Foundation rugby league countries England, Australia, and New Zealand are receiving timely good news that augurs well for the game’s future.
Starting with England, at its annual general meeting in Hull, a Rugby Football League (RFL) Governance Review prepared by eminent sports lawyer and RFL Interim Chairman Maurice Watkins, concluded that the sport’s system of governance was a model for other sports to follow.
Notably, a sport that is governed by a single unified leadership body with a majority of independent directors at the helm.
Some excellent facets to come out of RFL report include broadcast rights for the 2012-2016 period, and covering Super League, World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, Championships and Northern Rail Cup, totalled a the sum of £135 million.
These rights were concluded with Sky, the BBC and Premier Sport.
Internationals were not included but it has already been released that the recent England v Exiles series brought in an extra £1.5 million.
In addition to the broadcast revenues, it has been reported that the RFL has received significant levels of government funding for its work in both the development of elite athletes and increasing participation in the sport.
During the current funding cycle (1st April 2009 to 31st March 2013) the RFL will have received in excess of £27 million for this work. These funds are being used to deliver a number of programmes and capital costs, such as £3 million between 2009 and 2013 for the improvement of facilities at community rugby league clubs.
The RFL has also increased its turnover to an all-time high of £27.04 million in 2011 and recorded a pre-tax profit for the 10th successive year. This represents an 18.5 per cent increase on 2010 and allowed the RFL to increase hand-outs to clubs and other member organisations to a record £9.18 million.
There are hiccups, such as Bradford Bulls administration problems and the on-going competitive concern of the London Broncos, but already a group of prominent local Asian business people in Bradford want to buy the club and Odsal stadium.
London Broncos also secured a major national sponsor that could lead to a longer term agreement.
New Zealand, via the ownership of the New Zealand Warriors, also announced ground-breaking and exciting news for the code.
After the club’s board meeting, a busy press conference was told the Warriors would become “the best single sporting franchise in Australasia”, including a new elite academy aimed at fostering young talent and a new secondary schools championship in Auckland.
Other highlights included the formation of a Warriors Charitable Trust; the upgrading of training, sports science, medical, talent identification, IT and other team support facilities; improved membership offers to fans outside Auckland and in Australia; a significant involvement in grass roots rugby league; increased Vodafone Warriors merchandise range and the establishment of the club’s first Warriors shop; a commitment to Mt Smart Stadium increasing capacity between 40-60,000 plus an adjacent smaller stadium for local club rugby league and putting the ‘NZ’ in the Warriors by taking NRL ‘home’ matches to other regions of New Zealand including Dunedin, Christchurch and Hamilton in the South Island.
In Australia, the rumour mill over the new TV media broadcast deal is in overdrive.
Despite the split in opinion and agendas of reporting between the Fairfax media group and News Ltd, both organisations are now mentioning on a frequent basis a deal for the Australian rugby league Commission in the region of $1.15 billion dollars.
The broadcast deal aside, the NRL scene on-field is fantastic, TV ratings across the board are breaking records, new and old sponsors are aligning themselves to the game, and grassroots developments are being recognised.
For example, Learn Earn Legend! Ambassador Preston Campbell will join in London international sporting stars and officials from around the world at the Beyond Sport Federation Awards with the Australian Rugby League Commission a finalist for the prestigious International Governing Body of the Year Award.
The strengthening of the game in these traditional powerhouses of rugby league is timely for a sport that is experiencing encouraging growth in other regions. More so than ever, the leadership and economic strength of the game in Australia, New Zealand and England can have far-reaching effect for peripheral nations such as Wales, France, Serbia, Italy, the Pacific, and beyond.
Wales already has over 7,000 players at all levels playing the sport, France is looking at launching a professional summer competition involving soccer clubs Lens and Nantes, the former likely to host the France v Wales international in October.
The Pacific sees Fiji’s Vodafone expand rapidly with the league featuring regularly in the media, and Tonga’s domestic scene going from strength to strength. Jamaica play Canada this weekend in Toronto, and Lebanon make their debut tour to Canada as well.
Who would have thought?
The crescendo to all this will be the 2013 rugby league World Cup.
Passionate about your league? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily league email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
July 24th 2012 @ 1:00am
Johnno said | July 24th 2012 @ 1:00am | Report comment
-This is all good news for rugby league. But still much work to be sone but very complex either at the same time.
-It must adress the eligibility stuff.
-Like rugby have tier 1,2,3, system
Work out if under 20-’s qualify or not for begin stuck for life for that tier 1 nation
-Increase player payments for test matches which they are now looking at. In other words origin getting more out of the next tv deal but comparatively the origin earnings going down to test footy.
-The rugby league world cup should become the pinnacle of the sport , not state of origin too. SOO only 2 states for crying out loud. A rugby league world cup is played between more nations.
-But ukraine ,serbia, croatia devleoping nicely, as is spain and portugual. RUgby league in russia seems to have lost out a bit since rugby union became an olymipc sport via 7evens. Italy rugby league is doing okay and in germany too.
-But enough nations are now getting there act together in rugby league which is good. all bodes well for a good world cup next year.
And the USA /Canada/ukraine/south africa/italy/ is such a big market too just need a little bit to do wonders for rugby league. It has a semi pro comp now in USA.
-But global rugby league on the up , they should also do more stuff with 9′s and 10′s and 7even’s to get league into new markets.
-Jamaican rugby league is doing so well they have development officers now a few teams it is really going well. Usian bolt likes rugby league too.
July 24th 2012 @ 6:42am
Bruce T said | July 24th 2012 @ 6:42am | Report comment
It is all promising, but is it all a bit late? Why has it taken so long for Rugby League to get it’s act together?
Had they done this before Union went professional, it would be good night Union. On top of this Rugby League now needs to contend with Union 7s.
July 24th 2012 @ 7:41am
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 7:41am | Report comment
why would it be good night rugby union had league got its act together before it went professional? rugby union will still be on top at amateur, semi-pro or professional level.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:03am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:03am | Report comment
Only a rusted on rugby union fan would say rugby union is a better game to watch. Anyone who has a bit of objectivity will confess that rugby league is faster, has more action, has better attacking play that involves higher levels of skill and superior, hard-hitting defence.
