Fairly f**king ordinary situation now that it has come to this. Clubs pay the wages, have an investment in the player, yet feel as though they need to cotton wool players because the powers that be at NRL HQ think it's fine to have the entertainers (the players) back up overnight or after a couple of days break.
In the end, the fans and the game as a whole are cheated when coaches feel they need to manage the squad in such a way at this time of the year, or as usual, have no access to their players in the lead-up to origin.
These 8 weeks during origin reduces the NRL competition to second rate status. It's no wonder general interest in it falls and subsequently, crowd numbers fall too.
It's one thing to maximise the value of Origin and NRL games to the broadcaster. But it's another to protect the long-term quality and status of the competition and protect the bread & butter league.
In the end, the fans and the game as a whole are cheated when coaches feel they need to manage the squad in such a way at this time of the year, or as usual, have no access to their players in the lead-up to origin.
These 8 weeks during origin reduces the NRL competition to second rate status. It's no wonder general interest in it falls and subsequently, crowd numbers fall too.
It's one thing to maximise the value of Origin and NRL games to the broadcaster. But it's another to protect the long-term quality and status of the competition and protect the bread & butter league.