NRL 5 days a week

[DiegoNT]

Is anyone else enjoying the Thursday - Monday run we've had the last few weeks? I'm speaking purely as a TV viewer . Many people said 5 days a week would create fatigue but I think the opposite is true. Watching 7 games (about 14 hours worth) over a 48 hour period creates a bit of fatigue, but spreading the games out over a 5 day is easier on viewing and personally I'm watching more games live. I know people hate the Monday night games mainly due to to its effects on crowds, but as a tv only viewer it feels like a bonus game at the end of the round and I always watch, even if it's not a great match up (which it usually isn't). Considering we are mainly a tv focused sport does anyone see the future of the nrl being a Thursday to Monday thing?

 

[Captain Apollo]

Is anyone else enjoying the Thursday - Monday run we've had the last few weeks? I'm speaking purely as a TV viewer . Many people said 5 days a week would create fatigue but I think the opposite is true. Watching 7 games (about 14 hours worth) over a 48 hour period creates a bit of fatigue, but spreading the games out over a 5 day is easier on viewing and personally I'm watching more games live. I know people hate the Monday night games mainly due to to its effects on crowds, but as a tv only viewer it feels like a bonus game at the end of the round and I always watch, even if it's not a great match up (which it usually isn't). Considering we are mainly a tv focused sport does anyone see the future of the nrl being a Thursday to Monday thing?

Nope. A few weeks of the year is one thing. All year round is quite another.

Firstly the clubs themselves will jack up if it happens. They already take a hit in terms of crows for Monday night games, and the few Thursday night games we've had the crowds have been lower. AS such the clubs who get a high portion of Thursday and Monday night games it can make a big hit on their finances.

Secondly, the clubs will also jack up as it effects recovery and turn around time between games. We already have problems with some clubs having 5 day turn around between games, you create an extra headache adding a 5th game day to the mix. The less turn around time, the higher the chance of injury, and less recovery time for players. This long term effects the quality of the football played as they will be, to some extent, jaded due to not having sufficient recovery time.

Then add in the players themselves will jack up about it. We have had elite players like Jonathan Thurston and Cameron Smith talk about player burn out in recent years. If you went to 5 game day per round, they would complain about recovery time also and the increased chance of injury due to it.

As such, no, I don't see it becoming permanent at all.

 

[DiegoNT]

Don't clubs already get compensated for Monday's night games? Plus a 5 day week would generate more money from the tv deal, meaning bigger nrl grants plus more exposure for sponsors so the money wide of things will be roughly the same (nrl seems to not care about a few thousand less heads through the gates when you have thousands more eyes watching on tv).
5;days would also have more flexibility in the draw, rabbitohs, broncos and roosters will probably make up the majority of the Thursday and Friday night games so the 5 day turn around will probably be at a same level that they are currently on, a rare occurrence that effects teams maybe once or twice a year

 

[Captain Apollo]

Don't clubs already get compensated for Monday's night games? Plus a 5 day week would generate more money from the tv deal, meaning bigger nrl grants plus more exposure for sponsors so the money wide of things will be roughly the same (nrl seems to not care about a few thousand less heads through the gates when you have thousands more eyes watching on tv).
5;days would also have more flexibility in the draw, rabbitohs, broncos and roosters will probably make up the majority of the Thursday and Friday night games so the 5 day turn around will probably be at a same level that they are currently on, a rare occurrence that effects teams maybe once or twice a year

More money? Really? your evidence to support this?

As to turn around time, you neglect turn around time saying "it will only happen once or twice". Tell it to the club it happens to and that 2 points they drop for that game costs them a spot in the top 4, or worse in the top 8. That will have a big impact on a club's bottom line.

Additionally, you then neglect to mention how you schedule State of Origin with this also. You think this does not have an impact.

As to crowds at games, who gets the money for tickets? The home club. Who gets the TV money? The NRL. As such this is why clubs blow up about what day their games are on ascertain days of the week they know their supporters prefer to others. Also "bums on seats" create atmosphere, something people at home watching on TV can't add to.

You also ignore the other aspects I mentioned. I dare say the NRL are aware of them or they would not have said they are getting rid of Monday night football and only have league on 4 nights a week from 2018 onwards.