Rugby union has only survived because it has the support of wealthy businessmen who use it for networking purposes and push it down the throats of students from rich private schools. If those GPS schools that discriminate against league never existed then there would be less than 20,000 registered rugby union players in this country. Same in England.
July 25th 2012 @ 10:11pm
Rugby Is Bigger Than League said | July 25th 2012 @ 10:11pm | Report comment
There must be many rusted rugby fans out there than those who support league. Where I come from rugby is play by working class and by state schools.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:07am
allblackfan said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:07am | Report comment
agreed, RIBTL.
And no, I don’t come from NZ!
July 27th 2012 @ 9:58pm
Matt_S said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Still doesn’t stop you coming on a league thread. Union too boring hey?
July 24th 2012 @ 8:23am
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:23am | Report comment
i’m not sure what the nz warriors new competition in auckland schools will be or are they just taking over the one that has been going since the 70′s despite some on carry on about league been ban in auckland or nz schools which is a cop out.
the warriors won’t have a 60,000 capacity stadium while eden park is around unless the two owners use their own money but then they don’t own the land so that’s out of the picture. good on them for taking games outside of auckland hope season ticket holders will be happy about it. what happen to the games that was supppose to be played in taupo for three years but got cut after just one game?
July 24th 2012 @ 8:37am
turbodewd said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:37am | Report comment
I still think NRL crowds can be improved a lot.
I mean Brisbane has 2million ppl and yet can only get 30,000 to a game. Wollongong is a tenth of the size and can pull 18,000. The Raiders crowds have been pretty ordinary ever since the Brumbies came to town. Melbourne’s have improved but could still be better considering 400,000 are tuning in to watch SOO.
The league average this year is down a fair bit which is a concern. Here are the stats:
http://www.austadiums.com/sport/comp.php?sid=2
What also concerns me is that at playoff time we rarely fill the stadium. Funny that, I thought everyone loved the McIntyre system! Its a crowd killer if u ask me. I mean what’s the point of attending a game where either team can lose and still be alive in the playoffs? Rather than attend games on 2 consecutive weeks Ill go the 2nd week when my team’s fortunes are really on the line.
July 24th 2012 @ 8:50am
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
turbodewd.
Crowds appear down in all codes.I do think the uncertainty in the economy and whether people will retain their jobs or who have lost them,is a factor.
One also has to weigh up the benefits ,of playing on a monday evening.Few visiting supporters,few families,yet great Pay TV ratings.
Centralising stadiums will not solve crowd problems,but may in fact accentuate them.It is after all a tribal game.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:37am
Australian Rules said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Crowds probably are down for each code…though for different reasons.
However, I think the concern for the NRL is that crowds have remained static for the last 10 years.
The competition itself hasn’t changed, Origin seems to get bigger and bigger, more money and media in the game than ever before…but no change at all in people actually attending.
Eg. 2 big Friday night matches last wknd…
One – a much-hyped grudge match – 16,000
Two – a Qld derby in League ‘heartland’ – 20,000
July 24th 2012 @ 2:58pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
Not a case of probably,they are.
For different reasons !!The economy at last reports affects people from all walks of life.The Swans crowds are down,despite the hyped top position and the work going on at the SCG(sitll gives a 35,000 capacity) which has not been reached.TV ratings in sydney going nowhere..
Yes and the much hyped grudge match at brookvale oval ,with little room to swing a cat ,on live against the gate.Staged at the ANZ stadium ,a much larger crowd despite manly fans not travelling.That only reinforces my view that Brookvale should be a 20,000 in comfort stadium.
The game stage at Skilled was 20,000 yes in rl heartland and disappointing,but that too was live against the gate.TheTitans are only just getting their act together,hardly setting the world on fire.
Yes the crowds are static and that can be argued with just about all codes.But the participation rates for rl Australiia wide are at record levels,and the SOO TV ratings are at record highs and the FTA and Pay in particular are more than holding their own.You lose some ,you win some.Hence the optimism for the next TV deal.
Various reasons can be attributed to rl crowds.
Economy
Big crowd drawers Broncos and Parramatta are to be kind one average ,one less than average
Monday night football was not in vogue that long ago.
Weather for some 20th century type grounds
Live FTA against the gate on friday nights…
July 24th 2012 @ 4:37pm
Australian Rules said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Deep breaths CC.
Blaming crowds on *cough* the economy? What about the carbon tax too?
Yes, crowds are down…but for clearly different reasons across the codes.
There’s 2 new AFL clubs in non-heartland areas…they both draw 10,000 each lower than other clubs. Also more games in smaller stadiums like Tasmania than any other year to date. Also 2 stadiums under major construction all year. These aren’t excuses but they have an obvious impact.
The A-League is coming off a torrid season, another club folding, an expansion club hastily erected.
It’s been a terrible year for the Australian Super15 conference…poor results, poor crowds.
By comparison, the NRL has been quite stable in for the past 10 years…except perhaps the Titans who started strong and have had a typical GC crowd drop.
July 25th 2012 @ 8:09am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:09am | Report comment
AR
As far as the C tax is concerned,I would like to shove it ,where the sun don’t shine.Of course it will have an impact.
The economy if you have been keeping up to speed of late,has involved a large number of building companies going down the tube,plus bank lay offs, News print media,TV,plus Ford lay offs etc etc.Cough cough these people will be doing more than “coughing”.
I have family involved in a decent spread of industries,who say staff (including themselves)are constantly looking over their shoulders,for a tap on the shoulders and a pink slip.That is the uncertainty plaguing.
The Swans crowds are down,forget the new clubs,especially when we were told the Skoda mob were going to average X numbers.The SCG stadium as I have already stated under re construction still has a max capacity of 35,000 which has not been reached.
