We have had huge debate for the past few weeks about a banning of the ‘biff’ in State of Origin. NRL players, fans and legends have come out and said the game has gone soft, but all of them have a short sighted view.
They simply do not understand the bigger picture and the changing climate in which the game now operates.
Sponsors are the ones who pay the bills. The ability to pay staff and player wages doesn’t magically appear from thin air.
We must remember the NRL is no longer just a sport, but a business, and a billion dollar business at that.
As a result the game has corporate interests it must protect and it must counter a push from the AFL, which has dramatically cleaned up its code in recent years.
In junior participation numbers, rugby league is behind both AFL and football, and perhaps harshly continues to be levied with the ‘dangerous’ tag.
The debate surrounding the removal of the shoulder charge and the biff is similar to when the AFL outlawed the ‘shirtfront’ or sling tackle.
People said it was a softening of the game, but the line was drawn. If you made contact with the head, you paid the price. Suspensions of six, eight and 10 weeks were handed down, and the message was quickly received loud and clear.
Think of the last time you saw a punch thrown in the AFL. Barry Hall on Brent Staker probably comes to mind, maybe even Matt Scarlett on Hayden Ballantyne, if you get technical. But both offenders were dealt with by the tribunal and spent weeks on the sidelines.
Paul Gallen unleashes a barrage of punches and gets a week, and complains. The NRL needed to show his actions are not acceptable and if you step out of line, a punishment must be served.
The NRL is a billion dollar industry now. It no longer has a single obligation to players and fans, but it now must consider government and corporate interests.
Sponsors such as Holden and Telstra pay millions of dollars to be associated with the game, and through this they not only sign up for the good but the bad. By their association any hits to the NRL’s brand directly affect them.
With every image of Origin players splashed across the media exchanging fisticuffs comes a Holden State of Origin logo on each player’s jersey, a privilege the company has paid millions to own.
People were blowing up on talkback radio over the severity of the punishment levied at New South Wales forward James Tamou.
People said the $20,000 fine was too severe and that he should be treated like a regular citizen and remain innocent until proven guilty.
But Tamou is not a ‘regular citizen’. He is a player on around $400,000-$500,000 a season. $20,000 is a small price to pay considering he was four times over the legal limit, not to mention driving unlicensed, a crime for which he is a repeat offender.
It has been reported that Tamou was driving a sponsored vehicle at the time of his arrest, given to him by the Cowboys major sponsor, Toyota.
What some people do not consider is the fact sponsors of the Cowboys all have clauses written into their contracts that they can walk away if they feel the integrity of their brand has been blemished by the action of a club or player.
A major sponsor of an NRL side could be paying between $500,000 to $1 million per season and if that sponsor chooses to walk away as a result of an incident like Tamou then the club’s financial security is placed in jeopardy.
$20,000 is a fair punishment in my eyes.
You have to remember there are several clubs in the NRL without a major sponsor, and long gone are the days when leagues clubs were the main source of funds.
The most important thing to remember in all of this is who exactly pays the bills – sponsors.
The $500,000 plus a major sponsor pays per season is what goes towards paying the salary of players like Tamou.
Some clubs in the NRL have an inability to spend the full extent of their salary cap due to a lack of revenue, through sponsorship shortfall. It is imperative that clubs not only hold their sponsors but attract more lucrative deals year upon year.
This is why clubs are spending more and more time in the community, increasing the value of their brand. It is no longer all about getting the two points on the weekend. Good deeds on the field on Sunday will no longer paper over the bad deeds in Monday’s paper.
Sponsors are paying big dollars and don’t want their product being portrayed in the wrong light.
A clean image sells better and revenue doesn’t simply grow on trees.
Scandal affects the NRL in the same way it affects the share price of major organisations around the world. As a result, the value falls and potential investors shy away.
Look at Cricket Australia and Swimming Australia in recent times. For so long, blue chip stocks in the Australian sporting climate, they now both seemingly have fallen well down the pecking order in the sponsorship stakes.
Sure, Cricket Australia just signed a significant TV deal, but there is substantial discontent around the national side at the moment and the baggy green brand has certainly seen better days.
As sport becomes more corporate, it must be run like the billion dollar business it is.
This is why a banker such as NRL boss David Smith now sits in the top job. It’s no longer all about the rugby league, but corporate image, dollars and, most importantly, sense.
