WA- did we miss the boat ?

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

With a salary cap extra funds don't mean anything for player retention - no shit cheating allowed players to be retained, that's the reason for cheating - but unless your accusing Melbourne of still being over the cap then none of those arguments hold any weight

End of the day I guess we will just have to wait an see how the hooker situation plays out, as far as I'm aware B Smith doesn't have a clause in his contract, and like JAC I doubt Melbourne will grant his release without a like for like replacement

Munster is on good money and I'm sure will get an upgrade when cam leaves, he's also been marked as the future captain of the club so id say he'll be around for a while

JAC, like cronk, is leaving for family reasons.
Vunivalu - not a big loss with the number of mistakes he makes tbh

What's stopping the Storm from throwing large sums of money at juniors?

A junior will sign with a club if payments are discretely funnelled to his family.

There's no reason a junior would leave Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle or Townsville for Melbourne unless they're given an incentive. Money speaks all languages.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

You act like the Raiders relied solely on Queenslanders during their golden era.

Stuart, Daley, Clyde, Lazarus (poached by Brisbane), Mullins, O'sullivan, Furner, Jason Croker, Wiki, Nandruku, Nagas, Chicka Ferguson were not queenslanders

Daley from Junee, Stuart from Captains flat, both towns outside Canberra owned QLD in state of origin from 1990 - 1994.

Steve Walters, Kevin Walters, Gary Coyne, Darren Fritz, Peter Jackson, Steve Jackson, Gary Belcher and Mal Meninga most certainly were Queenslanders.

There were plenty of others too.

Queensland won in 1991 in what wad the closest series of all time.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

It's not just expats following AFL, this is a myth. Younger people born in QLD are following it and playing it in larger numbers, maybe they are following League also but there are no battle lines drawn anymore. When I went to high school here in the 90s it was definitely uncool to admit you followed AFL, you would probably get teased mercilessly, at least in state schools but it's just not like that anymore. The attention the Lions are getting right now with the League teams down in the doldrums would be a massive win for AFL in the sunshine state and dinosaur League fans are burying their heads in the sand - "it's just band wagoners, who cares"

This is why the NRL should be serious about Perth as well as Brisbane 2, there is no reason the same thing can't be replicated over on the west coast for League.

If you're that worried about fumbleball then you would be pushing for Brisbane to have 3 NRL clubs, strategically placed to cover every metropolitan area, so that the ARLC can run more school clinics. Three teams means 3 times as many school clinics over a wider area. Media saturation would starve the Lions of attention and sponsors would flood to the 3 NRL clubs.

I think you're just worried that Canberra will find it harder to raid Logan for talent if there are 3 teams in Brisbane.

 

[greenBV4]

What's stopping the Storm from throwing large sums of money at juniors?

A junior will sign with a club if payments are discretely funnelled to his family.

There's no reason a junior would leave Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle or Townsville for Melbourne unless they're given an incentive. Money speaks all languages.

So your advocating for a club the cheat the cap?

Melbourne would be stupid to do so after the harshest penalties in sporting history being handed to them

Players leave for Melbourne because of the stigma that every player that joins their system leaves a better player - the commentators are constantly dribbling about it

Or because Easts and Falcons are feeder clubs just like many every other nrl club has feeder contracts

Or because there current clubs don't want them and are discarded for cheap, or have hopeless scouts who can't do there job properly/see potential in players in there own region

 

[greenBV4]

If you're that worried about fumbleball then you would be pushing for Brisbane to have 3 NRL clubs, strategically placed to cover every metropolitan area, so that the ARLC can run more school clinics. Three teams means 3 times as many school clinics over a wider area. Media saturation would starve the Lions of attention and sponsors would flood to the 3 NRL clubs.

I think you're just worried that Canberra will find it harder to raid Logan for talent if there are 3 teams in Brisbane.