 

[DiegoNT]

Well considering how much foxtel are kicking up about losing Monday night, I'd say it's worth a far bit. The more money the nrl gets out of the tv deal the bigger the club grants are.
If you can show that your team is getting exposed to a bigger audience thanks to more tv exposure it means you should get more from your sponsorship deals. .
Clubs already go through the 5 day turn around a few times a year, it'll be roughly the same clubs are already dealing with, it won't have that a big effect on the comp. For every time you go through a 5 day turn around your just as likely to go through an 8 or 9 day turn a rounded later in the season

 

[Dogs Of War]

With this schedule by Monday I'm over any further footy.

 

[DiegoNT]

With this schedule by Monday I'm over any further footy.

I'm usually over a round by Sunday night, unless it's a good game, I'll probably skip the sunday afternoon game. 7 games crammed into a period between 7pm Friday and 5pm Sunday is hard to get through.
Usually go to work, forget about footy, so the Monday night game is like a little bonus after the round is complete. Almost always watch, even if it does include a panthers vs raiders were neither side can't make the finals. Judging by how successful the time slot is and how vital it is to fox, I'm not the only one with this mindset.

 

[Cumberland Throw]

I think mnf will continue.

Fox might offer $700 m for no mnf or $1b with mnf

Would what u do ?

 

[Captain Apollo]

As I predicted - http://www.nrl.com/smith-signals-showdown-over-scheduling/tabid/10874/newsid/89491/default.aspx

 

[undertaker]

Nope. A few weeks of the year is one thing. All year round is quite another.

Firstly the clubs themselves will jack up if it happens. They already take a hit in terms of crows for Monday night games, and the few Thursday night games we've had the crowds have been lower. AS such the clubs who get a high portion of Thursday and Monday night games it can make a big hit on their finances.

Secondly, the clubs will also jack up as it effects recovery and turn around time between games. We already have problems with some clubs having 5 day turn around between games, you create an extra headache adding a 5th game day to the mix. The less turn around time, the higher the chance of injury, and less recovery time for players. This long term effects the quality of the football played as they will be, to some extent, jaded due to not having sufficient recovery time.

Then add in the players themselves will jack up about it. We have had elite players like Jonathan Thurston and Cameron Smith talk about player burn out in recent years. If you went to 5 game day per round, they would complain about recovery time also and the increased chance of injury due to it.

As such, no, I don't see it becoming permanent at all.

This. As you correctly stated, there's a difference between having 5-day rounds occasionally vs 5-day rounds all season.

The permanent introduction of Thursday night football in 2018 meant the end of Monday night football, and rightly so. Fox Sports can go and get stuffed. I'm so happy Dave Smith had the guts to stick it up Fox with that decision and this - along with Ch9 getting the Saturday night match, Fox's other high-rating timeslot - is what pissed Uncle Rupert off and made him throw a dummy spit with that huge offer for the AFL rights after losing his two highest-rated timeslots.

David Gallop (News Ltd shill) did what only benefited Fox and no one else: introduce MNF. Monday Night Football has been a blight on the NRL, and the $50k home teams get in compensation is absolutely nothing compared to the loss in gate receipts and money spent at the ground, not to mention the look of the poor crowds on tv and subsequently the increased difficulty of attracting new fans to the game. I - and many others - will be happy to see the back of it at the end of 2017.

 

[undertaker]

I think mnf will continue.

Fox might offer $700 m for no mnf or $1b with mnf

Would what u do ?

No, even if Fox offer a lot for it, it still won't be re-introduced. As Captain Apollo posted in his link, not just the Melbourne Storm, but eventually all teams will start to kick up a stink over the scheduling and repeatedly short-turnarounds. The only two Monday games I see occurring in the new tv rights deal is Easter Monday and Queens Birthday Holiday (and most likely, those will be day games)

And also, although Thursday night is much easier to attend due to the 7:55pm kickoff and it being the last weeknight before the weekend (vs 7pm kickoff on Monday night, first working and school day of the week, always a struggle to make the game on time after work), it will be extremely harsh on the fans to have games on two nights of the working week. I'm sure Dave Smith is well aware of this, and the big impact that this situation would have on crowds in the long-term.