Comments on: Enough is enough, it’s time for Gallop to go

By: Crosscoder

Crosscoder — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:12:21 +0000

JohnQ.
Please read what I stated.
It is not a case of me believing anything.News told me nothing.
I am reporting on an article written by Roy Masters in the SMH repeat the SMH not the Terrorgraph.,who is not exactly a News fan.
He stated News would be prepared to get out,once an independent commission was set up,and they had a private consortium interested in buying the Storm.The private consortium as stated by Masters,would not be interested in buying into a comp,50% owned by a public company.
The ARL according to Michael Searle (who desn’t work for News but is CEO of the Titans0,stated the ARL were the ones delaying.Carr of the ARL maintains he has seen nothing concrete.
My own view is an independent commission with business peple and football people on baord ,with no ties materially to any club.I want News out of the equation.if that is sheep mentality simply reporting a Master’s story .Baaaaaa!

By: JohnQ

JohnQ — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:14:12 +0000

Crosscoder, you believe that News Ltd want to stop controlling Rugby League because they tell you they do.

Easily herded sheep.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:06:43 +0000

Everytime Gallop speaks you can see John Hartigan’s lips moving. Replacing Gallop won’t do a thing, a new frontman will be selected and the ventriloquism will continue. Something I would like to see changed is the apparent masterstroke of having two incompetent blokes with whistles running the game.
Supporters are saying that’s it’s speeding up the ruck (I just saw Hartigan’s lips move) but I think it’s done nothing but make the game as over-officiated as rugby.
Now 80 minutes of league is dominated by refs saying things like – “Dominant…hold, hold, hold, movement now. You’re offside, stay out of it. I just want to check the grounding, the offside, the possible obstruction.”
One more thing, can we launch a campaign to stop commentators, ex-players and the like using the patronising term “Our game” because it’s not.

By: Crosscoder

Crosscoder — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:42:10 +0000

In fact the media,particularly News Ltd and ch 9 has blown some of the events involving league players out of proportion eg the Seymour incident.Public drunkeness nothing more.
What is the CEO of the NRL supposed to do ,ignore it when sponsors are ringing him,and the media vultures are hovering to get his and the NRL’s reaction.
Players are responsible for their own actions (a no brainer),they are employed by the clubs not the NRL.
Gallop is viewed by some people as being weak, because he does not have this imposing statue and umms and aaghs.Gee I could direct them to some poltiticians and captains in industry who lack physical presence and do likewise.A Richard Branson he is not.
I agree that having News own 50% of the game and 2 clubs is not a good look,especially when contracts for TV and radio are up for negotiation.The flashing lights”conflict of interest” shine like a beacon.
The next TV contract must, repeat must, reflect true value and the game should not be undersold.
Anycase from a report by Roy Masters stated,News wants to get out of the game as part owner,wants an independent commisssion running it.According to Masters,the CEO of the Titans Michael Searle said that this is the case,and it is in fact the ARL that is holding things back to make this happen.
Part of News Lltd (NRL) pofits ATM are being directed toward funding the Storm and assist funding junior rl development in Victoria.News is prepared to sell the Storm to a private consortium(involving private individuals from Vic/NSW) ,if there is an independent commission.
Will be glad to see an independent commission ,with News Ltd out of the game(just owning the Broncos).IMO given the circumstances and the fact that Gallop is answerable to a board,he does a fair job,which at times is thankless.
Super league was the biggest gimmee for other codes in NSW and Qld.They didn’t need it to expand the game overseas,it is happening now anyway, in some of the most unlikely places ,without the SL hype or bs.

