Another NRL season is coming to an exciting end. A great state of origin series, the Melbourne Storm coming back hard this year after all the salary cap problems. Now, an interesting dilemma could occur in the grand final in the next few weeks.
There is every chance the 2011 NRL grand final could be Brisbane versus Melbourne.
What a match that would be. Two major capital city teams from outside of New South Wales, competing for the NRL title.
AFL had three consecutive non-Victorian grand finals, with the Port Adelaide and Brisbane match of 2004 followed by the 2005 and 2006 epics featuring West Coast and the Sydney Swans.
These matches were always played at the MCG, and were well-attended. But why not play the NRL grand final in either Brisbane or Melbourne?
There will be more interest generated in one of these cities as local interest for the home team. Sydneysiders are notoriously bad for not attending sports fixtures they have no vested interest in.
So why not play it at Etihad Stadium or the MCG? As Melbourne finished higher they would be entitled to home ground advantage.
What if it were a Brisbane Broncos versus New Zealand Warriors grand final? What if the Warriors finished higher on the NRL ladder? Why not plays it at Eden Park in Auckland?
In American football they play the super bowl in a different city every year, so both teams are usually the away teams.
It would be far more exciting for the neutral rugby league fan, better for the higher-ranked home team, and good for rugby league interstate, in foreign territory like Victoria.
A grand final at Homebush, meanwhile, with no New South Wales or Canberra team would have less atmosphere and a soulless and empty energy.
john
Guest
How good are the tigers going this year lol
D
Guest
Hosting the NRL GF in Melbourne is the stupidest thing iv ever heard! Melbourne is a AFL state, they shouldnt even have a NRL team! They dont even show live games on tv, nor Foxtel (they did show the storm warriors game) Completely bias. I dont mind that its going to be played at homebush. Plent of WARRIORS supporters to fill the stadium! GO THE WARRIORS!!!!!!!!
Meesta Cool
Guest
With all the publicity on falling crowd numbers for the final series, I can't help thinking that the NRL should consider one of the following two options: 1/. Start the season one month earlier (or one month later),, so that the finals of AFL and NRL do not clash, 2/. Make SOO have stand alone Saturday Night games. this would put the NRL finals after the AFL and once again bebefit people wanting to watch both sports. -- this option makes the season a little longer, but gives all teams a chance to get through the SOO period with minimal distraction. (This year St George was almost unbeatable before SOO, easy beats after it)!. either of these options makes the NRL finals become more attractive to TV, because they will not be in direct competition with AFL. As both games strive to 'go national', this could be a big advantage to NRL teams. For Victoria, if Finals games for Storm where held after the AFL Finals, a lot of Sport starved AFL fans would attend, just to have somewhere to go!!! lol
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Yeah, that finals system seems a bit ludicrous.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Not really, if the cap fits. I wasn't going to just say 'So don't complain' when in actuality your having a sook.
Republican
Guest
My point here Johnno is that while League obviously has a growing culture in NZ, due to the Kiwi cultural affinity with the rugby codes, this has not been realised in Vic and if anything, League should move out of Melbourne, while an extra Kiwi side should probably be bulit I reckon. Of course, Melbourne has gleaned both rugby's under false pretence, almost entirely due to it's corporate clout, so the Storm will probably stay despite no growing patronage or grass roots over more than a decade now. That's the big business, top down criteria to growth that dictates elite sport for you.
Doug
Guest
There was also Orford and Bell from the Storm prior to their GF loss and win in 2007 and 2008. But good on them for developing the guys you mention thats a pretty handy list of players.
johnnoo
Roar Pro
Republican exactly the NRL says it is a national based sports comp, not a sports based sports competition then let the prove it. Rugby league hearltands are in Brisbane and in Auckland give them an option. And if they are serious about Victoria give Melbourne an opportunity to. Brisbane and melbourne have hosted state of origin of course. Brisbane hosted the rugby league World cup final. So why are they deemed not right to host a NRL grand final then.' Eden park NZ is between 50-60000 and they are hosting the Rugby Union World cup final. A far bigger event than the NRL grand final. So Eden Park deemed to small to host a NRL grand final if the Warriors play in it. It is ridiculous. If Eden park and suncorp and Eden park are deemed to small but have hosted events of more important sporting importance than the NRL it is double standards and ridiculous. SO much for the NRL being a national based comp. it would do wonders for the sports growth allowing another city the chance to enjoy a grand final week hosting it. And TV ratings would be just as high if not higher as many local people who don't follow league would get into it. Like I said Eden Park and suncorp have hosted bigger events than the NRL grand final and they have been big successes. NRL wants ot expand into new market and detract new fans then give them your showpiece. Just like AFL, would benefit if it hosted grand final in there heartlands Adelaide and Perth or Sydney. Could you imagine a GWS V Collingwood grand final at Homebush. Would be amazing. Or a adelaide v West Coast at newly renovated Adelaide oval . So why not give it a try Republican AFL or NRL you will be pleasantly surprised that traditions do change and evolve into often better more diverse things. Stop being so closed minded NRL. NRL is not a state based comp it is national prove it then with your actions, by having grand finals outside of sydney.
Republican
Guest
I don't believe Melbourne has any Vic graas roots even after more than a decade there. Move it NZ since they actually have grass roots and are great rugby players, Union and League.
