By Corey -
February 5th 2010 @ 1:16am
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A great day for the greatest game of all
February 4th could not have been a better day for rugby league even if the Independent Commission took over from the ARL tomorrow.
This day is the day that the NRL should promote more than that of the Centenary, for this is the day rugby league reclaimed a lost son, scheduled a very decent Four Nations, and the American Rugby League formalised a structure along with announcing some well-known players for their professional inaugural year.
West Tigers unveiled that they recruited Lote Tuquiri, one of our last rep players to return from Unionland. Now the Tigers have a star recruit that can attract season members, which is what will hopefully happen.
Willie ‘Bad Boy’ Mason is now Willie ‘Cowboy’ Mason, and it seems that the Cowboys culture will stem the flow of incidents by the big ‘Johnson’. And now the Roosters can focus on footy instead of appearance.
The Four Nations are scheduled, with New Zealand the big winner with a double-header at Auckland’s Eden Park, along with Brisbane once again enjoying the final. And Melbourne now gets to taste another “Convicts vs the Old Dart”, with rugby league staging a great game in a great new stadium.
Season memberships are up mostly across the board, and hopefully they become an integral part of every club.
The U.S.A. have now got a professional competition scheduled in for 2011, along with confirmation of a couple of great inclusions. Stacey Jones and Daniel Wagon are confirmed for the inaugural competition, along with a fixed schedule, all of this to be launched and confirmed on the patriotic 4th July.
It seems this is a day of relief for the greatest game of all.
Finally, all the puzzle pieces are joining without some childish-character producing a dummy spit to ruin it.
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Crosscoder said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:57am | Report comment
Have to agree with your sentiments, especially with Lote’s return and the 4 nations schedule finally pinned down.The day the SL debacle reared its ugly head,international matches in the code not only took a back seat but withered.
Willie can be a destructed running forward in close and running wide.It is his pinhead attitude at times off the field which lets him down ,and it appears to effect his playing.Most people like a bit of the larrikin spirit,but one must also know when to pull their heads in.
Last year was like a season out of hell offfield,but the resilience of the game,the class of the players and the loyalty of the fans rose above it all.
I too read an article on the new US Pro rl comp, by the respected and well travelled Steve Mascord(who lives and breathes the game),and with his close overseas’ contacts.Appears all is just about bedded down,with backers, overseas players notified,Tv and with just a few loose ends for the initial exhibition season 2010,then the real McCoy said to be announced on 4th July.The knockers were out in force when the initial comments on this comp were noted some time ago,they will still be around as sure as night follows day.
I am also predicting a couple more positive announcements with one club in particular, over the next couple of months.
Mick from Giralang said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:12am | Report comment
Rugby league in the United States should be a winner if it can get some oxygen among the established sports. The NRL finals series was shown last season in the United States (on Spike TV) and the station was inundated with viewers gushing about how good the game is.
It is easy to knock people who are having a go, and this interesting article will bring the anti-leaguies out in droves to knock the US competition. But as Woody Allen once said, 80 percent of success is in showing up.
Siva Samoa said | February 5th 2010 @ 6:03am | Report comment
the only problem wit the proposed usa professional competition is that stacy jones doesn’t seem to know anyting about it.
Sam said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:28am | Report comment
true, a tvnz article yesterday quoted him as saying he knows nothing about it.
Rod said | February 5th 2010 @ 6:34am | Report comment
Siva Samoa for once I agree with you, bit silly to mention Jones and then have the fella come out and say he knows nothing about it.
To much BS being talked and not enough real work going on.
I want RL to expand, I just want it to go about expanding the right way from a grass roots approach.
If the USRL takes off, I’ll be very very happy, but I can’t see it with what has been proposed, it looks to micky mouse to me.
I don’t see why they can’t continue to expand the AMNRL like they will be doing this year with Pittsburgh, it’s been working for them so far, why change now and hope it takes off when everything could fall apart after their first game?
Siva Samoa said | February 5th 2010 @ 6:49am | Report comment
why this amnrl teams don’t have juniors or teams at high schools or colleges beats me.
Rodney McDonell said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:21am | Report comment
Once again jumping the gun on the US NRL. Don’t think it is certain. All we’ve heard is a few dicey details, which is what we heard last year and look how that turned out. Theres nothing here to make me think – as much as i’d like to – that it’s going to be any different.
True Tah said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:38am | Report comment
The problem with US RL is that it is being built from the top down. Where are high schools and junior clubs?
Surely they could have learnt from Australian rugby’s problems??
Cracker said | February 5th 2010 @ 9:26am | Report comment
The top down approach seems to be the case. Where will they draw the players from, remembering that the competition should be of a relatively high standard if it is to attract an audience. They would need a production line of sorts if they are to make the competition sustainable.
M1tch said | February 5th 2010 @ 8:07am | Report comment
Great day for the game!
Jay said | February 5th 2010 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Read the article about US NRL – its a six week comp? I guess its better than nothing, but hopefully they have find a window in the busy US sporting calandar to get some half decent exposure.