By: JohnQ

JohnQ — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:53:32 +0000

The Man – Why would there be a public reaction to SuperLeague? Before Superleague the game owned the game, now a corporate media company does. Before all profits were channelled back into the game, now half go to News Ltd and their investments. Before there was an even playing field, now News Ltd own the game and 100% own two clubs, who happen to be by far the two most successful clubs in the game since this arrangement occurred. Coincidence? Before the League could negotiate for the best deal with TV rights deals, now the NRL (News Ltd) negotiate with FoxSports (News Ltd), and other media companies (Nine) who have convenient “arrangements” with News Ltd. Before the game was profitable as were the clubs, now clubs (News Ltd clubs aside) increasingly survive year-to-year whilst racking up millions in losses.

And much of the public was sucked into the SuperLeague story, spun by Ribot and News Ltd, that News Ltd’s Superleague would ensure millions of Asians would be glued to their TV screens eagerly awaiting the next round of NRL games, making Rugby League a true world game. Now why would the media think the public were easily herded sheep if the public could be made to believe that little story?

By: Billo

Billo — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:41:08 +0000

Matthew, this is an excellent article. Gallop invites negative headlines by the way he reacts to even minor stories about player misdemeanors, always blowing them up out of all proportion and creating a terrible image for league. The ARU showed how it should be done by the way they reacted recently to Wyclif Palu’s problems (driving while suspended).
With so many young men between the ages of 18 and 30 playing league there are bound to be problems with alcohol and testosterone fuelled behavior from time to time, but Gallop seems to think they should all behave like a combination of children and Saints. I mean, put your hand up if you’ve never urinated down a side street!

Then there is the NRL’s strange approach to consolidation and expansion of the game, which in fact doesn’t seem to be any approach at all, as well as its inability to take advantage of its viewing figures to extract good TV deals. Gallop has a lamentable record.

By: The man

The man — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:47:08 +0000

John Q – surely given the public reaction and resistance to News corps “vision” in attempting to take over the game duiring the superleague “war” they could hardly view the rugby league public as easily herded sheep!

By: Col the Bear

Col the Bear — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:35:25 +0000

Mate I could have run it after Whittaker and Moffett, there’a couple of guys..Hey thats an idea, I could of had every club in the Red and Black and called the Bears, sure to take out that long awaited premiership then…

Hmm the Hong Kong Sun Bears..

By: JohnQ

JohnQ — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:44:48 +0000

Consider who is Gallop serving – rugby league or the media? Let’s see … Gallop played a central role in tearing the game apart during the News Ltd takeover, when he worked for News Ltd. Then News Ltd ensured their man was put in charge of the NRL. Now that the NRL is a subsidiary of News Ltd (50% owned), and advertising attached to news is where they make their money, consider whether News Ltd want their man in charge of the NRL to support their damaging stories or not. And who controls public opinion about his performance in the role? The media of course. News Ltd sees Rugby League fans as puppets and easily-herded sheep to farm for their corporate profit.

By: Macarthur Saints

Macarthur Saints — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:17:07 +0000

The media should be the ones to face the gunfire. Not Mr Gallop.

David has addressed these issues in the way his solicitors have said he is allowed to. The media are becoming more and more invasive by the way the portray a story. This country is allowed to have freedom of speech but the media are pushing the boundaries of false story telling sometimes. People, stop buying the papers and they’ll soon learn to change there approach to story telling. BTW: Most of us also are to blame, we appear to love the gossip articles..

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:08:43 +0000

Col

Hong Kong are relocating to the CC … to be called CC Hong Kong … just a rumor heard…

By: oikee

oikee — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:48:29 +0000

You think league has problems, here have some of this reported today in NZ.

Mr Sorensen said the NZRU was “incredibly frustrated and extremely disappointed” at ongoing incidents of misconduct involving its professional players.

“We have had far too many incidents recently and, frankly, enough is enough

By: The man

The man — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:48:29 +0000

PS as for the Bulldogs – they got what they deserved for cheating – again!

By: The man

The man — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:41:28 +0000

Talk about drawing a long bow blaming Gallop for player behaviour and your list of problems with rugby league (you share having this type of list tucked away in your quiver with many sports jurnos)

The NRL’s stand on the Stewart incident should have been commended. Whilst caring some SL bagage, I would argue he has guided the slow moving supertanker of rugby league reasonably well through the minefield of issues – from the off field stuff, to union poaching etc.

