Take NRL on the road for one round a season
Roar Guru
By M1tch, 18 Dec 2009 M1tch is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- English super league, NRL, Rugby League
Since 2007, the English Super League has had a Magic Weekend in which all Super League teams go on the road (first to Cardiff, Wales, and now Edinburgh, Scotland) for a festival of rugby league in developing areas.
The idea is fantastic and is something the NRL must adopt to gauge and grow support for the game nationally and internationally.
We’ve seen South Sydney take this approach for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, with one game in Perth; while the Sharks took a home match to Adelaide, which gave them some money and the 8000 crowd doesn’t look so bad in a non heartland when it would have been the same at Shark Park.
But it needs the co-operation of all the NRL clubs to get behind the expansion and exposure of the game.
I suggest having one regular season round after Origin, say around rounds 19-22, with matches played in Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, Christchurch and Dunedin, and let’s see what sort of crowds and local ratings the game gets.
All I hear is, ‘there is no support for the game outside of NSW and QLD’. Maybe they are right. But it’s time the NRL and its clubs at least try and see what happens.
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jus de couchon said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:05am | Report comment
The ESL magic weekend is poorly supported. Given a chance to grow , that could be changed. The 4 Nations has potential in G.B[Look at the Oz /Kiwi game]. Unfortunately the fantasists that run R.L in Britain are incapable of any intelligence driven strategy that might not involve constantly reinventing itself.
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:41am | Report comment
I hate that concept applied to Australia. We would be far better served by making all clubs give up one home game each season, which the NRL adminstration can take to promote the game. The NRL would underwrite all these matches for the clubs so there would be no financial impact.
With the NRL having 16 games to play with, Rugby League carnivals can be setup around Origin time (when interest and profile of the game is high), and play 4 games in Perth, 2-3 in Adelaide/Darwin/NZ South Island, a few in some of the larger country towns, and a few in other areas that have shown interest in having a team. And with so many teams in Sydney, it’s stupid not to have at least one game in the city on any given weekend.
This method would have much more of impact than the hit and run Magic Weekend that we see in the ESL. It too would be far better served just taking a few double headers to that location, another double header elsewhere and so on (I am assuming that it’s thinks that to provide value for money that it must provide extra games).
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
The ESL magic weekend is overkill 4 games on the sunday isnt good. Double header on a saturday night in Perth and double header in Adelaide on a sunday afternoon.
Reports eariler in the year the NRL was looking at a QLD weekend, for growth of the game it just makes sense to goto non heartland areas.
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
Problem with double headers is that 2 game will not provide twice the crowd. In fact Souths got quite close to selling out MES last year, and having just an “event” on once a year provides nothing but a token investment from supporters in that location, while a sustained series of games actually builds interest in the code, as people get multiple opportunities to experience the sport, combined with access via TV, can really help build interest in the code in that location.
I remember when the NRL said they were going to do a magic weekend type scenario, I wrote into the NRL with this concept. I will send it in again when the independent commission has started.
Corey said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
not necessarily true, we got 50,100 to Suncorp for the double header (Broncos v Rabbitohs and Billdaogs v Titans) the weekend after Origin which was sold out.
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
How many other times in the year did the Broncos get over 26K during the season (half the crowd that the double header pulled in).
Anyway, I was talking more about areas like Darwin and Perth, in which the infrastructure is just not there to support a crowd of more than 20K, so really giving them a double header when the game is quite likely to sell out on it’s own, is just stupid. Better off giving people multiple opportunities to attend, and also for exposure in the local press, it’s more than just a one off hit and run. It shows a real desire to give the game to the people.
Chris said | December 18th 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
If you have a big enough stadium (ie: ANZ) then double headers will always bring a double sized crowd. There will be the fans that support the teams in G1. Then the fans for G2. Most will stay around/arrive early for the other game. Then you have the 20% who turn up for the “two in one” value. I will never forget the 110,000 who turned up for the 1999 NRL double header.
King of the Gorganites said | December 18th 2009 @ 8:09am | Report comment
the concept of a magic weekend has some merit. i think the idea in britain is a good one. though how successful it is debateable. the benefits they have in the UK is that they can base the whole round (less lteans in the ESL) in one city. logisitcally that saves a lot of money and hassle. the problem i see with australia is that where do u stage
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
we couldnt have all games in 1 city 1 ground..
Brett McKay said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
So Mitch, you mean like what used to happen in the late 90s, where every club played one home match in a country area??
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
did they goto Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and New Zealand?
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
They played matches in Perth and Adelaide, probably did go to NZ as well. It’s something that really needs a top down approach to organising these fixtures, and when they are played (maybe even just the NRL saying we have 14 games we will underwrite this year at these locations, which teams are willing to play there, the NRL will underwrite the match). Currently it’s left to the clubs, and it’s just not good enough.
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
true, I like the weekend of it, but other games during the year would be good, especially Sydney clubs taking non drawing games to other areas..
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
If you look, the lowest Sydney crowds are around Origin time, when interest in Origin is at a high. This is the time to take the game to other locations to promote the game, as people in these areas may see Origin, and then see that a match is being played in there backyard, and think why not. This is how supporters are created. At the moment we are not supplying the product locally which will provide the demand for a team. We are not cashed up AFL where we can afford to blindly prop up a club for the next 20 years like they will do with GWS.