You really are not serious..Parramatta which not only one of the biggest TV raters on Sydney FTAalso has one of the largest fans base and juniors,is positioned where on the ladder.Ditto Penrith.St George have been playing like busteds,they have a huge fan base and not even in the top 8.The Broncos have been average this year without Lockyer
How can ot be stable with so many upsets.Geez.
Again I repeat monday nights also detracts from crowds.Initially it had novelty values ,not anymore.It is not family friendly.
A classic example was the Cowboys who played last monday night.Many of their fans attend from kms around,but monday night a stadium too far.
All codes have been affected by the implications of the economy,team performances,despite the
relatively full employment status in this country.No thanks to the unelected big Red BTW.
Perhaps all codes should be doing a little of this AR
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-accused-of-exploiting-figures-20120723-22knq.html
They wouldn’t do that surely,remember having a go at me re the Kimberly rugby league
July 25th 2012 @ 8:50am
Australian Rules said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
You still going on about the economy?
CC, we’re not talking about the current form of one team or another..or the retirement of someone like Lockyer! (geez…if the code is dependent on that it’s truly stuffed)
You really don’t think the NRL can do better with crowds?
July 25th 2012 @ 8:25am
mushi said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Yes the economy affects all walks of life but Australia has done an amazing hatchet job on confidence.
July 25th 2012 @ 8:51am
Australian Rules said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Pretty amazing isn’t it?
Australia is the shining beacon of the global economy and yet we tell each other over and over again that we’re all stuffed.
July 25th 2012 @ 10:10am
mushi said | July 25th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
we potentially will be somewhat stuffed but mainly because of guys like cross coder convincing people at bbq’s that they are stuffed. When the mining boom ends and the drained real economy stutters they’ll get their wish.
July 25th 2012 @ 10:22am
mushi said | July 25th 2012 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Sorry that sounds harsh to CC. I understand you’re he’s conveying his view over a few beers /keystrokes but you get ten people each telling ten people yadda yadda and all of a sudden you have a crisis in confidence that pre-empted any actual economic driver.
Even now as long as we accept a new normal and consign the golden decade to the scrap heap of too good to be true, things aren’t that bad – especially when we realise that some of the statisical measures (like retail spending) are antiquated and not a great reflection.
But if we go into the cyclical shift in commodities with this base level confidence we’ll get destroyed.
Yes it is lay off’s are increasing, we still have an employment rate that isn’t that far off full employment so job losses are hardly at Iberian levels.
July 25th 2012 @ 11:33am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 11:33am | Report comment
AR
I did not realise you ,me and the NRL fans and sports fans in general were not part of the economy.Well I never.We are not consumers LOL.
If you have no idea about the current makeup of the NRL table,then best not leave yourself open to criticism or indeed ridicule.
Repeat one more time for the uninitiated Parramatta stone motherless last,Penrith shaking hands with them.
If Parra had been in the top 5 or 6 crowds at ANZ and Parra stadium would have almost doubled.
All codes can do better with crowds including yours
.
Better facilities for starters,no monday night games.There are just two avenues to build crowds.
The most popular clubs when they are firing draw the crowds,eg Parramatta and Collingwood.
July 25th 2012 @ 11:43am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 11:43am | Report comment
Not quite Mushi.It’s very simple people have lost jobs ,maybe it’s best to ask them.
In fact I am doing quite well in the current situation.
I have thick enough skin,to handle abuse from rl haters and trolls that frequent these tabs.Water off a duck’s back.So I am now being blamed for talking the economy down FFS.Wayne are you there Wayne,it’s all my fault.
If the economy is going so well,why is channel 9 standing to lose up to $40m on the Olympics coverage.Because advertising is so soft.Why is David jones and Myer cutting profit forecasts
July 25th 2012 @ 1:46pm
Australian Rules said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
CC
Be serious…you keep referring to the form of 1 or 2 clubs in season 2012. I’m talking about crowds across the last 10 years.
Are there that many bandwagon supporters that the crowds for clubs have halved, as you say?
If so, that must have been happening each year for the past decade.
July 25th 2012 @ 4:16pm
mushi said | July 25th 2012 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
“If you have no idea about the current makeup of the NRL table,then best not leave yourself open to criticism or indeed ridicule.”
Likewise please stop talking anything vaguely related to economics or finance.
I get it you did a couple of units of accounting and own some shares. I also did a semester of metal work and own a tap it doesn’t mean I’m capable of opining on plumbing.
“I have thick enough skin,to handle abuse from rl haters and trolls that frequent these tabs.Water off a duck’s back.So I am now being blamed for talking the economy down FFS.Wayne are you there Wayne,it’s all my fault.”
If it’s water off a ducks back then why the swearing and the request for a justification? But rest assured there is no way I, nor anyone else, thinks you have the capacity to be solely responsible for anything.
“Not quite Mushi.It’s very simple people have lost jobs ,maybe it’s best to ask them.
In fact I am doing quite well in the current situation.”
I’m glad you’re doing well. I am also well aware people have lost jobs perhaps that is why I said “lay offs are increasing”.
My point remains that despite the layoffs the unemployment rate is hardly a Spanish-esque call to head for the hills.
No one can with all seriousness suggest that the economy is in trouble because of our unemployment problem? If that is the case the economy has been absolutely screwed for around 30 of the last 35 years!
“If the economy is going so well,why is channel 9 standing to lose up to $40m on the Olympics coverage.Because advertising is so soft.”
Well for starters the advertising revenue is very sentiment driven so we are kind fo saying the same thing. Sentiment = bad.
On channel 9 other contributing factors are that this was purchased 4 years ago and since then the company is on the verge of collapse for a host of reasons.
“Why is David jones and Myer cutting profit forecasts”
Yes and they are still forecast to generate circa 13% ROCE in FY13 so whilst deteriorating – it is hardly head for the hills time when high end retail assets generate close to 10% over the risk free rate.
July 26th 2012 @ 8:23am
Crosscoder said | July 26th 2012 @ 8:23am | Report comment
AR
Doh !! we are discussng the fall in crowds this year.
it is patently obvious AR you have not been keeping track of rl crowds.The record year was 2005.Now in my book that is within the last decade.
