The NRL culture has changed significantly in the last 12 months since David Gallop’s departure as CEO.
We have seen the NRL suffer badly from drug scandals, assault charges as well as loss of physicality in the game with the banning of the shoulder charge and, just recently, the biff.
All this has come at the hands of the eagerly awaited NRL commission and the new CEO Dave Smith.
As I look back at the Gallop era, I believe he was very successful in the decade he was in charge for. Gallop started when the game was in complete turmoil.
There was the salary cap scandal at the Bulldogs in 2002; he brought in the golden point rule in 2003; was a cool-head in the Bulldogs 2004 sexual assault scandal; added a 16th team into the competition in 2005 (Gold Coast Titans); returned Monday night football in 2007; introduced the two man referee system in 2009; backed the Indigenous All Stars game and demonstrated good authority in the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal in 2010; and his last finger-print in the game was the change in the finals system in 2011.
However, despite Gallop’s many inclusions to the game, his decisions weren’t always the best ones. For example prior to Melbourne’s 2011 minor premiership presentation he likened Melbourne fans to terrorists, which certainly did not delight the Storm fans.
Although he made mistakes sometimes (he’s only human after all), he conducted himself professionally throughout the tough times and the good, laying a perfect platform for rugby league in the future.
However this platform seems to have been dismantled since his shock sacking in June of 2012. Rugby league has taken a turn for the worse as the NRL Commission’s decisions are turning the sport into a soccer-like code.
The only good thing they have done in my books is that you can now watch games live on your mobile. However the TV rights deal was still not a success at all.
Why wasn’t it a success? Well, if I had been in charge I would have made all games live. I am constantly sick of excruciatingly waiting for my team to play at either 9:30pm on Friday or 4pm on Sunday and then when it is on I have to sit through five minute commercials while having to listen to bloody Ray Hadley.
When the new TV rights deal came out, I presumed they would finally take the opportunity and show more games live, especially considering it was a $1billion deal. Instead they decided to explore with new camera angles.
How pointless are they! Except for spidercam or the ‘foxcopter’; they are terrible! Ref cam is only good when refs talk to players and the corner post camera, well that does nothing to my viewing! A waste by the Commission, I say.
Now to Dave Smith. Brought in as the new CEO, his first agenda didn’t come until just before season’s start. ASADA decided to invade the Cronulla Sharks and various other clubs.
They finally started to investigate the Sharks a day out from the season opener. Just over 48 hours before their first match of the year, Sharks’ coach Shane Flanagan was stood down. Coach-less, the Sharks miraculously defeated the Titans 12-10 at home. A week later, club chairman Damian Irvine joined Flanagan when he was forced to leave the Sharks as well.
During this time, Smith did little to contribute to this scandal. The manner in which he handled the Cronulla investigations was simply atrocious, as he left the club out in the cold to defend themselves.
With the investigations dying down in the headlines, the Sharks seem to be continuing on track to finals footy in September.
To Sharks supporters, I say pat yourselves on the back. Amidst these truly tough times, you have stood strong with your club and that is why they are in the top eight at the moment.
Dave Smith and the NRL Commission are also robbing rugby league of its identity. The unique shoulder charge, as well as the iconic ‘biff’ associated with rugby league have all been scraped. This is an absolute and utter disgrace.
The only thing Smith and the Commission care about are the players’ safety, which is fair I guess, but what drives rugby league as the best sport in the world? Players? No. The fans. They are the one’s that matter!
No fans, no game. It’s that simple.
The Commission should have asked what the fans wanted. For player safety, when players sign their contracts, when young players register for their local footy team, they know what they are getting themselves into and that’s why they join – because they love it.
It’s like the army taking out weapons because it’s too dangerous. It’s pathetic!
Stripping the shoulder charge, I might understand, but the biff is one step too far. How good were the punches by Paul Gallen in Origin (this is coming from a Queenslander) or even the Brookvale brawl? Those are what fans are going to remember.
These reasons are why rugby league’s future is on a downward spiral. The manner in which the NRL Commission and especially CEO Dave Smith go about conflicts within the NRL is weak.
They should toughen up and grow a pair!
