Full-time has been blown on the Olympics, and despite the odd grumble from the usual suspects the games have bathed in overwhelmingly positive press.
This is in stark contrast to rugby league back home, whose major competition has come under stinging attack by the journalistic bitter brigade.
The disparity could not be more obvious if Jared Tallent and Usain Bolt decided to enter a swimwear competition.
One has a flotilla of fanboys pumping up its tyres at every opportunity, whilst the other has a coven of cranky criticisers moaning morosely unless every game is won in extra time by a length of the field Steve Jackson try.
So, what would happen if we applied some of the Olympic upbeat spin to some of the NRL’s ills? Here are 5 Ways the NRL media could learn from the Olympics
Population Medal Tally
An old Olympic chestnut this one. After day two when China and the U.S have won everything but the Athlete’s Village trivia night, the press will rock out the ‘Medal Tally per population’ to let us little guys know we’re still important.
This table of course turns farcical when a pistol shooter from Bermuda somehow Stephen Bradburys his way to an unexpected bronze leaving NZ in tears, but even still the concept would be great for the NRL.
At the end of the season the NRL press could construct a competition ladder per population, giving small market teams like Cronulla or Canberra a chance to take home some feel good silverware.
Lesser skilled sports people becoming inspirations
If you enter an Olympic event, perform like a busted blister and come last by a laughable amount, you are hailed as the ‘essence of the Olympics’ and rolled out in soppy slow-mo montages for decades to come.
Sure you probably still cry yourself to sleep every night, but at least you’ll have a few endorsement deals to wipe away your tears with.
Try the old ‘Eric the Eel’ shtick in the NRL though and you’ll be disowned by teammates, verbally assaulted by fans and mercilessly mocked by witty internet commentators for the next millenia.
Maybe the NRL press could extend the olive branch to these well meaning nuffies, give them a job in the mail room or something, and if not celebrate their sloppy skills at least agree to not openly ridicule them.
Obscure skills
Whilst everyone would agree running, jumping and throwing heavy stuff are worthwhile skills to possess, only the Olympic spin team could convince you that ribbon twirling, poking each other with blunt swords or walking for great distances are of equal importance.
The NRL’s commentators should follow suit by not just praising players’ tries, kicks and tackles, but also their more mundane skills.
Playing the ball properly, penalty milking, kicking tee arrangement, phantom scrum pushing… when was the last time you heard one of these get a good write up?
These skills should be ignored by the media no longer.
Nationality Swapping
Fellow countrymen standing in your way for a spot in the Olympic team? Throw a couple of darts at your world map, make a few phone calls and pretty soon you’re being lauded in some obscure country of the ‘Stan belt living like a king and shotgunning the top bunk at the Olympic village.
This happens so often it’s barely even mentioned, and is seen as a natural way to even up competition by most international media sources.
In rugby league, even looking at another country across a crowded bar will have you strung up by your wheels for tearing at the fabric of the game, whilst the press hurls grenades at the game’s credibility and ring the sport’s death knell.
Right to Party
See if you can spot the difference here:
– Footage of Olympians in bar after two weeks of competition: “Professional athletes letting off steam.”
– Footage of NRL players in bar after 8 months of competition: “Uneducated, bogan menaces giving the game another black eye with drunken skulduggery.”
Granted on a personal level I’ve never been held down and given a ‘Friar Tuck’ haircut by a mob of drunk Swedish handballers, but even still, maybe giving footy players a bit of space to unwind rather than following them around with a film crew might paint things in a better light.
By addressing these five areas I feel the rugby league media could really help paint a much more positive picture for the game, because if you can’t learn from the Olympics, who can you learn from?
Follow Chris on Twitter: @Vic_Arious
clipper
Guest
All perfectly valid points which, of course you are entitled to argue against - as you are by explaining how Irelands games against the All Blacks are similar to PNG's game against Australia. Also, although Scotland and Agentina have never beaten the All Blacks, they too have had drawn games.
NF
Guest
Cheap shot more like a fact Crosscoder sums up the cheap shots you say about in league in a previous thread. '. Now why would rl fans claim you are being unfair Clipper. You are one of the game’s great admirers.Demographics,working class,boot throwing,two English counties,poor parts of Auckland.' http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/08/10/rugby-league-should-be-an-olympic-sport/
clipper
Guest
NF - Please discuss why you think Irelands record against the All Blacks is comparable to Australia's record against PNG instead of having a cheap shot at me.By your line of reasoning a Labor person should never complain about the Liberal party!
NF
Guest
clipper you can't help yourself in league threads I seen you in more league threads than whatever your preferred sport is which you still haven't disclosed. I just assume you're a rah rah with your constant cheap shots at league.
clipper
Guest
LF - the big difference is that Ireland have been competitive in many of the matches with the All Blacks (even getting a draw in 1973 and only just being beaten 22-19 thanks to a 79th minute drop goal by Dan Carter in the second test this year) As such, it is quite an amazing record and shows just how tough the All Blacks are to have never lost in 107 years to a side that has been as high as number 3 in the world. You couldn't say PNG has been competitive with Australia or have had overflowing stadiums or that anyone would be impressed with the record Australia has over PNG. Nothing wrong with people never having a chance at winning having a go - just look at Eric the Eel and the attention he got.
xaviercrane
Roar Rookie
Danny Weildler scoop: the Olympics are signing Sonny-Bill for next year!
Midfielder
Guest
enjoyed the article and comments to date ... only suggestion I can add is to get John Coates as the head of RL he makes bad stories the fault of the government ...
Andy
Guest
Great article!! I love league and its unbelivable how much bad press the journos try to dig up, just to sell papers or get ratings. Record crowds/big televisions ratings but they still love putting the boot in..its like the final days of the world going by these guys.
Adam
Guest
Well put League fan and you are spot on the money with your comments. If I was in charge of the international RL board I would have a much bigger international schedule. I believe the only way for the tier 2 nations such as France, Wales, Png, Samoa etc to improve and be able to compete with the big boys is to play regular internationals. I remember the Sri Lankan cricket team when they started playing internationals they were the whipping boys now look at them, they can beat anyteam. The same would apply in RL
micka
Guest
Obscure skills... I'd have laughed at this if I hadn't seen Farah drop a ball from 12 inches off the ground instead of placing it in SOO. 1%ers make a true champ.
JVGO
Guest
Diving, RU, basketball, softball, baseball, sprinting, track cycling, among others, there are a host of sports wherein at the moment at the top level the result is pretty much a foregone conclusion, probably to a far greater extent than in RL.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Is he wrong though? Naturally thrashings will occur in international sport but there aren't too many international sports where the team ranked 4th in the world is routinely thrashed by teams 1-3. If the All Blacks consistently beat England by 50+ points or if Spain consistently beat Uruguay (based on current rankings) 7-0 then it would be a direct comparison.
League fan
Guest
Gremlin very well said and I believe this is what is holding back our international game. It does not affect other sports. The All Blacks this year played Ireland in a 3 test series. As predicted they won the series 3 nil. In fact since rugby was invented Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks, nor has Scotland, Argentina, Samoa or most countries however when the All Blacks play these teams they are treated as a genuine test match. However when the Kangaroos play PNG, Fiji, Wales, France or whoever it gets nothing but critisim. I am with you Gremlin I admire when these teams play the Kangaroos because they are out there giving their all, playing their hearts out. Isnt that what sport is about.
Matt F
Roar Guru
I don't thimnk anybody is criticising the minnow mations for having a go, more bemoaning the fact that only 3 nations can actually do anything so there isn't much depth at international level
Gremlin
Guest
I agree about everyones thoughts on international RL, instead of booing the game in general we should be applauding the smaller nations for " having a go" against very proffesional amd highly trained teams like AUST', NZ and GB. After all isn't that what being an Aussie is all about, having a dig, even when the odds are stacked against you. Sometimes I wonder if we have forgotten that.
JVGO
Guest
As you so wisely point out CC the Sharks have had a heap of silver and bronze to celebrate over the years, and we all know that silver is the new gold, bronze the new silver, hell I'll even be celebrating a 4th place this year if we get it.
James
Guest
It's pathetic isn't it. he isn't getting the exclusive interviews like he did with Gallop so he is throwing a banana in all his articles.
B.A Sports
Guest
Nice article - particularly the last part about the partys.. I agree and often think that our media, in particular the print media, in particular the print media who have had a financial stake in the game, often do more to tarnish the game than the players they are "exposing" and I am suprised more clubs haven't simply stopped talking to certain media members. On a side note but "nationallity swapping" made me think of it and it made me laugh yesterday. During Nines coverage of Bulldogs v Broncos, Gus asked (and i can't remember word for word) "How would Usain Bolt go on a wing?", and Vossy quite quickly replied something like, "dunno. Would be eligible for QLD?" Made me laugh..
B.A Sports
Guest
aka: "The Booze Hounds"
JVGO
Guest
And there he is League fan, right on cue. Someone called his name out?