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.
Crooscoder
Guest
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.
Realist
Roar Pro
allblackfan/siva The Broncos' crowds will be much higher than the Reds' crowds.
Rod
Roar Guru
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.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
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.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
It's a disconcerting thought to have big Petero running at you in your lounge room in 3D.
Crosscoder
Guest
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.
allblackfan
Guest
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!
Realist
Roar Pro
"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.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
If Siva spent as much time promoting Union as he did bagging League we would see a lot more people watching Union.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
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).
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
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.
Rod
Roar Guru
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 :)
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
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.
Springs
Roar Guru
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
Guest
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.
Siva Samoa
Guest
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.
Crosscoder
Guest
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.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
"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.
Crosscoder
Guest
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.
King of the Gorganites
Guest
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).