NRL faces major turmoil as clubs threaten breakaway league

[Lockyer4President!]

Problem with offering tag and the easy option is it will draw even more players away from RL and kill off even more junior sides. This is why developing non-contact versions doesn't necessarily benefit RL. It works for girls and women because they're not playing RL anyway so it's a route into RL. For men and boys it's actually a route out or RL.

You've lived in eastern Brisbane, you must've seen Whites Hill or Cleveland at some point. You know touch appeals to men just as much as women. Oztag is not an easy option either.

Yeah there will always be crossover but that's because RL is a contact sport and not everyone wants to play a contact sport at all times in their life. It's the biggest issue for the game's growth, every other team sport we compete with (cricket, soccer, afl, etc) is non-contact. At least touch and oztag provide way to keep people in the game rather than have them leave it altogether.
Of the things to complain about, growth in touch footy is not one of them.

 

[morley101]

All junior development officers in (Syd/Bris) metro areas should be employed by the local leagues club. All programs can be from the NRL and some equipment up on request. Regional areas and States outside NSW and QLD should have development officers appointed and paid by the NRL.
I would give the Richardson plan 3 years to see if it works.
A cap on NRL football departments to ensure the clubs don't kill themselves.
Expand the NRL comp ASAP.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

You've lived in eastern Brisbane, you must've seen Whites Hill or Cleveland at some point. You know touch appeals to men just as much as women. Oztag is not an easy option either.

Yeah there will always be crossover but that's because RL is a contact sport and not everyone wants to play a contact sport at all times in their life. It's the biggest issue for the game's growth, every other team sport we compete with (cricket, soccer, afl, etc) is non-contact. At least touch and oztag provide way to keep people in the game rather than have them leave it altogether.
Of the things to complain about, growth in touch footy is not one of them.

But it's not really "keeping them in the game" is it? It's giving them an easy way out of the game because touch and tag is not RL. It might be similar, but it's not RL. In a big city you might not worry or notice. In a small town, if you have a few blokes decide they'll quit footy because there's a tag comp to play in and it's easier you might not have enough for a footy team at all. Then you haven't helped players into RL, you've helped them out of it.

 

[T-Boon]

But it's not really "keeping them in the game" is it? It's giving them an easy way out of the game because touch and tag is not RL. It might be similar, but it's not RL. In a big city you might not worry or notice. In a small town, if you have a few blokes decide they'll quit footy because there's a tag comp to play in and it's easier you might not have enough for a footy team at all. Then you haven't helped players into RL, you've helped them out of it.

It is keeping them out of another code - when they are likely to leave league if they have that attitude anyway. Plus it is keeping them in the game if it grows oztag or touch and those become increasing pipelines into the NRL.

 

[Von Hipper]

We can argue this until the cows come home, but...

I can never see this unequal funding happening in the NRL.. I think there is very much a feel that all teams should be on a level playing field....I don't ever hear/see the poorer clubs expecting more money than the richer teams.. its not the NRL way ...

Just because the AFL does something differently I don't see that being any great argument.. they do a lot of things differently with the main benefit of giving a leg up to the NSW and QLD teams.... why the other teams go along with it is a mystery to me...

But they are literally kicking your ass. lolz

Some people are deluded. People come here to get their beliefs confirmed - but instead find them challenged!

 

[East Coast Tiger]

It is keeping them out of another code - when they are likely to leave league if they have that attitude anyone. Plus it is keeping them in the game if it grows oztag or touch and those become increasing pipelines into the NRL.

"Into the NRL"? 99.9% of RL players are no hope of making the NRL. I can't see how Oztag players are going to make it.

And if touch and tag is taking players from full contact RL there is no way anyone could possibly say it's still growing RL by growing touch or tag. Promoting something that removes players from RL and saying "hey at least they're not going to another code" is just...mental.

 

[Von Hipper]

Problem with offering tag and the easy option is it will draw even more players away from RL and kill off even more junior sides. This is why developing non-contact versions doesn't necessarily benefit RL. It works for girls and women because they're not playing RL anyway so it's a route into RL. For men and boys it's actually a route out or RL.

what? You logic is very flawed. I think you should not start from the intolerant and bigoted premise that just because its not tackle, full-blown RL means they are spitting on your honor. Get over it, dude.
Those people that play tag are not doing it to spite the game, they're doing it to stay in it. lol

 

[Von Hipper]

Agree

Having Touch, Austag, 9 a side and all other versions all dilutes the initial product which is 13 a side rugby league. I definitely don't think we should get rid of it but just be cautious with how we go about development.

You gave in and agreed with him.... hrm, the guy is Mr Super Cynical and he always will be, if it does not look like RL circa 1970's he's not happy. He's an ultra-conservatist.

its no different to NFL - despite what some may think on here - and remember you lot are hard-core or workers at/somewhere in nrl/clubs/surrounds, haha, but THERE IS NO POINT TO BEATING YOURSELF UP WEEKLY if you just want to be sporting and play a bit of recreational sport.

Its either that, or AFL or soccer, or something else. Good luck. RL would be fked without those other options!

 

[BuffaloRules]

But they are literally kicking your ass. lolz

Some people are deluded. People come here to get their beliefs confirmed - but instead find them challenged!

No they aren't.. literally or otherwise..

This is what your comments are reduced to now?

 

[T-Boon]

"Promoting something that removes players from RL and saying "hey at least they're not going to another code" is just...mental.