M1tch said | February 5th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
I thought the original opposed idea was the best start in march and end in july, bit i suppose just to start the sport a 6 week opener is the best way financially
oikee said | February 5th 2010 @ 10:00am | Report comment
French rugby league is non existent, american rugby league has no junior comp, super league is struggling in Wales, PNG has to go their own way to strengthen their international game along with the pacific islands. NZ rugby league has to again start from scratch after letting the local comp die. And the strongest comp, NRL, is going nowhere because the game is run by dinosaurs still.
We are getting washed up Union players back into the game with the increasing threat that many are leaving to go to union because the money is better.
No, the game is not getting any better, we have normal slow growth around the world with nothing to push them to any great heights, because the NRL was to backwardly run to grow the game internationally because of inward thinking.
And you want me to be cheerful about what? A independent commission that could take another 2 years to get up and running, by which time the horse has already bolted and we are being bent backwards by burgeoning gains made by other codes.
Rugby league is great, but the NRL is selling itself way short, it should be telecast into every country over 5 years ago. We are still just selling the game to the yanks now, plus we will be 20 years behind selling the game to the Chinese at this rate.
Rugby league is a bussiness, until we get people who know how to run a bussiness running the game we have buckleys and none of growing the game above amatuer to any country.
We need our best product,NRL, out their selling the game, am i the only one who can see this, their is every code plying their games overseas for other countries to watch, rugby league is way behind in every aspect of international bussiness.
We are a 3rd world league, put simply. We are the Congo, being run by Cogoans, if we had the Chinese running us, think about the prospects. That is harse, but its the only way for you guys to understand what is happening to our game at top level.
mushi said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Yes rugby league is a business and people that know how to run a business know that blind expansion is about measuring up your Big Willie to tell the other CEO’s how great you are. It isn’t about the return.
There isn’t a CEO in the world taht could of achieved your “should have” case without taking a million to one risk for a hundred to one return.
Springs said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
The NRL is a business, Rugby League is a sport.
Mick from Giralang said | February 6th 2010 @ 6:19am | Report comment
Oikee, I’ve put some cheer-up pills in the mail for you mate.
Luke W said | February 5th 2010 @ 10:08am | Report comment
If rugby league expands into America with the proposed top-down system it will lead to the bastardisation of the game as we know it to fit to American tastes. Just look at the teething problems the MLS had with this approach with all sorts of rule changes such as a countdown clock that paused at stoppages and NHL style penalty shootouts from 35 yards out.
oikee said | February 5th 2010 @ 10:19am | Report comment
I think the top down approach is the only way to go in America, its now 2010, if we waited for a grass-roots system we would be waiting maybe another 100 years. You need to be supplying best product practices, so a game which can be telecast will be better recieved than a amatuer game, expecially in America where sport is already intrenched.
Your only hope is by showing the game, (best of) and hoping that someone likes what they see, if this does not happen, you have buckleys and none of ever seeing a new sport grow.
The NRL needs to be selling its game to America and China and even India. If people like the game, they can then get juniors involved. I think its the only chance rugby league has got, and now is the perfect time to be selling our game, the market is low with money to be made in smart bussiness thnking by the yanks and chinese.
Siva Samoa said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:38am | Report comment
There’s alot of people in Australia and NZ who enjoy watching NFL live on Foxtel and Sky Sports but the majority of them won’t jump out of the cough to go and play it. The same would happen to both rugby codes in America.
M1tch said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
but we dont have the NFL is our own backyard
the yanks will have pro rugby league in some of their backyards
Siva Samoa said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
There’s NFL amateur league in many states and provinces of Australia and New Zealand. The pro rugby league thing in America was suppose to kick off this year. How long are we going to wait ?
M1tch said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
1 year
mushi said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Not a pro league but every major city has a league you can play in.
Lazza said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:49am | Report comment
MLS operates under FIFA rules last time I checked? If they don’t the US will be thrown out and not be able to compete in international competitions.
I’m not sure about the top-down approach either. The MLS worked because there are so many American kids playing the game and they’re going from strength to strength. All the US based sports shows I see on Pay TV have plenty of Soccer coverage now which is a big change from only a few years ago.
That will be the big test as far are generating any interest goes in the US. If it doesn’t get any ‘oxygen’ of publicity then it will just be a tiny niche sport. You can sell the TV rights to a million countries but if they’re not interested it will be telecast on Sports Channel 8 at 3:am and the NRL will receive about $10 for the rights.
Springs said | February 5th 2010 @ 10:24am | Report comment
It was never stated that Jones and Wagon were ‘confirmed’ for the American pro comp. It just said that they were two players the NRLUS were looking for their inaugaral season.
Also good news with the AMNRL set for rebreanding and expansion. A team from Pittsburgh has (I think) been confirmed.
M1tch said | February 5th 2010 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Hopefully league teams which are in NFL cities form a buddy relationship with them
Springs said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Would be good, definetly lift the profile of the sport.
Jacksonville had a ‘half and half’ League/NFL game last year.
M1tch said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:31am | Report comment
be a friend to NFL and not the enemy, will go a huge way for people to accept the game
Corey said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
also Jacksonville Jaguars have a radio show that promotes the Jacksonville Axemen, as the Axemen promote the Jaguars. And the Philadelphia Fight are the pre-game entertainment this year for the Philadelphia Lacrosse team, which they are expecting 12,000 people to attend. This is the optimistic stuff, but its too early to look at pessimistic stuff.
