The NRL Commission needs to get its act together

How can odd Greenberg get up and say the referees, video referees, and touch judges made a shocking decision on the 7thtackle incident in the Cronulla v Nth Qld. game, when you examine his explanation of the "Ben Barba affair". Theirs may have been unpremeditated but was his?

So are you going to actually tell anybody what they've done thats a positive or are you just going to rip on everyone else? On the basis of your post they've still done bugger all

Conversely imagine if the AFL had an Origin series that drew 2.5m cap city per game and millions more in regionals over 3 matches.And the constant sellout crowds.FHS stop comparing the offerings of rugby league to that of your club only competition code. There is a RLWC in October and will be every 4 years,so its's a nonsense to even consider SOO then. As if the admin are going to move something like SOO, that maximises Tv ratings and income for the code, in view of when it is played,and the exposure it receives in 97 countries. Interest would be diluted after the G/F,and playing stand alone on the weekend ,gives other codes open slather for unutilised time slots ,because NRL games are not played. You are going against the Tv stations,the NRL admin,the sponsors ,the advertisers,and people like Cameron Smith and viewers who maximise SOO mid week not the weekends.. The true national comp,that has no team domiciled in Tasmania please. You continue to compare AFL TV ratings which include mainland teams including WA and SA.The NRL does not have that luxury currently,so the real comparison is not a real test , by comparing apples with apples. Maybe the ARLC should plop a couple of teams in those states and fill them, with untried teenagers.oh wait. One of the very reasons SOO is on Wednesday night,it does not have to compete with other codes for attention,whereas a weekend would.I mean SA got 77,000 in SOO 2 from memory,that for a state with no NRL team is pretty damn good.

Epiquin, the emergence of a true national comp was the major *reason* that interest from fans and players waned. AFL Origin was suddenly no longer as relevant or important as it used to be. Now, I'm not saying the same applies to the NRL Origin - it's way bigger and more successful. But an ordinary wknd of a domestic competition *can* be as big, if not bigger, than a Rep fixture. Just look at AFL Round 15 (from 2 weeks ago) during the NRL Origin period: - An aggregate attendance of over 371k for 9 AFL games; - 1.2M viewers for Friday night; - 1M+ for Sat night (same night as Lions v Wallabies) - + 7 other AFL games. Imagine if the NRL could get these figures AND have a stand alone Origin period.

+1 what else is there to say?

bravo. they have surveys for that kind of thing. scientifically -generated surveys and things of that nature. There is a reason for that -- and its because in that method you can be far more sure of the results and what they mean. On a forum like this, lets say "myself" is compromised - because I secretly loathe rugby league, or as a kid I had my toe's stepped on by teachers, and I have a thing against any authority figure (like refs), or I am trolling, or whatever. Maybe I am answering questions from the source article in the wrong way - maybe I am not answering questions as posed and making up my own things to answer, like a deceitful politician They would never come to a forum to get ideas. Like, ever.

I take issue with your post, Jo. How very irresponsible. And ignorant. Why is your opinion so important? I am tired of all the 'I am entitled! ---- because I am entitled!" *There are no kings in the ARLC, Jo, only servants of the game. * You have an opinion, we all do - that is your right. But the *only* thing that holds weight or matters critically is whether that opinion will gaincredit or respect. Now, I do sympathize with all the people up in arms about things. You'd be forgiven to thinking this is how its meant to be. RL fans have been rubbed raw to the point of being over-sensitive with "how their sport is going" Have you ever tried watching your sport - and I mean 'just watching it'? Turn off the fools in the ch9 com box. foxtel guys are not as inane. though they cross lines too. Just watch the sport. Don't read the papers and just enjoy your game again -- i say this because of what I am about to say. Think of it as an exercise to show you. And now instead of watching the sport and enjoying it -- we all think its our job to "help the sport out" and the reasoning is "i'm a fan, I make it tick to some extent, so my opinion is important." In your version of events you are the judge, jury and executioner. Let me tell you something -- the sport is important - to the sport. The ARLC is looking after that. The fans are important, but they are not the sport. You've got to come and see what follows. As a fan you are but one mere part of the wheel. During super league and all that followed, you, as a fan have been incorrectly elevated above all and sundry, mainly to get you glued to newspapers firstly, then secondly to rub you raw until you barely knew which way was up. They pushed it hard in those years to get you to go to a new competition; then in the following years they never stopped manipulating as the attitude switched to one which blamed and persecuted people for being league supporters. They used reporting as a leveraging tool. They used to the fans against the sport. Now ch9 commentators think commenting on the sport over the game is the way to go. I am sick of it, we all are. Its ruining the game. Not fans, not the happenings on the field --- the commentating. I am glad for the ARLC to be taking time to 1. sort out their structure in the nrl. 2 see to the surrounding aspects of the game and its competitions 3 gain money to invest in the sport. 4 Protect players financially, physically and mentally, maybe even spiritually. As a fan, you've been missing out - because you have failed to realize there are some fantastic games, the game is going well, and much good work is being done. We are at the foundations right now, Jo. Soon they will be moving higher.

its not the commissions job to pick up your mood, mate its your job however (with the help of others) to discern whats bull and what is not. and I think you're buying into the whole pressure of ridicule from various quarters. I also think you're a victim of the expectation-inflation gap thrust upon you by those people. you know the whole "leagues the greatest sport in the world and we have a billion dollars and crowds are up and ratings are up - and all this despite the fact the arlc are imbeciles and they got city country wrong! we are doomed! and the football has turned to rubbish!!!! " You just got to go out where and enjoy the sport and quit listening in to all the bull dust commentary surrounding the sport. I challenge ANYONE to go watch souths v warriors and not like rugby league. When one just goes and watches the game without all the mind-f-ing and all the nonsense, you enjoy it with 2 decent teams playing. This is the first thing the arlc got through the head of the various papers - they won't be bullied. Same with Hadley - the ARLC does not dance to tunes of commentators, radio broadcasters, ect. In time, its fans will largely follow. As far as we are all concerned, it gets back to the ->Right<- you have to be able to go and watch any game of league you like and enjoy it without shadows of expectation inflation (or depreciation) thrust onto you, changing your perception. I truly think many are giving into the mind screw.

we know you're a decent guy and all djcooper, its just the way the article was presented. Not in you so much, no, of course not, thanks for the article....but in the views being ushered out there by those beyond us in the information game who look to put down league when frankly we just want the truth and neutral reporting. I am not even a fan of super positive/awesome-cool reporting. we just need the truth. very much just like yourself and ourselves.

That's the thing. Market research has already started. That's why they make the decisions they make. They don't come to these forums to see what the malcontents are saying!

The other reasons were that there was little interest from players and fans and the quality wasn't great.

djcooper, picking up on your presumption of higher authority for Epiquin, how do you know the majority of league fans are disillusioned? But thanks for speaking up for all of us anyway. Whether you are right or not, the fact is the NRL cannot be run like a popularity contest. "Oh, you would prefer there were shoulder charges? Ok we will change the rules back". Never mind the mounting medical evidence that points to the massive risk of head injuries to players. I assume you are happy to stand in the dock with the CEO when he is taken to court and sued for damages by a player with brain damage? Or when the CEO is facing criminal charges for failing to provide a safe work place? Make sure you wear a nice suit, the juries like that apparently. The same popularity rule applies to the biff. The Commission has a responsibility to the safety of the players and to the sponsors, not just the blood thirsty spectators. It is real responsibility, a legal responsibility that can lead to jail sentences for the management of the NRL if they fail to provide a safe workplace. Putting that aside and the fact that I am incredulous that anyone thinks it is OK to have the leading participants in the sport slug it out in full view of the entire world, with no punishment. The rule of using the sin bin for foul play was always in place. The NRL merely removed any need for the interpretation of when it applied to punches. It is not changing the rules, just clarifying how they should be interpreted.

F.I. Have to respond to your points which I happen to disagree emphatically. The integrity unit was/is involved in the Teo,Meninga,Feguson,Burgess,Tamou and even Wolfman situations.Under the previous admin,we would get the clubs involved trying to water things down and then Gallopn trying to convince everyone all under control.The Stewart case a classic.The unit thoroughly investigates and acts when all facts are known. If you bring in a rule eg head high that means neck and above full stop.Shoulder charges mean just that ,the use of the shoulder.Don't blame the admin,blame some refs who can't tell whether a player is using his hands in a tackle or his shoulder.Bleeding 20/20 vision on a 10 year old, would see it. The ref should have pinged Tony Williams on sunday ,not the ARLC FHS. A lot of research was done by the ARLC with the sub committee on the effects of a shoulder charge to the head,the G forces etc .The medical opinion was pretty well unanimous ,yet we are all doctors apparently.Are we not supposed to take every opportunity when we can to ensure the players'welfare. Kneejerk reaction LOL.Punching is not in the rule book,never was.The best players I have seen Rogers,ET,Thurston. and even the Gasniers,Rapers,Pearces never needed to use it. Gallen receieved a phone call from a principal of a Hunter Valley school,where kids were involved in a punchup ,telling the teacher its in SOO,so its OK.Gallen admitted it wasn't a good look.Cam Smith admitted it's not a good look. Then we get David smith stating he gets a phone call from the head of a high school sporting group of 100 schools,stating unless something is done,he will recommend not having rl in the sporting curriculum. Just about the best game of football this year has been the souths v warriors game in Perth.No punches,but one of the fastes toughest,enthralling games I have seen.That is what the code is all about,and that is the reasoning, why I switched Crosscoding (sic) to rl. The salary cap has been set and clubs are happy with it ATM as it stands.The problem has been the inflexibilty of 2nd tier players,when a team has monumental numbers of injuries.Schubert had too much control,and that is being watered down. The trouble is you can't change it mid season,because some clubs would complain they didn't get the advantage earlier. You pretty well summed it up "I don't disagree they are trying to do the right thing overall".Isn't that what we all want,instead of this constant whining that rl fans including myself are capable of,day in day out. I finish by saying ask yourself why the code for period from the the SL to Gallop era,the code in this country in many case is not growing as it should,or even marking time.This had to change.

