New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Iamback]

Not sure about only touch being offered in time but it’s pretty clear both codes need to focus on offering the safest environment for kids to enjoy the games. If you are correct though we better enjoy watching footy while we can mate.

Most comps run a tag version now, Which is perfect for those who can't handle the full game

Every sport has a risk

 

[Pneuma]

Most comps run a tag version now, Which is perfect for those who can't handle the full game

Every sport has a risk

Spot on

 

[Iamback]

Spot on

Cricket has HIA subs.
Soccer with headers have the same issues.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I’m not so convinced contact sports are going to die, look at the explosion of popularity of MMA, and boxing’s continued survival, despite concussions actually being an integral part of both.

 

[Iamback]

I’m not so convinced contact sports are going to die, look at the explosion of popularity of MMA, and boxing’s continued survival, despite concussions actually being an integral part of both.

Ice hockey too, They have players miss games with concussion. Game though still doesn't change

 

[Wb1234]

TikTok - Make Your Day

vt.tiktok.com

the kiwi powerhouse (throw in the players in Tonga and samoa that are eligible for nz) and they are on par with Australia

And that’s with one professional team against the 16 Australian ones

imagine how much stronger they get with a second side

 

[siv]

Most comps run a tag version now, Which is perfect for those who can't handle the full game

Every sport has a risk

It has worked very well on the Central Coast in developing the community carnival on junior League weekends

When there is a mix of tackle and tag. Allows the family unit to stay engaged rather than having non contact kids go play another sport

 

[Pippen94]

I’m not so convinced contact sports are going to die, look at the explosion of popularity of MMA, and boxing’s continued survival, despite concussions actually being an integral part of both.

They not mainstream sports

 

[Wb1234]

It has worked very well on the Central Coast in developing the community carnival on junior League weekends

When there is a mix of tackle and tag. Allows the family unit to stay engaged rather than having non contact kids go play another sport

You make the best posts bro

love reading them

 

[The Great Dane]

They not mainstream sports

The UFC is absolutely mainstream lmao!

Both the UFC and boxing are massive mainstream sports. For all sorts of reasons interest in Boxing is shrinking in most parts of the world (a lot of those reasons have nothing to do with CTE or injury BTW), but MMA is one of the, if not the, fastest growing sports in the world, and the UFC's growth over the past 20 year is insane and doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

So?

Same period Sydney ran FG, RG, U23, U21, U19, U27, U15 and second divusion FG and RG

With each club running a A grade comp

The trick is to create opportunities not shrink them as you are suggesting

But establisjong the professional league structure and the part-time you will see around 500 extra players stay in the game from the 250 who graduate from U20s every year

It would be better to make the Queensland Cup and NSW Cup fully professional. Make the NSW Cup a true statewide competition to provide better pathways for players from the country. You could even add teams from South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. This system would create better pathways across the entire country and help expand the game into Adelaide and Perth. What you're advocating will limit the professional side of the game to the 17 professional clubs and kill player development.

 

[Te Kaha]

I’m not so convinced contact sports are going to die, look at the explosion of popularity of MMA, and boxing’s continued survival, despite concussions actually being an integral part of both.

Individual sports are different. You will always have some people who don't care about the consequences and just love the "fight". Finding 13 to 20 of them at school age in smaller areas especially will become harder and harder. In the last 20 years Basketball courts have sprung up in almost every area in the country, and you only need a couple of mates to play. Like I said it will only take one class action and the fabric of those games have to change. We are seeing it already, in rugby ANY head contact is yellow or red card. In league the shoulder charge has gone. Its going to continue, the sports need to evolve or die.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Individual sports are different. You will always have some people who don't care about the consequences and just love the "fight". Finding 13 to 20 of them at school age in smaller areas especially will become harder and harder. In the last 20 years Basketball courts have sprung up in almost every area in the country, and you only need a couple of mates to play. Like I said it will only take one class action and the fabric of those games have to change. We are seeing it already, in rugby ANY head contact is yellow or red card. In league the shoulder charge has gone. Its going to continue, the sports need to evolve or die.

I played basketball as s kid. Loved it.
What's wrong with that? It was popular 30 years ago...
Rugby league is a hard game, hard on your body. It really isn't for everyone.
Tag is a great solution for concerned parents. Benji was a touch player, so good he converted over.

We don't need massive juniors. We need the right juniors, people who are suited to the game.
The quality at the highest level is telling me that we are finding the most suitable.
It's quality, not quantity.

 

[Pippen94]

The UFC is absolutely mainstream lmao!

Both the UFC and boxing are massive mainstream sports. For all sorts of reasons interest in Boxing is shrinking in most parts of the world (a lot of those reasons have nothing to do with CTE or injury BTW), but MMA is one of the, if not the, fastest growing sports in the world, and the UFC's growth over the past 20 year is insane and doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon.

