The root of all that's wrong with our game

[Paullyboy]

Last night's clusterf**k of a crowd (and game for that matter) has shone a blinding light on the fact that all isn't perfect in the world of rugby league. The game isn't necessarily in bad shape, but it sure as sh*t isn't in the shape it should be.

And the root of the issue is actually quite simple to fix. The biggest problem we have is this advance contract dribble that has occupied the hearts and souls of every rugby league media identity (that is, when they're not focusing on drugs).

How have we not fixed this issue by now? There isn't a single person who could explain to me that there is a benefit in having players sign a 2018 contract with the vast majority of 2017 still ahead of us. I get why it started, we had to fight off rugby union, AFL and Super League who were poaching our best talent. It was a legitimate issue, and by allowing our NRL clubs open slather on the open market it did a great job in stopping the flood of talent out of our competition.

But times have changed! The AFL won't be wasting their time on league players again and the freak circumstances that allowed the ARU and Super League to have a seemingly unlimited fund are gone. So why are we still destroying our sport? There is no other reason than to fight off competition for players, and that isn't an issue anymore.

All contract negotiations should happen in the off season, therefore the media can actually focus on talking about the game, and then all of a sudden crowds and TV ratings will go up with them.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Until the NRL can get its shit together on crowd attendance, it's time to embrace the suburban ground. This embarrassing rubbish with images of empty seats out the wazoo is really becoming tiresome. Also f**k ANZ Stadium.

 

[Paullyboy]

It's not hard to know why people aren't going - they probably don't even realise there are game on in 2017.

Unless you go out of your way to look up the schedule, you wouldn't even know there was a game on - you've got to sift through 3 pages (I assume, I don't know if printed newspapers even exist anymore) of "Will Cronk sign with Newcastle for 2018? When will Moses get to the Eels? Blah, blah, blah about the big 4 - before you even see mention of any actual games taking place.

 

[Pedge1971]

The issue is more the personalities in the media doing the reporting than just the signing saga.

Solve that problem and they will just find/create a new headline to death ride the gane. Anything to draw focus away from the good stuff happening on the field.

This all started when News was allowed to take an ownership stake in the game. They now own clubs and media rights but basically shit on the game from afar.

Until they and their cancerous cronies who sway decisions on the game are removed, expect status quo.

 

[Hawkins]

What was the official crowd figure and were there more players, coaches, staff and stadium staff in the building than fans?

 

[Nice Beaver]

That fat turd Shane Richardson was a massive advocate for clubs using the big stadiums and killing off the suburban grounds.

It was part of his blueprint when his fat carcass graced the halls of NRL headquarters. I am certain he actually said he did not care that the games were played in empty stadiums.

Clubs take their games to ANZ etc because they get paid a lot of money to do so, and you can hardly blame them.

Manly have tried for years to get funding to upgrade Brookie, but never get the required assistance. Then everyone whinges the ground is shit and games should not be played there.

The NRL's agenda is very clearly to push clubs out of the suburbs and into the vast metal coffins.

Strike number 278 on Greenjizz's watch.

 

[Front-Rower]

Every game live, every week with no ad breaks. That's one major cause of our problems. The other major cause of our problems is poor scheduling. Who thought day/night football at 4pm Sunday was a good idea or games on Thursday/Monday where the way forward. Ticket prices are a joke. Why pay upwards of $30 (or more like last time I went to the SFS) for GA tickets plus food/drink etc..when people can pay roughly $60-70 a month for every game live, every week with no ad breaks.

 

[Paullyboy]

Every game live, every week with no ad breaks. That's one major cause of our problems. The other major cause of our problems is poor scheduling. Who thought day/night football at 4pm Sunday was a good idea or games on Thursday/Monday where the way forward. Ticket prices are a joke. Why pay upwards of $30 (or more like last time I went to the SFS) for GA tickets plus food/drink etc..when people can pay roughly $60-70 a month for every game live, every week with no ad breaks.

How is that different than any other sport though? I have no idea what you pay to watch union, soccer or AFL - but I bet it isn't too dissimilar.

 

[Rabbit toes]

To generate interest in the game you need people talking about it. Surburban grounds with uniqueness and atmosphere is a step in that direction.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

As f**ked as the contract merry go round has been, I don't think it's the reason no bastard went to last night's game.

There's a heap of reasons why crowds are shit and games are boring. But if you wanted to talk about "the root of the game's problems" it's begins and ends with administration in general. We all know the sport, at its core, is brilliant.

