In stark contrast to AFL’s head first dive into rugby league heartland, the NRL must finally decide if it wishes to be a truly national competition and provide a blueprint for its existence ten and twenty years from now.
As it stands, it is hard to envisage the NRL, version 2020 or even 2030, in any different form to which it currently exists with just three states represented, a token Kiwi outfit and the Melbourne Storm the sole provider of the rugby league brand in the second biggest broadcast market in the country.
A decision must be made whether to follow the AFL’s lead and strike out into non-traditional rugby league regions.
Rather than now questioning the future viability of the Storm, talk should have long been of when a second franchise could eventually emerge in Victoria.
Andrew Demetriou has put his leadership of the AFL on the line with aggressive expansion plans into West Sydney and the Gold Coast. The FFA have generated massive interest in football with a genuinely national competition with five states represented and growing regions in North Queensland, the Gold Coast and now a second Melbourne outfit all given a berth.
The NRL administration appear to lack vision and ambition. The status quo seems good enough.
Despite creating significant controversy, the AFL assisted both Brisbane and Sydney to carve out niche markets in QLD and NSW.
For the Swans, in particular, it took more than 20 years to cement their place in the Sydney sporting landscape but never did the old VFL, now AFL, give up on the venture.
It is hard to imagine the NRL being prepared to support the WA Reds or Adelaide Rams for two decades until they take hold in their respective emerging markets. Former incarnations of both teams were rapidly killed off amidst the Super League debacle.
Even the Storm received no allowances when they entered the competition in 1998. A sink or swim approach existed and not much has changed.
Melbourne Storm’s disgraceful rorts average an additional $340,000 a season over five years.
Just as the Storm appeared in four straight grand finals, so too did arguably the best AFL team in history when the Brisbane Lions achieved the same feat between 2001-04.
The Lions played off for those premierships with an AFL approved $800,000 extra kick in their salary cap.
The Sydney Swans made back to back grand finals and won the 2005 premiership with an extra $600,000, all with complete knowledge and approval by AFL head honchos.
In short, it was one team on grand final day with well over half a million dollars more available to it than its opponent.
It created deep division in AFL circles and drew sharp criticism from the likes of Eddie McGuire and Jeff Kennett.
The payments were labelled as ‘retention’ allowances and argued by the AFL as compensation for the higher cost of living in Sydney and Brisbane.
The truth is the payments were an insurance policy to ensure the success of the Lions and Swans in burgeoning AFL markets.
In doing so, the AFL guaranteed itself a broadcast deal covering all states and territories, eventually totalling $780m with the new deal from 2012 expected to reach $1b over five years.
Provided the money is distributed wisely enough to both fund expansion at the elite level and foster grass roots football, it is terrific leadership by the AFL.
To remain an eastern states based competition is a perfectly reasonable position for the NRL to take. Lacking imagination, in my view, but if that is the extent of their vision, they should be upfront about it.
If instead they have a desire to see rugby league branch beyond its traditional heartland, they should bite the bullet and follow the AFL’s lead.
Yes, it creates an uneven playing field. It is true it is not a completely fair system and the Melbourne Storm, or in time the WA Reds for example, with an extra $340 000 a season will be a tough pill for opposition clubs and supporters to swallow.
But the bigger picture must always be studied. If the NRL is not pushing forward, where is it going?
Fly
Guest
NRL stadiums over the last few weeks have been jam packed - in NSW and QLD ... I went to the storm game two weeks ago and a modest crowd of 15 000 turned up in the new stadium. The one thing I noticed was that everyone was up to the hilt in merchandise, couldnt believe it. An Adelaide AFL game attracted the same figures (port adelaide so yeah). With the Origin series on ... Record numbers of viewing on TV across the country as well as 3D RL coverage. Pretty special and shows what RL is actually worth for a FTA channel to invest that sort of money into the viewing tech. Dont discount RL. They do need to go bold (im in SA so im hoping they do!!) and get teams in the other states. This may, potentially and hopefully lead to bigger TV rights deals which will lead to further investment and would then go to bigger salaries. Might even get Izzy and Hunt back. Adelaide can support a League Team. We have the hindmarsh stadium. we have cheerleaders and we have a healthy Rugby Union comp and a Rugby League comp to draw on. The grass roots is still there, all we need is a team. Motivation for the little kids to play it and the big kids to throw cash into it. A demo Rugby League game sold out Hindmarsh stadium last year and Adelaide hosts the international Rugby 7's ... we know Rugby, NRL just has to back its product and give us the team. OK sounded desperate for a RL team then, but hopefully by the above you can see that Rugby is supported in the state and that Rugby League is a good product to expand.
