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Benji Marshall kicks the ball. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan
NRL administrators have found themselves in the stocks of late as players and fans vent their frustrations at the perceived failings of those charged with running the game.
I often find myself playing the role of defender for those charged with making the tough calls in rugby league, but an incident this week pushed me over the edge and has forced me to pick up and hurl a rotten tomato.
First of all, fresh from the NRL CEOs meeting, Roosters boss Steve Noyce announced an idea that players should wear individual numbers rather than their positional numbers as per tradition.
The idea was that apparently lots of kids would be keen to buy jerseys if they could get their favourite players number on the back. I believe the term income stream may or may not have been used.
Fair dinkum, what are they teaching in MBA’s these days?
While the idea was sold as part of these whole new wave of shrewd management thinking sweeping the NRL at present, it’s far from original. Not only is it a straight rip off from American sports, but also has been pinched from the old Super League days.
Yep, good old Super League, which is meant to have had the sort of affect on traditional rugby league supporters as garlic to vampires was exhumed (pardon the continuing undead pun) to bring out that brain wave.
I refuse to believe that suddenly Wests Tigers jerseys will be flying off the shelf because Chris Heightington is wearing the number 36 (chosen due to the fact that’s the amount of penalties he gives away over two matches).
Of course, it didn’t take long for someone to suggest a superstar, ala Benji Marshall, wearing the number 23.
Ah 23!
The number Michael Jordan wore is still the number marketers pluck for, even though he’s been retired for eight years, which strikes me as the last time many CEOs had an original idea.
Sorry, but if someone is wearing a Wests Tigers jersey with number 6 on the back, I’m pretty sure they’re a big Benji fan rather than being a one man movement to have Daniel Fitzhenry installed at pivot.
The other reason I know that the idea to turn the rugby league field into a massive roulette table will fail is history. In Super League, it didn’t work.
Sure there is some novelty value with the big guns having a weird number, although why wouldn’t Darren Lockyer just choose ‘6’.
But it then means you get Brad Morrin in 27 and Shaun Fensom in 44. What is the friggin’ point?
I’ll concede it would be gold to see Jarrad Hickey wearing 88 so someone can shout “Two fat ladies!,” but it’s hardly worth all the effort.
So while the announcement was rubbish, it was also a symptom of the problem with the NRL.
Here we have the NRL CEOs meeting, a time when every man and his dog is talking salary cap overhaul, player departures and Independent Commission, and what’s the first press release we get from the game’s most powerful?
What about a change in jersey numbers.
For F*%$’s sake!
I know it wasn’t the key issue discussed at the meeting, so why not come out swinging with a bold plan to tackle the game’s challenges rather than coming out and trying to get everyone to look away from the burning vehicle by shouting, “Look Michael Bani in jumper number 33!”
There was no talk of a step towards the Independent Commission (the target date of November 1 quickly becoming best case scenario as the meetings drag on), no talk of tackling the salary cap problem anymore than wheeling out the same old tired clichés.
The old arguments have merit, but you still need to show that some thought is being put into problems.
Perception is reality for the punters. People perceive many NRL CEOs as just a bunch of suits keen for another meeting and another lunch.
I know that’s not the case. I know some very smart and very hardworking people work in rugby league. But the message constantly sent to public is off a tired old group living off the goodwill of fans and players.
When the player’s behaviour off the field wasn’t up to scratch, they were given a kick in the pants from those who love rugby league.
Now it’s the administrators letting the game down with their rabbit in the headlights impersonation.
As an old coach of mine used to say: “It’s time to lift or f%$& off!”
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