 

[justdave]

Saw the thread title and was going to say JHayne. But after reading posts, I won't

 

[Hawkins]

Every game live, every week with no ad breaks. That's one major cause of our problems. The other major cause of our problems is poor scheduling. Who thought day/night football at 4pm Sunday was a good idea or games on Thursday/Monday where the way forward. Ticket prices are a joke. Why pay upwards of $30 (or more like last time I went to the SFS) for GA tickets plus food/drink etc..when people can pay roughly $60-70 a month for every game live, every week with no ad breaks.

its $120 for the year under the digital pass which is just the foxtel feed.

($4 a week for the season + finals.)

But you'll be happy to know I also go to a few Raiders games.

Clap on.

 

[Front-Rower]

But you'll be happy to know I also go to a few Raiders games.

I go to Tigers games as well.

The over saturated live TV coverage and high ticket prices however give people reasons not to go. The best incentive i always personally found to get out to the game was the fact that it wasn't live on TV.

 

[Parra]

I thought this would be a thread about the 10 metre rule.

 

[simmo05]

Main issues for me, terrible game times, and playing at Homebush. It is a terrible atmosphere when empty.
The nrl need to break the stranglehold the networks hold over the sport and dictate to them the game times and fixtures. Maybe accept a little bit less on the next deal to facilitate this.

 

[Pommy]

Do people really believe ticket prices are high? Sure they could be cheaper but I hardly think they are high.
Fairly often you can get a family pass for $50.
I paid $25 for three games last weekend.

Origin and grand finals are high normal round games I'm not sure how much cheaper they could make it.

Main issues for me, terrible game times, and playing at Homebush. It is a terrible atmosphere when empty.
The nrl need to break the stranglehold the networks hold over the sport and dictate to them the game times and fixtures. Maybe accept a little bit less on the next deal to facilitate this.

Homebush isn't even good when it's full. It's alright but it's hardly what a city of Sydneys size deserves.
Still I'm forcing myself to go tonight.

 

[TheVelourFog]

Rugby League is dead last in this country when it comes to their marketing nouse and management of the game

They continuously shoot themselves in the foot

They cannibalise and cheapen their main product, they marginalise the International Game, they allow criminals and cheats to prosper, they change the rules mid-season with no regard for continuity, they allow contract negotiations to ramble on and take oxygen away from the actual game, and they perpetuate every single negative stereotype about fans of Rugby League by allowing shit like the Footy Show to exist.

I love Rugby League but ffs it needs to give itself an uppercut

 

[Cumberland Throw]

Well NRL takes over schedule next year

Anz is being torn down and changed to a rl ground in 2019 ..2020

So let's just focus on 2018..2019..2020

Like the media

 

[DiegoNT]

To blame all the contract talk on the problems and crowds is a bit off a cop out. Seeing players swap mid season, even players from my own club who i like, won't stop me from watching games. The constant contract talks helps create a 24 hour news cycle in rugby league. Only 2 sports in this country, nrl and afl, have that constant 24 hour news cycle (and the attention and interest it creates) and all other sports would kill to have it. For example i remember a few years ago the v8 supercar championed suggested the idea of mid week judiciary for incidents at the last race as a means of getting attention mid week as between rounds the sport is pretty much forgetten. Even cricket struggles for attention unless a match is on. No one actually tunes into promotional stuff, but plenty of people will read/watch/ listen to the latest bit of news where cronk is going next year.

As for last nights game, it at first seemed like a dumb piece of scheduling. Why put bulldogs vs Cowboys on a Thursday in sydney. But at the end of the day no matter what time you schedule this fixture it'll always draw a poor crowd because cowboys always draw a poor crowd in sydney. It at least gave an opportunity for 2 teams with a large following, one in sydney and one throughout Queensland. Swapping this game with any other this round would of meant Compromising a game that will at least get an average crowd (any other game this weekend) for a game that would never draw a crowd no matter when it's played. Alternatively losing the Thursday night game would lose a lot of review and lose 10s of thousands of viewers. Playing it lunchtime Sunday or Sunday night (the only available timeslots free on the weekend) may be better for crowds. But while it may gain an extra couple of thousand through the gate you'll lose way more tv viewers and therefore lose more money.
While it makes more money for the nrl there is no getting around that empty stadiums aren't a good look. But this needs to be layed back on the clubs. It's the clubs that pick the venues and it's up to them to play the games at an appropriate sized venues. The nrl should compensate for getting the dead slots ( Thursday and Friday arvo) so clubs can offer heavily discounted tickets for these games

 

[simmo05]

Do people really believe ticket prices are high? Sure they could be cheaper but I hardly think they are high.
Fairly often you can get a family pass for $50.
I paid $25 for three games last weekend.

Origin and grand finals are high normal round games I'm not sure how much cheaper they could make it.



Homebush isn't even good when it's full. It's alright but it's hardly what a city of Sydneys size deserves.
Still I'm forcing myself to go tonight.

I think ticket prices are fair, piss and food are steep, but no one is forcing anyone to partake. I do though