this seems like a stupid idea
https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/05/...-league-and-union-broadcast-package-be-worth/
Along with COVID9, NRL and RA broadcast deals are pressing issue for both codes. Networks are playing hardball. Perhaps the unthinkable might now be worth discussing.
In this enlightened period, it is not a crime to play or for that matter enjoy both rugby union and league. Peter Ryan, Brad Thorn, Ricky Stuart, Israel Folou, Wendell Sailor, Andrew Walker and Sonny-Bill Williams. Heck, even Michael Cheika is getting in on the act.
Having taken the Wallabies to a Rugby World Cup Final, Cheika is currently cutting his teeth as an assistant coach at the Roosters. No surprise there, Cheika and Trent Robinson ran a combined Waratahs-Roosters training session back in 2014, and have a relationship which goes back to France.
Now everyone is chummier than they were in the 80s. What if the NRL and rugby were to merge and put together a combined broadcast content deal?
A real fair dinkum one. What would be the estimated value, costs, pro and cons?
While rugby union is in a strong position internationally, this is not the case in Australia.
Australian rugby should keep looking at what options are out there and forge its own path. There is no rule which says Australia must play international rugby to be profitable. NRL and RA could very well put together a jam-packed content deal for all our footy mouths to salivate over.
More League
Start of the year
– Two seven-round tournaments run in parallel. Top four finals with Semi and grand final.
1. League – Eight-team NRL NSW Experimental Rules Tournament: Rabbitohs, Dragons, Eels, Bulldogs, Sharks, Newcastle, Penrith, Tigers.
2. Union – Eight-team NRL Super Rugby Tournament; Broncos, Gold Coast, Cowboys, Melbourne Storm (playing as Rebels), Roosters, Manly, Canberra Raiders (playing as ACT Brumbies), and New Zealand Warriors (play as Western Force in Perth).
Super Rugby players, coaches and officials would be drafted into NRL franchises. It goes without saying, the Super Rugby players draft into the NRL teams and the salary cap need close scrutiny.
– One Reds versus Waratahs State of Origin,
– One Bledisloe
– Two rugby sevens Tournaments comprising all NRL teams.
From end of May to first week in October
– NRL Premiership – a 15-home and away with 16 NRL teams in current finals format (league)
– Champions Rugby Trophy – a 15-round Shute Shield and Premier Rugby competition. This would run in parallel to the NRL Premiership and feature specialist players from the NRL Super Rugby Tournament who do not stay on to play in the NRL Premiership.
– Three State of Origins (league). End of June to end of July.
– Three international Tests (rugby). July.
End of year internationals
– Two Bledisloe Cups Tests
– One Kangaroos versus Kiwis
– Possibility of other Wallaby and Kangaroo Test matches.
Aside from the dollars, it is the opportunities for players, officials and fans that makes this a good plan.
Take Joey Johns. He wanted to play in a Rugby World Cup. He never did and instead stayed loyal to the NRL. Rugby World Cups, Olympic glory in rugby sevens, let’s open it up to all Australian union and league players. Everyone should be eligible and no aspiration should be out of reach.
Then spare a thought for the poor old Super Rugby players. Far better to play regularly in front on a home crowd in an established domestic competition, than being constantly on the road, (sic sorry in the air), playing against teams on the other side of the globe that no-one from Australia could care less about.
That said, definitely a lot of cats to round up to make a combined package happen.
So, say Phil Kearns and Mal Meninga have some beers, bust a few heads and make this happen, what would a gun 1-15 Wallabies team look like featuring our best NRL and rugby talent?
And who would be your head coach picks for the NRL Super Rugby teams? Broncos – Brad Thorn? Sydney Roosters – Michael Cheika?