You have no idea of the impact a player like Lockyer had,understandable your an AFL tragic as your moniker hits us every day, implies..The same thinhg happened when ET retired.
Be so good as to check the position of high profile Sydney teams on the ladder in the last 10 years,taking into account things like Coffs Harbour,position on the ladder.
Well we know all about the bandwaggon,the Swans are a fine example of that.The Lions another.The bandwaggon effect is hardly limited to the NRL.Crods have been dropping also.
In the last 5 years since Aug 2008,the wolrd has been affected by the GFC.Your Super my super has taken a hit.If your’s hasn’t please let me know the name of the company.
For the ostrich community
http://www.smh.com.au/money/three-in-10-feeling-the-pinch-from-mortgage-20120714-223ax.html
Perhaps discretionary expenditure is but one on many aspects.Although judging by a couple of comments,you would think people had money to burn.
.Poor facilities,monday night football and performance or lack therereof of popular NRL teams.If you can’t see that.I can’t help you.
The beauty of rugby league is unlike AFL ,it is made for Tv.Viewing at home can give you the same coverage except the atmosphere.
Can the ARLC do more to encourage people to go to games,yes.But you can’t do it without the cash.
July 26th 2012 @ 8:26am
Crosscoder said | July 26th 2012 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Mushi I will add only this to the ostrich community
http://www.smh.com.au/money/three-in-10-feeling-the-pinch-from-mortgage-20120714-223ax.html
Feel free to dismiss the notion of discretionary spending when it comes to sport.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:14pm
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
comparing sydney swans to the bulldogs vs manly in nsw is like comparing storms to collingwoods vs carlton game in victoria.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:24pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
In the context of falling crowds,which is the matter of discussion D Maaga it is very relative.
Comparing Brookvale to ANZ more like it.
Crowds are down,yet you can’t see it.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:12am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:12am | Report comment
Storm never got the concessions that the Swans were fortunate to get when they moved base.
If the Swans were never put on TV at a decent hour during the 80s and 90s and 00s then their attendances and current TV ratings would be much lower than they are today.
July 25th 2012 @ 10:38am
Australian Rules said | July 25th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Just to clarify, the Swans didn’t get any “concessions”, the AFL took a big chunk off their TV rights price in agreement that Ch.7 would show all Swans games on telly.
It’s what the NRL must do for the Storm in Melbourne…less money for guaranteed coverage.
July 25th 2012 @ 11:49am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 11:49am | Report comment
If ch7 and Fox have paid too much or their costs are too much as is claimed,then I suggest a huge chunk would not have been knocked off the Tv deal AR.
yes there would be a reduction,but a large chunk sorry based on the final figure cannot agree.
July 25th 2012 @ 5:29pm
Australian Rules said | July 25th 2012 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
Big chunk little chunk…we’ll never know cos we weren’t in the room. However, the ability to dictate the programming decisions of a network is not something they forego lightly, or cheaply.
That’s the challenge that faces the ARLC: Do we take less $ for better programming (live FTA games)? Or do we maximise $ but be at the whim of Ch.9 programmers who make no promises about games live into Melbourne?
July 26th 2012 @ 8:07am
Crosscoder said | July 26th 2012 @ 8:07am | Report comment
We will never know as you say,but you stated still conveniently big chunk.Based on a guess?
July 26th 2012 @ 9:24am
Australian Rules said | July 26th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Based on knowledge of the industry… networks don’t give up control of their programming cheaply.
Again, it’s an important decision for the ARLC.
July 26th 2012 @ 9:48am
Crosscoder said | July 26th 2012 @ 9:48am | Report comment
Based on the current financial woes of ch9 and the expectation they will lose anything up to $40m on their OP coverage ,due to a big ad shortfall,I suggest their backers are getting a little toey.
Lose the rugby league and a big black hole gets even deeper.
I agree AR the Tv stations will want their pound of flesh if there is FTA coverage.But I also am aware of the fact that since the last TV deal,rl ratings have hit record levels.
At least this time the code can play one FTA station against the other,despite F&Lfor a station battling for money.
Additionally ch10 has sold off one of its ad companie sto the tune of est $145m for debt reduction and programming..
I do know ch10 wants the NRL and 7 the SOO.
In fact if seeing is believing,I read in the SMH that ch9 are pessemistic about rl retention,and ch10 are extremely optimistic.
I would rather have the current negotiating team for the rugby league,than the one operating in past days.
I have repeated ad infinitum that should the game secure $950m,plus the national FTA coverage.,they will be doing well.
I add to the fact the talk of simulcasting with Foxsports will add to the value.
With the current financial climate and lower ad income ,oh wait The economy is going gangbusters).the negotiations will be tough with a capital T.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:56am
The Greatest Game Of All said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Ticketed memberships, especially season ticket memberships, I’ve said it before each club should have at least 15-18k season ticket members each year with fines being dished out for those who dont meet this/similar KPI’s.
July 24th 2012 @ 8:45am
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Jamaica and indeed Canada are surpising,as the latest Cup match between Canada and the Jamaican side would indicate.
Firstly prior to the game,it received welcome publicity on one of Toronto’s populan morning TV shows CP4 for at least 5 minutes.
The game won by theCanadian Wolverines had a crowd over 4,600 fans,and it would appear very few Jamaican expats as someonesuggested on another forum.
http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10186
ID Maaga.The Taupo games had nothing to do with the Warriors.it was a arrangement by the Cronulla Sharks and the local Taupo council and tourist groups.Whilst they got a decent crowd last time,the Sharks figured not only were their loyal fans missing out,but the monies made in comparison to playing it at Toyota were notworth the exercise.
July 24th 2012 @ 9:53am
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 9:53am | Report comment
With bs propaganda and bs PR like this CC. honestly, why do rugby league need to do this to be get somewhere?
http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/contact/page.php?pageid=10070006
Over the next ten years rule changes were made to make the game the most exciting spectator sport in the world. Thirteen players a side ensured more open expansive play. The play the ball rule brings more free flowing play.