Because the NRL/ARLC needs an Auskick style program and to put the effort and money into school systems themselves, and not just rely on the local club to do so - because most the time the club will just send some staff member in a polo shirt, or an injured or reserve grade player anyway

Let the clubs focus on footy and getting their own finances in check, and have the NRL/ARLC get off their asses and do something themselves about school engagement

Pick the best option out of oztag/touch and unify all of those under the one banner for younger kids, maybe tweak the rules a little bit too (make it clear that this IS league), show up to school with equipment and freebies and let the kids skip class to do so (worked for me when auskick showed up, what kid wouldnt rather get to kick a ball than sit in class)

Then have introduction to contact and a proper RL in a similar format for the older kids. Merge the NSWRL and CRL with better funding for country areas and better school comps set up. Fix up the NSW cup to be more like the QLD cup with regional areas.

Theres so much more the NRL could be doing in regards to these issues than just throwing in more teams and hoping they do it

 

[NRLMad]

Nobody should underestimate what the storm have done. They’ve been at the top for like 15 years. This is almost a generation. They had some of the greatest players ever to play for them. The storm will have a base stronger than many clubs in Sydney. They have effectively won their fan base. They have won 65.93% of their games ever. The all blacks are at about 77%. All blacks generally play against duds and unequal competition. The NRL is far more equal - at least 4 teams can win each year and those team are generally changing other than the Storm.

Brisbane lions winning 1 year and underperforming every other year is not going to with them a fan base and league followers. Queensland would have a population of people who do not watch as the team is underperforming as per Brisbane. No one follows losers vocally. You might follow the team but be less enthusiastic.

Gold Coast Titans can change the way they are watched. Look at their team for next year. It’s a big change and they will be in the 8. They’ve recruited really well as have the warriors.

Brisbane will bounce back as the only way is up.

North Queensland will bounce back as Morgan will be back. So all goes back to normal.

 

[Perth Red]

If the goal is to get more kids interested in, supporting and playing RL the nrl would be better off giving the QRL another $13mill a year than spending it on another nrl club when there is already one in the city and one 1 hour away the kids could be supporters of.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

So your advocating for a club the cheat the cap?

Melbourne would be stupid to do so after the harshest penalties in sporting history being handed to them

Players leave for Melbourne because of the stigma that every player that joins their system leaves a better player - the commentators are constantly dribbling about it

Or because Easts and Falcons are feeder clubs just like many every other nrl club has feeder contracts

Or because there current clubs don't want them and are discarded for cheap, or have hopeless scouts who can't do there job properly/see potential in players in there own region

I think the Storm are cheating the cap. Brian Waldron said the only way an RL club can survive in Melbourne is by cheating.

I find it too far-fetched to believe the Storm are the only club that have a good eye for talent. A lot of the time they poach youngsters who've already made their debut for another club, then they have them languishing in Queensland Cup for a few years. It reminds me of the 90s when everyone apparently moved to Brisbane just to play under Wayne Bennett.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Nobody should underestimate what the storm have done. They’ve been at the top for like 15 years. This is almost a generation. They had some of the greatest players ever to play for them. The storm will have a base stronger than many clubs in Sydney. They have effectively won their fan base. They have won 65.93% of their games ever. The all blacks are at about 77%. All blacks generally play against duds and unequal competition. The NRL is far more equal - at least 4 teams can win each year and those team are generally changing other than the Storm.

Brisbane lions winning 1 year and underperforming every other year is not going to with them a fan base and league followers. Queensland would have a population of people who do not watch as the team is underperforming as per Brisbane. No one follows losers vocally. You might follow the team but be less enthusiastic.

Gold Coast Titans can change the way they are watched. Look at their team for next year. It’s a big change and they will be in the 8. They’ve recruited really well as have the warriors.

Brisbane will bounce back as the only way is up.

North Queensland will bounce back as Morgan will be back. So all goes back to normal.

It's virtually impossible for a team to be so dominant over a 15 year stretch when there's a salary cap in place. Every club that has been successful has lost their best players to other teams shortly afterwards. The 2 teams that haven't are Storm and Roosters. Even the Roosters have had a few seasons at the bottom.

How does a club like Melbourne keep a hold of so many superstars when other clubs cannot?

I find it far-fetched to believe they're taking a pay cut just to stay with the Storm. Players and their managers are always trying to secure the best deal these days.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

If the goal is to get more kids interested in, supporting and playing RL the nrl would be better off giving the QRL another $13mill a year than spending it on another nrl club when there is already one in the city and one 1 hour away the kids could be supporters of.

