By Paul J
November 17th 2009 @ 2:42am
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Forget the NRL, introduce a new ARL
Jeff Lima in action during the NRL, Round 19, Parramatta Eels v Melbourne Storm match at Parramatta Stadium in Sydney on Monday July 20, 2009. Eels won 18-16. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox
When an independent commission takes control of the game, what should the name of the new rugby league competition be?
Here is a very brief history lesson in regards to the names of the governing bodies of rugby league over the past century.
The Australian Rugby League (ARL) was formed in 1924 to administer the running of the national team, the Kangaroos.
The premier first grade rugby league competition in Australia had been run by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) from its first season in 1908 until the end of 1994.
With further expansion of the competition implemented for the 1995 season with the inclusion of the Western Reds, Cowboys and Warriors, the NSWRL passed control of the competition to the ARL.
The National Rugby League (NRL) was formed in the aftermath of the 1990s Super League War. Its a joint partnership between the ARL and News Corp controlled Super League, after both organisations ran premierships parallel to each other during the awful 1997 season.
So what about a new name for the game?
News Ltd have stated they will only leave rugby league if the current ARL board also relinquishes complete control of the game. So do we go back to the Australian Rugby League (ARL) name, but with a completely new board and structure?
Some have argued that the NRL brand has been tarnished in recent seasons due to off-field behaviour and the NRL name should be discarded. And considering that the NRL name was only created as a peace treaty between the warring sides, then why keep a name hastily created under such negative circumstances?
With the new governing body will come a fresh start and a bright future, so the game deserves a new name. The name should encompass all that it represents now and into the future. And rugby league should start to think big.
This is why I believe in naming the new governing body we should bring back a new AR: the Australasian Rugby League.
When the NSWRL passed control to the Australian Rugby League it acknowledged that rugby league had grown beyond a Sydney competition. The new Australasian Rugby League branding will acknowledge that the game has now grown beyond the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Rugby league fans often look west into AFL territory when they think of growing the game. And quite correctly an independent commission will look to grow the game in the southern states by further investment upon the great work of the Melbourne Storm and also possible future expansion into Perth.
But some of the greatest growth and immediate potential for the game is in New Zealand and the Pacific.
If the new board are serious about growing the game they should govern a competition that incorporates not just Australia but all of Australasia.
The region of Australasia includes Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, PNG, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean, such as Samoa and Tonga.
If you don’t think Oceania has enough potential for the new administration to include it in its future, you only have to look at the large precense of Polynesian players in the game today.
As stated in a Sydney Morning Herald article earlier this year “forty per cent of NRL players are of Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Maori, Cook Island or indigenous heritage – but over half of the code’s elite under-20 league and two-thirds of junior representative players from western Sydney are of Pacific Island descent.”
How crazy is it to suggest that the new name should represent all of the current players in the competition?
The Pacific Cup should be played every year and its winner (this year it was PNG) should join Australia, New Zealand and England in an annual Four Nations Competition.
France has long since lost it international competitevness against the big three.
The Australasian Rugby League should not over extent itself by spending excess money in Europe but should look to invest in the game in our region first.
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Kurt said | November 17th 2009 @ 3:34am | Report comment
Key drawback of calling the comp the ARL is that it will severely curtail the ability of league supporters to use the disparaging term ‘GayFL’ to denigrate the AFL. They’d just respond with ‘GayRL’ and then the debate would be at an impasse.
Mick from Giralang said | November 17th 2009 @ 5:28am | Report comment
This is a very important point and should be a key concern in any negotiations to bring about the new commission.
Paul you raise some excellent points. The NRL has recognised the importance of people with islander heritage to the game, recently appointing a fulltime development officer to increase their participation in league in Western Sydney. That the game could survive and then prosper in the wake of the Superleague war and the over-hyped reporting of off field incidents is itestament to its innate quality. The only thing it is lacking is a leadership that truly has its long term interests at heart, and the confidence to expand.
Let’s poach Demetriou!
bever fever said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:22am | Report comment
Nothing beats Gaelic Kurt.
M1tch said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Excellent article from Paul..makes some great points.
Rodney McDonell said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:24am | Report comment
The name should stay as NRL. Changing the name now would be a backward step. I’m not sure if the name NRL has been adversely affected by the off field descretions of some players. I tend to think the name of “rugby league” has been hurt more.
I like the NRL.
TammyS said | November 17th 2009 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
I think eventually we should bring in a 2nd NZ team and a PNG team to the comp so that new name would be perfect.
You know what Id love to see, a NZ vs Pacific Island 3 game series around the time we have our origin series. Who knows maybe it could stop really good islander and kiwi players from switching allegiance to australia just so they can be a part of state of origin as they will have their own series in the middle of the year to look forward to.