M1tch said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
that be great for the Fight is thats the case
the axemen get some pretty good crowds and as you say have a good relationship with the jaguars and the lower div american football teams
klestical said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
where can i read the article about the 2011 AMNRL?
Rod said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=351777
Read about it here.
Springs said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
rleague.com
Norm said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
I like your enthusiasm Corey but let’s not get too carried away just yet. Tuquiri & the Four Nations are reasons to look forward to the new season but the USA is highly problematic at best and in the long term may ultimately come to nothing. Rugby union has much higher participation rates and it struggles to be anything more than a boutique sport. By all means let’s have our dreams but keep expectations in check.
oikee said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
The point i am trying to make, if you sell your game for zero dollars, then sell it for zero dollars. At the very least it picks up a following over time, this is what has happened with the AFL. I have seen plenty of reports, weather good or bad about AFL being mentioned around the World.
Rugby league has sat back and done nothing really, i see that super league is carrying on like pork chops because they have sold their product to a american t/v service that attracks 35 million veiwers.? Why did it take this long to sell our product, give it away if you cant sell it for now.
It will take at least 10 years to get a following, now thats 10 years. another 10 to get some interest, thats 20 years, and then we are 20 years to get just a look-in, with another 20 years behind the NRL and Super league,..
Get marketing from the country you are selling to, give the game away, and even pay for the best marketing if you have to, put the whole game under 1 banner, and leave out the word rugby. Call it Power league, worlds toughest sport, with 3D hits and action. We need to stop kidding ourselves that rugby league can grow at a rate of no more than amatuer, sitting under rugby unions umbrella, it has not worked so far. It will never work.
Try something new, if it fails, then good, the game is nothing more than what most union people tell us, a game played in 2 states and a small part of England. Sad but true.
The world is ready for something new, the world as we are told has not really seen rugby league, so lets market it as a new world sport, under the guise of power league, new world sport, and pateint the bloody thing.
Rugby union in America is called Super rugby League. Cant anyone see where i am going here, we are further behind today, than we were 15 years ago.
Springs said | February 5th 2010 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
What the hell are you talking about? i thought you were the one who was ‘kidding himself’ over Rugby League growing rapidly. I remember you saying that the NRL could get no better than it is now, that’s how goodit is. But nowyou resign yourself to BELIEVING what union fans say?
We are far further ahead then 15 years ago. Where was the AMNRL? It didn’t exist. Four Nations? Didn’t exist. Following in melbourne? Didn’t exist. Pro teams in France/Wales? Didn’t exist. It seems youhave gone crazy oikee, either that or Siva has taken over your profile.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 5:15am | Report comment
100 years it took to have a melbourne, french, nz and a welsh professional team. the four nations has been around around a while now. australia, nz, france and png were the only nations i use to watced in the 80’s playing international rugby league.
you must have been the only one who believes oikee pipe dream post.
Springs said | February 6th 2010 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Four Nations have been around for a year. And Union has taken about 180 years to have a melbourn pro team.
Your next point is exactly what I meant, those 4 teams and Wales were the only ones playing International League. Now we have a 12 team World Cup plus 15-20 or more in the qualifiers.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
its taken rugby union 13 years since going fully pro in 1996 to get a team in melbourne. you had more countries than that played rugby league in the past but no one was interested. you had a bigger world cup and more teams before the 2008 rlwc.
many rugby league playing nations comes from australia, new zealand and local rugby union players.
Springs said | February 6th 2010 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
And Australia and new Zealand have many islander players. So what? Where does Lebanon come from? They are now a full member of the RLIF.
And I said those 5 countires were the only ones playing INTERNATIONAL League. And do you mean other countries played League in the past but were still not interested in the sport?
The 2000 RLWC had NZ Maori, Russia, Cook Islands, Lebanon to make up the numbers. Thse teams (apart from Maori) now play in the qualifiers, which have over 20-25 teams.
And the Union players, again. If half the Fijian team play Union as well (which they don’t) so what? They still play League! And the only League team comprised of Union players was Georgia and they were banned.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
The majority of NZ and Australia Islanders were born in NZ and Australia. those five countries were the only one playing international league matches because the rugby league international federation didn’t give a **** about the other nations.
the 2000 rlwc had more nations than the 2008 rlwc and even the irish, scottish, samoan and tongan squad were made up of nrl, superleague and nz players. have you read any news from fiji rugby league lately ? it seems most of the 2008 rlwc fijian rugby league squads are all back playing rugby union at the highest level.
Springs said | February 7th 2010 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
Siva, listen for once. If you did some actual research then you would know that of the 4 other countries that joined for the 1995 World Cup, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa were only introduced to League in the early 90s and South Africa was too small and the quality was not good enough (it showed in their pool games).
Where else are the Irish, Samoan etc squads gonna get their players from? Let’s not take Irish-qualified players from pro teams because the pro league is in England?
I find it strange that a lot of the Fijian League players (who played country football in Australia) could immediately make it into the National Union team. Anyway they came back to League for the Pacific Cup and will play next year.