The six-tackle rule brings the most exciting decisive elements to the sport, as one team must score within six tackles or turnover the ball.
The elimination of confusing and complex elements, like the contested rucks, contested scrums, and line-outs, balanced with the retaining of key elements like scoring tries, making tackles, and continuous time, have made Rugby League one of the world’s most popular sports.
With the Rugby League World Cup, 4 Nations, NRL, and Super League being just some of the massive global competitions, Rugby League has become a massive sport and industry, an industry of the people, spawned from change.
It is that passion for change, and that satisfaction of the people’s need for high impact, high octane, sporting spectacle’s, that give Rugby League its more popular name, “The GREATEST GAME OF ALL.”
July 24th 2012 @ 10:27am
League fan said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
D Maaga what is the problem with RL promoting itself Every business talks themselves up by speaking BS. Have you not seen any of the TV commercials these days.
Anway it obsiouvly worked because they got over 4 and half thousound to a game between two RL minnows. That is a fantastic crowd especially considering neither of these teams qualified for the world cup.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:10pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
League fan. The guy has a bee in his bonnet,.If you suggest rugby league is going one step forward,he will find some reason to suggest it is two steps back.Can’t help himself.
Alll codes hype.His in particular has thrown up some beauties,but it gets results.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:41pm
League fan said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Your are right crosscroder everytime there is a positive article on RL you will see D Maaga along with Clipper, Emric, Allblack fan contributing there usual negative nonsense. If they are not fans of the sport why do they bother reading RL articles.
Anyway great crowd at the Canada v Jamaica game. I wish they would show these games on tv.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:28am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:28am | Report comment
The rugby union trolls don’t have much between their ears. They don’t know the difference between your and you’re, yet they think they’re smart!
Clipper doesn’t even know his geography and history. Rugby union can have them all to itself.
July 25th 2012 @ 9:32am
clipper said | July 25th 2012 @ 9:32am | Report comment
QGRL – be careful when you pull people up with grammar – because just above League fan has used Your incorrectly – which negates the point you tried to make. But you’re correct – it is annoying when people misuse your and you’re and there and their.
What a sweeping statement to say I don’t know my geography and history – you’ve never commented on this before in reply to my posts!
July 27th 2012 @ 10:23am
Casual Poster said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:23am | Report comment
When you attack the grammer instead of the argument you already lost clippper.
July 24th 2012 @ 4:32pm
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
nothing wrong with rugby league growing and nothing wrong if its not in other place but we can always gurentee that CC will have all the excuses in the book why it isn’t. this is isn’t a commercial we are talking about we are talking about a website representing a rugby league playing country that have put down another sports to make itself looks good and the canadian rugby league site isn’t the only one. poland recently had a history of rugby league on it that had nothing to do with poland but it was all rugby union and the ” the forbidden blame”.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:26am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:26am | Report comment
I cannot help but wonder about the sanity of a person when they try to paint rugby union as a victim of mean rugby league bodies. Any learned person will tell you that rugby union played a large role influencing the British government, British military, British private schools, French government, the entire French schooling system, French media and Australian private schools to discriminate against rugby league. What happened in France was criminal. None of the monies that was stolen from the FFR 13 has been given back to them.
It’s only fair that rugby league tells the truth about what rugby union has done. What rugby union and Vichy did to rugby league in France is the Holocaust of world sport. People will villified and robbed for no other reason than they played rugby league. No Humanitarian can side with a large schole body that was guilty of those sort of things, especially when that body has never taken responsibility for its actions.
July 25th 2012 @ 8:19am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:19am | Report comment
Excuses or facts why it (rl) isn’t growing D Maaga.I suggest you do a little reading.I have bagged the RRL for their infighting in the past.Have bagged Lebanon for using Aust based playrers in the 2000 WC.You read what you want to read.
Considering the Canadian rugby league has only been going for a couple of years,there current situation is nothing to knock.You come onto theese thread with one intention and one intention only to bag the game.
AndI can also guarantee that you will sift through a thread on international rugby league,to have you usual parting shot.
Destructive not constructive.That is why I rarely go on to ru threads,elseIi would have a field day.
We are discussing canada and jamaica and it is you who bring up teh “forbidden Game”.You have real issues mate.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:18am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:18am | Report comment
Don’t worry about D Maaga. He has an inferiority complex.
I think it’s criminal how rugby union mocks the religious community. If there’s a God then He’s going to be furious with rugby union affiliates for stating it’s the game played in heaven. An open-minded country like Australia shouldn’t allow a professional entity to attack religion. Blasephy is just as bad as homophobia and racism. I’d say it’s a good reason for the government to ban rugby union.
July 24th 2012 @ 11:23am
Renegade said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Yet union go around stating its “the game they play in heaven”…..that’s not BS propaganda at all….gee whiz!
July 24th 2012 @ 11:50am
Hamish said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Remember how RL used to call itself “the greatest game of all” carried by one of the correspondents here..
July 24th 2012 @ 12:14pm
The Greatest Game Of All said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
What do you mean used to, it still is known as the greatest game of all, no need for other codes to be threatened by it, its just how true Rugby League supporters feel about this game, I mean rugby league gets hammered for its international presence and yet when the game tries to improve or expand it gets hammered again, you just cant win.
July 24th 2012 @ 4:38pm
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
renegade, the game played in heaven is a australian thrase nothing to do with the irb. its no different to soccer “world game, basketball “my game”. now compare that to this bs on canadian website it make the “the greatest shame” looks like kid having tantrum.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:31am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:31am | Report comment
“The Game Played in Heaven” is blaspheme. It’s offensive to the religious community. If there’s a God then you can bet he’ll send every rugby union player/official/fan to hell for making a mockery of His name.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:37am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:37am | Report comment
If there’s a God then you can bet He’ll send every rugby union player/official/fan to hell for making a mockery of His name.
July 25th 2012 @ 11:22am
D Maaga said | July 25th 2012 @ 11:22am | Report comment
if there’s a god he’ll love it then since the game is played by christians in places like the pacific islands, south africa, ireland, france and many others. the church also had a bit to do with development in rugby world wide more so than the international rugby league federation.