Col the Bear said | November 17th 2009 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
If the NRL are serious and wish to continue with New Zealand and also New Guinea in the future(2015/16 they are saying that PNG may be admitted), then it’s not really a National Rugby league anymore, is it?? the only choice I think is the ARL, the “Australasian Rugby League”
4 more teams have to be added over the next number of years,I feel, Central Coast Bears defiinite first team in.. another Brisbane team(SE Qld Jets), Perth Reds, and the New guinea side…, that will take the comp up to 20 teams and this should be the goal of the New Independent commission..lets just pray it’s just not jobs for the boys anymore otherwise the game will never go forward, and all the other codes will continue to grow and expand at the Rugby Leagues expense…As Phil Gould said in his article on Sunday just past..the sooner News ltd stop controlling the game then it will go forward..otherwise the game will continue to stagnate… and flounder along..or words very similar to that effect…with Channel 7 and Kerry Stokes plus with Singleton involved the next TV rights are going to be a battle royale..
The Central Coast Bears launch their NRL bid this friday night at their Erina office…can’t wait to get on with it at long last… Bring on the Mighty Bears…
Mick from Giralang said | November 18th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Good luck to the Bears, Col.
Corey said | November 18th 2009 @ 12:39am | Report comment
I agree with Paul J, the name needs to be changed to recognise our international team(s) as well. The fact that rugby league is expanding (due to passionate-and thats the only type of rugby league fan- ex-pats showing the world their wonderful game, not because of its administrators) means that the game needs to update its advertising strategy. I would like to say Channel 9 is probably amongst the worst free-to-air sports providers on Australian TV- the fact Melbournians have to stay up to 1a.m. in the morning sometimes to watch their team play is ridiculous, channel 9 pay mega-dollars for Rugby League to show it only in NSW and QLD, show it to the whole country!!!!
Mick from Giralang said | November 18th 2009 @ 7:46am | Report comment
Channel Nine’s active suppression of the game in the non league states borders on the criminal — but of course the real culprit here is the NRL for allowing such a TV rights contract to be approved. But what do you expect when media companies own the game?
Redb said | November 18th 2009 @ 8:02am | Report comment
Showing RL in prime time up against the AFL is commercial suicide, that’s why Ch 9 dont show it.
and what happens when Storm start losing, no-one follows a loser in non tradtional markets.
macavity said | November 18th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
same as showing AFL up against Iron Chef in the NRL states…… yet it still gets a run.
danwighton said | November 20th 2009 @ 12:04am | Report comment
I think the idea of digital channels is great – especially in the early stages to build the profile of the game and provide options for those who want to watch it.
Unlike in NSW/QLD/ACT, where Friday Night football is a regular timeslot, in the southern states I think it would work if the Friday night slot was irregular, only when the Storm play or when there is a match of the round would the game be on the principal channel. Otherwise, it could be on the HD or digital version, and also replayed later on the principal station for those who dont have digital options.
While its not ideal, it would be a good way to get the game out there to those in the southern states who want to watch it. I can also see it becoming popular where the AFL match of the round features two non-Vic teams – as happens in Sydney and Brisbane (when no local teams feature), the Melbourne audience would be tempted to watch the Storm.
And I do agree that less will watch if the Storm start losing (as happened with the Swans) – but Melbourne fans arent as fickle as their Sydney counterparts! Also, the closeness of the NRL salary cap result in teams not having extended down periods, so the public will keep some form of interest in the game no matter how their team is placed.
Paul J said | November 18th 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
Tammy S
I like the idea of a NZ vs. Pacific Islands game during the origin period. Maybe just 1 game as the clubs would not want to risk players for injury over 3 games. The Kiwis would get an extra hit out during the year and it could become a real rivalry game just like origin.
Col
I believe we must get a 2nd NZ team and a PNG team into the comp to keep growing the game but The CC Bears WILL be the next team in the comp, most league fans have accepted and agree to this, myself included.
Corey & Mick.
You would have to think the NRL now realises just how badly they did with the last TV rights deal and will make sure the next one makes sure NRL games are shown into Melbourne prime time. At least i hope for as much.
M1tch said | November 18th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
How can PNG support a team? I love the idea, but if this could happen it would have to be a merge with the Cowboys or a Darwin based team.
danwighton said | November 20th 2009 @ 12:13am | Report comment
Ill preface this statement by saying that I have no idea of the logistics of such an arrangement, but think that it would be the best approach (at least initially), and would help build League in the NT (where it is probably on like terms with aussie rules as the most popular sport – http://www.convictcreations.com/football/battlepred.html).
