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2005 State of the Game
31 August 2005
Source: http://www.nrl.com/news.cfm?ID=12663
As the Telstra Premiership counts down to one of the most remarkable final rounds in memory, Chief Executive Mr David Gallop has congratulated the clubs, players and fans on what is already the most successful Premiership series in the games 97 year history.
Round 26 of the Telstra Premiership sees three clubs vying for the minor premiership, three for eighth spot and three looking to escape the wooden spoon.
Only a handful of seasons have ever produced such a final round but, as clear evidence of the effect of the salary cap in spreading playing talent, none of those competitions saw the teams as tightly packed on the points table.
The Minor Premiers in 2005 will finish with more losses than ever by a team finishing first with the wooden spooners scoring more wins than any team before them.
League historian David Middleton has analysed every competition table since 1908 and declared that the next closest was back in 1933.
Whether its a chance to show your support for next year or to cheer your team into the finals, this is a weekend for every supporter to be at the footy to mark the end of a memorable Minor Premiership race, NRL Chief Executive Mr David Gallop said.
Every aspect of this season has gone down to the wire and its taking us towards a finals series that has more uncertainty than any weve seen.
It is a season that the game deserves and the fans have recognized it as something special.
One group that certainly deserves recognition in it all is the coaching and the training personnel involved in the game today.
The NRL goes into round 25 already certain of achieving a third record year of crowds (average of 16,484) and one of the biggest single increase in crowds in any given year (12%).
Highlights from the 2005 season include:
Sponsorship increased by 39%
Crowds increased by 12%
Licensing increased by 41%
Participation increased by 12% (Forecast subject to finalization of school figures)
The games key indicators are healthier than ever, Mr Gallop said.
We now have situations where the equivalent of 10% of the population in Townsville is turning up to every Cowboys home game and theyre wearing more club merchandise than ever before.
Weve guaranteed financial certainty into the future with a new television deal, weve established a direction for the next five years through the Strategic Plan and weve had the confidence to expand through the inclusion of the Gold Coast in 2007.
Our sponsorship programme has never been stronger and weve worked with major international players like Manchester United Football Club and NASCAR to stay abreast of international trends.
The one negative we still face is the ongoing impact on our clubs of the State Governments poker machine tax.
Off the field weve continued to place a focus on player welfare and currently have players studying or completing work placement in fields as diverse as civil engineering to screen printing.
Weve worked with the RLPA to ensure a joint approach in this area and weve also in 2005 finalised the games first collective bargaining agreement which included increases in the salary cap, increased player insurance, increased minimum wages and higher representative payments
There has also been a real willingness from the clubs to work together on projects for the good of the game which has allowed us to successfully introduce initiatives like the rookie camp and regional pre season promotions as well as continuing our major fundraising effort at the Captains Table which this year raised $110,000 for Breast Cancer and the Legends relay which raised $335,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation.
Importantly at the same time increased NRL revenues have resulted in additional grass roots funding of over $10million in the last three years.
The season in many respects is a challenge to do even more in the future but for the moment fans and everyone involved in the game should celebrate what is a remarkable end to the Telstra Premiership.
The competition for peoples leisure time remains intense and we need to keep a day at the footy relevant to peoples lives.
We need to adapt to new technologies and changing lifestyles and we are already working on those issues.
The games centenary planning is already underway in conjunction with the ARL for 2008 along with a World Cup also scheduled for that year.
We face an enormous challenge in growing on the success of this year but it is an achievable goal for everyone in the game.
Brought to you by NRL
31 August 2005
Source: http://www.nrl.com/news.cfm?ID=12663
As the Telstra Premiership counts down to one of the most remarkable final rounds in memory, Chief Executive Mr David Gallop has congratulated the clubs, players and fans on what is already the most successful Premiership series in the games 97 year history.
Round 26 of the Telstra Premiership sees three clubs vying for the minor premiership, three for eighth spot and three looking to escape the wooden spoon.
Only a handful of seasons have ever produced such a final round but, as clear evidence of the effect of the salary cap in spreading playing talent, none of those competitions saw the teams as tightly packed on the points table.
The Minor Premiers in 2005 will finish with more losses than ever by a team finishing first with the wooden spooners scoring more wins than any team before them.
League historian David Middleton has analysed every competition table since 1908 and declared that the next closest was back in 1933.
Whether its a chance to show your support for next year or to cheer your team into the finals, this is a weekend for every supporter to be at the footy to mark the end of a memorable Minor Premiership race, NRL Chief Executive Mr David Gallop said.
Every aspect of this season has gone down to the wire and its taking us towards a finals series that has more uncertainty than any weve seen.
It is a season that the game deserves and the fans have recognized it as something special.
One group that certainly deserves recognition in it all is the coaching and the training personnel involved in the game today.
The NRL goes into round 25 already certain of achieving a third record year of crowds (average of 16,484) and one of the biggest single increase in crowds in any given year (12%).
Highlights from the 2005 season include:
Sponsorship increased by 39%
Crowds increased by 12%
Licensing increased by 41%
Participation increased by 12% (Forecast subject to finalization of school figures)
The games key indicators are healthier than ever, Mr Gallop said.
We now have situations where the equivalent of 10% of the population in Townsville is turning up to every Cowboys home game and theyre wearing more club merchandise than ever before.
Weve guaranteed financial certainty into the future with a new television deal, weve established a direction for the next five years through the Strategic Plan and weve had the confidence to expand through the inclusion of the Gold Coast in 2007.
Our sponsorship programme has never been stronger and weve worked with major international players like Manchester United Football Club and NASCAR to stay abreast of international trends.
The one negative we still face is the ongoing impact on our clubs of the State Governments poker machine tax.
Off the field weve continued to place a focus on player welfare and currently have players studying or completing work placement in fields as diverse as civil engineering to screen printing.
Weve worked with the RLPA to ensure a joint approach in this area and weve also in 2005 finalised the games first collective bargaining agreement which included increases in the salary cap, increased player insurance, increased minimum wages and higher representative payments
There has also been a real willingness from the clubs to work together on projects for the good of the game which has allowed us to successfully introduce initiatives like the rookie camp and regional pre season promotions as well as continuing our major fundraising effort at the Captains Table which this year raised $110,000 for Breast Cancer and the Legends relay which raised $335,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation.
Importantly at the same time increased NRL revenues have resulted in additional grass roots funding of over $10million in the last three years.
The season in many respects is a challenge to do even more in the future but for the moment fans and everyone involved in the game should celebrate what is a remarkable end to the Telstra Premiership.
The competition for peoples leisure time remains intense and we need to keep a day at the footy relevant to peoples lives.
We need to adapt to new technologies and changing lifestyles and we are already working on those issues.
The games centenary planning is already underway in conjunction with the ARL for 2008 along with a World Cup also scheduled for that year.
We face an enormous challenge in growing on the success of this year but it is an achievable goal for everyone in the game.
Brought to you by NRL