July 24th 2012 @ 4:38pm
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
renegade, the game played in heaven is a australian thrase nothing to do with the irb. its no different to soccer “world game, basketball “my game”. now compare that to this bs on canadian website it make the “the greatest shame” looks like kid having tantrum.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:27am
Casual Poster said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Much like the tanturm you’re having on this RL thread?
July 24th 2012 @ 3:08pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
D Maaga. I pay little heed to hype and over the top statements by any code’s officials.I have read and heard it in the past ad infinitum.And I know you spend a lifetime looking for rl negatives.I concern myself with the final product,the match itself and the attendance.
Do you really want me to bring up some of the flowery stuff RWC2003 from JON.Or the fact rugby league would be relegated to no 3 sport in Australia.Every code does it,it’s called promotion.That is the real world .Unless you want the
code to suggest,we have an ordinary game here,just give it a try,it may not be your cup of tea.Sheesh.
Plainly the game was held in Toronto received decent publicity ,involved players form Canada and Jamaica which have local comps,had a crowd over 4,600.You appear to be quibbling about a crowd of that nature,in virgin territory.
July 25th 2012 @ 3:18pm
D Maaga said | July 25th 2012 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
i will exchange your 2003 john o’neil to a 1995 ian robson the warriors aussie ceo who said league will be nz national sport in five years. what jon and ian robson have said are their own opinions and do not represent rugby as a whole but what rugby league websites have on their history is nothing more than sour grapes and act of desperation.
July 26th 2012 @ 9:32am
Crosscoder said | July 26th 2012 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Did I suggest over the top hype was limited to one code D Maaga.In fact I clearly stated all codes do it.
If history is shown on rugby league websites,are they to suddenly change history to suit your appetite?
History is what it is,you can’t change it.
Sour grapes LOL.
Canada gets 4,600 to a intnl game.and all you can do is look for negatives a sign of desperation and really a dose of sour grapes.
July 26th 2012 @ 4:24pm
D Maaga said | July 26th 2012 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
i’m happy if 4600 is a success in rugby league terms for international rugby league crowds CC. you get that and more for schools rugby games in places like sri lanka, queenslands, nsw, samoa, madacasgar, SA, ireland, tonga and fiji.
history shows that someone living in sydney, west auckland or qld and probably post on this website help set up this RL international websites and along with their own history which people like you wants to hear.
July 26th 2012 @ 5:12pm
League fan said | July 26th 2012 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
D Maaga 4600 is a fantastic crowd for an international between Canada and Jamaica and it just proves that RL is played in more countries that it is given credit for.
When are you going to stop telling porkies. You know what happens to people that tell too many lies dont you. When has a school rugby game ever had a crowd of more than 4000 in NSW or QLD. I think you are mistaking the codes. Rugby can barely scrape together 4,000 people for a shute shield final which is the highest level of rugby in NSW.
July 27th 2012 @ 1:37am
D Maaga said | July 27th 2012 @ 1:37am | Report comment
funny thing is league fan your obsession with league in canada and jamaica has probably got the best of you. for someone who suppose to be from australia and have no ideas what sort of crowds some school rugby games in sydney and queensland get. just for the record i got a letter on monday from my kids school advising us parents to get in early as they are expecting a crowd of over 6000 to attend the 1st xv game this weekend. i’m not sure why you mention shute shield when all i did was mention schools games. so who telling porkies now? anyone who has been to a gps school game please let league fan know what its like?
July 27th 2012 @ 1:53am
D Maaga said | July 27th 2012 @ 1:53am | Report comment
When has a school rugby game ever had a crowd of more than 4000 in NSW or QLD. I think you are mistaking the codes.
July 27th 2012 @ 9:15am
Crosscoder said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:15am | Report comment
You are still showing exactly my point re sour grapes,because rugby league had 4,600 specators mentioned in a rl thread,you come on board and say but but we get more than that for ru games here there and everywhere.
I will be kind.What’s your point?What union does in Baluchistan etc in a rl thread ,interests me as much as snow falls in Tibet.
Your last sentence is a load of crapola.The Canadian website is wholly and solely a Candian rl site.The pre match hype on the CP4 radio station,is there on you tube.
You have just proved my point,when I observed ,when rugby leaguue internationally makes one step forward,D Maaga will come on board suggesting two steps back.
Suns out today,not really I see a couple of clouds.sheesh.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:36am
Casual Poster said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:36am | Report comment
I think D Magga is one of these Rah Rah fans who can’t get over the fact that while RU is bigger at an international level, it no more then a speed bump when compared to other codes in Australia. And when RL does make inroads at an international level, no matter how small, he feels threatened and has to go on the attack, even when it’s at the risk of making himself look like a fool.
July 27th 2012 @ 12:15pm
Renegade said | July 27th 2012 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
“i’m happy if 4600 is a success in rugby league terms for international rugby league crowds CC. you get that and more for schools rugby games in places like sri lanka, queenslands, nsw, samoa, madacasgar, SA, ireland, tonga and fiji.”
Yet they get 3 men and a dog to Shute shield games and the waratahs (a team representing an entire state) get around the same crowds as a team representing the bankstown area in the NRL (see Bulldogs)……”school rugby games in Sri Lanka and Madagascar” hahaha oh stop kidding yourself mate, gotta laugh
I wish we had more trolls on this thread – they certainly enlighten the RL section.
July 27th 2012 @ 12:56pm
Matt_S said | July 27th 2012 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Yes D Maaga, look at all those spectators in school uniforms. I went to one of those private schools and I didn’t get a choice whether I wanted to attend or not. We were all bused in & out. I don’t think the spectators at the Canada game were driven their at virtual gun point. Don’t tell me about union culture I know too well. same schools where a few priests get their rocks off too! Very protected and massaged culture.
