I think I’ve discussed this with you before but your memory may be a little faulty on this issue as you were back in Bradford or whatever your hometown was at that time..
It had nothing to do with “smarts”...They had no other choice but to commit to Packer as Channel 10 the contracted TV rights holders at the time went bust and Channel 7 weren’t interested...
The ARL had to sell the FTA rights to Packer, but they didnt have to throw in the PayTV for free...
There is definitely a pattern forming:
- ARL give away PayTv rights for nothing.
- ARL sign all clubs to 1 year licenses meaning they can all walk away for a better offer
- the ARL add 4 expansion teams without cutting an existing team making the 1998-2000 culling and bloodletting inevitably regardless of SL
Its almost as if the ARL people were massively incompetent.....
But no need to go back 25 years to find fault..
I blame your man Smith for bloating the admin costs and introducing the caviar and champagne lifestyle to running the game..
Hahah, ok. 9 suburban Sydney clubs sucking away a collective $120mil (not even mentioning the useless lumps at NSWRL) are all find.
But DSmith putting $20mil into HQ salaries, studies and planning is what is killing us.
(Really, i think the average NRL fan would be a Trump supporter. “I dont trust dem smart people with all their fancy numbers and studies. I only trust real people who go with their gut and use common sense”)