Siva Samoa said | February 8th 2010 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
my gosh you guys don’t even know your codes own history. samoa and tonga played rugby league before the 90’s. why mention the 1995 rlwc when samoa, tonga and fiji were in the 2008 rlwc which had more teams than 2008 ?
those local rugby union players who made the fijian rugby league world cup squad and also the ones who played in and won the police world cup in their first game of rugby league.
most of the world cup teams in rugby league would get their players from the nrl and superleague competitions.
Gatesy said | February 5th 2010 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
Yeah, real big news about the USA League – did it actually make any of the newspapers? I’ll give it two years, max..and let’s fact it, Lote is coming back to NRL only because he is homesick and can’t get a Rugby gig here. and as for the 4 Nations – who cares? If that’s the best news of the week you League blokes are wasting all of that money you spend saturating the back pages. Fair Dinkum!
The Bush said | February 5th 2010 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
Why the obsession with America? Rugby Union is wasting its time as well.
America is a fully constituted, saturated sports market. Why don’t we spend our resources on fights that can be won? More needs to be done in the Islands and Russia needs to be fixed up again. There has been real postive signs from the 2008 WC in the other British countries… Why don’t we try somethign like England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland playing each other one year and Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Ginuea playing each other at the same time instead of the 4 nations.
This would mean that the countries most likely to play in the world cup’s would get to play the top nations at least once between world cups… this would increase exposure and profile, not to mention give us a clear indicator of how teams are improving between world cups.
If we have to spend our money, surely Africa and Asia, where maybe only one team sport exists, football, we’d have a better chance of attracting players etc?
Corey said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:44am | Report comment
I agree Bush, I believe Russia should be a major focus, but unfortunately the powers that be don’t think so- except for the RLEF (namely Kevin Rudd, not our PM but the other one). I also believe Africa and Asia are the big ones, Africa may not have the money but do we really care if the game makes money, we only care if the game gets played. And Asia would probably take a while getting used to a physical sport, like the Japanese Union.
The Bush said | February 6th 2010 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
Russia had so much potential not so long ago and no one can argue that they aren’t both physically up to the task but also have a sporting culture nearly unmatched bar maybe America (think Olympics). Rugby Union is going from strength to strength there, but unlike most people on the Roar I believe both games can grow together and in fact could help each other greatly, so I feel more can and should be done in Russia.
In fact other than Lebanon I haven’t heard of any progress in ‘virigin’ territory by either of the Rugby Codes.
Corey said | February 12th 2010 @ 9:37pm | Report comment
I think that the states of the former USSR need to be the focus of the next money maker. Imagine Russia eventually hosting a RLWC. A fair way off yet, but if we invest money into Russia then we a have a non-English speaking nation that has money to spread the game globally.
Katipo said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
The fastest and most effective way to grow league globally would be for the ARL (etc) to join the International Rugby Board (IRB). The IRB has a global infrastructure & strategic plan for growing rugby XV’s, rugby sevens and womens rugby. So, if league joined, the IRB could offer XV’s, 13’s, sevens and womens rugby to all their 100 plus member countries. Over night league would grow massively as each club offered the format and competitions were started.
The IRB lobbied hard for many years for sevens to be re-admitted to the Olympics. It will have massive growth in the future smashing global growth from XV’s and league. Of course XV’s will piggy back on that growth. Question. Why not thirteens? Answer. Because league isn’t in the IRB.
It is only because of history of professionalism & amatuerism that thirteens isn’t part of the IRB rugby family.
Cricket also has numerous formats: 5 days, 3 days, one day and 20/20, it shouldn’t be such a huge obstacle for the thirteens format to be accomodated with the IRB. If you really think that league has something to offer the rugby world then take the higher ground and apply to join the IRB. http://www.irb.com/
Corey said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:48am | Report comment
What?! As if League would ever do that, then our game would be brought back to be like that of Union- the game we changed from because our guys didn’t get paid and the game wasn’t spectator friendly. We don’t want our game becoming boring with kicking the ball from inside your 22 the main aim. Union has got a lot in international structure, but they aren’t as great as they think they are. I hope to see the day when games are sold out in the NRL and tickets are as rare as hens teeth. This is the greatest advertisement, your followers.
Mick from Giralang said | February 6th 2010 @ 6:22am | Report comment
Kapito: Interesting idea. I’d be surprised though if the rugger powers would wear it — they would see league as a big threat to their traditional 15-a-side game, especially if it could get the exposure the IRB umbrella could offer.
J said | February 6th 2010 @ 3:31am | Report comment
Corey how do you explain the fact that union is bigger than league? if people across the world did not like it, they would not want to watch so how do you explain it gaining popularity around the world. i would love to see NRL games sold out but thats not happening so stop bagging rugby. i think a united rugby would be a great idea too
Realist said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
“Corey how do you explain the fact that union is bigger than league?” — J
Privilege and opportunity is the reason rugby union grew around the world while rugby league only remained in its strongholds. The greatest advantage rugby union held over rugby league was the fact it was an amateur English sport that was strongly linked with a) the upper class and b) the establishment. The British military spread rugby union across its empire because the sport was accepted by the establishment and, was funded by the upper class. Rugby league’s growth was stalled by the establishment’s refusal to associate itself with the sport for the bulk of the 20th century — the military didn’t recongise rugby league as a military sport until 1994. The British Empire was much larger when it started introducing rugby union to its colonies.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
the military didn’t introduce rugby to the pacific islands, new zealand and australia. stop making up your own excuses, rugby league federation didn’t want to develop its game and it still shows. luckly for rugby league there’s a couple of individuals out there and some help from rugby union players and clubs it hasn’t die.
rugby league has been to lazy to get off its backside and develop the sports. there were many countries not playing both codes and rugby league didn’t want to leave the suburbands heartland.