I disagree with this totally. In my opinion the only reason to keep Rugby League competitions in the bush at all is to continue developing juniors from the bush who might get into the NRL and to KEEP OTHER CODES OUT. It makes perfect sense to me that after the age of 25 or so people should just start playing touch footy and getting the new wave (their kids) into the junior league system (whether it be touch, tag or league). Those touch footy people will keep watching League on TV. Once they start venturing into trying out AFL they will start watching that on TV.

 

[T-Boon]

"Into the NRL"? 99.9% of RL players are no hope of making the NRL. I can't see how Oztag players are going to make it.

I am not really talking about oztag as I don't know much about it.
The beauty of touch though is it can keep the entire family involved in rugby league.
If they aren't doing so already I don't know why country rugby league clubs are not running their own touch footy competitions or getting more closely involved in the local touch comp fielding teams etc.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I disagree with this totally. In my opinion the only reason to keep Rugby League competitions in the bush at all is to continue developing juniors from the bush who might get into the NRL and to KEEP OTHER CODES OUT. It makes perfect sense to me that after the age of 25 or so people should just start playing touch footy and getting the new wave (their kids) into the junior league system (whether it be touch, tag or league). Those touch footy people will keep watching League on TV. Once they start venturing into trying out AFL they will start watching that on TV.

f**k me. You should work for the NRL. Have a read of this perfectly-timed piece.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ling-themselves-the-game-20161204-gt3ssj.html

Anyone who thinks the entire sport of RL is all about getting players into the NRL should be nowhere near the admin of the sport. *cough John Grant.

It makes perfect sense to me that after the age of 25 or so people should just start playing touch footy and getting the new wave (their kids) into the junior league system

I don't even know where to start with this bit. 25-year-olds getting their kids into JRL? Better hope they all have kids at 19 for a start. Meanwhile the number of amateur RL clubs has just deceased by 90% because everyone over 25 has quit and anyone under 25 has no club to play for and has gone to union from which the NRL has to poach all of its players.

 

[taipan]

The end result is.
If you don't have touch our league tag as an alternative for the mums who are concerned for whatever reason, the other opportunities are soccer and fumble ball.
Is it not better the kids are under the NRL banner, with down the line some kids who play non contact rl, actually wanting to try tackle as they have developed physically.They and their mums from non tackle or tackle ,better chance of being future NRL fans.
Or is it better to give the other codes a free leg up , thus a welcome mat because we're only interested in the tackle.
MY daughter played touch and understands and watches NRL, if not infrequently.
It makes following the NRL easier.

 

[franklin2323]

"Into the NRL"? 99.9% of RL players are no hope of making the NRL. I can't see how Oztag players are going to make it.

And if touch and tag is taking players from full contact RL there is no way anyone could possibly say it's still growing RL by growing touch or tag. Promoting something that removes players from RL and saying "hey at least they're not going to another code" is just...mental.

Moylan, Benji, Johnson all came from either of those 2. You are kidding yourself if you don't think RL teams have scouts at these tournaments

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I am not really talking about oztag as I don't know much about it.
The beauty of touch though is it can keep the entire family involved in rugby league.
If they aren't doing so already I don't know why country rugby league clubs are not running their own touch footy competitions or getting more closely involved in the local touch comp fielding teams etc.

Some do. But it's not keeping people in RL. It's keeping people in touch and potentially giving RL players an easy alternative to RL.

 

[franklin2323]

Tag = no money or future career
Nrl=some of the highest paid sportsmen in aus
Tag and touch footy players cross over to RL.
It brings a lot more juniors to the game and associates them with nrl clubs it's a good thing.

a skinny winger at 14 not wanting to be smashed at 21 might be ready to play RL. Oztag can fill that void still gives them the skills of RL

 

[DiegoNT]

I disagree with this totally. In my opinion the only reason to keep Rugby League competitions in the bush at all is to continue developing juniors from the bush who might get into the NRL and to KEEP OTHER CODES OUT. It makes perfect sense to me that after the age of 25 or so people should just start playing touch footy and getting the new wave (their kids) into the junior league system (whether it be touch, tag or league). Those touch footy people will keep watching League on TV. Once they start venturing into trying out AFL they will start watching that on TV.

You post a lot of stupid shit in here, but this totally takes the cake. I don't even know where to begin with this.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Moylan, Benji, Johnson all came from either of those 2. You are kidding yourself if you don't think RL teams have scouts at these tournaments

And they never played RL before that?

There is no way in hell RL clubs are watching touch and signing players. NRL clubs don't even sign good RL players if they're even slightly weaker tacklers than they expect. They're not signing up blokes who never even make a tackle.

 

[T-Boon]

You post a lot of stupid shit in here, but this totally takes the cake. I don't even know where to begin with this.

haha, thanks man. You realise you sound like you have nothing though..."I don't know where to begin" haha.

 

[T-Boon]

I don't even know where to start with this bit. 25-year-olds getting their kids into JRL? Better hope they all have kids at 19 for a start. Meanwhile the number of amateur RL clubs has just deceased by 90% because everyone over 25 has quit and anyone under 25 has no club to play for and has gone to union from which the NRL has to poach all of its players.

wouldn't the clubs still exist just with juniors even if the seniors all went to touch?

In the US everyone who is not good enough for college retires from American Football at the end of high school.