- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The past eighteen months in rugby league have been riddled with scandal after scandal, much like the previous eighteen months. Unlike any other sport in Australia, the NRL is constantly defending itself and its players against disgrace, with the only potential saving grace being State of Origin. Until now.
I am of the opinion that rugby league in Australia is heading down the path of extinction.
Yes, television ratings are up (not substantially) and crowd attendances hover slightly above those in years past. This is the result of a hard working and shrewd advertising and promotions team.
Unfortunately, they can only do so much.
These are minor victories in a sport, which has thrown everything except the kitchen sink at the Australian public, only to be let down by a generation of players who lack the integrity and respect to uphold the tradition which the game came to our shores with.
That tradition and passion crafted Origin into a spectacle, something which bled Australian through and through.
Whilst the build up to Origin One was as strong as ever, the game was a huge disappointment. It lacked everything that Origin grafted its existence on in the early 80s.
The product exists. However, the promoters of this product (the players) are the problem.
I believe Origin is also at risk of losing its aura – the media can only beat it up so much before the public wake up to the lack of substance it now contains.
The arrival of rugby league in Australia from Great Britain brought with it the tag of a working man’s sport.
It didn’t trouble the existence of AFL in the south, whilst forging its heart in NSW and QLD. The crux of the culture remained: an honest man’s game that was respected due to its physical nature.
Traditionally, the main participants in rugby league are people from lower socio-economic status areas. This is an undeniable fact: those from the upper echelon of society are almost non-existent.
Before the introduction of professionalism, first grade players would work full time jobs. This is no longer the case in many sports. However, it seems that along with the introduction of professionalism, rugby league players have struggled to adapt to the large sums of money that come with it.
I noticed Tim Sheens (a very respected man in the rugby league community) had his Tigers take etiquette lessons.
Posh etiquette lessons are far from the NRL’s solution. The problem bleeds much deeper, and is simply hidden by the people who believe the games’ success is forged on gate takings and TV ratings.
Although that being said, full credit to Sheens for taking some initiative. Gate takings and ratings are good indicators. However, they remain just that – indicators.
If NRL players are going to be demanding more, the NRL should implement measures to assure their players are kept busy and out of trouble.
Willie Mason was interviewed on the first episode of the Matty Johns show, and he let loose with expletives that continue to show that players simply don’t respect the game and everything it’s done for them.
I know Robbie Farah was undertaking a University degree: he’s been nothing but a model citizen for the NRL.
Too much money, too much time, and not enough guidance concocts a recipe for further demolition of what was once a respected sport.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.