J said | February 6th 2010 @ 8:34pm | Report comment
“Privilege and opportunity is the reason rugby union grew around the world while rugby league only remained in its strongholds” – the only reason accourding to you Realist that rugby is bigger than league. What you just said is not even worth arguing. Its people like you that give rugby league a bad name.
Realist said | February 6th 2010 @ 11:40pm | Report comment
” the only reason accourding to you Realist that rugby is bigger than league. What you just said is not even worth arguing. Its people like you that give rugby league a bad name.” — J
No mate, it’s all fact. Anyone who knows a thing or two about the history of rugby league and rugby union will agree with my version of events because they represent the truth. The fact you are unaware of your sport’s history proves you’re just an uneducated fan.
I suppose you’re going to claim Vichy never happened and that rugby league fans who say it did are giving it a bad name….
If you don’t believe me then go read up on the sport so you can see for yourself.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 11:56pm | Report comment
your version of rugby and league history is the same use by most paranoid rugby league fans. its a history from rugby league forums and full of hatered towards rugby union . keep up the crusade you guys are doing on wikipedia changing history to your favour.
Realist said | February 7th 2010 @ 2:59am | Report comment
“your version of rugby and league history is the same use by most paranoid rugby league fans. its a history from rugby league forums and full of hatered towards rugby union . keep up the crusade you guys are doing on wikipedia changing history to your favour.” — Sia Samoa
The information I stated is readily available to anyone who is willing to search for it from reputable sources. I was able to find information about rugby union’s ties with the military during the 19th and early 20th Centuries by searching through a reputable British encyclopaedia that’s been around for many decades.
Sorry Siva, but your refusal to accept the truth about your sport’s history proves you’re a zealot. You’re the sort of person who’ll keep on spreading a lie until it’s accepted by anyone who doesn’t know the truth. People like you are the reason I turned my back on rugby union in 2008. I know other people who’ve turned their backs on rugby union for the same reason.
Crosscoder said | February 6th 2010 @ 7:13am | Report comment
As stated Jones has not been formally invited ,he is just one of a number of players who will probably get an invitation.Thus his response.
The argument that because the code is startingfrom the top down it won’t work,flies in the face of what has happened in places such as Lebanon.Clubs established firstly in universities and now rapidly moving throughout the school system.
The code of rl now has the official Govt seal of approval as a major sport
http://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/967
Serbia was another example.
As far as the USA is concerned, the recently announced TV deal in that country with the English Super league on America One’s nationwide coverage will be of immense benefit.That channel has a reach of 35 million in 125 markets.from New York to Miami to Seattle and San Francisco.
The game already has a comp in place the AMNRL which is expected to incude a Pittsburgh team next round.there is in fact grassroots work being carried out.
Whilst there is no guarantee of success for the new pro comp,it has hardly been organised overnight and been in the pipeline for years.To get private backers involved and TV contracts doesn’t happen just with the swipe of a pen.
People asky why the US?.With the biggest commercial market of 300 miilion people,even getting a small pickings is worth the effort.So the answer is why not try.Nothing ventured etc.
Sorry the notion of rugby league using the IRB to expand 1) wouldn’t work because of the historical emnities 2) because rl is growing in new countries without their assistance 3) If rl was included in the IRB ,guess where the preferences would lie.Sorry conflict of interest big time.
No I prefer the code prepared to operate separately for the hard slog of the decades ,that has had to put up with a SL war,bannings,off handed tactics and yet still able to grow in new areas and strenthen iits position in its home areas.A united rugby is not going to happen,as both are growing,and thank the good Lord for that.
Gatesy:
I detect a tad touch of bitterness firstly with Lote,who came back to earn less and enjoy his family life,and get the opportunity to run the ball often(unique hey).Gee you have Ryan Cross be happy.
Secondly the newspapers are hardly going to have details of a comp in the U.S ,that has not been officlally announced.Cart before the horse man.
Siva. It took 100 years for union to decide being paid(despite some despising players that did) was OK.Suggest bagging rl taking 100 years to do something is filled with irony.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
rugby league is using rugby union players and rugby clubs and grounds to develop their game in most countries and most has even changed their season so it doesnt clash with rugby union.
rugby league might be growing in other places it has died in others so it would do so in the future.
Realist said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
“rugby league is using rugby union players and rugby clubs and grounds to develop their game in most countries and most has even changed their season so it doesnt clash with rugby union.
rugby league might be growing in other places it has died in others so it would do so in the future.” — Siva Samoa
The IRB and ARU rely on rugby league’s innovations. Things such as professionalism and the video referee system were utilised in rugby league before the IRB adopted them. I hear the ARU and SANZAR are thinking about using the two on-field referee system that was introduced by the NRL.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
if you say so realist but just remember your sport was born from rugby most of its rules and innovation came from rugby. did you think the scrum was made up by dally messenger ?