I think being the boss of the code is a no win position – akin to a ref – damned if you are seen to have done poorly and nothing said when things go well (like the success of Titans for instance).

Given the strategic challenges facing Gallop with the rules attempt to enter RL heartland in Western Sydney, further poaching by union and need for further expansion – it is handling of these issues on which he should be judged and not if a couple of players enjoy a night off a bit too well.

By: Chris Beck

Chris Beck — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:58:01 +0000

“No sport has had to endure the negative off-field headlines that the NRL has . . . .”

I don’t know about that. I would argue that the relatively recent doping problems in Major League Baseball and the continual doping problems in the world of cycling both far eclipse the NRL’s problems, the foremost of which appears to be that some players like their alcohol a bit too much.

By: ianC

ianC — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:41:02 +0000

Great article mate. Gallop is an incompetent puppet of News Limited who has undersold the game for years. No other organisation has such an inept leader. A renowned knee-jerker who has the charisma of an actuary and the personality of a Trappist monk.

By: oikee

oikee — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:40:43 +0000

Some good games this week-end, not much happening off the feild, its getting like netball news.

By: John

John — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:34:40 +0000

How thick are people here? Don’t you get it? Players aren’t misbehaving more than before. Any misbehaviour is being blown up by the media more – and Gallop is providing fuel to the fire with every comment he makes. He has legitimized trial by media.

By: True Tah

True Tah — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:26:44 +0000

Matthew

I think its a bit far to blame Gallop for players misbehaving.

It was hardly as if Gallop was pouring grog down the player in questions throat and egging them on was he?

By: JohnQ

JohnQ — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:23:25 +0000

Gallop is indeed a media stooge, having come through News Ltd ranks. And the media love his modus operandi of knee-jerk reactions, moral lectures, and of inflaming situations to give negative press the maximum exposure.

By: oikee

oikee — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:22:58 +0000

Dead right Col, unlike Europe where most countries dislike each other, we have a brilliant comp here in oz and New Zealand between states. Besides which Gallop has allowed the clubs to deal with issues, the clubs seem to be doing a better job now.
I am sure the young Penrith guy is tottally annoyed with himself for letting the club down. The young guy from PNG now gets a chance to take his spot. Thats the price you pay these days, anyone who does something stupid is easily replaced. Even more incentive to keep out of misceif without hanging young blokes.

By: Col the Bear

Col the Bear — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:38:21 +0000

David gallop will always have the problem of being associated with the company that run the game..people will always see this..As Arko was always seen as Manlys great white hope for years, and still puts his 2 cents in how the club should be run..and Humphries before him, Tigers wasn’t it…

Still it could be worse we could Have John Ribot running the game…he’d have a team playing out of hong Kong before you know it.. No!! thats a rumour I don’t want to start… it might happen…

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:35:37 +0000

This seems to unfairly blame Gallop for decisions made by the NRL as a body. Realistically, Gallop is just the messenger, the front man. Matthew, if you can name a suitable replacement then I’m all ears (well eyes, I’d have to read it), but otherwise what would be the point of change just for change’s sake?

By: oikee

oikee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:40:57 +0000

Yes then the next bloke in charge will inherit the problems. Then you can write a report on the next guy telling us enough is enough. Get over it dude, Gallop is doing a great job in charge of some of the most troubled group of young teenagers in Australia. I read a report the other day about a country who is introducing rugby league so they can keep there youth out of trouble. Rugby league is a great leveller for youth. You are going to have a few bad eggs, but this is not a reason to give up on these guys, they know the’ve done wrong, in which we need to encourage these lads to correct themselves.

It seems like you would rather just throw them to the sharks. Its a very hard job to deal with wayward youth. At least rugby league can help these kids become better men, eventually, hopefully.