Follow Adam on Twitter at @adamsantarossa
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Imperious. Don't repeat yourself with the Haynes and carroll examples.Eligibility has been tightened since.Carrol's example wont happen again. It may well look that way,but look at it from another perspective the ACT has sufficient junior numbers to play separately from NSW in junor reps,thereby giving them an opportunity down the line ,to represent their country in the Junior Kangaroos. The more juniors to pick from,the more getting the opportunity to play in the national u16 and u18 championships. Whilst I understand as an AFL person,you consider it laughable and look for the negatives pertaining to rugby league is understandable,however the code has these pathways from u16 through to SOO and eventually the Kangaroos..Any eligibility issues have in between been of little consequence to rl fans and indeed in the case of SOO many casual rl fans. Of course AFL would like a similar pathway, there is only club no SOO,apart from the All Australian selection,playing to the cameras only. Whilst on occasions eligibility has been thrown up,people really don't get their jollies off,and watch he games regardless. The same can be applied to the International rl. But bear in mind the code has had a very long history in France,England,Australia,NZ ,Png<Wales even believe it or not Italy before it withered and has been reborn as was the situation in Serbia,shows the code has had an international presence . That has since been expanded with the Pacific Islands and other European countries. That many who play the game in the NRL and ESl come from various countries,either born,parents born ,or grandparents indicates cultural ties. Having watched world cups and seen Tonga V Samoa on TV ,their commitment to the country and the culture regardless of their ties was plainly obvious. There is SOO,and RLWC this year for the code,and people watching either live or on the box,will only be concerned with the event. The RLWC has the main event,womens RLWC,Police RLWC,Student RLWC,Wheelchair RLWC,all in the Uk/France. Enjoy.
Imperious
Guest
Yet ACT teams play representative junior Rugby League competitions separate from NSW. Can you explain that? Raffertys Rules. ts more than an oddity. Its a complete farce as is all RL eligibility (hence the Carroll reference). Hayne has played for Australia, Fiji and then Australian squad. Stuart lived in the ACT and Played for St Eddies RU. Can you explain Dugan (Tuggeranong) or Clyde (West Belconnen) who never visited Queanbeyan apart from on their way to the coast. Its just laughable...Papalii example just highlights the farce but it was the rule where allegedly they played their first enior game but somehow Inglis plays for Qld. Michael O'Connor lived in the ACT played RU and maybe the odd league game but somehow played for NSW SOO...
no surprises
Guest
They have to give tickets away in sydney anyway.. sell out.. thats hilarious.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I was responding to your last para.The prior is a no brainer,skill and courage wins out over the biff anytime,since I have been watching the game.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
It's a bit of an oddity imperious. The ACT plays in national junior comps. But the ACT or Canberra Region rugby league incorporates Canberra and the likes of Queanbeyan and Goulburn NSW . The juniors and indeed the seniors fall under the NSWRL banner.The Raiders and the Illawarra Steelers joined the NSWRL club comp in 1982. Stuart and Clyde and Furner from memory played for the Queanbeyan teams .I know Daley played for Junee originally, But the argument made, the Canberra Raiders when they first joined were invited to a NSWRL comp,not an ACT comp. Actually its' not where the players played their first senior game,else Papalli would not be allowed to play for Queensland. The Tony Carroll incident will not be revisited ,should anyone try likewise good luck.And comparing that with the Canberra Raiders under the NSWRLwhich has not changed since they joined the NSWRL in 82,is chalk and cheese.
Imperious
Guest
Mid week in winter with top flight RL cant miss on TV but the biffo lessens the expansionary aspects... Can anyone (Cross coder) explain to me if there is another code where there are recognized competitions in Australia where ACT players play for NSW and the team isn't called ACT/NSW. I have not got a straight answer on this from anyone?? In cricket players have to play in the State competitions in which they are based. A player playing in the ACT cricket competition cant play for NSW, Qld or any other and its possible that Haddin could go back and play for Queanbeyan and still represent NSW but he is NSW.. Its State of origin and Dugan, Stuart, Clyde etc were born, raised and played the first senior football in the ACT. Or is this another Tonie carroll with flag of convenience playing for Australia, NZ and then Australia again...