Nick said | February 6th 2010 @ 8:40pm | Report comment
Um Realist maybe you should do some research about what you write down, the two refee system is not an invention by the NRL it was trailed in South Africa during the 80’s and is a rugby idea taken by the NRL.
http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_2210153212.php
Dogs Of War said | February 6th 2010 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
Nick, the point is that you didn’t make it work. League has. The NRL didn’t look to see what Union did in SA in the 80’s in a “trial”, rather they looked to the NFL and the AFL to a lesser extent, and then trialed the process in the U20’s comp, realised it was a good thing, and brought it into the top grade. It’s great when rules or systems can be brought in so quick without the Northern vs Southern arguments you get in Union.
allblackfan said | February 6th 2010 @ 11:39pm | Report comment
The NRL does NOT constitute Southern Hemisphere RL (although it may as well). RL is devoid of this North-South debate because it is not big enough to afford these regional interpretations of the game
PS: By the way, during the recent RL 4Ns tournament, did they play the games with one or two refs in the middle?
Nick said | February 7th 2010 @ 12:21am | Report comment
DOW you always seem to be clutching at straws, it does work in SA its still done in the university res competition. rugby union is not run by sanzar its run by a governing body the IRB ie its not like rugby league where the NRL tells the few countries that play what to do.
Realist said | February 7th 2010 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
“rugby union is not run by sanzar its run by a governing body the IRB ” — Nick
DOW and I were referring to the Super 14, which is controlled by SANZAR.
Corey said | February 12th 2010 @ 10:39pm | Report comment
allblackfan…. what about the new Rugby rules to make it more spectator friendly, they were trialled in the Super 14 before any where else in the world (at least in the top professional level), this is what led the rest of the Rugby world to introduce some of these rules. SANZAR recommended it to them. But in the end it doesn’t really matter, All sports borrow from others, what about Baseball (evolved from cricket), NFL (from Union), AFL (from Union and Aboriginal games), even Union (from football- yes Union and Soccer were once the same game). There is nothing wrong with this, lets stop this feudal attempt of choosing which sport is better, i think the sports tagline says it: Union- the game played in Heaven; League- the greatest game of all. Jks. But I did just receive my Broncos season membership passes just then.
oikee said | February 6th 2010 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Sounds good, now reality again, the NRL cant even sell their game to Europe, Our best comp weather its our useless ARL running the show, our very best product, and the season about to begin. You have people blogging and asking if any channel has picked up the NRL rights yet.???
In the meantime, 6 nations plus Guinness and other rugby gets full time coverage throughout europe, as far as the media is concerned, rugby league does not exsist. And to be fair, they are right, because people running the game have no idea.
We should be selling the game to the chinese, and india, and any other country that dont get the game. Give it away if we have to, but get it out their, because you wont get any help from western countries, they are alreadty tied into rugby union, and its selling, weather you like it or not.,
Lebanon worked because of the support it got from players returning in numbers to that country. Other wise it would be no further than any other nation. The only chance league has is by selling or giving the game away with promotion of a whole new name. The other way it can grow is off the back of Olympic sevens, beleive it or not, going from sevens to 13’s rugby league is a natural chioce, we should be hard promoting this, use union for our own gain, and have no guilt doing it, promote league in every country after the Olympics, and we have a chance.
But i am dreaming, we dont have the brains in rugby league to do this, if we had business types who can see this, we might have a chance, but my faith is well worn, we cant even get a commiss up and running, because of the dead-wood involved.
The NRL is our saviour, but it looks pretty weak at the moment, and not going anywhere fast. The game is perfect, no changes again this year, the people running it are knobs.
Springs said | February 6th 2010 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
How about you go sell the game to the freakin chinese? How is the game perfect if the people who are running it are knobs? So all the University comps that started League in Lebanon were ex-Australians that were ex–Lebanese?
You’ve got no idea, Oikee, seriously. If you’re serious stop whining and run for the damn head commissioner! Go follow AFL then, shows that you definetly do not represent League followers, another of your outlandish past claims.
oikee said | February 7th 2010 @ 10:25am | Report comment
I said give it away, not sell the game. If you cant sell it, give it away. Over time it can then be sold.
Al i said was that i was giving rugby league 1 year to get its house in order. The game needs more than cow-cockies running the damm game, if you think otherwise thyen your a fool, not me, and if i was 30 years younger, i would be running for top job with the commiss, but i happen to be a dinosaur, and this is what i insist we get rid off, so take what you want from that.
The game as it stands is perfect, i happen to love the game, its just the top end needs fixing, if you cant see that with what i have said in my posts, i have no chance running the game. We need excellent selling the game, at the moment we are not even giving the game away because the top end wants money for the game, meanwhile every other code is gaining more fans while rugby league flounders.
