Pre 2012 game was mostly controlled by tv so no wonder we got screwed on tv deals
No lobbying govt as the game has no ambition and a gimp called gallop in charge (remember his infamous "the game is dying" speech during the games centinial celebration year?)
Payment to players and clubs since 2012 is no way close to the % revenue increase of the nrl in that time period
Has the bunker, digital dept, millions on touch alignment, millions on nsw and qland cup and massive admin revenue increase made the sport any stronger or bigger?
Keeping tigs, Knights, Dragons afloat isn't wasted unless it was a missed opportunity to rationalise some areas and bring in new ones but would you really want to lose newcastle and hand GC over to afl? NRL has to deliver 8 games a week and needs 16 clubs to do that.
Afl expansion has earnt more money than it has cost. Pretty good business I'd say!
AS the TV stations controlled the scheduling ,all the more reason for the NRL to negotiate a better deal.Says little for the pre 2012 negotiators.Fill in the space who were the people involved in negotiations.
At least Smith brought in the lobbying argument and ensured the code was at the forefront in that regard, else we'd still be wondering what the hell to do with ANZ and the SFS.Although he went overboard and spent a motza on consultants, who were IMO useless.
The players 'increases were all up on CPI ,and what you forget coaches pay also jumped enormously as did football departments, and because the TV stations controlled the scheduling time slots were crap and crowds and revenue reacted accordingly.If we'd expanded then, the revenue would have had to be spread further and losses would have been greater then.The code spent decent money taking Touch Football under its wing .And the total monies is not cash there is contra involved.Players don;t work on contra.
In most cases clubs were at the salary cap capacity and some in fact went over.
Under 14 the game has grown at grassroots ,plus the women's side.It is in the older age brackets that is where the numbers have dropped.The softer versions of the game League Tag is booming.OK not the tackle version but perhaps future tackle players and future fans.
Whatever the bunker has done or not,It costs a couple of mill a year to run,so that is additional cost as is two refs.The integrity department is not a cheap episode either,thanks to needing one .
We won't know the impact of the digital dept, for a few years, technology is changing rapidly, hence no doubt affecting FTA TV ratings, and perhaps crowds.Does the code such sit back and let the world go by technologically?
After what the code's been though in the last 20 years, and with the experience of the AFL since .rationalisation is not necessarily the panacae of everything that is good.It's easier to move teams when you have little competition in your home area, such as Melbourne.I repeat one more time you have zero idea the impact rationalisation or merging/removal of Sydney clubs (unless they were in financial,dire straits).Yes we get the glib, oh people get to live with it BS.
That comment about expansion automatically earning more money than it costs is flawed,not borne out by the A League,with most clubs operating in the red.And let's not bring in the Sooper Dooper Union expansion.It may well earn more money, but it doesn't guarantee lesser expenditure.
You can cite the AFL(as you always do) and yes they have bigger TV deals(wonder why)and crowds, but they control the scheduling (thanks to incompetent pre 2012 NRL decisions we don't) and crowds with decent stadiums and a far better transport system,and an easier terrain to get around,Sydney half as big again in area.
What you rarely if ever admit,is the huge consistent losses sustained by the Lions,the stagnation of the Suns (despite all the handouts).The enormous funding and draft gifts given to GWS,and still their and the Swans TV ratings in their "home' city are abysmal.The modern stadiums gifted to GWS and Swans ,whilst the rectangular codes in Sydney got shafted.
The only reason the AFL expanded to Sydney and Brisbane was the Sth Melbourne club and the Fitzroy club, were up sh*t street ,without a paddle.It was an act of pure financial desperation not a master stroke expansion plan, that you may believe.
The timing was perfect ,we(err Ribot and Rupert) decided to have a SL war,divide a code that's the way to help your competitors.
And your mob who got the OK to join the premier competition in a very short space of time,decided to go to Super league ,what a great way to assist the code.I'd hardly be forming cheer squad.
The impact in Sydney was a millions times greater than it was in Perth.If the 3 exp[asnion clubs Nth Qld/Perth/Warriors had not decided to go to SL,Rupert would have been screwed.And guess what Perth may well have been in an NRL whatever final series.And you would wake up each morning ,whistling a happy tune.
