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The NRL is stuck in a horrible time warp

cjpelican new author
Roar Rookie
18th October, 2010
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cjpelican new author
Roar Rookie
18th October, 2010
43
1455 Reads

Something is very wrong with our major rugby league code in this country. Not only has it just endured the worst conspiracy in Australia’s sporting history and has lost two of the sport’s best players, it is now burning possible future bridges.

The bigwigs have, in their eternal wisdom, decided to not let recent AFL defector and past (and probably future) NRL superstar Israel Folau run water for his countrymen in a recent international match.

What is the thinking here? Or should the question be: “Was there any thinking at all?”

The NRL is stuck in the 80s, when the sport was dominant in the minds of Australians and they foolishly believe the game will not be hurt by such poor management of its assets.

Where else in the business world, and modern sport is a business, would the CEO of a company not offer his/her resignation after such a scam as the Stormgate saga? This author wants David Gallop’s job, as it seems to be the safest (and certainly not underpaid) form of employment in all the land.

The NSW-centric NRL are so insular with their ‘thinking’ that they fail to see that the ‘you are either with us or against us, forever’ ideology is only acting to its own detriment. Players like Israel Folau and Gold Coast Sun recruit Karmichael Hunt should be considered as players on loan to the other codes as in all likelihood, they will return at some stage.

It is a travesty that this is the path the administration has decided to tread because the ‘product’, keeping in line with the business theme, that the NRL is delivering is arguably the best it has ever been. The players are fitter and more skilled than ever before and the game is more exciting than recent years.

The reality is that the higher ups, we are looking at you, Gallop, either need to step aside and let someone who lows how to run a modern business in, or get out of the time warp and into the 21st century.

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