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In a piece I wrote last week about State of Origin 3, I paraphrased the saying “The problem with common sense is that it’s not very common.”
It was in relation to the Origin shield not being awarded to the winning team until after Game 3, even if the series has been decided. I find that a little silly, and yes, lacking common sense.
However, it got me thinking about other elements of Australian rugby league that appear to lack logic. Thus we have some musings on changes the NRL should at least investigate.
I feely admit that some of these are a little out there, but some are no-brainers. Regardless, the intent is to serve as a discussion starter on what Roarers believe are some common sense changes the NRL could make to improve rugby league in this country.
Let’s get the ball rolling.
1. Remove all and any association with gambling. No advertising. No sponsorship. Nothing. I’m aware that gambling generates a lot of money for the NRL, but at what human cost? And what perception damage? Don’t simply take the money on offer, find other streams of revenue to replace what gambling generates.
2. ‘Three strikes and you’re out’ rule for players, with regards to legal trouble. If you’re found guilty of any three offences – DUI, assault, illicit drugs, etc – then you receive a life ban from the NRL. Come to think of it, that may be too lenient; but again, it’s a starting point for discussion.
3. It’s often said that rugby league is a great television product, yet it has the potential to be even better. Live broadcasts on free-to-air TV might be an old topic, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be mentioned again. Show games live! And for goodness sake, broadcast in high definition. It’s 2014.
4. If a player brings the game into serous disrepute due to an incident involving alcohol, they receive a full-year ban from drinking during the NRL season. That’s means a random breath test may be executed at any time. Any training session, any game. If that player is shown to have even sniffed an alcoholic beverage during that 12-month period, it’s an automatic six-month suspension from playing. The message is clear: you can drink, but if you’re dickhead on the piss – and one that hurts the image of rugby league – you either stop drinking or stop playing.
5. The NRL needs to admit that the refereeing isn’t up to standard at present. It would be a start, at the very least. Daniel Nichols wrote a great piece on this topic, and I echo his thoughts. I’m not sure exactly what the solution is, but something definitely needs to be done. Like most fans, I’m sick of referee mistakes overshadowing the footy.
6. Only articulate and/or engaging presenters should be put in front of TV cameras. Ex-players certainly have their role in broadcasts, due to their star-power and fame, as do print media journalists, but their contributions should be kept to a minimum unless they’re a good advertisement for the game. This is just one of a number of areas at which the AFL truly excels – current Brian Taylor controversy aside.
7. Hold a summit with rugby league’s sharpest brains, including the national broadcaster, to ascertain whether the current Origin scheduling is the best for the players, Channel Nine’s ratings, revenue generation, and the overall NRL competition. It very well may be, but no stone should be left unturned when it comes to developing the optimal rugby league calendar.
8. No player other than the captain can talk to the referee, unless asked a direct question. The captains can only ask questions – rather than mere whinging – and they must do so in a respectful manner. The referees should also use the 10 metre penalty more often to enforce player behaviour. Conversely, the referees must only refer to players by their number, or as ‘the captain’. The communication between referees and players is appalling at present.
9. No lifting in tackles. None. It should be an immediate three-week baseline ban, and then weeks added on top of that based upon the severity of said tackle. I’m not 100 per cent sure about this one, as I’ve seen plenty of good, legal tackles that had an element of lifting in them. But the nagging voice in my head says if we have another Alex McKinnon incident in the next 1000 years, it will be too soon. Anyway, let’s discuss.
10. I’m getting a bit freaky now, but keeping players back the full ten metres really opens up the game and enables proper football to be played, rather than making it a dogfight, which is ugly. So if the referees are incapable of consistently keeping the defenders onside, then utilise technology. Players now have GPS tracking devices in their jerseys, so it should be relatively easy to immediately establish which players are offside.
There you go. Fire away.