Realist
Guest
Too true, Not all people are attracted to action-based sports that are played at a frantic pace. Why else do you think Americans rate American football over ice hockey? People like rugby league because it involves the hardest-hitting action in the world -- many people prefer to see this over frantic action-- and a great deal of skill. The action may not be as frantic, but it's quick enough to stop people from getting bored and just slow enough to analyse.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Saw a 4WD today with a couple and a big sticker on the back."Our coast our team",and a picture of a bear.You don't frequent the Shire, Col? Looked a very nice and educated couple,must be from St Ives LOL.They are coming out of the woodwork .
josh
Guest
In order for the NRL to move ahead, Gallop must go.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
watever you do, don't start a fight with the scary politicians in the corner at iguanas
Col The Bear
Guest
maybe just a few of their players in the red and Black MF.. ;-)
Midfielder
Guest
Col Is that thunder in the distance I hear... off Terrigal Beach...
Col The Bear
Guest
Go the Mighty Bears.. just wanted to say the CCBears are doing another community event this Saturday.. we will be set up at the Gosford show.. more memberships and merchandise to go.. we sold out of our last batch of foundation CCBears jerseys at the last NRL game at Bears stadium,(even got a great photo of Madam Premier wearing a Central Coast Bears cap) and the new batch just arrived... we have now passed 1200 payed up members in just 5 months.. Also May 15th there is to be a Central Coast Bears rally near iguana Joes(gosford boat club).. we will gather there and then walk over to Bears Stadium.. sit up in the Bears Den.. and show our Red and Black colours off..anyone who would like to be apart of this , you are more then welcome to come along.. just wear your red and Black.. also will be getting the North Shore Bears people involved, they will gather at North sydney station and get the train and also from hornsby decked out in their red and Black.. and will also gather at the rally.. David Gallop said he wanted to see the CC residents come out if they want their NRL side vote with your feet, well we sure as hell are doing that.. How are the other bids going ?? i hope they are doing the same with their communities.... Bring on the BEARS!!!
Paul J
Guest
Mushi Do you think the IC won't expand to CC and Perth after the next TV deal? Do you think they'll keep 16 teams or go to Central Qld and CC? A management team, call it what you want. IC have proven to be highly successful models for leadership in the AFl and NFL. They take the in house fighting away from the clubs and will remove the conflict of interest from News. What's not to like?
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
Love the way Mushi always manages to cut through the cr@p. Realist is spot on - forget the pi$$ing contests, it's neither here or there. A Management Team - doesn't quite have the same ring - love it!!
Mushi
Guest
There is no logical reason to suggest that it will either? An “independent commission’ is just a title. If the AFL’s group were called a management team they would of made the exact same decisions. Without knowing its exact structure, powers, members and “independence” I really struggle to how any prediction of the outcome of their decisions is anything more than space filler. It isn’t like we are talking about the same people with the same product and same existing competitive landscape. The NRL will get a better TV deal this time round IC or no IC.
Paul J
Guest
Red B I'm not suggesting either code will put the other to the sword. If both codes are getting around $1 billion every 5 years i don't see how they ever could? All 16 NRL clubs and News Ltd want an IC. The ARL have agreed in principal to have one in place later this year. That gives the IC 2 years before they sign the TV deal to start in 2013. The AFL IC has made the right calls and has paid for expansion into GWS and GC on the back of their last TV deal. There is no logical reason to suggest a RL IC would not do the same. That is negotiate a lucrative TV deal which then funds expansion into Melbourne/Perth, both cities getting FTA prime time games (not head to head with AFL games). Big increase in grass roots development etc.
Redb
Roar Guru
Fighting words Paul J. I think you'll find Realist is a RL poster. Until RL untangles itself from News Ltd it will always have conflicts of interest and political forces driving it apart. Who knows what path each code will take over the course of the next 20 years, an independent commssion will take time to bed down all the while the AFL has had one for 20 years and will only look to stengthen it's position. If you think a race to 20 teams is the goal then good luck with that. The NSWRL/NRL got pretty close to that at one stage I think and then retreated. You win. Melb Storm is still losing millions despite its success in a big market. The salary cap dramas appear to have put the exit of News Ltd back some years which is not a good thing I'd imagine and makes it all the more messy. As for TV rights who knows?, perhaps both will have good revenue for years its a bit hard to see even if the NRL got more dollars than the AFL next time round (looks unlikely this time) then it will still find itself considerably behind in its development at grass roots in its new frontiers - a lot of work to do. The AFL commission took some years to get the clubs on board, I sense greater self interests at work within rugby league, it likes to be divisive. (albeit an outsiders view) As a TV game, RL works very well, but I beleive the AFL will catch up as technology improves and we have the best live game. So in the end its hard to judge whether one code will ever have sufficient power to put the other to the sword. I just cant see it ever happening.
