RL independence day arrives - NRL Independent Commission announced for November 1

[Frailty]

I think the Australian Rugby Union went international (Super Rugby, Tri-Nations) for 2 reasons
- Money from South Africa's participation.. especially since their time-zones match well with Europe - great for TV rights.
- The appeal to viewers of seeing the best Australian players playing against All Blacks (and fringe All Blacks) every week. This also helps raise the depth of Australian rugby over time.

You can't use the same arguments for the NRL - there's not the same profile in South Africa and Europe for a start.

Also, as much as it pains me to say it.. it's a tough to picture an NRL club in New Zealand or anywhere else outside Australia in the near future.

Because the NRL is a long season (March-Sep) and it overlaps with the Super Rugby AND National Provincial Championship rugby, it's a scheduling headache to try and fit an NRL club into anywhere in NZ, without breaking limits for the number of events that can be held at major stadiums.. for fear of annoying nearby residents.

As for the islands, I doubt that there's the population density to support it, except for PNG.. but then there's the security concerns that have been raised here before.

So for the next 10 years the NRL has no choice but to get the Australia sorted out - the Commission has to look at the balance of the competition in Australia before even THINKING of another overseas team.

It's not a bad thing, as it also gives the Warriors a decent shot at establishing themselves as a strong consistent team before they get challenged by another NZ-based side. After 15 years of false-starts & mis-steps, they seem to finally be on the right path *fingers crossed*

My point was that, unlike union, we should focus on our domestic comp. Because once you focus on the international without securing your domestic competitions you end up with the current scenario with Australian Rugby. Poor crowds, no real grass roots, and spending key coin to keep your talent players from leaving (because no one as good is there to replace them with) or steal them from another code.

Rugby in Australia is a prime example as how not to expand your competition and product in this country.

 

[taipan]

The game needs well-meaning administrators who know the game and care about every level of it. Otherwise it will just be a business run like a business by business people. That means areas of the game that aren't seen as profitable or valuable will be neglected or even done away with. That means grassroots football and internationals. International football could be very valuable to RL but it won't be under an NRL-centric IC where the clubs will throw their weight around even more than they already to. They've already ruined next year's international calendar because club football has been deemed more important than internationals. Imagine what that means for grassroots football which, according to some, doesn't provide revenue for the game. After months and months of talk about the IC and it make-up there is still no answer as to what kind of constituation it will answer to, and whether international and grassroots football is catered for. That's the biggest issue, not who is on it.

That is why John Grant and Pearce are on board.I suggest they have a fair idea about passion and the nuts and bolts of the game.

Internationals are part of the tv deal ,and therefore bring in part of the i.C income.The clubs will have no choice ,but to release players.After all the players get additional money to play the rep games,and holding them back would be a restraint of trade.
If the QRL are now happy and have signed the new deal, grassroots would have been protected.

 

[taipan]

"All News Ltd have is last rights offer on PayTV"


Which is all they wanted in the first place. Playing straight into their hands.

And what if they are offered a watered down offering on the pay Tv channel, after more content goes the way of the FTA channels.In other words if the FTA boys get serious on thebidding, Foxtel will have to get off their large backsides and do likewise.

The last rights offer is no 100% guarantee that they will get it,if some idiot pays well overs.They have last right of refusal to match ,or bid higher to get it.Of course they want rl, without it they would be financially weaker by a long shot.

Gallop surprisingly has stated,that Fox cannot take the code for granted on TV rights.Virtually admitting we were rorted last time.

 

[Parra]

Keep trying Union Boy,

And you keep believing everything you read in the Daily Telegraph.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

That is why John Grant and Pearce are on board.I suggest they have a fair idea about passion and the nuts and bolts of the game.

Internationals are part of the tv deal ,and therefore bring in part of the i.C income.The clubs will have no choice ,but to release players.After all the players get additional money to play the rep games,and holding them back would be a restraint of trade.
If the QRL are now happy and have signed the new deal, grassroots would have been protected.

Based on what evidence? There is no constitution. How can we agree to anything without one? THAT is where the detail is. THAT is where we can be gauranteed of getting what we need. There are no gaurantees at present.

 

[Parra]

You've just got to have faith East Coast Tiger.

There is as much detail released as the architects want released.

The lack of information should be a concern. Apparently not.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I have little faith in the NRL, News Ltd or the clubs to get this right. They've all shown they are either not up to it or have interests contrary to the best interests of the game.

 

[Green Machine]

And you keep believing everything you read in the Daily Telegraph.

I buy the SMH each day Union Boy,

 

[Paul J]

The lack of documentation currently allows fans to suggest the IC will do absolutely anything. I could suggest the IC will revoke the licenses of all NRL Sydney teams and move the rest of the comp to Istanbul, where’s the proof they won’t?

Killing off rep games and grass roots is obviously a stupid thing to do, I cannot imagine an IC being that stupid.

 

[Frailty]

The lack of documentation currently allows fans to suggest the IC will do absolutely anything. I could suggest the IC will revoke the licenses of all NRL Sydney teams and move the rest of the comp to Istanbul, where’s the proof they won’t?