It's not easy for commuters from the outskirts of Greater Brisbane to get to and from Lang Park.

I haven't gotten home from Cowboys vs Broncos games that started at 7pm and finished around 9pm until 11pm/midnight. I live in Logan, right on the border with Brisbane.

Imagine how much longer it would take some one from Yarrabilba or Flagstone?

Just getting to Yarrabilba from where I live takes over 30 minutes.

People who live this far out aren't going to travel to Lang Park 12 times a year unless they're super dedicated and don't need to be awake early the next morning.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

This is what I like to hear.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/09/...super-rugby-and-nrl-its-all-in-the-marketing/

Walter Black
Guest
October 1st 2020 @ 8:40am

Max is right however it can change.

I live in Melbourne where AFL is rammed down your throat every which way. Its even worse for kids going to school. So it is with some surprise that I find my 13 yr old grandson leaning very much towards watching and playing (in a limited way) League and that is despite having a Richmond Tigers fan for a father (his mother is a league lover though). It may take a long time but properly nurtured and supported, things do change.​

 

[greenBV4]

This is what I like to hear.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/09/...super-rugby-and-nrl-its-all-in-the-marketing/

Walter Black
Guest
October 1st 2020 @ 8:40am

Max is right however it can change.

I live in Melbourne where AFL is rammed down your throat every which way. Its even worse for kids going to school. So it is with some surprise that I find my 13 yr old grandson leaning very much towards watching and playing (in a limited way) League and that is despite having a Richmond Tigers fan for a father (his mother is a league lover though). It may take a long time but properly nurtured and supported, things do change.​

Now imagine if the NRL had a version of auskick it could try shove into the public schools down here? Especially with the high immigrant population in Melbourne who's parents likely haven't been exposed the AFL yet

 

[greenBV4]

How does a club like Melbourne keep a hold of so many superstars when other clubs cannot?

Because Cameron Smith is the only "superstar" at the club at the moment who has been any good for more than the last few years? The rest either weren't wanted at their old club, couldn't get a crack at the first grade side before coming to Melbourne, or came through the Easts/Falcons feeder system

Munster would be next in pay grade but atm would be nowhere near Smith, he did get an upgrade when Slater left though, and I can see him, Papi and the new 9 getting upgrades when Smith leaves.

Your also forgetting the fact we don't even have a halfback or 5/8 on the field, we have 3 fullbacks filling the spine, and are severely lacking in depth for the outside backs

Idk how you can look at a stacked side like the Roosters (and the difference here is they poached players already in their prime) and think Melbourne is cheating with the lack of depth in so many key posititions

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Because Cameron Smith is the only "superstar" at the club at the moment who has been any good for more than the last few years? The rest either weren't wanted at their old club, couldn't get a crack at the first grade side before coming to Melbourne, or came through the Easts/Falcons feeder system

Munster would be next in pay grade but atm would be nowhere near Smith, he did get an upgrade when Slater left though, and I can see him, Papi and the new 9 getting upgrades when Smith leaves.

Your also forgetting the fact we don't even have a halfback or 5/8 on the field, we have 3 fullbacks filling the spine, and are severely lacking in depth for the outside backs

Idk how you can look at a stacked side like the Roosters (and the difference here is they poached players already in their prime) and think Melbourne is cheating with the lack of depth in so many key posititions

Maybe Smith and Bellamy are just that much better than everyone else and players improve when they're in a funbleball city that doesn't recognise them. Who knows. It's a mystery.

 

[Perth Red]

Its the perfect combination of:
1. excellent coaching
2. Excellent office
3. Strong recruitment of no names with untapped talent
4. Strong jnr development through a feeder club system in a RL heartland
5. Strong financial base
6. Attractive club to play for
7. Very strong club culture
8. Unearthing and retention of a number of genuine world class players all at the same time

Rarely do you see all these things come together. It wont last forever at Melbourne but sht its been fun as a Storm fan whilst it lasted!
What I've enjoyed the most is that we haven't gone out and done a Roosters and signed big name players from other clubs to get success, nearly all the talent has been picked up from around the world and developed by the club. Its a great blueprint for a Perth club to follow!

