I take a different tack and yes crowds are ordinary with Mondays and Thursday nights,and the code in the bush is struggling for a variety of reasons and the code is not national .The bunker has left me perplexed at times.Player stupidity off field does nothing to increase sponsorship or increase crowds (ask the Roosters) and management idiocy likewise (ask Eels fans).
I look at the positives brought in before or about to in 2018.In any organisation there are negatives,and it's very easy to spell them out..
I have zilch to do with any NRL club except as a fan of one.
The code has the lobbying body(not in Gallop's days) which helped in addition to soccer admin ,to secure the $1.6bn funding for
Pirtek Stadium,the refurbished ANZ and eventually SFS.
Plus the new stadium to be built at Townsville.
In addition the ARLC is working with the Raiders and the ACT Govt on a new stadium in Canberra,dependent of course on funding.
The Commission has enabled the NRL clubs to access $40m from the State Govt for developments such as Academies.Understand Souths,Tigers already looking at taking advantage of this.
The NRL clubs which were up a creek without a paddle, Titans and Newcastle were saved by the NRL Commission.Even Quayle has given the Commission kudos for the likes of Newcastle .
The Commission has ensured at this stage, the identity of the Tigers part of the joint venture.They have assisted with the Dragon's cash issues.
From 2018 the code will be putting an extra $100m pa into grassroots up to State Cups.
There is a new $20m Centre of Excellence for the NSWRL at Homebush being built,again by ARLC lobbying Govt.
With the new TV deal from 2018 a base grant of 130% of total player payments will be provided by the head body.The only major sporting code to cover fully player costs.
An extra $1.5m for each club to be used for commercial and/or operational purposes.
The inclusion of Touch Football under the NRL umbrella.The huge increase in female participation .It all helps.
There are plenty of negatives no argument from me ,but to ignore improvements is being Gould like.