Killing off rep games and grass roots is obviously a stupid thing to do, I cannot imagine an IC being that stupid.

Has anyone read the constitution of the AFL? I'm trying to find it but can't.

I believe they will move AFL to NZ.

 

[Parra]

Noises are already being made to get rid of City vs Country.

Killing something by neglect or attrition works well. Doesn't have to mean axing.

The key for all elements of the game will be to make money. There is no way any money spinner will be cut. Tough for some levels though, including internationals.

Same reasoning applies when it comes to stand alone state of origin. The cost of not having at least six games on a weekend is too great.

Even the recent suggestion of moving origin to Mondays was met with a "I'll ask channel 9" from Gallop.

 

[Parra]

I buy the SMH each day Union Boy,

What a good machine you are.

 

[Parra]

Reserve grade disappeared as well. Same justification.

As good as it was for the sport, it didn't do anything for the media companies.

 

[Frailty]

I know what you mean Parra... because the Reserve Grade AFL died in the arse when their commission took over...

 

[Quidgybo]

I have little faith in the NRL, News Ltd or the clubs to get this right. They've all shown they are either not up to it or have interests contrary to the best interests of the game.

Hence a Commission of highly skilled and experienced individuals independent of all those vested interests in whom we have no faith to get it right.

Leigh.

 

[taipan]

Based on what evidence? There is no constitution. How can we agree to anything without one? THAT is where the detail is. THAT is where we can be gauranteed of getting what we need. There are no gaurantees at present.

Based on the fact two of the commissioners have gone through the system via grassroots rugby league.
They will have some input,as will all on the I.C.
The QRL hedged signing on the basis of ensuring grassroots support in Qld was covered.They have since signed the deeds.

One of the heads of the AFL commission Graeme Samuel,had little knowledge of the game and the structure.If anyone can tell me that mob neglects grassroots,I will give mine to the cat.

Of course the detail is in the final constitution, not yet published and it won't be till the I.C is officially announced .
Of course there are no guarantees,without sighting the official document,but give the signatories and the people on the new i.C ,some nouse on how to grow a business.When some have started these businesses from the bottom up.
Without a strong base,you have no foundations.

Even News finally got the message in Victoria in 95,money has to be spent at the grassroots level to grow and strengthen the game.

 

[taipan]

You've just got to have faith East Coast Tiger.

There is as much detail released as the architects want released.

The lack of information should be a concern. Apparently not.

The architects as you like to call them will not release an agreement ,until all the docs have been signed and the legalities attended to .
The architect was Searle,he is not involved in the organisation of the I.C.:roll:
As someone mentioned the date for the I.C establishment was not made by the parties involved,but the media hounds.
Why release something that has not reached fruition.

 

[Parra]

One of the parties involved being the biggest media hound there is.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Based on the fact two of the commissioners have gone through the system via grassroots rugby league.
They will have some input,as will all on the I.C.
The QRL hedged signing on the basis of ensuring grassroots support in Qld was covered.They have since signed the deeds.

One of the heads of the AFL commission Graeme Samuel,had little knowledge of the game and the structure.If anyone can tell me that mob neglects grassroots,I will give mine to the cat.

Of course the detail is in the final constitution, not yet published and it won't be till the I.C is officially announced .
Of course there are no guarantees,without sighting the official document,but give the signatories and the people on the new i.C ,some nouse on how to grow a business.When some have started these businesses from the bottom up.
Without a strong base,you have no foundations.

Even News finally got the message in Victoria in 95,money has to be spent at the grassroots level to grow and strengthen the game.

So no gaurantees of anything then? We have to trust the people involved - namely News Ltd and the clubs. Pardon me for being cynical.

 

[flippikat]

My point was that, unlike union, we should focus on our domestic comp. Because once you focus on the international without securing your domestic competitions you end up with the current scenario with Australian Rugby. Poor crowds, no real grass roots, and spending key coin to keep your talent players from leaving (because no one as good is there to replace them with) or steal them from another code.

Rugby in Australia is a prime example as how not to expand your competition and product in this country.

Comparing Rugby with League is a bit like apples & oranges.

New Zealand rugby has a provincial championship that's been running for decades, but there's no way it could be the top-line competition, because the TV rights money would be nowhere near what you need for our top players. As it is, some of provincial unions are struggling..

I can't see an Australian-only competition being much better. For a start, there's not the depth for it.. as it is, it'll be some time before all 5 Australian super rugby teams are competitive - if that ever happens.

In the 1990s the ARU had a choice of pouring money into a national competition that may have become profitable later, or hooking up with NZ & SA for something that could pay it's way and even earn money to plow back into the game at club level.

Rugby League in Australia doesn't need to do that because right now there's better returns in expanding within Australia than looking to NZ, the Pacific or South Africa.

That will change - especially in NZ - but it can wait until the situation in Australia is settled. (ie How many NSW clubs? how many Qld clubs? How many frontier clubs? And - WHERE are the clubs all based?)