If the NRL had an off-shoot of the media team that monitored the opinions of fans through NRL Nation and sites like theroar, rugbyleagueplanet and various fb pages then I think they would have solved most issues by now. Because I solve these issues every day, and so does nearly every single person who comments and suggests ideas. But yet we have these imbeciles in charge that do not listen to the fans or want to improve the situation. The commissioners are the Kings that when told, "The peasants are revolting your Majesty", they'd reply, "They certainly are!", to then be guillotined.

football_illiterate: you forgot to add the following "all that acording to me and I have a bee in my bonnet" Says who!? In your opinion? Is that your final effort to "balance" the issue? All the points were according to you. See, what needs to happen is the DT needs to butt out of rugby league. Even so, you are attributing a level of control they dont have over rugby league to their paper - they don't make the rules - the NRL does, and the rules came about in order to protect players *after an actual on field incident* and NOT a DT report! See - its you who has been clouded by the media. And many like you. ___ BTW the ARLC already remedied this, by not jumping up and down to the DT tune like Gallop. Thats why we have all the 'nrl is dodgy' stories each week - they created it for your imagination to lap up after getting your money for their adverts. In time you will come to see that the ARLC is its own boss.

No problem Epicquin. DJ - I am by no means saying that as human beings the guys on the ARLC and in NRL management are infallible. But you seem to be holding them to the standard of being perfect while at the same time rapping them for it. Its deplorable to me - because the moment anyone gets any money your long lost cousins show up, dont they. Suddenly you want to hand out all the money and under cut methods RL uses to make money (schedule, origin, ect) Meanwhile you're on here saying nothing is good enough. You don't want evidence for what you asked - you want to rob a bank. __ The ARLC seem to be going over a loooong list of things to remedy. There is only so many days a year and only so much time in the day. They have spent time getting the structure in place, and secured money to invest in the game. Surely you are familiar with the concept of not building your house on sand? You know, those things are more massive than you may think. Why would anyone for instance go and "try" harder and "throw money at new toothbrushes" for brusing teeth when they are using the wrong technique! I am not going to bother correcting anything else. I labelled it cynical because it was so much so, the basis for which you leveled your criticism was no longer present. You're not the only one doing, and you are a product of your environment (negative newspaper, tv station, commentators) Its deplorable because you are an insurgent to the intellect. Much like Ray you have come to sew discord.

Johnno, one of the reasons for the scrapping of the AFL SoO was that the commission were going into a national competition and thinking long term they would have felt that the markets they were wanting to secure in the national footprint, may, over time feel excluded if the ultimate events of the year excluded their states rather than being the final series which theoretically could include any state. This will be the situation the NRL finds itself in if it does become national with the most important matches featuring two states, but excluding any others. As the saying goes 'you can't have your cake and eat it too' which, strangely enough in Romanian has been translated as 'you can't reconcile the goat and the cabbage'.

I agree with Epiquin's initial msg. The Commission was able to get over 1billion for 5 years, that is very very impressive and by no means an easy thing to accomplish. The Commission was also able to get out of Channel 9's first and last rights agreement, which is another major issue that many people tend to ignore. I for one can put up with 5 years of a terrible schedule and delayed telecasts if we are able to have all this money and have the freedom to decide our own fate. I believe the real test will come for the Commission in 5 years time when we have to negotiate the new TV deal. Those in the Commission are smart people and do know what the mob want and issues such as scheduling/delayed telecasts/expansion/etc will be fixed. I think it is just a matter of biding our time and honoring our current agreements. When the new negotiations come around I hope the schedule can look something like this:- *Cut the rounds down to 24 Premiership rounds (Should take care of player burnout as season should start and finish the same as it is now). *Add 2 extra teams (The extra fixture each round should make up for the 2 lost rounds for TV content). *Cut the season in 2. So start with 12 Premiership rounds, suspend the competition for 3 straight weeks for SOO on Saturday nights, then commence the following 12 Premiership rounds. *During the 3 SOO weekends, other rep games could be played (Tonga V Samoa/Fiji V PNG/Cook Islands), City V Country over 3 weekends played in the bush, potential QLD City V Country also played in the bush, Under 20s SOO. Personally not a fan of a Kiwi Origin series or knockout comp.

Hmmm you're sort of right... The commission is there to improve marketshare and profitability. Part of this is addressing consumer demand. That's ALL consumers. Not asking every individual fan for their conflicting opinions and changing the whole organisation to suit them. You can't say "the whole commission is a complete failure because it doesn't address my specific needs and vision."