Australian rugby league players Jarryd Hayne (left) and Nathan Hindmarsh take part in a team training session in Sydney on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. AAP Image/Paul Miller
2009 saw the NRL’s marketing department make some very poor choices. When selecting the faces of their advertising campaign, they determined that the masses would be best moved by the pure talent of young starlets Brett Stewart and Greg Inglis to bring a stadium to its feet with freakish football.
No one could deny that these two young men would make outstanding choices for the national team back line, but as leading figures in a multi-million dollar off-field push for corporate sponsorship and the hearts and minds of mums and dads, eager to find a sport for their young children to play and support, the NRL could not have found two less appropriate individuals.
Admittedly, the NRL can’t have known at the time what was to happen next.
Without the aid of a crystal ball, neither player would have been expected to become embroiled in separate off field scandals and as outstanding footballers and youth on their side, who better to promote the game, than exponents of attacking rugby league at its best?
I would strongly argue that Nathan Hindmarsh would be a better, somewhat safer choice.
Steve Price might have been another. Petero Civoneceva, Matt Orford, Cameron Smith or Nathan Cayless are others that would fit the bill as far as I am concerned.
None of these players exhibit the same freakish attacking prowess on the field, and I appreciate that this is what the NRL was thinking in their marketing approach, but all of these players have age, experience and proven leadership on their side.
I am a big Eels fan, but I would put the freakishly talented Jarryd Hayne in a similar category to Inglis and Stewart. Brilliant on field, but an obvious and flawed choice as a poster boy off the field, as evidenced by his night out in the Cross in early 2008. I would urge the leadership of the Eels to resist the temptation to elevate a still young Hayne to an even more prominent position than he already holds as a leading player.
Let Hayne do his talking in the 80 minutes of game time on a weekend, and allow him the time to grow into his role as a superstar before handing him even more of the trappings of fame.
Nathan Hindmarsh has been chosen by the NRL to spearhead the campaign against the rise of the Greater Western Sydney team due to enter the AFL competition in 2012.
There could be no smarter choice or safer bet. Hindmarsh is inspirational on the field and an absolute role model off it. He has been playing the game at the top level for over 10 years and has seen and done almost everything there is to do.
Importantly, he is old enough and wise enough to deal with the public fawning over him like puppy dogs without bathing in the excess that such celebrity has to offer.
I am hopeful that Jarryd Hayne will find a similar balance with time, but the NRL and the clubs should do their bit by not expecting or granting too much to young players before they get their heads screwed on and their feet firmly on the ground.
Realist
Roar Pro
I agree with your "theory that nothing good happens after 2am". I don't think anyone should be out and about at that time because it's unhealthy and dangerous. Sleep is a necessity because it allows the brain to repair itself. People underestimate the problems they cause to their health when they don't give their brain enough time to repair itself. I cannot see the appeal behind partying at 3:00am, but I think young people like Hayne feel compelled to do it because they see other people doing it. I that regard I can sympathise with him because he just wants to be like everyone else, though I do not agree with his decision.
Bradley A Smith
Roar Rookie
You're both right. I don't mean to actually blame Hayne for what happened on that fateful night in the Cross. As much as I hold to the theory that nothing good happens after 2am, especially in Kings Cross, the bloke is entitled to a night out and is certainly not at fault for being shot at by some nutbag. This incident is probably not relevant to my main point that Hayne is young and needs time to get used to the fame and adulation of the public before being made into a "face of the game".
Realist
Roar Pro
Everyone called it "GayFL" when I went to school. I'm from Queensland.
Realist
Roar Pro
sam a, Spot on! No one can blame Hayne for being the target of some psychopath's unjustifiable violence. No one would blame a civilian for being shot at while they were enjoying themselves during the early hours of the morning, so why are they so hard on Hayne? The media needs to stop sensationalising every off-field drama that involves a rugby league/Australian rules football player. Surely they're smart enough and skillful enough to find a real story to cover, no?
Realist
Roar Pro
"That being said it is the game itself that should be promoted,featuring some of the exciting plays of the last few years." Spot on!. The best way to promote a sport is by showing its finer points. There's nothing finer in the world of sport than the exciting action of a rugby league match.
sam a
Guest
As an Eels man myself, I agree almost completely. I reckon the incident involving Hayne in the Cross, while a terrible look for the NRL, can hardly be called his fault. Some moron took a potshot at him; I'm not certain if he provoked it by anything other than being Jarryd Hayne. That said, he probably shouldn't have been in the Cross at 3am.
Crosscoder
Guest
if the game had more people of the ilk of Hindmarsh, the dramas of last year,would have been few and far between. Using him as the face of the game is a good idea,as is the likes of Preston Campbell. That being said it is the game itself that should be promoted,featuring some of the exciting plays of the last few years.The ratings tend to support my argument. And of course the GC AFL franchise will hardly hold back,in using K Hunt as the face of that code,on the sunshine strip.Wouldn't be to coax rl over to the game,not bleeding half.
Redb
Roar Guru
That is correct in NSW and QLD it is marketed as AFL. "Play AFL".
Sam el Perro
Roar Pro
He in Queensland, AFL is the game. For example, there is a sign on the fence of Belmont State School for junior sign ons at the moment that says: "Come and play AFL". Pretty straightforward.
M1tch
Roar Guru
to be honest he is the james hird or brett kirk of the afl..never been in a single incident
M1tch
Roar Guru
thats what the season promo will be this year
M1tch
Roar Guru
true, but most of us up here, we dont call it australian football or aussie rules..at school it was always, lets play AFL i shouldnt have said NRL, i posted early in the morning lol
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
heh, heh - fair enough MC!!
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
It's a good point - I'm unsure why one single face of League is required at all. Give me a highlights package of the actual game any day.
oikee
Guest
Good post, hard to disagree with what you have written. Common sense really.
Michael C
Roar Guru
AFL is a league and admin body - it's NOT a 'game'. Pedantic point I know.........but, either it should read "..the NRL and AFL..." or "...the game of Rugby League and Australian Football...." cheers.
Michael C
Roar Guru
certain recent 'faces of league' haven't turned out such safe bets - - it's surprising they are going down this path. I'm not sure what it speaks about their sense of security in their market positioning.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Show the people the game of Rugby League and AFL..we know which they'll choose ;)
Redb
Roar Guru
"Nathan Hindmarsh has been chosen by the NRL to spearhead the campaign against the rise of the Greater Western Sydney team due to enter the AFL competition in 2012. " :-)
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Mmmmmm...Tina Turner....