Give the game away for 3 months, and sell the other3 months for cash. Just get the damm game out their, we are wasting time,.
oikee said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Just to further your own faith in what and who we have running QLD rugby league, a man who i thought was retired somewhere on a beach spending the many millions he squandered from QLD politics, but no, allas, here is is on the QLD rugby league board, obviously sucking every penny he can from our state league, along with the other dinosaur mates.
Just to show you what i mean, the only time you hear about Terry, is when a business has collasped, or their is a scandal involved in such. But hey, today i seen his name conected to our great game. Only mentioned today along with others trying to buy seats on the independent commiss.
If the commiss is not up and running this time next year, ( i have already written off this year), then i am following AFL.
I will give it 1 year, then i just have no more time for fools. I will be moving into the future, and letting go of the past.
P.S i noticed that the AFL is now streamed live on ESPN Europe. Hows that for a future modern sport.
Siva Samoa said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
im really happy for afl been been shown on espn europe and many rugby union competitions shown on many tv channels all over . the thing is that rugby union and afl fans won’t go on forums, blogs and theroars and make it look like their sports are going to take over the world because its shown in america.
rugby league fans are so obsess with crowds and tv ratings its not even funny.
Mick from Giralang said | February 7th 2010 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Gotta laugh at Siva talking about obssession
Realist said | February 7th 2010 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
Siva Samoa has rugby league envy.
oikee said | February 8th 2010 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Siva, rugby league has 2 best codes for sale around the world, super league and nrl. That is all we need, you have what,? 5, maybe more, but not 1 is sold to FTA Australia, not even 6 nations, because nobody is interested.
You are like a old man trapped in a young body, and i am trying to get rid of oldmen outta rugby league, We want Gen Y for our supporters. Rugby union is a old mans sport.
Keep watching your 6 nations, i have heard its thrilling
as ussual.
The reason we dont buy 6 nations is because. the whole of europe would hear us say its boring, The only people watching it is your little mungo group on pay t/v.
The rest of us, AFL and rugby league folk dont care. And thats nearly the full population.
NZ took a gamble, Rugby union, sorry, wrong bet.
The 22 million australians are showing their support, and union ain’t winning my friend. As a matter of fact, its dead in the water come kickoff.
Siva Samoa said | February 7th 2010 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
I would envy it if theres heaps of rugby league around the world to watch. So I guess its rugby for me.
Rod said | February 12th 2010 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Yep not much RL so far siva, still it’s only the beginning of 2010.
Well I’ve already watched RL from Wales, England and France this year siva, and I’ll be watching the All Stars game tomorrow, life’s not too bad, oh and I’ll be watching Wigan vs Hull KR at about 7am
Corey said | February 12th 2010 @ 10:51pm | Report comment
Just a query Rod, how do u do that. I love my pie eaters (Wigan) and I’m a supporter of the Crusaders (I’m of Welsh heritage) and of the Catalans, just love watching French man not romancing some woman. Mind you the Crusaders and Catalans (especially the Crusaders) haven’t had the greatest start. The crowds for the Crusaders are awesome at the moment, lets hope they get the results to maintain and grow the crowds in the future. And hopefully Les Catalans plays some more games in Spain, as they got a good crowd last time (over 13k last time i think).
Rod said | February 13th 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment
I watch online mate.
Go to LU and sign up or if you are already a member bump a thread like this
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=349948
I’ll send you a PM.
Crosscoder said | February 8th 2010 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Siva Samoa.Dying out! in which countries?.Struggling in Russia I will give you,but please advise the others.Singapore never started.
Really interested to know or is it another of your wildly glib generalisations.
You talking about the countries ru officials tried to kill off rl.Now that would be a first and really unique.
And guess what champ,some ru players in countries such as Wales are making rl their first sport.
Gee maybe I was one of them,played ru then rl. Sheesh!
RU in the UK has many former rl players involved in official capacities with ru clubs,such as Betts,Ford,Connolly, off the top of my head,and others used in coaching defensive and conditioning.
In France many of the grounds are council owned.And I would say the grounds in the U.S in which rl is played are not owned by ru,but by colleges etc.The Celtic Crusader are not playing on a ru ground.
In Serbia rl is now played in the same season as RU,Lebanon plays whenever it damn likes.In the Czech Republic the rl season is on against the ru season and the 4 trl teams are out and out rl players(source RL World Feb 2010.)In Sth Africa it is all about developing their own rl players,not relying on ru converts,whcih have not helped in the past.
Not like a ru blogger(whose name is a secret LOL), who spends his life bagging rl on many forums,and finds it difficult to accept it when someone says something positive about rl.Wouldn’t have any idea who the gent is?
If ru had been bright enough 100 years ago and recompensed their players ,we would have one rugby code now.That code used players like cattle.The only smart ones were the players,who had had enough and defected to be recompensed for their efforts.It took another near 100 years for ru authorities to get the message(of course the under the lap payments prevailed).And yet this was brought about by a RL war ,not by the initiatives of ru officials.Slow learners.
Your grudging comments pervade all discussions, rugby league.There are more countries playing rl than ever before,and appears you find that difficult to accept.
Heaven help a successful pro RL tournament in the U.S,you would be in a real lather.
It is rugby for me too Siva:NRL/ESL/Toyota cup/SOO
BTW Nick you are wrong the NRL don’t tell the countries what to do,never have.It is under the auspices of the RLIF and the ARL and RLEF.The NRL is set up soley to administer the NRL comp.
