Rugby league, like all sports, has its fair share of gossip, but the most recent has re-stoked a fire that should always be burning in any sports fan’s heart.
The most recent hot topics have been the leadership of the rugby league in Australia, the TV rights deal, and expansion or retention.
The leadership will see a drastic change in the near future, with the Independent Commission coming into effect only 36 months late.
The problem with the new leadership change is that it’s not all that independent. They all derive from New South Wales or Queensland. Not great if expansion is on the table and non-traditional heartlands are up against the two stronghold states.
To truly be independent they needed to have some outsiders, even people who don’t have knowledge of the past politics of the sport.
For example, someone from the NFL such as Green Bay Packers Senior Vice-President of Marketing and Sales Laura Sankey, or Marco Baldi, the CEO of Alba Berlin who made basketball acceptable and popular in Berlin.
As a whole there must be some slightly cold reactions to the ‘Independent’ Commission. It is a major positive step, and will shall test them by their fruits, but it could have been better.
The problem with the TV rights deal is the unpredictability of the outcome. We don’t even know what number the NRL is looking for, and we don’t know who will try for the NRL rights.
With Channel 7 achieving the holy grail of become the sole only free-to-air AFL channel in almost a decade, they will not be bidding for the rights of regular-season NRL (they may try for State of Origin or specialty games like the All-Stars or the ANZAC Tests).
Channel 10 seem to be, under the direction of Murdoch and co., trying to rid themselves of sport altogether (with the new ONE showing 24 with Keifer Sutherland).
It may seem that Channel 9 will only have to face Fox Sports for the rights, and this could leave the NRL with much less than they bargained for.
It may turn out that there could be a bidding war which could lead to the NRL receiving a large deal, but it is most likely the NRL will remain on Channel 9 and the NRL will have to embrace mediocre broadcasting for another five years.
The reaction to that one could be very cold.
When it comes to expansion, rugby league has a safety net – New South Wales and Queensland. But it has remained in its comfort zone for far too long.
Melbourne Storm have shown that with enough time you can establish a footprint. It may be small, but it can only grow.
Rugby league needs to expand, it cannot remain on the Eastern Seaboard and on the M62 in England. It must move to new markets, try some adventurous strategies.
Yes, it must be smart and not go over the top by placing a team in every capital city, but it must make a move.
Retention is vital, the NRL must try and expand its audience in the heartland, but it must move to new markets and see new heartlands emerge.
The next four years are vital to the strength of league in Australia. If it stays where it is it will only go backwards. If it moves out from where it is it may go either forward or backward, but at least it moved.
New markets mean new clientele and new horizons. New markets are what TV CEOs are after, and the NRL must cater to both the TV CEO and the people of Australia. Expand and retain.
These four years could see a cold reaction, but it will be even colder if the NRL does not move.
These hot topics all have reactions, and the reactions can sometimes be cold. But for the sake of the NRL and rugby league in Australia we must confront these hot topics and find ways to ensure we don’t have cold reactions.
Rugby league will not survive on resting on its laurels but by confronting issues that have confronted all sports.
Let’s hope Rugby league can be smarter than its counterparts.
AC
Guest
Why is Rugby League hated so much. The French Government banned the "13 game" for many years. I am always surprised to hear people so bent on giving Rugby League a kick in the teeth. Its death has been greatly exaggerated. I hope it does well. I think despite the biased media in the AFL states given a chance it could do okay. Best wishes RL.
corey
Guest
yeah that would be great. Thanks.
Adrien2166
Guest
They have the project to be the next team to enter in the competition in 2015. I think it could be a good thing because Toulouse is a big and rich city, not to mention that there were 18 000 people who watched the game France vs Kiwis in the 2009 4nations. Toulouse already have a rugby culture thanks to the great rugby union team Stade Toulousain. TO13 is like the little brother of the Stade Toulousain, they work together and the Stade Toulousain gives its help with the players formation and a few other things. The people who run the club are clever and aware of the business it represents, i met them a month ago and will meet them on thursday too. I'll live there in a few weeks so as soon as i know more about the superleague project, i'll let you know if you are interested.
oikee
Guest
I think the Broncos missed a opportunity with Laura, they went the safe option, a dinosaur Bronco fan.
oikee
Guest
The hockey is one of my favorite Olmypic sports. Great veiwing.
corey
Guest
Thanks Adrien, I might see if I can get a jersey or something, what is your view on Toulouse or another French team in the Super League?
Adrien2166
Guest
Well corey you know the french championship season last from October to May/June. But maybe Toulouse XIII play at home this week, check the website during the week : www.to13.com
corey
Guest
My only problem is.I'm there for next weekend only, what about the French championship? any good games there?