As for a PNG team – despite the reports about PNG – a lot of westerners live there and do so reasonably safely. The costs of living are incredibly cheap, so it would probably have other salary cap advantages. But yes – i do agree that players would probably not want to stay more than a few years (although they would experience adulation which would come close to that of a Brazillian soccer star or an Indian cricket star). I still think the best way is for them to reestablish a team in the Q Cup, and show this working successfully.
Paul J said | November 18th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Mitch
If you’re keen have a look at http://www.pngnrlbid.com
Looks impressive.
I like the David Gallop quote…”It is not a case of if, but when!”
M1tch said | November 18th 2009 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
I honestly cant see it, unless its simply just a team on local players, because I cant see players from aus wanting to live up there.
It would be amazing for the country and the game.
Paul J said | November 18th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Red B
“Showing RL in prime time up against the AFL is commercial suicide, that’s why Ch 9 dont show it.”
I can remember in Brisbane when AFL games were never shown earlier than 11.30pm. The AFL cut a TV deal which forced the networks to show AFL in prime time and consequently the ratings have improved over the years.
League fans expect the NRL to cut the same type of deal that would force the networks to show NRL games primetime in Melbourne. Surely they can show NRL games Friday night or Saturday arvo/night or Sunday arvo/night on 7, 9 or 10 or the new HD channels?
Redb said | November 18th 2009 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
At least you acknowledge that the AFL has not been shown in prime time for 30 years in Sydney as some claim.
The problem is by the time the AFL finally got the game shown at a reasonable time the Swans had climbed the mountain and were now drifting down the other side playing ugly football along the way.
The AFL goes with Sat night in Sydney not the best sports watching time anyway and rarely head to head with free to air RL..
Your calling for a Friday night head to head, that is commercial suicide, the best AFL game is usually on Friday night in Melbourne. Regularly cracks 500K in Melbourne alone.
Digital channels are a definite option for both sports as the best AFL games get lost on the Sydney audience when they appear at 11:30pm. eg: Geelong v St Kilda Rnd 14.
Redb
Phil said | November 18th 2009 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
I’ve got a PNG background and a team up there would not only help PNG but also help Australia understand its closest neighbour. Lot of issues with security though. Bugger all this other talk, I’m just hanging for the Bears to come back!
Col the Bear said | November 18th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
Aren’t we all Phil..!!
The Bears are on the front foot..with the issues with Newcastle, we are not fazed..it’s business as usual and the push is well and truly on..as someone else has correctly mentioned on the daily telegraph website today.., the Central Coast Crusaders are a well established and registered basketball team who hold the state title twice in the past 2 years.. and the players from this club have been very vocal about the choice of the name Crusaders by the CRL..
don’t think this is over by a long shot.. how come the CRL didn’t pick up on this very well established club on the CC..I recall redcliffe Dolphins and gold Coast “dolphins’ what was the outcome with that…
I have also seen today where the head of the CRL.. Mr terry Quinn has said as soon as an NRL team is appointed to the CC, then the Knights will pull out..Well Mr Quinn it looks like a very short stay…
after a poll from the Star fm radio station ran for over a week, where CC residents were encouraged to name the CC teams and colours… the majority said they wanted the “Central Coast Cubs” for the Junior reps on the CC to eventually become the Bears… the CRL blatantly went against what the residents wanted..Newcastle to the CC is on par with Manly to the North shore…
Putting it simply the NRL have let this go on for way to long.. first it was Manly, then it was cronulla, then it was the storm and now it’s newcastle and thats just in the past 6/7 years……How hard is it to get it correct.. The Bears want to be on the CC, and by most Polls over the years CC supporters agree..we’re sick of this..we want our own team once and for all..every code is progressing and moving forward and expanding.. but not the NRL.. the question must be asked “WHY”
soccer can expand.. AFL can expand..Rugby Union can expand…so why not rugby League Mr gallop…lets hope the launch of the CC Bears on Friday might loosen up a few things…before this all goes on much more and begins to get nasty…
Col the Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 6:13pm | Report comment
Central Coast crusaders.. ahhh Whoops.. it seems the basketball rightly so arent taking this lying down..I’d expect a new name for the CC rep juniors pretty soon…
Come on Terry go with what the CC people asked for the Central Coast Cubs….
Karlos said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Yeh Paul, I like your logic. The NSWRL grew into the Australian Rugby League and it is now time to acknowledge the various island nations that supply many of the players in the current NRL, THE most competitive and skill laden Rugby comp on the planet. Plenty of expansion opportunities for our game, so lets start the ball rolling. The (super league) War is over (nearly) with Murdochs Mongrels moving out (x fingers) and time to take up the challenge again.
Redb, I hope you are right and both the AFL and new ARL are given good exposure due to the digital channels coming along.