Would be an interesting read to see where the administrators see the game heading.
Woods99 said:I would be very interested to see how the following dilemmas in the game can be resolved:
This is the pinnacle of the game domestically. But you're right it does have a high level of status in RL land generally... this is not necessarily a bad thing.. the inter-country matches need to play catch up in status. it's not unusual for clubs matches in some sports, eg soccer, to be of a higher quality than inter-country matches. Its about buliding the status for the inter-country clashes that need to be done for RL.1. The pinnacle of the game internationally is SOO. This is a game between two states of Australia.
I'd love to see Victoria get smashed in a SOO if they get enough player resources to enter a team.1.1 If the game expands nationally, what happens to players from other states...will other states eventually be admitted to an expanded SOO. While it might be difficult for existing supporters to believe, Melbourne people might become interested in league, but they are unlikely to want to take sides in a contest between Qld and NSW, and ditto for the other states.
I believe the number of rounds for the NRL is going to decrease.1.2 The existence of the SOO, plus an expanded club competition, plus a full international schedule, puts unreasonable demands on elite players. The club competition is essential, for obvious reasons. Which of the other two, SOO or internationals, is less essential?
What a load of rubbish. Stupid in fact.2. The game as it is played in the NRL is at a far higher standard than the game as played in any other competition. This is likely to mean that Australian, and New Zealand players who play in the NRL will remain of higher skill levels, fitness, and overall quality than players who play in lesser competitions. Thus, Australia, and to some extent New Zealand should remain the top international teams for the forseeable future. The only way for other countries, like France, and England, to compete long-term is for the NRL to be weakened.
The over $15 million of sponsorship for this year's SOO is a good start. Ticket sales, other RL sponsorships, profit from Tri-nations etc etc... their are many sources of income.3. It is stated from time to time that rugby league must enhance its international profile, and I think that this is right. Who will pay for the development and propagation of rugby league, from the grass-roots, in new potential international competitors?
Copa said:What a load of rubbish. Stupid in fact.
France will be entering a team into Super League soon and a second french team in SL is also being talked about. This will increase their abilities. Increasing rivalries, resources and player numbers in both France and the nations within GB will result in increased skill levels.
Woods99 said:2. The game as it is played in the NRL is at a far higher standard than the game as played in any other competition. This is likely to mean that Australian, and New Zealand players who play in the NRL will remain of higher skill levels, fitness, and overall quality than players who play in lesser competitions. Thus, Australia, and to some extent New Zealand should remain the top international teams for the forseeable future. The only way for other countries, like France, and England, to compete long-term is for the NRL to be weakened.
Overseas stars of nrl quality earn considerably more in Europe. That is why they don't play here.Woods99 said:Copa,
It is never "stupid" to ask questions, even if they are rhetorical. Just for the record, I have done a fair bit of strategy work for one of the world's leading sporting organisations (not in Australia, and not in any of the football codes).
Let me re-state the point I was trying to make. The NRL is acknowledged as the most intensive, highest quality, league competition in the world. I occasionally watch the ESL, and it is a couple of steps down the ladder.
This differential is evidenced by the fact that there is only one overseas star in the NRL (other than New Zealanders), whereas there are dozens of pretty good Aussies and New Zealanders in the ESL. Nevertheless, the ESL is slower and noticeably less intensive than the NRL.
Do you seriously believe that there is any reason that this gap between the quality of players, and play, in the NRL, and that of overseas competitions, will be narrowed? If you do, how will it happen?
It can only happen by either the NRL becoming comparatively weaker than the other competitions, or the other competitions becoming comparatively stronger.
The only competition, from your own post, that has any chance of becoming comparatively stronger is the ESL.....is this enough to create a genuinely interesting, varied, and competitive international schedule? At best it will make the British team more competitive, which it used to be, in spades, when I started to get interested in rugby league.
So that will be it, will it? Just Australia, New Zealand, and Britain. That is the inevitable outcome for the very long forseeable future....unless the NRL is deliberately weakened to allow some other players from some other competitions to catch up, and to make their national teams competitive.
Stupid? A load of rubbish? It probably is. You are right in one sense. There will never be more than three competitive teams in international rugby league, in that case.
taxidriver said:
Hook line and sinker.... should have read the damn thing first. :lol:Copa said:Link doesn't work for me.
Copa said:You'd be crazy to think that when the SL strengthens and increases in size they are not going to develop other areas and improve those regions as well. Aus invited the kiwis into the NRL... the kiwis have improved dramtically. France will improve with the SL exposure, GB will improve with tri-nations exposure.... it all flows on to elsewhere..
Do you seriously believe that the gap between the quality of players, and play, in the NRL, and that of overseas competitions, will not be narrowed? If you do, why will it never happen?
taxidriver said: