I recently sat down with my father and watched the 1981 NRL grand final between Parramatta and Newtown. While it certainly provided rich nostalgia (place-kicks for touch, the old SCG, Rex Mossop’s mind-numbing commentary), I got up from the couch in awe of how far rugby league has come as a spectacle.
In short, it’s now the most entertaining sport in the world.
Not to take anything away from the Sterlings, Kennys and Prices of the 1980s, (had they been raised in today’s league environment, they’d be just as dominant), but the game today has travelled light years; it is now the perfect blend of legal violence, skill, speed and theatre.
League leads the sporting world in self-correction, with rule changes the norm at the end of every season.
So, in the words of Axl Rose (and I’m not even a Gunners fan), where do we go now?
Let’s assume the NRL does land a billion-dollar-plus TV rights deal, which it absolutely should, given the way it dominates the top 100 broadcasts every single year.
Concerning the product we see on the field every week, not far. The game is fantastic as it now stands. It is our work off the field which must be near-perfect for the game to grow significantly.
In terms of expansion, Perth must round out the national aspect of the league. And the team must be properly supported by the NRL, unlike the Reds, who were never given a chance.
Forget the Central Coast; the greater Sydney area is too congested as it is. Instead, there must be two Brisbane teams – the current situation is absurd. And we shouldn’t wait very long to introduce another Kiwi venture.
New Zealand is ripe for the picking. Remember, Benji Marshall played rugby at one point – let’s keep siphoning off more teenagers just like him.
Where there’s expansion, there must also be contraction. Cronulla should relocate to Perth. The team simply doesn’t have the appeal, corporate support, or fan-base to add much value to the comp where it is. Goodbye, Sharkies.
Salary cap exemptions should have been made more broadly available decades ago (think Canberra, 1991). Any player developed within a club’s own system should get a massive exemption from the cap. Champion teams are great for the game, as are one-club, franchise players.
Then there’s junior funding. With a billion clams in the bank, the NRL should go for broke on juniors. Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, country regions, Pacific Islands. Just flood them with cash and quality administrators. That investment will reap huge rewards down the line.
Mid-season signings have to go. Folks, if Major League Baseball doesn’t have players signing with other clubs for the following season before their current year is over, there’s no reason for NRL fans to tolerate this farce. Make it illegal for players to negotiate. Period.
These are just a few things we can do to strengthen the game. But make no mistake – our game is special right now, and in good hands. The trick from here is to know when to act and when to sit back and just enjoy it.
Tangles
Guest
Agree - golden point doesnt work. Invariably puts too much pressure on referees who are invariably not upto the task. Golden try for 2 x 10 mins, then 1 point each. at least one rule modification still required - the stripping rule does my head in and is an absolute lottery.. makes me cringe just thinking about it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Actually ABFan Italy rugby league has won its way into the RLWC 2013.The game is played in italy and growing.Perhaps they will get the opportunity to play the Kangaroos and/or the Kiwis then.It's all good. . The fact another NZ billionaire is putting his money into the Worriers(sic) suggests money is indeed coming into the game.Just don't let Clive Palmer buy a club.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No AB Fan 15 of the 16 NRL clubs are not in dire financial straits. Sharks,Manly perhaps Titans would be the only ones to fall under that category.That according to my limited maths ability ,does not equate to 15/16ths.
allblackfan
Guest
says who?? Reveal your sources!! Especially when an Italy-All Blacks game can, and has, filled out AC Milan's (soccer) 80,000-seat stadium (one of the biggest in that country). BTW: when was the last time the Kangaroos played Italy in RL? (Straight forward question which needs equally straight forward answer!!)