 

[MugaB]

Its the perfect combination of:
1. excellent coaching
2. Excellent office
3. Strong recruitment of no names with untapped talent
4. Strong jnr development through a feeder club system in a RL heartland
5. Strong financial base
6. Attractive club to play for
7. Very strong club culture
8. Unearthing and retention of a number of genuine world class players all at the same time

Rarely do you see all these things come together. It wont last forever at Melbourne but sht its been fun as a Storm fan whilst it lasted!
What I've enjoyed the most is that we haven't gone out and done a Roosters and signed big name players from other clubs to get success, nearly all the talent has been picked up from around the world and developed by the club. Its a great blueprint for a Perth club to follow!

Hopefully my Panthers are following this road and not the road of the Poaching Roosters, like most other teams who go to market, its fine to buy players here and there, but some clubs just buy a whole roster

 

[Perth Red]

Hopefully my Panthers are following this road and not the road of the Poaching Roosters, like most other teams who go to market, its fine to buy players here and there, but some clubs just buy a whole roster

And its probably the level bought at. If you buy an ado-carr or Brandon smith, mid level players who you then turn into world beaters it is a great reflection on your clubs abilities. If you buy a James Tedesco, Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary it is just buying success with no effort put in. Its cheque book titles. Some clubs are gre3at at bringing through local jnrs (like panthers) some are great at taking the rag tags from wherever and turning them into rep players (Storm & Raiders) others just buy established and reap the rewards of others efforts (Roosters & Knights)

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Its the perfect combination of:
1. excellent coaching
2. Excellent office
3. Strong recruitment of no names with untapped talent
4. Strong jnr development through a feeder club system in a RL heartland
5. Strong financial base
6. Attractive club to play for
7. Very strong club culture
8. Unearthing and retention of a number of genuine world class players all at the same time

Rarely do you see all these things come together. It wont last forever at Melbourne but sht its been fun as a Storm fan whilst it lasted!
What I've enjoyed the most is that we haven't gone out and done a Roosters and signed big name players from other clubs to get success, nearly all the talent has been picked up from around the world and developed by the club. Its a great blueprint for a Perth club to follow!

The ARLC should hire the Storm coaching and conditioning department and have them run an academy. Give them the 100 best juniors and turn them into superstars, then have a draft at the end of the year so all 16 clubs can select them, with 16th getting 1st pick, 15th 3nd pick and so on.

 

[MugaB]

The ARLC should hire the Storm coaching and conditioning department and have them run an academy. Give them the 100 best juniors and turn them into superstars, then have a draft at the end of the year so all 16 clubs can select them, with 16th getting 1st pick, 15th 3nd pick and so on.

This is a good idea, but it already is happening, but not on a draft level, some clubs are bringing thru juniors at a slower speed than others, and certian clubs look at panthers and think that they can emulate and academy style facility, but end up buying a bulk of their roster from elsewhere anyways, panthers have too many juniors not getting a 1st grade spot, so they get sent out to market, bulldogs, sharks, eels, warriors, dragons and tigers have bought about 25 juniors between them just from penrith in the past few seasons, and every news hub was commentating on how gold coast had bryce, peachey and latu, and how bad the juniors at Penrith must be. Its quite the opposite, its the ones we wont keep, and wont stand in their way that move elsewhere

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

This is a good idea, but it already is happening, but not on a draft level, some clubs are bringing thru juniors at a slower speed than others, and certian clubs look at panthers and think that they can emulate and academy style facility, but end up buying a bulk of their roster from elsewhere anyways, panthers have too many juniors not getting a 1st grade spot, so they get sent out to market, bulldogs, sharks, eels, warriors, dragons and tigers have bought about 25 juniors between them just from penrith in the past few seasons, and every news hub was commentating on how gold coast had bryce, peachey and latu, and how bad the juniors at Penrith must be. Its quite the opposite, its the ones we wont keep, and wont stand in their way that move elsewhere

The Cowboys have a pretty good system, but their best juniors always end up getting poached by other clubs. Whether that's due to ineptitude from head office or other clubs having more pull, God knows. One of the weaknesses of being based so far away in regional North Queensland is kids who are offered a contract by Melbourne or a Sydney club will take it.