Johnno
Guest
kellet_1992 Some good points you make. I am gonna get fair dinky with you now, and this is just my opinion, but no BS time from Johnno okay. i think origin game 2, and all the cafufle after, has been the biggest story in the game since super league was in 1995 in my opinion. Bigger than $1 billion -Game 2 of origin 2013 has been a watershed moment in the sport of rugby league. Rugby league is now in rock and a hard place. It's now lost, and doesn't know where to go who please, has to bring in the money, has to deal with the PC brigade, and a pack hungry media for sensationalism, also the so called modern world standards. despite terrorism, and crime and all that, being bad. and violence on out streets, rugby league's is confused about it's identity and what sort of sport it's now supposed to be in 2013 and the future. -Sports like Ice hockey, and UFC, and boxing are big and contact sports, and market themselves to a niche. Maybe not ice hockey, but it doesn't shy away from the contact aspect, it has a live or die attitude, if it's watered down it knows it will die. rugby league has to try and make a decision how it wants to market itself. Ice hockey doesn't budge to the pc brigade, it is what it is. A rough and tough unashamedly contact sport. Rugby league is now trying to sanitise itself. But is trapped. Soccer has never had to rely on brutality to be an entertaining product, unless if your maybe Vinnie Jones. Where as rugby league, simple hit up's are not exciting, or high bombs. Rugby league's product has relied on skill being woven into hard physical intimidation, and big shoulder charges and being willing and bale to get square. You take that out, and just have it be purely based on the game, like ice hockey, it becomes a boring sport to watch. The sport is in limbo. Ice hockey is not as it is defined for what it is, and doesn't get bullied or budge for polictially correct people, or worrying what mothers apparently think. In fact lots of women lay ice hockey, and love to watch ice hockey, rugby league is the same, but rugby league is trying to appeal to so called audiences that don't want high octane physicality. It is lost, and trapped, and doesn't know where to go next in the modern world. Unlike ice hockey which has a clear market. People who like contact sports, same with UFC, or water polo.
Australian Rules
Guest
Agreed that Smith has decided the way that the administration wants the game to go forward. My point was that it's been met with uproar by most players, media and fans. As I said above, people should watch it for the quality of skill, hardness, running and tackling. Those are the selling points...not the biff.
seven dollers worth
Guest
NRL is a great way for companies to advertise, the games are just bonus entertainment. Better then watching the usual TV addvertisment
Cameron
Roar Guru
Didn't read the comments or anything else... So excuse me if anyone else has asked this question! Rugby League has been the same for quite a while. The reinforcement of the rules... only being re-applied now. People bought into the game before this so called rot so anything else is irrelevant. The game has grown with and without brawls in Rugby League. It is the do-gooders who are trying to appease every man and his god for saken dog that are ruining the game. The game is going soft. I am becoming less interested in League for multiple reasons... Our product is supposed to be the best in the world and yet the standard of refereeing is abysmal. I enjoy the physicality and contest of a League match. No more shoulder charge and biffs... Don't care if they are used or not but come on. harden UP! Rules continuously being changed, re-applied, slackened off, lop sided penalty counts, laying in the ruck, a pointless scrum, players continuously bringing the game into disrepute. Wow I just realised something... There is a lot that I don't like and not much that I do... At my wits end with the sport. But I struggle to walk away for I have so much passion for our game that it upsets me to see it going through all of this!
itsuckstobeyou
Roar Pro
At least be consistent oik. How is Papa putting blokes into orbit going to attract mums and kiddies and Revlon sponsorships? Go on. Get on your soap box. Tell us all how damaging this is to the image of the game. Tell us how he should have been sent off for scaring the mums. Tell us how Jamie Buhrer should have been marched too just for being in the vicinity of the incident. You and your mates are hypocrites. You want the refs to be tough, but not too tough. You don't want the game to be hard, but you don't want it to be soft. The NRL go out of their way to appease your gentle souls, yet nothing they do is good enough.You can't be pleased so the NRL should just ignore you.
Johnno
Guest
Agreed, and say good bye to $1 billion dollar TV deals, they will be dumped to the dust bins of history.
oikee
Guest
Maybe they can start a new segment, Papas bigshots on wannabee tough fans, staring itsuckstobe-meh. Papa put Burher into orbit, thats what i am talking about. Time for the real men to step up, the wannabees to bow out, like the barking dogs they are, moon doggy.
itsuckstobeyou
Roar Pro
Keep an eye out for the new "Brut Delicate Hits" segment on the Sunday Footy Show.
