Does Saturday arvo footy still have a place?

Fair enough. I don't mind 'speeding the game up' per se but I think more than that, they should avoid limiting the number of visibly contestable points during a match. Fans need to be surprised - ala chip kicks, grubbers, contestable changes of possession and so on. Those things create interest within the game itself. You know what I mean?

Sleiman, I could do a whole list oikee style, rugby league has been watered down, theyre hell bent on a "quick" game and trying to please everyone as Felix pointed out. Rugby League appears to be very insecure with itself.

I'm not sure if this is off topic but I get the feeling there is a distinct lack of contest within modern rugby league. I watched most of the rugby test last night and fell asleep at how boring and pedantic it all seemed. But that's just me. Nonetheless, I recognised that they still have interesting contests within the game itself - the scrum, kicking duels and so on. It seems to me that rugby league is missing out by only having the 'tackle' as the most visible contest. Everything else - striking at the play the ball, the scrum, kicking duels for field position - has been watered down and offers no real spectacle.

To solve the argument - what have been the crowds and TV ratings for Saturday afternoon games in the last few years?

They should never have stopped having saturday arvo games. The epl manages to actually hold onto to it's traditions and have the majority of it's fixtures at 3pm saturday *Shock Horror*

:)

I was being sarcastic, fans interest has always dropped around Origin, this is just another reactionary response, something else to blame other than the real issues, scheduling, proactive leadership etc. Broncos have always had very good crowds regardless of day/time. As for them being flogged on Friday nights, Ch9 made it clear they paid the big bucks, they do what they want, what did the Commision say? Nothing. Sat arvo games ARLC? Cool, just don't try and church it up as the solution to low crowds and tv audiences.

Me too. Carn the Jets

I can tell you categorically that Saturday afternoon games up here in Brisbane would be huge. I live about 1km as the crow flies from Suncorp, I look out over the ground to the city and it's about 22 degrees, bugger all clouds in the sky and a very nice gentle breeze. If Broncos were taking on St George, Bulldogs, Melbourne or Warriors the place would get 35k+ easily this time of the year. But the stupid administrators want to flog the Broncos on Friday nights and get the dropkick crowd and television rights instead of the family base who spend GOOD cash at games, not just money on booze. In response to Matt, mate the game is cannibalising itself by trying to be everything to everyone. They show highlight reels of origin punch ups then sin bin a bloke for getting hit in the face. I don't want to see it descend into common thuggery, but banning a shoulder charge in a contact sport where securing the ball isn't a priority is a bloody joke.

AFL doesn't seem to be having any problems staging Saturday afternoon games. Crowds continue to go to AFL on Saturday afternoons. I'm sure people in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide are also busy with mowing lawns, groceries, junior sport etc. Here is an idea on how Saturday afternoons could work. In the first 5 rounds, there is daylight saving, with QLD been an hour behind. So in those rounds, have games at 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm AEDST. The 9pm games will come from QLD. Maybe take a game to Perth for that 9pm timeslot After daylight savings ends, change the match times to 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. The 4pm Saturday arvo game should be hosted and alternated between to 2 NRL teams, NZ warriors and Melbourne Storm. NZ Warriors due to the fact that NZ is 2 hours ahead (6pm) and Melbourne Storm, due to the fact with what I said earlier about crowds going to AFL on Saturday arvos. People in Melbourne don't seem to have a problem attending a sporting event on a Saturday afternoon. Don't stage Saturday arvo games when theres a public holiday like Easter, Queens Birthday or ANZAC day, or during origin time where there is rounds with teams having a bye. It can work Don't easily dismiss it. BTW: 3pm Saturday afternoon is too early.

Saturday afternoons with big artie and bomber peard were a treat . Loved the ABC coverage , including sideline microphones that seemed to pick up every "F-bomb " uttered on the field of play . I recall peard once describing one particularly tough player as "harder than a Jewish landlord" , he would be sacked for that in 2013. Sadly , like the moose mossop and controversy corner , part of a bygone era .

You can't tell em Matt, Smithy and his followers are on a mission, kill the dinosaurs/attract more mums. Saturday arvo games that'll bring the crowds/viewers back, not.

Talk about rose coloured glasses! In the 70's where shops closed early and most people didn't work weekends, the crowds were terrible as were the ratings. In 2013.............. it will be a disaster.

Saturday arvo games are not going to do anything. Growds are down cause the NRL are trying to market the game as a clean all boys school thing. Well it's not and never will, you can ban the shoulder charge and the fighting and any heavy contact really. They can try as much as they want it to it isn't going to bring more people to the game what it's doing is making the real fans turn away from the game they love. And I remember a few of you boys on here saying to get rid of all that stuff and then now you complain cause people are losing Interest. You are killing the game.

It sure does, which is why I'll be on the Henson Park hill this arvo.

Saturday could be a better sell than Monday night. The game needs to work out where it has gone terrible wrong this year. I have a small list with everything that the game has done wrong, and why crowds and veiwers and parents are dropping faster than a lead balloon off the side of the titanic.

I'll be watching...particularly if it includes Warren Boland calling a match at North Sydney Oval!

agree Luke, its time to test those theories. saturday afternoon professional sport works in many other countries esp englsih football and ameican college football where crowds of 100k plus are seen on saturday afternoons