July 27th 2012 @ 1:06pm
League fan said | July 27th 2012 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Renegade/ Crosscoder I am not sure why D Maaga spends so much time on RL sites, It is not just this site but he also use to comment on RL planet until he got kicked off. Does he actually really think we care what rugby does in Sri Lanka or Madagascar. Does he really think we are going to convert to union just because he has a counter argument of anything good RL does.
I dont pretend to be a union fan so I would not write on a union site. You know RL is doing good when the insecure types come on and starting getting all defensive. I love the insecurity they have.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:16pm
D Maaga said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:16pm | Report comment
Casual Poster, australia ia a huge place and rugby league is only popular in two states. renegade i wonder how you feel when some super rugby and nrls games gets more fans than rugby league internationals in australia. yes, the waratahs who represent a state in australia sometimes gets more crowds than the kangaroos represent the whole of australia.
league fan i wonder how you feel been proving wrong that some school rugby games in nsw and qld got crowds of over 4000. good luck calling someone a liar next time.
matt_s, nothing wrong with the game of rugby league like mr taylor said its the fans who are more obsess and making up bs like the best sport in the world when it isn’t makes a mockery of a great sport like rugby league. in the end its just a sport some are big and some arent so big. i enjoy rugby knowing its not as big as soccer and will never be. can you guys said the same thing in regards to league and rugby?
July 28th 2012 @ 8:27am
Crosscoder said | July 28th 2012 @ 8:27am | Report comment
He’s back,can’t let go.
If you are going to harp on about BS on a rl site D Maaga ,check out some rl ones at times.Every code promotes,you spend you time trying to demote(rl).
BTW I also attended a ru playing private school and was required to attend 1st Xv games against other Associated schools,despite the fact I had finished playing.Didn’t have to pay to watch,just had to watch.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:14am
Steve said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
The RFL are a joke. Super League is being crippled at the moment. It has to go back to 12 teams. At least 3 games every weekend are 30-40 point hidings. Hopefully Bradford get their house in order but in a few weeks we’ll be hearing about Castleford going to the wall and probably Salford after that. I thought Richard Lewis did a pretty good job so somebody strong must come in to replace him.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:34am
Steve said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:34am | Report comment
I wish I shared your optimism Matt_S but unfortunately rugby league is in a whole spot of bother. We really have to do more in NZ. Since 1995 participation has dropped by 47%. recent growth has been good but still underwhelming. Forget about the pacific, i once had a dream but unfortunately rugby union is just too strong. France is one area that has been improving and seems to be getting its house in order but they are just so far behind the eight ball it’s hard to know how much ground they can make up on other team sports like football, basketball, union and handball.
Realistically anybody can get together a team and play an international (gee I even represented Finland in cricket thanks to my mothers heritage). It’s just window dressing. I would much rather rugby league in places like Canada would try to develop better grass roots structures than getting blokes together and calling it an international because it really doesn’t do anything.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:41am
oikee said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:41am | Report comment
What are you on about Steve, they have a rivalry with America, they play in the Atlantic cup or something with Jamaica. They are slowly building, let them go, Italy and Lebanon started much the same way. Both have local leagues now, and both contend to be in the world cup.
Not everyone is a powerhouse, they still have to start somewhere. Let them have some fun, let them live.
Cook Islands are in the world cup, so one day Canada will be.
July 24th 2012 @ 11:52am
Hamish said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Steve
Do you have a link for the participation rates??
July 24th 2012 @ 3:20pm
clipper said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Agree with you Steve – quite a few Aussie Rules posters inform us about games played in far flung corners of the world, but none of them are under the delusion that it is a truly international sport.
July 24th 2012 @ 4:03pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
International according the Oxford Dictionary.A game or contest between teams representing different countries.QED 4 nations and RLWC.
The Dictionary can now be categorised, as being officially delusional.
July 24th 2012 @ 4:38pm
Go warriors said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
Clipper could you please then elaborate the defination of an International sport. I would have thought that a sport that is played in well over 30 countries that play regular internationals in many different parts of the world and has held a world cup for more than 50 years would be recognised as a global sport.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:58pm
clipper said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:58pm | Report comment
Well, fair enough – Aussie Rules is played in around 30 countries – they have quite a few teams in Denmark, England etc (although mostly ex Aussies most likely) and have had an international cup where these countries get together and compete – so I guess you can say they are both ‘international’ sports – just not as international as Football perhaps.
July 25th 2012 @ 8:30am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 8:30am | Report comment
And exactly how many tests do they play,and which countrys’governmnet have officialyy recogni’sed them as a sport in its own right in that country.
Serbia,Ukraine,Lebanon have been officially recognised by the Govt’s sporting bodies.
Matches between various European countries take place on a regular basis.
thegrowth in Norway is amazing.
The commonwealth games have listed rugby league as a Cat 3 sport,meaning first step on the ladder to introduction.Many counries within the commonwealth either play teh game or are having it introduced.
A RLWC that has Br Govt,council backing and TV involvemnet suggests that is also an international event.We are well aware it is a pittance to the Soccer one,and much smaller than the union one,but so bleeding what.
July 25th 2012 @ 9:22am
clipper said | July 25th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
CC – you stated international according to the Oxford dictionary is a game or contest between teams representing different countries -therefore QED
July 25th 2012 @ 11:34am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Yes I did Clipper,and your point?
July 27th 2012 @ 10:44am
Casual Poster said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Don’t tell clipper that RU doesn’t even make the top ten when it comes to world sports. I fear it might do him some harm.
While RL might not be as big internationally, RU is nowhere near the international sport it makes out to be. And if Clipper feels threaten by any growth internationally by RL, then the Global reach of Rugby Union is a lot smaller then even I thought.
July 25th 2012 @ 1:36am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 25th 2012 @ 1:36am | Report comment
I’ve seen Aussie rules fans, on Aussie rules boards, say that Aussie rules is an international sport and that rugby league isn’t. I can provide you with the link if you don’t believe me.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:22pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Steve.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=204301
The game is in the schools
Yes lets forget abouut the Pacific LOL.
The Canadians in fact are in the process of introducing the game into schools,and the game is already preseent in Jamaican unis and high schools.To suggest this does nothing forJamaican rl is ludicrous.The game is making great headway there.
