Why has RL such a low national profile?

[Perth Red]

Travelling around a number of airports this week couldn't help but notice how low the profile of RL clubs are compared to every other sport.

dropped into the airport sports store in Melbourne for example to get a new Storm cap and was dismayed to see every AFL club, every A-League club, tons of Wallaby gear, cricket gear and even some super 14 gear.

No melbourne storm gear, no NRL gear and no Kangaroo merchandise.
Do RL fans not buy merchandise or is the NRL just extremely poor at promoting the sport?

 

[iggy plop]

I walked into a herbal shop the other day and there was nothing to do with Rugby League either. I trecked over the road to buy a CD at an alternative music store and there was no RL to be seen again.

I think you could be on to something here Perth Red!

All those people who claim the NRL smashes union in merchandise sales must be on drugs hey.

 

[Perth Red]

Funny cause I was in SPORTS shop.

 

[iggy plop]

I was in a fruit shop too

Forget to tell ya..

 

[Nuke]

I'm with PerthRed. Personally, I put it down to self-centredness (is that even a word?). Aussie rules and rugby union are incredibly full of themselves, so they'd stick anything with their logos on it anywhere they possibly can. Check out any bookstore (particularly here in Perth) in the sports section as an example. Look at how many books aussie rules keep bringing out. Compare that to League, and there's a massive difference. The only League books freely available are biographies (Arthur Beetson, Bill Harrigan, Gorden Tallis, ect). The RL Yearbooks used to be there too, but since BigLeague have taken over them, they no longer appear in bookstores. Aussie rules seem to have profile books on their more marketable players (I assume that's who they are), profile books on all the clubs, books like 'Idiots Guide To Aussie Rules' (which is quite apt in my opinion, because you'd have to be an idiot to even want to play or support that garbage), season review books, 'every game ever played' kinda books, and of course, the biographies as well.

I know a lot of people don't like Reg Reagan, but he really does a great job lifting the profile of League in non-League areas. The book, dvds, and single (when it was out), plus the promotion stuff on ACA, ect did possibly more than the NRL has done to get our game out there.

 

[iggy plop]

I do feel for you guys over in Perth. The biggest negative out of a stack of negatives to come out of Super League was the inexcusable axing of the Reds.

A massive opportunity lost. I remember the Reds getting great coverage in the West Australian newspaper, even the local league got decent coverage. Didn't the local GF once attract a crowd of around 10K? Back when Dave Brown used to coach in the local comp.

 

[choc_soldier]

Aussie rules seem to have profile books on their more marketable players (I assume that's who they are), profile books on all the clubs, books like 'Idiots Guide To Aussie Rules' (which is quite apt in my opinion, because you'd have to be an idiot to even want to play or support that garbage), season review books, 'every game ever played' kinda books, and of course, the biographies as well.

And the Melbourne street directory has an AFL edition too.

I kid you not.

"Official street directory of the AFL"

:lol:

 

[Thomas]

I'm with PerthRed. Personally, I put it down to self-centredness (is that even a word?). Aussie rules and rugby union are incredibly full of themselves, so they'd stick anything with their logos on it anywhere they possibly can.

I think the term you are after is incredibly good at marketing their product.

If the NRL/ARL put half as much effort as the AFL and ARU into marketing they'd go gangbusters.

Still haven't seen any ads on TV (both FOX and FTA) promoting the start of the NRL season......and I live in Brisbane.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Still haven't seen any ads on TV (both FOX and FTA) promoting the start of the NRL season......and I live in Brisbane.

At least you guys have the ads in the trains, thats some promotion, I haven't see diddly squat in Sydney.

 

[Paullyboy]

What ads are in trains in Brisbane?

I see Broncos adds a fair bit in the rag, but thats about it.

 

[DJ1]

Why has RL such a low national profile?

Lack of innovation and leadership within the marketing area.

 

[MightySharks]

At least you guys have the ads in the trains, thats some promotion, I haven't see diddly squat in Sydney.

FOX have had 2006 NRL ads

 

[ozjet1]

Lack of innovation and leadership within the marketing area.

pains me to say, but elite rugby league still appears to be run like a semi-pro suburban comp - the days of the NSWRL. it's on par wih Sydney club rugby, imo....with better coverage.

 

[Dogs Of War]

FOX have had 2006 NRL ads

I don't have fox so I haven't seen them.

As for the ones I saw in the Trains, they were more Broncos related, but thats better than none.

 

[ozjet1]

this time last year, the roosters had ads inside many of the 300 series govt buses promoting the club and memberships etc. not sure if they've resumed this. it was a very good marketing exercise as most of those buses service the traditonal rabbitoh district (inner-city suburbs such as redfern, surry hills and south-east areas such as kenso, randwick, coogee, maroubra, matraville) as well as Rooster heartland.

 

[Eelementary]

Meh. Who cares? lol

League is heaps better than Union at a club level.

Perhaps it can't compete with AFL at a club level...In Victoria...But that's because of the narrow minds of AFL-loving Victorians...

Seriously - they pride themselves in being the 'sporting capital of Australia'.

When was the last time the Melbourne Tigers won the NBL? Or that the Storm won the title? Or the Bushrangers? Or their SUper 14 franchise? Oh, that's right - they ain't got one. I wonder why that is...

 

[Thomas]

The only RL advertising I've seen in Brisbane is the A3 sized posters in the trains for Broncos season tickets.

There are about 4 big billboards advertising the S14......

Why don't the NRL do this?

 

[Copa]

Travelling around a number of airports this week couldn't help but notice how low the profile of RL clubs are compared to every other sport.

dropped into the airport sports store in Melbourne for example to get a new Storm cap and was dismayed to see every AFL club, every A-League club, tons of Wallaby gear, cricket gear and even some super 14 gear.

No melbourne storm gear, no NRL gear and no Kangaroo merchandise.
Do RL fans not buy merchandise or is the NRL just extremely poor at promoting the sport?

True story. When i was in England i found it easier to find Melbourne Storm jerseys and SOO jerseys all over than to find some Super league jerseys.

 

[sooperdooper]

i have foxtel, i have seen many ads in regards to the nrl season

 

[Copa]

Still haven't seen any ads on TV (both FOX and FTA) promoting the start of the NRL season......and I live in Brisbane.

I've seen quite a few on fox.