Although Rugby League this year was the best we've seen in a while, I think there is still alot of room for improvement. You may think that I'm a winger but I like to have my say because I think we need to throw around suggestions and views so that things can be improved. Anyway since I'm so lazy, I decided to copy paste my post in another forum ("Rams & Reds"). Some things that I mention might be unrealistic or whatever so please tell me what you think and if some of the ideas could work then we could send them off to the NRL:
Alot of people say Gallop is confident, positive, professional etc. But what has he done (he did make a correct decision about the salary cap). I never hear about the development of young players, promotion of RL in Non-RL areas. In other words he has done f**k all.
They sit around and scratch their heads and wonder why our crowds are so crap. All they say is "we want to get bums on seats". We'll get off your own bum and do something about it!! A huge amount of tickets were bought then given away (warriors game) to get more people interested in RL (and the warriors). Who did this? NOT THE NRL. Low crowd numbers arn't just in sydney. The warriors should be able to get more people. Super 12 games in NZ (and Aus. too) get bloody good crowds. Yet the warriors, who apparantly represent the whole of NZ get crowds around 20k (which is pathetic IMO). They Sydney Swans get better crowds than the Raiders, Broncos, Knights. These are well established clubs in RL heartland, and each have whole cites to themselves. Something seriously doesn't add up. There's a massive market for RL. Just think about it: North QLD, NZ, Brisbane/gold coast/South Qld, Central Coast, Newcastle/Hunter, ACT, Illawarra/Wollongong, Sydney and Melbourne. What has the AFL got: Melbourne, Perth, Adeleide and Sydney and look at their crowds! There's a heap of potential in RL heartland..but its asleap. Can't the NRL understand that they have to promote the game and actually try to sell it and do it the right way. Doesn't the NRL relise that the Broncos have been established since the late eighties, have a whole city to themselves and get less people to their games than the Lions AFL club. Something just doesn't add up. Can't they see this?!
What was the general opinion of the RL fans that went to the SydVCollingwood AFL game? "...couldn't believe the atmosphere." Doesn't that say something about RL. I love going to games..Sorry..I look forward to going to games. Then when I get there I have to put up with the clown that calls my team "the mitsubishi electric bulldogs". I never here the club song played, instead I here all this disco music crap or whatever they call it. There's none of those huge banners etc etc. In my opinion its pretty shithouse.
The NRL needs to give itself a big boost. Like a revoultion. Whether it be giving away tickets etc. Once people experience a game with a huge vocal crowd they'll want to go back. At the moment the NRL is hoping that crowds slowly increase.
(correct me if I'm wrong) but I herd that if there was a pokie tax in Victoria it would not affect the AFL clubs. Why? Have a look at their season ticket holders numbers. They don't rely on no hopers sitting behind one armed bandits to keep their clubs alive..they rely on supporters..TRUE SUPPORTERS that are dedicated and go to every game, go to open training sessions etc to SUPPORT their team. We need this sort of passion installed into Rugby League. But Gallop never talks about it. He just boasts about the deal with 2GB that "is in the best interest of Rugby League" (If I hear that one more time from Gallop I'm going to rip the bastard's glasses off his head and shove them down his throat..because its all a load of bullsh*t). A caller (on 2sm) asked why 2GB got the "exclusive rights" (bullsh*t) and why other stations didn't get the chance to call games. All Gallop (who was taking calls) said was "well we beleive that 2GB do a professional job at broadcasting". Ok they get excellent ratings. But why not let other stations, who would be willing, to broadcast games (2UE, 2SM and maybe an FM station). This would increase the audience. A dickhead can work it out..2GB are offering big money to be the sole (comercial station) that can call games. Gallop isn't thinking of increasing the audience. If he was fair dinkum he would make sure that games are broadcasted right across Australia through the maquarie network(2GB). He would let channel 7, 10 and ABC show games if they want to. They are (nrl) staving for money (which is fair enough) BUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THIS MONEY? f**k ALL. No promotion, sh*t development of jouniors. They arn't looking into the future. What ever happened to "that's my team" that was a five minute wonder.
During superleague Rugby League in Australia fell into a deep hole. We need to get ourselves out of the hole. The NRL are hoping that somebody will help us. But it will never happen.