As far as NZ is concerned I don’t have this year’s figures ,but suggest there is further growth
last years more than 24,000:
http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=38180
July 24th 2012 @ 5:06pm
samsonite said | July 24th 2012 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
Registered playing numbers in NZ have increased to 33500 in 2011 a 33% increase from the year before which was a 50% increase on the previous, alot due to the NZRL getting their house in order and back to where it should be.
So there is pretty significant growth there and it should be interesting to see the effect of the Auckland Schools revised comp and the warriors’ investments into the local game
July 24th 2012 @ 5:22pm
Go warriors said | July 24th 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
You are right samsonite RL in NZ has had huge growth in the past few years on all levels. There are still a few roarers on here who have their heads in the sand in regards to NZRL but the fact is the game in NZ is growing rapidly.
Bring on the world cup next year. It is going to be awesome.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:35am
oikee said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
The warriors trust is very good idea. Owen Glen loves his charity work.
The super league is doing pretty good. Yes they have a few teams not doing real good, this will always happen.
I watched the Hull derby this morning, fantastic. You long to be in England when you see derbies as passionately supported as this, the Rhinos are always a great game as well along with Catalans games.
The challenge cup final must be on soon. Rhinos Warrington at Wembley, not to many get this chance in life.
League is plodding along nicely in the downturn. It is not a time to be growing, it is a time to be battening down the hatchers.
July 24th 2012 @ 10:49am
nzmate said | July 24th 2012 @ 10:49am | Report comment
I’m slightly confused … a Rugby League Governance Review – prepared by the Rugby League Interim Chairman – concludes that the sport’s system of governance was a model for other sports to follow – bias optional? Rugby league seems to be doing well and carving a good niche for itself but i agree with D Maaga – the warriors will not have a 40,000 to 60,000 seat stadium and im surprised the owners actually believed they had the supporter base to fill it – i would have thought average crowds (and this is a guess) sit probably around 15,000
July 24th 2012 @ 11:01am
Steve said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:01am | Report comment
Oikee, just going to a world cup doesn’t mean anything. I can remember watching the USA in the ICC champions trophy, what effect did that have on USA cricket. The Ivory Coast qualified for a rugby world cup because 80% of the squad were French with Ivorian heritage. Their participation had no profound effect on rugby in Cote D’ivoire.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
July 24th 2012 @ 12:07pm
oikee said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
It has a effect because you cant enter a world cup without a local demestic league. So it helps league grow, same as other sports, and it also gives that country a path into another sport they might not have ever thought about.
League is at virgin stage for growth. We have only been around fior 100 years or so, not to bad when you look at it like that. We have some great strongholds, Australia being the powerhouse nation we are, is a perfect example.
The NRL is slowly building a foothold worldwide like Soccer, Union and even darts.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:32pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
You got that one right Oikee.There has to be a domestic league in place ,else the countries cannot compete.
The usual knockers and trolls come out to play,whenever any mention is made of rugby league growing its intnl presence.
As sure as night follows day.
July 24th 2012 @ 4:41pm
D Maaga said | July 24th 2012 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
where was the maori domestic comp when they took part in rugby league world cup?
July 25th 2012 @ 11:57am
Crosscoder said | July 25th 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
I have already stated D Maaga some of the previous eliigibility arrangements,left a lot to be desired.Just as there were Aussies playing for Scotland and Argentinians playing for Italy in a couple of past ru WCs as in 2003.
Please advise where the Maori team is in the RLWC13?Care to discuss the next one,unless we wish to discuss the past.I am all ears and eyes.We are commenting on domestic comps for the next one.Savvy ,get it !!!.
July 24th 2012 @ 3:35pm
Crosscoder said | July 24th 2012 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
Going to the 2000 world cup ,was the impetus for the formation of the Lebanese rugby league,which is now officially recognised by their Government.It is in high schools and universties and has a club set up.It does have a flow on effect.
The RFL has had 9 years of consecutive profits,not too bad for a relatively small organisation in these trying times,and England in recession.
July 24th 2012 @ 11:45am
sheek said | July 24th 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Just a brief point on the upcoming Australasian TV rights to begin with, it’s probably a bit of fantasy to expect the NRL to match AFL bonanza payout.
AFL offer 9 games to NRL’s 8 every weekend. Furthermore, each AFL match lasts one-third longer. Combine this together & there are so many more advertising opportunities for sponsors on AFL than NRL.
More specifically, the NRL structure is still flawed. Brisbane & NZ each having one representative team is nothing short of a joke.
Brisbane, as the second biggest rugby league stronghold after Sydney, should have been represented by a second team long before now.
Also, if we’re going to have NZ representation, there should be a minimum two teams from NZ – Auckland Warriors & Wellington Makos.
I also question if NRL have the players to expand to 18 teams. The NRL appears to be at capacity even now in terms of quality & depth of players.
July 24th 2012 @ 12:15pm
oikee said | July 24th 2012 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
Your right Sheek, and we would probably need a couple of big names to get 2 expansion teams off the ground, is why i said we need Sonny Bill to head maybe a Perth team, spend acouple of million on him, and bring over a player from England like Tomkins, and maybe a well known union or AFL player how is willing to make a move.
It wont hurt, and it would be a good possitive start for the new teams.
I will keep saying this as well. The NRL is able to show 2 games on free to air tv on a Friday night, so we can have 2 lots of sponsers for those teams, and you also have nearly 4 hours of game time. The AFL only shows one game that lasts for nearly 4 hours.
Rugby league can easily match AFL time in sponser ads over 4 hours. As for Fox, they dont seem to worry to much, they get their money from you and me who pay for the preivalige, although sometimes i think i am watching free to air with the amount of ads on other programs.
To expalin it easier, treat it like a double header at Suncorp, the game makes over twice as much money from a double header at suncorp because they get nearly 50 thousand to the 2 games.
Plus they have twice the sponsers in the boxes, all full, plus the bars and clubs are opened twice as long, it just works.