Dave Smith and John Grant facing a rebellion over the direction of the NRL

[LineBall]

More difficult? Are you taking the piss?

No. I think if the game was being run very well, Murdoch would have found it much harder to get clubs to join Superleague.

 

[tumbidragon]

https://twitter.com/BuzzRothfield/status/538805390285107200

:lol:Copping a pasting. I did like this tweet though.

it takes a really really long time to write down 'Broncos' and 'Friday' 25 times

 

[Parra]

No. I think if the game was being run very well, Murdoch would have found it much harder to get clubs to join Superleague.

All he had to do was find the greedy pricks. And he found them.

The reason he wanted the game was because it had been run and promoted so well.

The line you are regurgitating was the same line the News Ltd spin doctors put out there. They even dragged in merkins like Piers Ackerman to say exactly what you are saying. It was bullshit then and it is bullshit now. By repeating it you just sound like a News Ltd parrot.

 

[LineBall]

All he had to do was find the greedy pricks. And he found them.

The reason he wanted the game was because it had been run and promoted so well.

The line you are regurgitating was the same line the News Ltd spin doctors put out there. They even dragged in merkins like Piers Ackerman to say exactly what you are saying. It was bullshit then and it is bullshit now. By repeating it you just sound like a News Ltd parrot.

He wanted the game because Rugby League is a great sport - that also happens to be perfect for the medium of Television. Those two things had nothing to do with the administration of the day.

 

[Parra]

He couldn't care less about it being a great sport.

It was and is the highest rating content on TV in Australia. He needs these ratings to maximise both PAYTV subscriptions and advertising revenue.

Importantly, the sport was expanding. It was using the funds generated to grow both across the nation and through juniors and regional areas.

Superleague and then the NRL f**ked all that. Now it is just TV content and the people involved are just there to rip as much cash out as they can.

Instead of expansion and growth we have consolidations - clubs have merged or disappeared. This is done only to cut costs. Has nothing to do with sport.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

All he had to do was find the greedy pricks. And he found them.

The reason he wanted the game was because it had been run and promoted so well.

The line you are regurgitating was the same line the News Ltd spin doctors put out there. They even dragged in merkins like Piers Ackerman to say exactly what you are saying. It was bullshit then and it is bullshit now. By repeating it you just sound like a News Ltd parrot.

You were trolling so well up until this point. Then it just got a bit TOO unbelievable....

 

[LineBall]

He couldn't care less about it being a great sport.

It was and is the highest rating content on TV in Australia. He needs these ratings to maximise both PAYTV subscriptions and advertising revenue.

Importantly, the sport was expanding. It was using the funds generated to grow both across the nation and through juniors and regional areas.

Superleague and then the NRL f**ked all that. Now it is just TV content and the people involved are just there to rip as much cash out as they can.

Instead of expansion and growth we have consolidations - clubs have merged or disappeared. This is done only to cut costs. Has nothing to do with sport.

Well if it wasn't a great sport - then it wouldn't be the highest rating TV sport product in Australia.

And Please name another major sporting League in the world that doesn't rely on broadcast monies to pay its way. I suppose you would be happy if they players were still getting paid what they were in the early 90's.

 

[Parra]

Now you are confused.

Of course it is a great sport and of course TV revenue is vital.

Having News Ltd involved did not change that. Point is, since the merkins got involved revenue has increased but the game has gone backwards. It is suffering in regional areas, expansion ceased, teams have folded, there is argument about the international game.

As long as you only use one measure - revenue to News Ltd, I suppose things have improved.

For those of us without a financial interest in News Ltd or Foxtel - who gives a f**k?

 

[LineBall]

Now you are confused.

Of course it is a great sport and of course TV revenue is vital.

Having News Ltd involved did not change that. Point is, since the merkins got involved revenue has increased but the game has gone backwards. It is suffering in regional areas, expansion ceased, teams have folded, there is argument about the international game.

As long as you only use one measure - revenue to News Ltd, I suppose things have improved.

For those of us without a financial interest in News Ltd or Foxtel - who gives a f**k?

This has been happening at all times in Rugby League's history. It happened before News Ltd became involved, and is still happening now.

The reality is that Rugby League finally has a commission that is focussed on developing the game, domestically and internationally. It has only been around for a couple of years - yet some would have us believe that they aren't doing a good job, things are moving too slowly. You seem to be of that opinion.

 

[Mr. Sharky]

This has been happening at all times in Rugby League's history. It happened before News Ltd became involved, and is still happening now.

