Matua
First Grade
- Messages
- 5,127
Yeah, if Super went away they'd have to make some tough decisions on whether to create new Super regions or consolidate the NPC. But, either way I think it would do at least as well as Super for Sky, and probably better. If I was being honest and had to choose between the current model and an extended NPC with the Magpies one of the teams then I'm taking NPC. But I think, as you note, the pyramid structure works best for NZ rugby.One way to move forward for RU might be to add a few NZ teams (and not scrapping SR as a competition) - either re-jigging the current 5 team boundaries to say 7 or 8.. OR the radical option of scrapping the SR teams and making a number of 1st division unions New Zealand's representatives in SR.
That delivers more of those valuable NZ derbies, but cranks up the competition costs - and getting more money out of a limited (and damn near saturated) pay TV market here in NZ is a challenge - they can't keep cranking up Sky subscription prices.
That's a real challenge for RU, and they've been pondering how to solve it ( Expand to Asia? USA? Argentina? ) but indecision reigns there as there's a fair amount of risk in places that don't naturally follow RU.
Rugby for sure, but it's a moot point currently because Sky is the only game in town (pardon the pun).
FTA tv is broke - Discovery (TV3) and TVNZ have been in a cost cutting frenzy, Spark has ended it's sports coverage ambitions & no other streaming service has stepped forward (Sky's entertainment tv rights deals have prevented the likes of Paramount+ starting here - so far..).. maybe NZR might try broadening its own direct-to-consumer offering, but I don't think they're there yet.
Yeah, the domestic RL scene is disjointed to say the least. The thing RU does well is the pyramid structure of club/NPC/Super Rugby/Tests - having clear windows for each, and being able to publicize Super Rugby, then a test window, then NPC, then end of year Tests.
If the NRL wants a production line of Kiwi talent coming through, we need investment in that base.. and I'm not sure what mix of club versus provincial outlay does that best, because provincial RL seems to have become almost an afterthought these days.
I wasn't floating the Sky losing one of the sports as a realistic scenario, just wanting to give our Aussie contributors some context on where Sky's money mostly comes from - it carries more weight coming from you as you are less keen on rugby than most of us NZers on the thread.
I'd love the Lion Red Cup to return, I went to a lot of Unicorns games as my Mum's best mate was the treasurer and some of my mates were in the team. IIRC they used to televise a number of the games back then.