Adrien2166
Guest
Some great players spent a few years here, Stacey Jones, Greg Bird, and now Steve Menzies. Bird (playing at 5/6) was definitely the most gifted but Menzies is special...everyone love him ! He's just special! He's signed for One more year :)
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Ahhh! Steve Menzies,now that guy is an immortal.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That doesn't necessarily mean they(critics) are correct BTW. Expansion monies does not come from the NRL.It comes from profits from RLWC/4 nations and tests . If one needs to see how expansion should be done ,check the work of the RLEF.Nothing to do with the NRL/ARL or any I.C.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Numbers Man It is obvious that ru has a tremendous advantage over rl overseas.That is not the point.the point being there is a huge population base spread throughout Europe,Middle east and the USA/Canada,plenty of room to make reasonable growth. In fact in the last 12 months in the USA/Canada and Jamaica the growth has accelerated.In fact both the competing rl comps in the US the AMNRL and the USARL,have received enquiries about setting up rl teams in other US cities.The Jacksonville Axeman in fact get 1,000 plus to their games to date and are getting the game into schools.The bulk of players in these comps are locals.Small in the scheme of things but growing.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Not enough,in what scheme of things ? All codes had to start from zero or small bases.To get any idea about grassroots development go to London rugby league website or the RFL.I don't belive they are standing still. That is why the RLWC2013 is important ,to secure additional funding. The biggest problem for the ESL was reliance on too many Aussie and NZ imports,thus denying locals a spot.That is gradually being reduced. As far as comparison , Welsh grassroots rl has increased by 300% ,making it the fastest growing sport in that region. The ESL have just announced their consecutive 9th year of profits,thus putting them in a position to expand the game further. Notice in sporting life a yank has landed a top RLEF role ,which organisation is apparently growing well. http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleag
Adrien2166
Guest
Hey, it's not a bye actually it's the Carnegie Challenge cup quarter finals, and we've got eliminated a few weeks ago. Next home game is on saturday 30th of july. No worry about french language! It's not really important, each week thousands of english come here and all they can say is "Je voudrais une bière s'il vous plait" (= I'd like a beer, please), and it doesn't prevent them from having a good time, well i guess... If you're around south of france on saturday 30th, you should come to watch the against the harlequins, not only because you're going to watch a good game, but also because watching Steve Menzies at 37 leading the team and playing 5/6 worth seeing :) !
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
That's good, but it's still not enough. Union is seeing great growth in their game in England, and the Union is increasing its distance between League as the preferred option of Rugby. This needs to change. League should have the more growing room - moving into London should be a great market 13 mill people. I thought Rugby League should have tried to secure Newcastle as a Rugby League town, but they missed out. I also thought they should try and get a Manchester team. I know Salford is close, but they get 3,000 supporters, that's ridiculous.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
I like the 3-year deal, it also makes it look cheaper to the buyer. As it also does help us raise the amount every 3 years as compared to 5 or 6 and the 3 year option would insure we don't lose money. I think the IC will be a lot smarter than our previous negotiators, but I just hope that RL in Australia expands. WA should have been pushed a long time ago to be honest. It is the highest participator of RL outside of QLD and NSW - still, even with the Melbourne Storm in Vic. And it could have been a success had they stuck there throughout the SL war to this day. Imagine Western Australians playing in the Kangaroos, alongside Victorians. This game needs to go national, not emulate the AFL (I think the FFA and Hockey have a better diagram to be blunt), but to make sure that a) this game survives and b) our game gets better. The more competition the better the product.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
I don't think it's saturated as of yet. I think the stadiums can fill up a bit more to be honest. And I really like how the NRL is getting behind the Membership drive. I was a member last year of the Broncos and it was awesome (I live overseas now, so unfortunately I get my fix from sports reports), I think the Membership thing is also getting more people dedicated to their club and with kids going to school telling other kids what they did on the weekend, this membership thing can only be good. We do need to find other ways of getting our supporters to the games, but that is why I thought Laura Sankey should have been appointed. Her whole role is to bring in money and supporters for the GB Packers. She makes sure that over 75,000 tickets are sold for each game in a town of only 240,000 people. And with the expansion, that's where I thought a Marco Baldi would come in handy. Those type of people know how to generate support for a relatively new sport. We do need to expand, but we also need to grow our heartland's support. My bid would be for Perth and Central Coast. Brisbane Broncos should be selling out that stadium every time, so I don't think Brisbane is a success yet.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Hey Adrien I will be in France next week, is there any Rugby League going on that weekend - I looked at the Catalans website, but it looks like they have a bye or something. Le seul problème est moi ne parlent pas français.
Boomshanka
Guest
You mentioned the Storm in the same sentence as ".....have shown you need the local paper onside to get traction in a new market" FYI, The Melbourne Herald Sun do not promote rugby league in the southern capital. I'd suggest News Limited is currently reaping what it has sowed. I trust we see them out of rugby leagues future as well.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Clipper. That unfortunately is only part of the story. Just to keep you up to speed. http://www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/07/15/rugby-league-beginning-to-make-its-mark-in-London The notation by BSKyB is that 69% of the total ESL viewing audience is outside the M62 corridor>But,but.but. as far as Wales is concerned http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/220/business-confidence-grows-in-wales. The fact the game is played in just about every major tertiary institution in England and many in Wales and now Scotland ,represents the future .That the biggest schools rugby league tournament in the world is in England ,Wales and now Scotland. All the above suggests the code ,is getting out of its M62 harness.