The reality is that Rugby League finally has a commission that is focussed on developing the game, domestically and internationally. It has only been around for a couple of years - yet some would have us believe that they aren't doing a good job, things are moving too slowly. You seem to be of that opinion.

Dave Smith isn't doing a good job, the RLC administration has much as consistency of a corrupt cop. The bloke has no idea and should be put on the next Qantas flight out of Kingsford Smith Airport back to his bank job in Wales.

 

[oikee]

The best thing to happen to league , Smith and Grant turning the code into a billion dollar business, unlike the chook raffle we had for 100 years.
We now have nines, internationals and a new black. (samoa).
Next the wrestling will be gone, Sydney under the guidance of a world-class CEO will get proper stadiums built, rectangle stadiums.

They banked 50 million last year, lets wait and see the results this year. Close to 70 million.
The guy is a banker, the rest are arseclowns.

He is taking the game into schools supported by governments and nations.
Rugby league reads, bullying programs and eat well sleep well are all promoting league at grass-roots, totally neglected by 100 years of Sydney league.
Even the indigenous programs have improved 200% while Grant and Smith have been involved.
Plus he is taking games back to the bush, while under huge pressure to scrap games like city/country, the all-stars.

The guy is a genius and if we are lucky, he might hang around long enough to finish off the job he started.

 

[Mr. Sharky]

The best thing to happen to league , Smith and Grant turning the code into a billion dollar business, unlike the chook raffle we had for 100 years.
We now have nines, internationals and a new black. (samoa).
Next the wrestling will be gone, Sydney under the guidance of a world-class CEO will get proper stadiums built, rectangle stadiums.

They banked 50 million last year, lets wait and see the results this year. Close to 70 million.
The guy is a banker, the rest are arseclowns.

He is taking the game into schools supported by governments and nations.
Rugby league reads, bullying programs and eat well sleep well are all promoting league at grass-roots, totally neglected by 100 years of Sydney league.
Even the indigenous programs have improved 200% while Grant and Smith have been involved.

The guy is a genius and if we are lucky, he might hang around long enough to finish off the job he started.

Are you Dave Smith's son coming to praise your dad?

Any fair dinkum league fan thinks the bloke is totally clueless with no idea of what he's doing.

 

[El Diablo]

bullshit

 

[LineBall]

Are you Dave Smith's son coming to praise your dad?

Any fair dinkum league fan thinks the bloke is totally clueless with no idea of what he's doing.

I doubt you know any.

 

[oikee]

Are you Dave Smith's son coming to praise your dad?

Any fair dinkum league fan thinks the bloke is totally clueless with no idea of what he's doing.

And that is how you know he is doing well.
Fair dinkum league fans have never seen this game thrive. They always back the wrong horse.
So knowing all the fair dinkum league diehards dont support Smith and Grant gives me massive confidence.
Like taking candy from babies.
The game has not grown outta Sydney with fair-dunkum league diehard support. Ask yourself why. Better still, dont bother.

 

[Nerd]

Are you Dave Smith's son coming to praise your dad?

Any fair dinkum league fan thinks the bloke is totally clueless with no idea of what he's doing.

Your kidding aren't you? The game hasn't been in a better position for a long time. The recent news about government funding for either new or improved stadiums in Sydney is proof of how good a job Dave Smith is doing.

 

[Mr. Sharky]

And that is how you know he is doing well.
Fair dinkum league fans have never seen this game thrive. They always back the wrong horse.
So knowing all the fair dinkum league diehards dont support Smith and Grant gives me massive confidence.
Like taking candy from babies.
The game has not grown outta Sydney with fair-dunkum league diehard support. Ask yourself why. Better still, dont bother.

The NRL was the old NSWRL you dill.

Unless the NRL undergoes the same transformation the A-League did, the game will never grow in it's current form.

Too many people and I can probably put myself in this category as well care more about their team than the game itself.

If we saw what happened with Super League and the eventual demise of North Sydney, it well and truly gave the AFL the shot in the arm it had been looking for.

The Sydney Swans were a basket case and the acquisition of Tony Lockett and the introduction of Super League was the catalyst for a lot of league fans walking away from the game and turning to AFL.

So much so now that the north shore and the eastern suburbs is the breadbasket of the Sydney Swans supporter base.

The fact is relocating teams or culling teams will not work as fans aren't going to just support another team.

If the game is to "grow" as you put it, the entire NRL would have to undergo the same transformation that Australian soccer did in shutting down the NSL and starting the A-League.

