Dear Dave Smith,
Heritage round should always be used first and foremost to honour specific anniversaries and events in individual clubs histories.
Then and only then should you even consider using up derby games and piecing together the leftovers (Titans versus Eels anybody?).
Furthermore each match should focus on a specific era in the game’s history. Last year I had suggested that the NRL promote several key matches for 2013:
– Thirties tribute game: 75th Anniversary of the Bulldogs first premiership.
– Seventies tribute game: 35th and 40th anniversary of the Sea Eagles versus Sharks grand finals.
– Eighties tribute game: 30th anniversary of the Eels versus Rabbitohs grand final.
– Dally Messenger Centenary game: 100th anniversary of 1913 grand final where the Royal Agricultural Shield was won for the third time permanently and presented to Messenger upon his retirement from one of the greatest teams ever assembled.
– The gladiators game: 50th anniversary of the Dragons versus Wests grand final and the iconic photograph that embodies rugby league.
While the NRL has chosen to use several of these, all of these games could have been used as strong marketing opportunities to get people through the gates, especially if there is a coordinated approach to providing entertaining pre-match celebrations as part of the festivities.
Furthermore, the NRL needs to be proactive with its scheduling to ensure that these types of games are scheduled first. A computer programmer in Canada isn’t going to be able to tell you of the importance of Dally Messenger to rugby league.
Heritage round matches, holiday event games and rivalry matches are the spine around which the rest of the season is then constructed.
Also, in some years you may find that a club has multiple milestones that can be celebrated.
In my opinion, just as rivalry round has been spread across a fortnight, heritage round could possibly be spread over two rounds, either consecutively or across the season.
Also, where applicable, a special replica trophy of the original cup could be offered up as a prize to the winner.
The following is a list of upcoming anniversaries that the NRL could potentially consider celebrating as part of its heritage marketing campaign:
In 2014:
– 75th and 90th anniversaries of the 1924 and 1939 Tigers versus Rabbitohs grand finals.
– A tribute to the twenties as the first season to be broadcast on radio with a replica of the Truth and Sportsmanship Cup as the prize.
– 30th anniversary of the 1984 Bulldogs versus Eels grand final – the ultimate battle of the Eighties.
– 25th anniversary of the 1989 Raiders versus Tigers grand final. The trophy leaves Sydney for the first time – battle of the League Legends Cup.
– 10th anniversary of the 2004 Bulldogs versus Roosters grand final, with a special dedication to Hasim El Masri’s point-scoring record.
– 80th anniversary of the Country Rugby League. A special game potentially featuring the Knights versus Raiders or Knights versus St George Illawarra
– New Zealand Warriors 20th season – first match was Warriors versus Broncos.
– North Queensland Cowboys 20th season – first match was Cowboys versus Bulldogs.
– 100th anniversary of the Rabbitoh’s third premiership in 1914. A tribute to World War I with a replica of the Hugh D. McIntosh Shield as the prize.
– 80th anniversary of the 1934 Wests versus Roosters grand final. A tribute to the thirties with a replica of the first Labor Daily Cup as the prize.
– 50th anniversary of the 1964 Dragons versus Tigers grand final. A tribute to the sixties.
– 40th anniversary of the 1974 Roosters versus Bulldogs grand final. A tribute to the seventies.
– 20th anniversary of the 1994 Raiders versus Bulldogs grand final. A tribute to the nineties and the Raiders team considered to be one of the best of all time.
– 15th anniversary of the 1999 Storm versus Dragons grand final. A tribute to one of the most controversial grand finals in history.
In 2015:
– 50th anniversary of the 1965 Dragons versus Rabbitohs grand final. The big one – 78,000 people crammed into and clinging from the SCG!
– 25th anniversary of the 1990 Raiders versus Panthers grand final. The Simply The Best Cup
– 100th anniversary of the 1915 Tigers’ undefeated season. With the Hugh D. McIntosh Shield replica as the prize and a dedication to NSWRL secretary Ted Larkin and all the diggers who died during the Gallipoli campaign.
– 40th anniversary of the 1975 Roosters versus Dragons grand final. Honouring the Roosters record 19 straight wins with a replica of Graeme Langland’s iconic White Boots as the prize
– 90th Anniversary of the 1925 Rabbitohs undefeated season. With the Truth and Sportsmanship Cup replica as the prize honouring the club’s string of seven premierships in eight years.
– 80th Anniversary of the 1935 Roosters undefeated champion side. With the Labor Daily Cup replica as the potential prize honouring the club which went undefeated from 1935 to 1937.
– 75th Anniversary of the 1940 Roosters versus Bulldogs grand final. With the Labor Daily Cup replica as the potential prize.
– 70th Anniversary of the 1945 Roosters versus Tigers grand final. With the Labor Daily Cup replica as the potential prize
– 30th Anniversary of the 1985 Bulldogs versus Dragons grand final. A tribute to the eighties
– 20th Anniversary of the 1995 Bulldogs versus Sea Eagles grand final.
– 10th Anniversary of the 2005 Wests Tigers versus Cowboys grand final.
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