Player burnout: Why is it so hard, it's just simple Mathemat

[ozzy_ozman]

Player burnout: Why is it so hard, it's just simple Mathematics
www.rleague.com
Written by: James Stewart

Player burnout - its the issue that has been hovering above the game for a little while now.

For the last few years we've heard plenty from the players that the season is too long.

And the number of games is growing.

Rugby League as a game is trying to push for an expanded and growing international program to try and turn the tide against the game internationally, especially as rugby union expands. I don't think anyone in the game wants to try and reduce the growth of test football in Rugby League.

But the problem arises that without reducing the numbers of internationals the only way to achieve this goal is to reduce the length of the NRL and ESL seasons.

The biggest cries are coming from the Australian NRL players.

The games elite players - those that play up to 30 games in the NRL + Origin + Tests - barely have a break between the end of an international program around November till the start of new years NRL season. Most NRL clubs are already back into pre-season training now.

Players of recent times have been criticised with the claims that players in the past - particularily in the part-time era - played as many or even more games a season than now. Remember the pre-season comps and the mid-week cups along with the 22 game NSWRL season with finals, origin and plenty of tests? Throw the odd Kangaroo tour in and thats a lot of games.

However, has the intesity of the game changed where there is no chance of players being able to coast through games as they once might have? Is it really all that different or worse now than it once was? Or is it even easier with the players fulltime and plenty of physiotherapists at their disposal?

But I'll leave it up to those who have played the game at the highest level to judge on whether the games 10-20 years ago were tougher on the body over the course of the season than those of todays.

The biggest issue is money - and this is where the maths comes into it.

Both the NRL and the ESL cannot financially reduce the length of their seasons. The administration and the clubs both cannot afford it. This has been stated over and over.

Where is all the money going: The Players.
Who is complaining about the length of the season: The Players.

Simple mathematics. The players either accept the responsibilities to the game that they gain through their paychecks and play the games required of them, or they take pay cuts to allow the NRL and the ESL to financially afford the shortening of the seasons.

Really, the ball is in the players court. They either put up or shut up on the issue.

 

[Willow_2003]

Source please.

 

[OVP]

Source please.

Its gotta be Rleague with such tremendous quality control as this ...

"However, has the intesity of the game"

:lol:

 

[Booyah]

Fri Nov 19, 1:30pm (NSW)
Written by: James Stewart

Looks like an Rleague special...

 

[t-ba]

Nice use of sources to back the article up too...Seems like there is a horde of players pleading for time off...shame he can't be bothered to track down a single quote from the gigantic chorus of dissent...

 

[Willow_2003]

Yeah I agree guys. Should have checked the name a bit closer. Thanks.

 

[ozzy_ozman]

i really thought it was a good article to read...

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Reduce the season by 10-15% of it's games and reduce the players pay checks by 10-15%.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Look if they say theyre too tired, why didnt they say that in 2000 where they played 8 matches, including the warm up games before the World Cup. Or even last year when they toured England.

We need more international games, if they dont like it then they shouldnt go. Take the players that want to go.

But I agree we should reduce the season, play the Grand Final a week earlier.

I dont hear any GB players so theyre too stale and worn out, and they play 30 games in the ESL add to that the Challenge Cup.

 

[Genius Freak]

If they don't like it they can get a real job. I'll trade lives with one of those guys anyday. Hope they enjoy going into work 52 weeks a year.

 

[greeneyed]

Exactly. They play once a week in season. They have months off every year completely. They train "full time", but that is nowhere near what the ordinary person puts in in hours every week. They are a bunch of whingers, and ought to realise that they have a duty to promote rugby league internationally. Jaded.... #-o They just want more time to play golf and PS2?!!!!! It is a joke.

The Tri series should be played at least every two years, with other years available for more traditional three test tours.... Personally, I would like to see Tri series played every year now, one year in Britain/France, one year in Australia/NZ.... giving the other countries that experience every year is what is needed to toughen them up for the contest.

 

[realredhillboy]

if they want to play less football they should be prepared to take less pay

 

[gregstar]

if they want to play less football they should be prepared to take less pay

yep!

 

[King Tigerman]

if they want to play less football they should be prepared to take less pay

but that wont happen sone clubs want the salary cap increased
but theyre hypocrites because they had a viote on whether they want the amount of games lessened ONLY 1 CLUB SAID YES

 

[CouldaBeenAnything]

The clubs don't want to decrease the amount of games cause that means less $$$ coming in the gates, less jumpers sold at merchandising stands etc etc.

 

[greeneyed]

This player burnout theory was roundly rejected by the UK players today. As they pointed out, they play more games than they do in the NRL and they are desperate to play the Tri Series again next year.... and they are not worried at all about burnout.... they are proud to play for their country. If the wimps who don't want to play for Australia don't want to play... toss them out. Don't ever let them play for Australia again and select some players who are enthusiastic and who want to play for their country.

 

[aussie_londoner]

Exactly. They play once a week in season. They have months off every year completely. They train "full time", but that is nowhere near what the ordinary person puts in in hours every week. They are a bunch of whingers, and ought to realise that they have a duty to promote rugby league internationally. Jaded.... They just want more time to play golf and PS2?!!!!! It is a joke.

Im not so sure about that, i know many players who put a hell of a lot of time and effort into training and make a lot of sacrifices so they can play.

i know of a player a couple of months ago who didnt get drunk on the night of his 21st so he would be able to work on his fitness the next day, and also spent the money he recieved as presents that night on a push bike for training.

The young players who are trying to crack more first grade time put in a lot more effort than you think. f**k i know while id love the fame, but im happy to work the hours i do, for the money i get, and not have to punish my body the way they do.

not everyone whinges about the number of games they play or how much they have to train, some of them love doing it for the chance to play first grade

 

[greeneyed]

Exactly. They play once a week in season. They have months off every year completely. They train "full time", but that is nowhere near what the ordinary person puts in in hours every week. They are a bunch of whingers, and ought to realise that they have a duty to promote rugby league internationally. Jaded.... They just want more time to play golf and PS2?!!!!! It is a joke.

Im not so sure about that, i know many players who put a hell of a lot of time and effort into training and make a lot of sacrifices so they can play.

i know of a player a couple of months ago who didnt get drunk on the night of his 21st so he would be able to work on his fitness the next day, and also spent the money he recieved as presents that night on a push bike for training.

The young players who are trying to crack more first grade time put in a lot more effort than you think. f**k i know while id love the fame, but im happy to work the hours i do, for the money i get, and not have to punish my body the way they do.

not everyone whinges about the number of games they play or how much they have to train, some of them love doing it for the chance to play first grade

OMG... you mean an elite athlete decided not to get drunk one night so they could train!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, there are players who actually want to play and would love to play for their country. This is my point. The whinging about how much they have to play is ridiculous. If they don't want to play, they don't deserve to play and they can be blacklisted from playing for their country as far as I'm concerned.

 

[aussie_londoner]

OMG... you mean an elite athlete decided not to get drunk one night so they could train!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my point was it was his 21st, a night when most young blokes i know end up unable to speak, but this blokes desire to play top flite rugby league outways anything else in his life. some players sook about there burnout, bollocks, kick them out of the game, its usually the overpaid "stars" anyway. the vast majority of players are very gratefull of the opportunity to play the game at that level and dont whinge.

and bennett needs to f**k off too with his season is too long shit that he goes on with. he seems to have picked a lot of broncos in the Aus squad making there season longer still.