Boxing & ufc are sizeable but niche. Their largest shows don't approach what football, baseball or basketball do for playoffs & finals. The extreme violence limits wider appeal - you won't see these sports on prime time on network TV.

 

[Pneuma]

I played basketball as s kid. Loved it.
What's wrong with that? It was popular 30 years ago...
Rugby league is a hard game, hard on your body. It really isn't for everyone.
Tag is a great solution for concerned parents. Benji was a touch player, so good he converted over.

We don't need massive juniors. We need the right juniors, people who are suited to the game.
The quality at the highest level is telling me that we are finding the most suitable.
It's quality, not quantity.

If you look at the growth of registrations in Cronulla it results from growing inclusive clubs. Some have as many as 60 teams. Throughout each age group there are tag options. At a club like Como Janali they have 32 contact teams and 18 tag. Kurnell were down to 9 teams about three years ago. They now have over 30, including 5 female and 2 male adult tag teams. This secures the future of clubs, diversifies the gender base and playing options and grows the game. Some clubs and associations have failed to pick up on the importance of this approach . In fact Penrith are behind Cronulla in taking this approach. When they all do we’ll see the player base expand across the Australia and New Zealand. It’s about moving on from the game being about manly heroics to being a game for all. It will allow for the contact game to thrive as an option and secure the game’s longevity.

 

[Te Kaha]

I played basketball as s kid. Loved it.
What's wrong with that? It was popular 30 years ago...
Rugby league is a hard game, hard on your body. It really isn't for everyone.
Tag is a great solution for concerned parents. Benji was a touch player, so good he converted over.

We don't need massive juniors. We need the right juniors, people who are suited to the game.
The quality at the highest level is telling me that we are finding the most suitable.
It's quality, not quantity.

Given the conversion rate of players to first grade, if you don't have the quantity, its going to be diminishing returns on finding the quality.
And even now, the bottom five teams in the NRL show the quality just isn't there in sufficient numbers. That's why the push for Pacific Islander players in NZ. The problem being they are playing basketball in increasing numbers and the Rugby codes in decreasing numbers.

 

[siv]

It would be better to make the Queensland Cup and NSW Cup fully professional. Make the NSW Cup a true statewide competition to provide better pathways for players from the country. You could even add teams from South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. This system would create better pathways across the entire country and help expand the game into Adelaide and Perth. What you're advocating will limit the professional side of the game to the 17 professional clubs and kill player development.

Your point about making Tier 2 professional is a long term goal

But today it needs to be part-time, because that is what is financial

Also everyone has to buildup together

And today you are competing with NRLW for funds and TV coverage

Qld Cup is basically setup almost right though I think Darwin should join

But key things holding it back start with making sure all Tier 2 clubs are basically financially equal. This can only be done by breaking the NRL 17-36 feeder setups. This can be sorted by establishing NRL Reserve Grade.

Finishing the expansion of the NRLW will sort out the financials and how TV wants to operate

In parrallel it then moves to addressing Tier 2 structures. Setting a initial goal of covering 50% average wage means things like transport can be fully covered, which helps remote teams like Perth & Adelaide or in NZ Wellington & Christchurch

Setting the bar at 50% or part-time means you need $1 mil per club for a $40k average wage for 25 players. Today grants will need to increase to support this and a 12 team structure, thats why its a first step

This will need something $10-15 mil for each State League. And as our NZ friends have said they need this before NZ2

But on top of all this is still need to get more done at grass roots levels from A grade country through to local schools etc

 

[siv]

Given the conversion rate of players to first grade, if you don't have the quantity, its going to be diminishing returns on finding the quality.
And even now, the bottom five teams in the NRL show the quality just isn't there in sufficient numbers. That's why the push for Pacific Islander players in NZ. The problem being they are playing basketball in increasing numbers and the Rugby codes in decreasing numbers.

I put a lot of this down to development & coaching

Though the Islander youth size is having a effect of turning kids who grow later in life away

 

[Wb1234]

If you look at the growth of registrations in Cronulla it results from growing inclusive clubs. Some have as many as 60 teams. Throughout each age group there are tag options. At a club like Como Janali they have 32 contact teams and 18 tag. Kurnell were down to 9 teams about three years ago. They now have over 30, including 5 female and 2 male adult tag teams. This secures the future of clubs, diversifies the gender base and playing options and grows the game. Some clubs and associations have failed to pick up on the importance of this approach . In fact Penrith are behind Cronulla in taking this approach. When they all do we’ll see the player base expand across the Australia and New Zealand. It’s about moving on from the game being about manly heroics to being a game for all. It will allow for the contact game to thrive as an option and secure the game’s longevity.

The growth of Cronulla largely means the dragons need to focus on the gong full time

 

[Pneuma]

The growth of Cronulla largely means the dragons need to focus on the gong full time

St George still has its own comp up to under 12s. After that it’s consumed by the southern competition dominated by Cronulla. It’s another comp that’s not adapted to the new inclusive approach. Even manly jumped on board with it last year.