by the Cowboy which draw on support from all of North Queensland (hence the name). Darwin is tiny - population 120000.

Adelaide one day might be ready but it's got a low population growth and is dominated by AFL with soccer taking what's leftover. A 4th Queensland team is a much more likely and a higher priority.

 

[Asnito]

Perth will get a team soon enough. That and a 2nd NZ team are the only obvious places that don't have a team that could definitely do with one.

Cairns is covered by the Cowboy which draw on support from all of North Queensland (hence the name). Darwin is tiny - population 120000.

Adelaide one day might be ready but it's got a low population growth and is dominated by AFL with soccer taking what's leftover. A 4th Queensland team is a much more likely and a higher priority.

Appreciate that. i wasn't sure about the demographics of Australia and was just looking at it from the perspective of brining the game to more people would make the NRL stronger.

 

[goodplayer]

Appreciate that. i wasn't sure about the demographics of Australia and was just looking at it from the perspective of brining the game to more people would make the NRL stronger.

pay TV . that's where its at ok ;-)

 

[Loose Cannon]

With regards to the gloves, I'm not sure whether they were outlawed (although it sounds somewhat familiar), but catching/holding a football seems totally impossible to several top grade players. Not sure a respected manufacturer would like their name associated with a Tony Williams given he will still likely throw the ball away 2-3 times in a half of football, damaging any claim of their product improving performance.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Nah I've seen Sam wear 8,10,13 and I think he might have even played a game at second row.

It may not be obvious to a novice viewer (no offence, if that is or isn't the case), but there are subtle variances in the gameplay of each position. It is not as apparent in the modern game because of all the clones playing, but Sam Burgess wearing 8 at prop forward would be given slightly different instructions/responsibilities than if he was wearing 13 and playing lock forward. For example, his position in the defensive line will change. Again it has been largely diluted in the modern game, but some things remain.

In a way, the set numbers are an accepted and traditional tool used by a coach to simplify team structure, balancing various players strengths and weaknesses. In the case above, a player like Burgess is competent across several positions, and likely covering voids left by less talented or injured players.

 

[Asnito]

It may not be obvious to a novice viewer (no offence, if that is or isn't the case), but there are subtle variances in the gameplay of each position. It is not as apparent in the modern game because of all the clones playing, but Sam Burgess wearing 8 at prop forward would be given slightly different instructions/responsibilities than if he was wearing 13 and playing lock forward. For example, his position in the defensive line will change. Again it has been largely diluted in the modern game, but some things remain.

In a way, the set numbers are an accepted and traditional tool used by a coach to simplify team structure, balancing various players strengths and weaknesses. In the case above, a player like Burgess is competent across several positions, and likely covering voids left by less talented or injured players.

No offense taken, I've only been following league for 4 or so years. I was looking at it more from an increased revenue stream for the NRL. I like all the different jerseys and most teams wear at least 4 different jerseys during the year. I just figured any additional revenue that the NRL can generate would only strengthen the league.

Just as an example the guy that owns Nike is an Oregon alumn and he changed the lanscape of sports merchandizing here in the states(not saying the US model is the right one for everybody). He turned Oregon into a national powerhouse attracting the top players from all over the country through merchandising and investment.

If you get a chance do a google/youtube search of Oregon's facilities. I think they offer something like 35 different uniform combinations and the weight room is the size of a football field and it has some very unique additional perks, which is superior to anything you will see in the NFL.

 

[Asnito]

With regards to the gloves, I'm not sure whether they were outlawed (although it sounds somewhat familiar), but catching/holding a football seems totally impossible to several top grade players. Not sure a respected manufacturer would like their name associated with a Tony Williams given he will still likely throw the ball away 2-3 times in a half of football, damaging any claim of their product improving performance.

Tony Williams and Dave Taylor are two players, although there are a few others, who drive me crazy. They have unique skillsets but they always seem to keave me expecting more.

I've seen a lot of players in several different sports through the years that do enough to keep their jobs but don't seem to want to put in the work to be elite. When I was playing football I used to have a coach that hammered home that point that the difference between a good player and a great player is work ethic. Billy Slater is a prime example of a player that made himself great through hard work and dedication.