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
Yes but only during Origin if the best are playing, no use sending over sides with the big names out rested for Origin
Bankstown Boy said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Thats crap and very annoying to hear the line ‘theres no support outside of NSW & Qld”, gives us some more games in WA (altho like Melbourne we desparately need a decent square oval – MES amenities are terrible) and we will show our support. The iron should be struck when hot, there are a lot of workers in WA with a lot of money (what GFC?) and the NRL is having a surge of poularity again. The time is now to get the ball rolling…
So give us a team before I give up and resort to having to supporting the Force!
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
If you want a team, show interest and buy something from the Western Reds website. I think they have some supporter packages, and any money helps. 2011 is the time you will know if there will be an expansion or not.
james said | December 18th 2009 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
Western Reds, what a joke i went to the Dragons game this year in Perth and watched the Western ‘Dreds’play before, they were terrible. Half the crowd were just rugby supporters,influenced by the fact Wendell was playing obviously.
As an NRL supporter I struggle to see it take off in Perth its only supporter base is miners who have moved over from the East and they not in Perth half the time and end up playing rugby when they are cause the local comp is crap, only one decent side South Perth Lions who have practically won it every year.
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
They are a 3rd div team, what did you expect, them to be a nrl quality side?
It doesnt matter who attended, the fact is 10 000 people attend a NRL TRAIL match in Perth..
james said | December 18th 2009 @ 6:33pm | Report comment
How about basic ball handling skills that under 10′s have, but i put that down to nerves from playing in front of so many ppl for the first time. So many attended cause it was a novelty to see them. Week in week out there would be a struggle to attract crowds as there is no strong league supporter base here, i would say 6k to 7K with about 4000 members. Its the common problem, ask any person from WA about League in this AFL mad city and the only thing they know is Wallabies and Western Force, then you have to correct them that that is union, by that time you have lost them totally.
M1tch said | December 18th 2009 @ 6:46pm | Report comment
Thats why the 2010 Souths match is interesting to see how many turn up, hey if 5000 turn up, then Id be first to admit that lets give up. I didnt expect there to be a big supporter base, since its been 12 years since the Reds, but I dont see why we cant simply try.
I always thought the Reds were silly to budget for big crowds for the bundy cup, even qld cup crowds arent big..
The only thing that is stopping the NRL is the fact we dont have money to give them a team and back it like the AFL for WS18..
james said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:12pm | Report comment
No by all means we must try, but what i dont want to see is ppl who dont know about the Perth market saying just set up an NRL team in Perth. Cause if it fails, it will leave a lasting effect on the NRL. Just look the demise of Western Red in 96 pretty much killed off League in WA. My personal opinion is that Perth is in no shape to have an NRL team, and a viable one is still many years away.
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
Yes you can’t just place one there, thus why a sustained effort from the NRL to play 4 matches a season there to generate interest in having a local team is necessary, combined with some free to air exposure at a decent hour, with those matches played around Origin time, would give a good indication of where League is at.
What happened in Perth last time was all due to Super League, if Super League didn’t happen, then the Perth Reds would still exist.
james said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
I take your points and agree except for the fact that the Reds would still be around, i was member back then and i dont believe it would have survived, even after the super league debacle there just wasnt enough fan support and financial backers.
Dogs Of War said | December 18th 2009 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
Any why was that? Oh Super League, thats right. Many clubs fell on hard times due to player payments doubling, and sponsors not wanting to be part of the war, and abandoning the code, as did supporters who wanted to side with the ARL, while Perth was a Super League team, but the Perth team defected because the ARL put in a silly clause that meant they had to pay for all clubs to fly to Perth.
This is why an independent commission is needed. The sooner it does, the quicker things can improve.
itscalledfootballbro said | December 19th 2009 @ 6:43am | Report comment
what a great idea.
We can showcase how a code can really disgrace itself in regional centres.
Can’t wait to see how low Carney and co will stoop this time.
Give up boys, the A-league is taking over Aus.
Dogs Of War said | December 19th 2009 @ 6:59am | Report comment
Yeah, the crowds are just flocking to it. I think both the NRL and AFL are running scared from the World Game.
And stop trolling the League boards, we just don’t care about “soccer”, yeah I said SOCCER!
M1tch said | December 19th 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
lol, i dont think the soccer a-league has taken over summer let alone australia
AndyRoo said | December 21st 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Is this the same bloke that has the username footyfreak and makes up stupid claims about AFL.
Same type of humor and I have never see this guy make any comments on Football news.
The West Coast Eagles seem to still be around so I doubt this will hurt the Knights long term, the story might have had some legs if it was footy season because then people would be talking about wether Newcastle will lose their next game.
Don said | December 19th 2009 @ 8:57am | Report comment
What’s the rest of country done to deserve this? Aren’t their enough thugs and druggies on the street in their own areas?
M1tch said | December 19th 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment
well done hero..
sportsfanslife.com said | December 19th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
I really like the concept. The more interest and in turn, ratings from developing, non heartland areas, the better the next TV rights deal will be, to the benefit of all involved with the code. Taking the top level of the sport to the Country areas, where interest is already high, and grass roots level support even higher, is important also. Maybe a Back to the Bush Round or something….At least try some ideas out of the box. As Super Rugby and AFL expand into areas, the competiton for viewers and fans increases, the effort needs to be increased by the NRL to keep existing market share, and grow further into other areas.
Ideas are great, but at the moment, it’s all we have. We need action from the Governing Body…Good read.