Paul J
Guest
Realist A lot of people down south under estimate the NRL. Rugby league has its hands tied until the new TV deal in 2013, then things will change - big time. The FTA networks make 1.35 more revenue from NSW/Qld than the rest of the country combined. There are many respected journos (not just Roy Masters) predicting the NRL under an independent commission will get $1 billion for the next TV deal with all 3 FTA networks already having expressed interest in bidding. This isn't including a possible $75-100 million from Sky sports NZ. The NRL will easily be able to subsidize the Storm and Western Reds indefinitely. They are likely to beat the AFL to 20 teams. The NRL won't match the AFL for memberships or crowd figures any time soon but they will match, and even surpass them, with future TV rights deal and this will make the NRL a rival to be reckoned with.
Redb
Roar Guru
They don't start playing in the AFL for two years, bit hard to get crowds! Nope, generational project.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
djn Just to clarify the NRL is a rugby league competition run by a joint partnership.Rugby league in PNG was started by rugby league people,who have succeeded to make it the national game,not introduced by a sporting body called the NRL. The NRL have already stated the first committment is to the financial viability of the current 16 clubs.The CEO Gallop has more than once,raised the possibility of Perth and CC coming in.The CC is just about on the first step to being a NRL clubg.Having an odd number with a bye is not a good look.Having a team in Perth,and regardless of the knockers,there is a market.Perth have already put an under 18 side on the field against teh other clubs,and a consortium si current;y working on a Perth side. Why bother in Perth!.The Sydney and Brisbane TV markets know the value of rl .Having a game in Perth with a 2hour lag time just adds to the value.The ones in the main doing the knocking are mainly AFL and a few Ru people.In fact it gives the opportunity to have at least one rugby code playing out of Perth each weekend.Choice for rugby supporters who like both.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Chris I wasn't responding to you so i don't know who is drinking ,but to respond the comment that the NRL started rl in PNG,which it plainly didn't ,and that the game has not expanded out of NSW and Qld.Suggest soemone needs more coffeee.
bazza
Guest
If they don't get the sponsorship/crowds in 2 years will the AFL pull out?
Realist
Guest
The NRL has no chance of being a national competition on a par with the AFL. Quite simply the NRL would need to subsidize clubs to the current standard and they don't have the money. If they tried to go national they would very quickly go broke. Anyone that believes the NRL will get a rights deal to match the AFL in the next round has been reading too many Roy Masters articles, it ain't gonna happen. Also, support for Rugby League outside NSW and QLD is far less than AFL support in NSW. The choice for the NRL is to reduce salaries/costs to make clubs in other states viable or confine itself to the east coast. The former isn't realistic because players would abandon the competition, the latter the only real option. People just need to learn to be happy with the NRL as it is and stop competing with the AFL and making unrealistic plans. Don't buy into the propaganda the NRL is a serious rival to the AFL, the AFL is a much larger and wealthier competition, end of story. Just two home and away games in the AFL this weekend drew over 160,000 people, when would that ever happen in the NRL? Try seriously suggesting the NRL is a rival to the AFL to anyone outside of NSW or QLD and they will laugh in your face. Nobody in Sydney would laugh at being told the AFL rivals the NRL.
Karlos
Guest
The AFL jumped in because they knew had too. With Rugby League having just survived Super League, the NRL got a poor deal with 9 last time around. The game has stuck it out on a small budget and grown much stronger under Gallop. The strain of that tv deal and the subsequent low salary cap has seen the game held back immensley, yet it has still been successful in that time. When the next deal is done (not) soon (enough), the NRL will be a fair way behind the AFL in terms of expansion, but the very fact the game has withstood The Super League War and all the damage that did to the game and particularly the expansion teams (WA and SA) and still managed to grow tells us that the game itself is one that open minded sportspeople are forced to admit they are in awe of. Not understanding these things makes logical debate impossible. Indeed, logical debate seems to be suffering if you think having so many expansion opportunities (as does the NRL in comparison to the AFL) is a negative for the NRL. That logic says that having so few expansion opportunities is somehow a positive for the AFL. The AFL knows the easy years for them are fast coming to an end. Soon they will have to compete on a more equal footing and they are not going to like it. So AFL, please offer our players big money if you want and let your clubs rort your systems etc and get away with it while you can. Throw money at some (expansion) clubs and not others to make it almost a rigged comp. And we Rugby League people will sit and wait, knowing there is not one AFL player that would make it in our game and knowing that our game will continue to grow and expand into areas you could never dream of.