Gavin Cooper
Guest
I agree, even now many of the regular comp: games are so "soft" they are hardly worth watching. Soon, when its only a half full stadium, and the majority of spectators are the local chess club, the bleeding hearts might be happy.
itsuckstobeyou
Roar Pro
Has anyone ever been sin binned in lawn bowls for trying to break up a fight? It's a joke. When is it going to dawn on you mob that the refs didn't overreact? Daniel Anderson has come out and said it. This is their stance and they are not backing down. This isn't a one off refereeing error, it is the norm now. Stop blaming it on the refs because they did as instructed. It's the fault of you softcorks and the hysterical media. You just can't bring yourselves to admit that you've potentially ruined the game. "It wasn't me, the refs overreacted." Well it was you, the refs did exactly what you asked of them and now we're playing 11 a side touch footy. Nice one tossers.
Gavin Cooper
Guest
Sure Mat, as you point out, the effect the news has on the people who read them. And of course that makes those who write the news have influence. Ha Ha Ha, and their influence, often way out of proportion to both their knowledge and their agenda of and to the game of Rugby League. The game attracted the sponsers' when it was as it was, a great game which is physical and hard, and was at the time the sponsers' came on board. Also, the constant comparing of players off field actions with the way a game is played on the field is another form of sensationalism we can do without. An individuals actions are just that, and do not represent those that live in the same neighbourhood, vote for the same politician or work at the same place of work. It is an individual's actions,, their own. End of story. Oh except when it serves another's purpose, quite often a completely different agenda. Old proverb says " While watching left hand waving, hard to see right hand picking pocket". And going by the people's words and opinions of this specialised site, the game as it was before the bleeding hearts got the fingers on the pie was ok by us, the rugby league followers, those that go to a game when we can, watch it o the box when we cant get to a game. Those that really love the game..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The code under D Smith has already decided the way ahead AR.He is looking at the future ,and not glancing over his shoulders of what was let go in the past.. The game played at its level best,is just about the best on the planet,and yes that is a subjective view ,but I have come from two codes,soccer,then ru ,now rl. The code at junior level has grown,but nowhere near its potential in this country.You need a big base to underpin an expanding game. The guy who is now head of the NRL integrity unit brought NZRL back from its knees,to the healthy position it is today. It is a contact sport with all the contact you could want.Biff never was part of the rules,and SOO was allowed licence.It aint anymore'. All the code has to do , via the refs is give anyone who resorts to the fist 10 minutes and then judiciary to decide.No one who pushes and shoves should get 10 minutes,that is crazy.Tempers will fly,they still do in AFL,and they have tried to ban fighting for years. The refs if they had been up to the mark,should have started early by penalising the slowing down of the play the ball,which created frustration.Tate as a consequence would never have pushed back the defemding player,and dopy Merrin wouldn't have let fly with a flurry,and an even dopier Hodges would have rushed in a landed a couple. The body contact was hard enough,why the hell throw a punch when the team is down the tube on the scoreboard. Players play to the rules,if you have a sudden blood rush and punch,then be prepared for the results.It's in the rules,always has been. Players such as Gasnier,Raper,Coote,Pearce,Carney,ET,,Cronk,Thurston,Marshall,SBW T ,Campese,Stacey Jones et al,didn't need the biff,in their armoury,they used their skill.There is no skill ,in throwing a fist in football. Even Tallis who was hardly a shrinking violet,reckons it's time players pulled their heads in,and played the game as it should be played,as per the rule book.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
yes sirree Richard. Try http://rugbyleague2013.nrl.com/PDF/NRL-Rugby-League-2013.pdf 16,010 girls in formal comps,school and clubs.Page 17.
Johnno
Guest
Dayer, well said. With regards to UFC. UFC with regards to officiating in my view is 1st class. They enforce the rules of the sport very well, and are very firm with cheap shots, and breaking the rules, they don't muck about or tolerate any funny business.Rugby league refs,could take note on how to control a game by watching a few of the UFC refs. Long live rugby league it's changing a lot, and i support most changes, i have never liked spear tackles, eye gouges etc, and they have not been part of the game for years. Where rugby league is going, I don't know yet, but origin opened up a lot of untapped emotions about the sport to many fans, almost woke people out of there slumber.About debating what type of rugby league they want in the future. The game has cleaned up a lot, which is good but where it goes is anybody's guess.