Gavin Cooper
Guest
Looking ahead with an eye on the past, lets leave this "new modern " game to the high heels blue rinse bleeding heart set, and start over again. With the local parks and the guys from the local pub organising their own teams. LIKE WE USED TO DO. A great comraderie grew and those that wanted their footy THEIR way, got what we wanted. Who gives a D^&*m what the destroyers have in mind Now that my tongue Is free, remember the super league fiasco, "speed the game up"" was one of their catch cries, among a lot of other unwanted crap, that ended with a complete shakeup. People that loved "their" rugby league didn't want their game "quickened" or most of the other stuff the destroyers had n mind. We got our game back. So buckle up boys, here come the destroyers again. Sharpen the axe
Bear
Guest
Dear Mr Smith cleaning off field indiscressions is a must for the game to have respect and humanity.The treatment of woman and substance abuse is a disgrace by repeat offenders,some currently playing origin.But defended by sports shows bias Mr Tallis.As a parent be a gentleman,but then again a lot of co workers have prior convictions,we in regular society have a duty to raise a future generation with good morals.
Johnno
Guest
League now parallels politics in the fact that it reacts immediately to minor public opinion and is mutating into something we don't recognize anymore. League was always a tough game played by tough men; soon women will be playing on the wings and will stop and play the ball when tipped. God help the bloke who says "Sissy"
Gavin Cooper
Guest
Wow Rookie, yu sure managed to ruffle a few feathers here. Ha Ha Ha and I do mean feathers, the barnyard chooks should go back to their feather coated tidliwinks. I regret our game looks like becoming a non full contact sport, guess that will make the suits happy.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
David Smith clamps down hard immediately on offfield issues,not with a feather and not influenced by NRL clubs seeking to soften the penalties. Theshoulder charge being banned,didn't notice its absence one iota.The biff will still happen ,but at least players will receive 10 minutes to cool off and possibly cost their team a win. Smith is showing he cares about the games image and is a doer. The code has a strategic plan,under Gallop's 10 year tenure I doubt he know what a SP was.One rarely heard Gallop get on the front foot and promote the code.Smith backs himself and the code to the hilt. Under Smith the code now keeps regular contact with govt officials and reps,hence the reason Panthers got Fed Govt funding for their Sport's Complex. Gallop was slow off the mark,when he found a competitor was able to secure funding in Wagga Wagga,then and only then he finally reacted. Smith is getting powerful people behind him such as Greenberg and Dwyer with more to come. A game is only as good as its front office. And Smith has no ties to a media organisation,looking over his shoulder. Gallop appeared to care little about the International game,the current Chairman is a former rep,and Smiths knows the importance of Internationals being a Welsh ru follower. Smith has a background in the SAS defusing bombs,think he has a bit of mettle dealing with the hyenas of the press,the NRL clubs and miscreant footballers.
p.Tah
Guest
True :)
hutch
Guest
Agree, smith has been fantastic so far. Ridiculous article! Rugby league has never been bigger!
solly
Guest
"Stripping the shoulder charge, I might understand, but the biff is one step too far." Probably one of the more inane comments I have ever read on Roar. I'm starting to wonder whether people write these articles because they can and not because they believe it.
Australian Rules
Guest
silly article.
Dr NRL
Guest
The fans are indeed the lifeblood of the game, but it reads as if you advocate an 80 minute brawl. Punching and fighting do not make rugby league iconic, the football does. As for the referees, they are measurably worse than ever. Unfortunately this includes the single easiest job on the planet - the video referee. Anderson was supposed to be the Messiah. He's proven to just a naughty boy. He is reactive, mostly wrong in his changes, and the one good one - hands on the ball in the ruck - is not only an obvious amendment, but is being increasingly forgotten by the referees who just don't know the rules. The shoulder charge ban was an awful decision, and totally missed the point - head contact is te issue, not the shoulder charge, and should be dealt with harshly. Finally, after a slow primarily stifled by the drugs scandal and allowing guys like Anderson some leeway (big mistake), he has recovered from the city- country error and made shrewd changes to management, while takimg a firm lead on misdemeanours. He is beginning to shape the game in a very positive way.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Compared to under Harrigan they are.
Dayer
Guest
Get over it "the rookie" DS is doing a good job so far and will later do a GREAT job, it's only the first year. Vote ONE for DS.
p.Tah
Guest
I was with you right up until the point where you said reffing standards over the last year have been fantastic.
Marldon
Guest
Smithy is the best thing to happen to the NRL in over a decade. He has achieved more in 6 short months than muppet Gallop achieved in 10 long years. Give credit where credit is due. He is setting RL up in this country to go from strength to strength. He has put an organisation in place to handle every aspect of the game in a professional manner and he is dealing with unprofessional thugs in a way that is appropriate. The appointment of Anderson has been a revelation. The improvement in reffing standards this year over last has been fantastic. Smith gets my vote and I don’t care how much he knows about RL, he is bright and he knows business and that is what the NRL has desperately needed. Well Done Dave Smith.