The NRL can learn a lot from the NFL

 
The Crowd Roar Pro

By Paul J, 10 Nov 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

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Jarryd Hayne in action

Jarryd Hayne in action during the Week 3 Playoff NRL match between the Bulldogs and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.The Eels beat the Bulldogs 22 - 12. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox

For those rugby league fans who are excited about the potential for the game now that an independent commission seems imminent, here are some ideas that may give you even more reason for optimism.

Michael Searle and Co. have advised that the new leadership model will be based on both the AFL and NFL independent commissions with more emphasis being on the NFL model.

If you are not yet sold on what an independent commission can do, then consider what Paul Tagliabue achieved for the NFL in his time as NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006.

For starters, he increased the leagues revenue from $975 million in 1989 to a staggering $5.7 billion in 2006. He also has helped to cement American Footballs place as easily the number one sport in the USA.

Considering that level of success, here are four initiatives from the NFL that should be seriously considered by rugby league’s new controlling body.

1. TV rights: Sell, Sell, Sell…
To gain maximum revenue regular season, NFL games are broadcast on no less than five separate networks: CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and the NFL Network. The NRL is currently shown on only one free to air network –Chanel 9. To increase revenue, one channel cannot be given a monopoly on all rugby league games.

Thankfully David Gallop has indicated that Rugby League games will be sold separately in the next TV rights deal starting in 2012. Speculation is that talks have already begun with Channel 7 and Channel 10 in regards to the sale on State of Origin and regular season games.

Imagine two games on Friday night on Channel 9, one on Saturday afternoon on Seven, one Saturday night on Ten and one Sunday afternoon on Nine. Plus Monday night football and mid week games on Foxtel.

State of Origin could be shown for the first time on Seven and the four nations on Ten.

Ex-Channel Nine commentators such as Ben Ikin, Paul Harrigan, Mario Fenech, Laurie Daley and even Matthew Johns may well have jobs at Seven or Ten in two years time. And who’s to say Channel 9 stalwarts such as Peter Sterling or Andrew Voss would not jump ship for a pay increase?

2. Three strikes, you’re out
Tagliabue has always stressed presenting a professional and clean cut image of the NFL and its players to the public. The NFL banned substances policy is the longest running in American professional sports.

He has even gone so far as to having strict rules in place (and enforced) as to players’ sock length, uniform appearance and sideline attire.

Protecting the NFL brand from tarnishing has been a key priority and is exactly what the NRL needs to come into effect as soon as possible.

Offences such as DUI, alleged assault, and recreational drug use should fall into a strict three strikes and you’re out policy.

First strike will incur a fine and suspension and compulsory counselling. A second strike an increased fine and suspension and compulsory counselling. Third strike and you are banned from playing in the NRL for life.

No appeals.

Any player who tests positive to a performance enhancing drug is given an immediate two year ban. Any player convicted of assault is given a minimum five year ban or more if the commission deems fit.

This will greatly improve the codes’ damaged image and show fans that an independent commission is serious in protecting the game and its future.

Let’s give the game back to the good guy majority.

3. Build it and they will come.
Tagliabue also established a fund that allowed the NFL to build its own stadiums rather that rely on public or Government funding.

Of the 32 NFL teams, 17 play in new stadiums that have been built since Tagliabue became commissioner in 1989. The NFL makes money through football, but also by being a stadium construction company.

A long-term commitment to a similar fund would greatly benefit rugby league (in a smaller capacity – the USA does have a population of approximately 300 million).

This fund would allow the NRL greater flexibility in regards to expansion by allowing it to build a stadium at the Sunshine Coast or Perth (where it could be rented out to other rectangle field sports such as rugby and soccer).

They could also look at renovating and modernising existing stadiums. Newer stadiums increased crowd figures for the NFL, especially an increase in women and children watching the game.

The Broncos and Titans have the best crowd figures in the NRL and both play in new stadiums. Your first visit to Suncorp Stadium or Skilled Park will leave you in no doubt as to the benefits a modern stadium can bring to sport.

4. Revenue sharing.
Tagliabue instituted revenue sharing between players and owners and maintained the sharing of TV income equally among the franchises.

Essentially to the NRL, this would mean that it wouldn’t matter if a Broncos or Bulldogs game gets a higher TV rating than a Raiders or Cronulla game or if a team has private ownership or is owned by a leagues club or the NRL.

Every team gets an equal share of the profits of future TV broascast deals.

When the NRL is flush from its next TV broadcast deal, the first priority should be an ongoing commitment to increasing player payments.

The salary cap is to be increased by as much as possible with each new TV rights deal signed. This will help retain our star players to our code and allow young players to choose rugby league as a lucrative career option.

These are just a few of many ideas from the NFL that an NRL commission could use to its own advantage and it can realistically strive to achieve them.

Taking the inconsistencies of the decision-making of the clubs out of the picture and having an independent commission to have unbiased control of the game will give rugby league potential that it has never before dared to consider.

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