 

[oikee]

I think all league fans (fair dinkum league fans) should take time to understand what has happened to this great game for the last 30 years or so. ?
I will tell you, not much.
I will ask you to look at how other codes have gone, then apply this to our code.

Soccer, massive expansion Australia wide plus NZ, and now into Asia.

Rugby Union, yes a basketcase, but still, they have teams in every state and also international expansion and a international game that is thriving still.

AFL, now here is the biggie, and this was under Gallops watch.
They expanded second teams to all big cities, they got billions for stadiunms, one that is still being built in Perth. Adelaide, Gold Coast, SCG and West Sydney. All brand new facilites, not to mention academies and Pokie Clubs.
They also grabbed our best Polynesian player off us, used him to promote their push into NZ and the Islands, where they have dabbled.

Now, ask yourself what our code achieved. ? GO ON ASK YOURSELF.

Smith has had two years, he has achieved more in that time than league achieved in 100 years.

Maybe the one-eyed code is us, the NRL, because all other codes are achieving or have achieved, while we denied.
Time to take ownership. Admit we had and have a problem, and Smith and Grant are fixing that problem, that is why you dont like it.

 

[oikee]

The NRL was the old NSWRL you dill.

Unless the NRL undergoes the same transformation the A-League did, the game will never grow in it's current form.

Too many people and I can probably put myself in this category as well care more about their team than the game itself.

If we saw what happened with Super League and the eventual demise of North Sydney, it well and truly gave the AFL the shot in the arm it had been looking for.

The Sydney Swans were a basket case and the acquisition of Tony Lockett and the introduction of Super League was the catalyst for a lot of league fans walking away from the game and turning to AFL.

So much so now that the north shore and the eastern suburbs is the breadbasket of the Sydney Swans supporter base.

The fact is relocating teams or culling teams will not work as fans aren't going to just support another team.

If the game is to "grow" as you put it, the entire NRL would have to undergo the same transformation that Australian soccer did in shutting down the NSL and starting the A-League.

Oh Bullocks Sharky.
Look, our code is going greatguns now. We are starting to win government support and the mums have nearly stopped running away now Gallen and Manly have had their heads pulled in.

With 3 new expansion teams in NZ Brisbane and Perth, their will be no stopping this code.
Plus we also need to shorten the regular season to 18 rounds, stand alone Origin and Anzac, a added nines comp at the beginning of the year.

That is all we need, we dont need any other changes , and crying wolf is just nonsense.
There is no wolf, we are the wolf.

 

[Mr. Sharky]

I think all league fans (fair dinkum league fans) should take time to understand what has happened to this great game for the last 30 years or so. ?
I will tell you, not much.
I will ask you to look at how other codes have gone, then apply this to our code.

Soccer, massive expansion Australia wide plus NZ, and now into Asia.

Rugby Union, yes a basketcase, but still, they have teams in every state and also international expansion and a international game that is thriving still.

AFL, now here is the biggie, and this was under Gallops watch.
They expanded second teams to all big cities, they got billions for stadiunms, one that is still being built in Perth. Adelaide, Gold Coast, SCG and West Sydney. All brand new facilites, not to mention academies and Pokie Clubs.
They also grabbed our best Polynesian player off us, used him to promote their push into NZ and the Islands, where they have dabbled.

Now, ask yourself what our code achieved. ? GO ON ASK YOURSELF.

Smith has had two years, he has achieved more in that time than league achieved in 100 years.

Maybe the one-eyed code is us, the NRL, because all other codes are achieving or have achieved, while we denied.
Time to take ownership. Admit we had and have a problem, and Smith and Grant are fixing that problem, that is why you dont like it.

You lost me with this comment.

David Gallop never worked for the AFL.

Western Sydney? The Giants are an absolute rabble and most people in that part of the world refuse to support the Giants due to the fact they left Blacktown for the Sydney Showground at Homebush.

The Adelaide Oval was rebuilt because the developers wanted the land at West Lakes and the SA Government wanted something closer to the city to have music concerts and for the Crows and the Power to play in.

What a masterstroke Folau was? NOT! He did nothing for them and is now almost the Wallabies best player.

Soccer always had the support, it had been the sleeping giant of Australian sport for years and it took the Socceroos to qualify for their first World Cup in three decades to wake up the then dormant support the game had.

As far as rugby union is concerned, every state? I didn't realise Adelaide had a Super Rugby team. Where do they play and what are they called?

Pokie clubs in the AFL? You really are drunk, the Swans licensed club went bust 3 years ago, I know I walk past the old building every day.