King of the Gorganites said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
RL in NZ is struggling. they will struggle to sell out the game in auckland. i tip for a crowd of 30K max.
face the facts. RL is a pointless game on an international level.
we need to focus on our own backyard, and that means fighting AFL in our western heartlands.
the 4 nations proved that people are not interested in international RL. i suggest the four nations be repalced by a 4 teams competiion (two top from NRL and two from ESL).
Springs said | February 10th 2010 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
King’s 3 favourite phrases:
3. Face the facts
2. 4 Nations was a financial disaster
1. As evidenced by the poorly attended 4 Nations
Crosscoder said | February 10th 2010 @ 6:29am | Report comment
Gee another futile trolling attempt at bagging rl .
Struggling depends on what you mean by struggling.The code has streamlined its organisation.Sky News NZ throws in $12m pa to have the NRL rights.The Warriors seem to have any number of up and comers in their under 20 squad.
Get back to us when your code ,understands what the meaning of entertainment is all about,and does something about the falling crowds and TV ratings for S14 in NZ.
The next Tv contract for rugby league will ensure there are sufficients funds available to compete with any comp,be it AFL or world series darts.
The 4 nations in fact made a profit in the UK,and even if they get 30,000 at Eden Park,a profit would be expected.It is a start,and there will be more of them as the code grows.Just get used to it,and squirm.
Mick from Giralang said | February 10th 2010 @ 6:39am | Report comment
“we need to focus on our own backyard, and that means fighting AFL in our western heartlands”
It’s hilarious the way this KOG bloke pretends he’s some sort of rugby league supporter.
Siva Samoa said | February 10th 2010 @ 7:39am | Report comment
you don’t see the numbers of rugby league players drop from 40.000 to 15.000 as struggling and the nzrl having no money in the bank.
many have been saying about the warriors under 20’s for a while yet most of them find clubs in australia to play for. more of what ? the auckland rugby league clubs are struggling to get junior to play in their clubs and some age groups have to drop because of lack of players.
rugby league in nz is struggling big time and i don’t have to show you all the articles from sparc to prove it.
Realist said | February 12th 2010 @ 11:15pm | Report comment
“you don’t see the numbers of rugby league players drop from 40.000 to 15.000 as struggling and the nzrl having no money in the bank.” — Siva Samoa
The game in New Zealand is struggling at the grassroots level. It’ll need to correct the situation if it doesn’t want to go the same way as the ARU is heading.
Crosscoder said | February 10th 2010 @ 6:53am | Report comment
Wouldn’t want him following you in a combat patrol.
Deception is not one of his strong points,getting egg on his face a constant.
Crosscoder said | February 10th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Actually many of us are fully aware of the drop in numbers in NZ.One of the knockers had the figure down as low as 8,000,but disappeared when asked to verify.You keep reminding us about every day or so.
Whilst the NZRL is not exactly loaded with money,they did get some from the 4 nations tournament for starters,and further comps such as those will add to the coffers.They also got money from the world cup,an event you stated wouldn’t be held and would lose money.
BTW the Crusaders one of the top S14 franchises lost $800,000 last year,where the game is the national code.
Gee ,so these Auckland players get to be taken up by Australian clubs,so what?.If there were few available from NZ,it wouldn’t happen.
Is it dying?,with a new administration for the various districts,doubt it very much.And still awaiting your response to the countries where league is dying.
And the Sparc investigation led to?The streamlining of the code in that country.You love ancient history,some of us like to keep up with the present.No one is suggesting rl is booming there,although you appear to responding as if we did.
Corey said | February 12th 2010 @ 11:03pm | Report comment
If Siva spent as much time promoting Union as he did bagging League we would see a lot more people watching Union.
allblackfan said | February 13th 2010 @ 2:23am | Report comment
Lot more people are watchng union.
North Harbour stadium (NZ) and ME stadium (Perth) were near capacity full for the start of the S14.
Over to u, RL!
Corey said | February 13th 2010 @ 11:28am | Report comment
I’m sorry, I meant more people watching Union (as the starting point is here and with Siva promoting Union it would now be here- a greater level than the previous here), forgive my rhetoric.
Realist said | February 13th 2010 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
allblackfan/siva
The Broncos’ crowds will be much higher than the Reds’ crowds.
Crosscoder said | February 13th 2010 @ 6:27am | Report comment
Good to see your back in another guise Siva.AllBlackFan sounds good.
The All stars match is already a sellout.I will see you and raise you one.Although I can’t” see” you on FTA.
Oh and you will be able to see a SOO match in 3D this year,just thought I would keep you up to date on rl in Australia.Ideal for the 13 man running game ,hey what.
Mick from Giralang said | February 13th 2010 @ 6:36am | Report comment
It’s a disconcerting thought to have big Petero running at you in your lounge room in 3D.
Crooscoder said | February 14th 2010 @ 11:18am | Report comment
I feel the pain already,but all I have to do is remove the special specs,and Petero becomes a mere mortal again,albeit a huge mere mortal.Throw in the Pommy guy and David Taylor hitting a screen near you.