June's
Guest
As a true fan of this great game it's refreshing to read your well weighted and insightful comments. As a long time suffering (magpies) and now fully fledged tigers supporter, the games evolution as a whole has been a treat. Bravo to David Gallop for the overall professional guidance he has offered the game, throughout constant off field dramas and despite his unwarranted criticisms from certain high profile commentators. He has put the game first and not his public persona or "celebrity status" which can not be said for his detractors. But as David and other true fans would agree, no time for pats on the back, onwards with the continual evolution of the game. Perth yes, NZ YES as there is no bigger talent pool, even if it takes time to win them over. Like life itself let's keep it moving forward whilst taking time to remember our rich history... Perhaps by even taking in the the 81 grand final.. It still would have been nice to see Raudonikis be carried from the field victorious in 81.
oikee
Guest
The best thing, if you lived in Europe, you can watch the game on pay tv now, around 5-6 games a week, Origin, Test matches. Perth has also woken up, they are now showing league, the only place you cant watch it live is in our so-called sports capital.
oikee
Guest
The big money, smart money is finally coming for rugby league. I have said for years, the only thing holding league back is money.
Matt S
Guest
Well in the last week or so I've read Saudi U/20s (resplendant in Ferrari-sponsored Jerseys) drew with Lebanon in league, Leeds guests at Eton and linking with the Rhinos, Morocco announcing an 8 club domestic competition, Germany qualifying ten locals as coaches as part of RLEF strategic technical initiative, Sky UK' Super League TV ratings up 80% after 3 rounds ( a game attracted 278,000 to union Aviva match on same time attracted only 60,000 on Sky), NZ billionaire buys half share in Warriors, etc, so league is travelling ok internationally. So really most leaguies can get their international fix of their sport without having to worry about union. Sevens in the Olympics is not going to be the death of our sport as predicted by unionites. But if you wanna attract people with a mickymouse version of your game while turning venues into costume party piss ups then they already have done that for years in Mexico & schoolies etc. without affecting rugby league at all :-D
JVGO
Guest
Anyone who needs to malign the 80's should watch this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl-FPBRteDU&feature=related Martin Bella, Kurt Sorenson, coathangers, haymakers and even refs scoring tries.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
True- Rugby is far more international than League. That doesn't make it a good game, which is why people only show up to watch rep games. They've done studies on how often the ball is actually in play during a match- meaning in a player's hands, running the football. Rugby is way below League in this respect- most of the time the ball is stuck in a maul/ruck or a scrum, or being punted down field. Argentina and Italy may play rugby but that doesn't make it a good sport to watch, which is why interest in the game has dropped off markedly in recent years.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Ian, you will be happy to know that the Highlanders first game of the year is offically a 23K sell out. so yea i think rugby is still doing fine in the Edinburgh of the south.
Johnno
Guest
Ian Otago is on the brink of extinction, hay have got won 1 more week of execution.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Johnno, So, hows Otago going in the NPC ? Its New Zealand, heartland of rugby union. I'm sure it's happy, stable and basically going great.
Pete75
Guest
John, Sounds good, I was actually cruising the interwebs looking for a WA league supporters site. Get in touch. ihc1975@hotmail.com Cheers!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Nathan. Sometimes they just can't help themselves,in the big,bigger,biggest facts of sporting life.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Johnno. The NRL has ATM very little influence on what happens to rl overseas.That is the responsibility or was of the RLIF RLEF and the ARL. I don't see where anyone has suggested rugby league is a global sport,or draws a comparison with ru. I simply stated rugby league is developing overseas and happens to be played in more countries than ever before.All of this being done without the assistance of the NRL to this stage((pre I.C.) It certainly does not have the global reach of union,but what has that got to do with the health and growth of rugby league. i have been following this code for as long as I care to remember,and taken in the mix,with more participants in this country than ever before,continually growing Tv ratings and sponsorship and membership and merchandise sales,added to the number of countries playing the game and starting up the game, is higher than I have ever seen it.It has not at times been easy sailing ,with hiccups such as Russia. That to me suggests health both within the NRL and internationally ,regardless of what is the position of code X internationally. .
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Hell's Bells, that's a blatant troll. :P
Boomshanka
Guest
Make sure you supply a Sydney address when signing up. I used the NRL's new home; Entertainment Quarters, Lang Road, Moore Park, Sydney NSW 1363
Johnno
Guest
It says the NRL is in the best shape of it's life what about the fact that rugby is a global sport and rugby league does not yet have the global reach that rugby union does.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Interesting, C9's WA branch seems to be actually moving on a number of fronts, tightening its links with a few local sporting organisations. Its good to see.