AC
Guest
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[
johnnoo
Roar Pro
But the point is Matt F traditions change. And with the F.A cup, challenge cup and grand finals it can work so magically. all those venues were fine for F.A cups regardless of new Wembley being built. Sport is about sharing and spreading it's wings. ANd for national based comp in 2011 and beyond traditions change. And Brisbane is a rugby league heartland , hosted big rugby league matches SOO, rugbyleague world cup final, super 15 rugby, tri nations V all blacks, and same with Melbourne with the AFL issue. Do not restrict a sport to 1 state in national based comp spread the sport to new markets, and other rugby league heartlands. An NRL grand final in brisbane or melbourne or Aukcland would be fantastic for the code. If Brisbane and Aukcland are deemed good enough to host a rugby league super 15, and rugby unions world cup grand final, then are deemed good enough and suitable to host an NRL grand final if the home team is playing. Same with Melbourne and A.F.L grand final monopoly it has. Have one in sydney,Adelaide, or perth or Brisbane. Why in a national comp restrict it to 1 city, this is not a state based comp. Part of the rugby world cup it has been great the growth of rugby form other nations. With rugby league and rugby union, it was great for the city of brisbane to host a rugby league world cup final, and a super 15 RUGBY UNION GRAND FINAL, and tri nations matches VS VS all blacks. Andf with the Eden park issue i said a stadium wether iit is Eden Par or suncorp has to hast between 50,000-60000 stadium,is you are agreeing with me here. Are you saying now Matt F Eden Park is not suitable to host a RWC final or not ideal
Matt F
Guest
They were only played in different stadiums when Wembley was being rebuilt. Now that Wembley's back it has returned to permanent host. I already covered the Champions league point and even then, it has always been a European based competition, not a NSW competition that grew to include QLD, Victoria and NZ. There's something to be said about tradition. The AFL in particular have been very succesful at growing the game despite keeping the GF in melbourne. Re your Eden park RWC point. It holds 60k and is also the biggest stadium used for the WC. The next highest is only 40k. Clearly it's capacity was a big issue in it getting the final which actually adds to my point.
punter
Guest
I don't think so Oikee, that was a thugish act, no toughness about it.
Matt F
Guest
Players hit other players harder then nescessary all the time. It's not exactly friendly or sportsmanlike but it happens a fair bit. The difference here is Morris had a broken ankle, something which I doubt Hodges has the skills to diagnose in under 2 seconds. He saw a player on the ground and made a forceful tackle. He may have seenw pain in Morris' face but wouldn't have been able to tell the severity of the injury. re the Williams incident. Williams was injured during the tackle, not before so it's a completely different scenario and the Storm players (well Slater really) realised there was something seriously wrong because they heard the neck crack and Williams scream in pain. Entirely different scenario. You are assuming Hodges realised the severity of the injury and continued anyway. I highly doubt that he did. Hodges saw a player fall to the ground. Even if he identified a look of pain on morris' face (not exactly the easiest thing to spot in the heat of the moment) It could have been a calf or a rolled ankle. Hodges may have assumed he simply slipped.
johnnoo
Roar Pro
lol Brettttttttt.
johnnoo
Roar Pro
But traditions don't last forever. And AFL and NRL are national not state based comps. So why not embrace Australia. F.A CUP and challenge cup have been played at old trafford, twicknheam , and millennium stadium and were great atmosphere. And Euro champions league soccer and Heinkeen cup Renegade are played in different cities and countries.
Matt F
Guest
True, they don't need to but it's a system that works well and given Australia's unique sporting landscape, where only a few cities are interested in different sports, it's harder to spread it nationally. The NFL, Champions League and others schedule the venue well in advance of the season starting. They put it in an area that they know will sell out which, given Europe's population and geographical closeness is quite easy. They also go to areas which actively play the game. Being the NFL is very popular all over the USA and likewise the Champions league in Europe it's easy to find.Australia has a smaller population over a large area which can make it harder to sell big venues without a local team playing. Where could you move the NRL GF to? Brisbane is obvious as is NZ but would melbourne really get behind it if the Storm aren't playing, especially if it's on the same weekened as the AFL GF? Perth and Adelaide don't even have teams let alone suitable stadiums. I doubt NZ would get a great crowd to an all Australian final given they barely get behind the Warriors. MLB, NHL and NBA do so because their grand finals are not one match, but a series of matches. If the NRL/AFL made it their final a best of 3/5/7 then the comparison would be relevant. The Olympics are an international event, rather then a domestic league, played once every 4 years and were always moved (modern Olympics obviously.) It's what's been done. There is no tradition to change here. In English sport the FA Cup, League Cup, Promotion play-off finals and I think many other sports finals in England are held at Wembley. Also, unlike Australian sport teams, the English (and pretty much all European) rugby teams play at one ground in their country as does the English football team.
Brett McKay
Guest
I will Johnnnooooooo..
Kasey
Guest
Jaeman, its only a 'scandal' when a govt gives FFA some money for no verifyable return, don't you watch the ABC? For Rugby League its sponsorship:(
Renegade
Guest
Johnno, I was referring to Matt.F's statement in regards to why other competitions can't have it at the same venuw. Which is true - who in sydney would go watch brisbane vs adelaide in the A-League grand final. There is no way it would get 50'000 in a neutral city....that's why they go for a home team final as does rugby. The AFL and NRL consistently sell out and have tradition, similar to why the challenge cup and FA cup finals are played at Wembley. I'm not totally against the idea but what Matt.F is saying is certainly valid.