The NRL has handed football back to the fans with Saturday and Sunday afternoon rugby league making a major comeback as part of the 2014 draw released on Wednesday.
Saturday afternoon footy is back – by popular demand – and the game’s governing body has scheduled more Sunday afternoon blockbusters as part of their aim to reinvigorate crowds and television ratings.
Crowds fell by around three per cent this season and TV ratings dropped by around six per cent.
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said the NRL had taken the interests of everyone involved in the game into account in devising the new draw.
“It’s been clear over a number of years that players, fans and clubs are looking for more daytime football,” NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said.
Saturday 3pm kick-offs will go ahead in rounds five, eight, 10, 19 and 20 of the first 20 rounds that were released in full.
Sunday afternoon games will be a regular feature at Brookvale Oval, Leichhardt Oval and Hunter Stadium.
Greenberg stressed the NRL would continue to schedule games at suburban venues in the future, but also emphasised the need to maximise attendances by placing more games at bigger venues like Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
“There’s certainly a place for suburban venues and I think there always will be,” Greenberg said.
“I think that’s clear within the draw and I think it’s still clear in the future, but I think it’s a right game, right venue strategy.
“If you’ve got ability to draw big crowds and big Sydney blockbusters together what we’re saying to clubs is ‘lets try to find a way to maximise those attendance opportunities and work together’.
“We should be aiming high, we should be reaching for the stars and trying to get as many people to our games as possible.
“To do that you have to play in the biggest venues and you have to provide the best facilities.”
But it is clear broadcasters Channel Nine and Fox Sports have also had a major say in the scheduling, with Brisbane playing on Friday night for the first 10 rounds of the season.
It was a reflection, Greenberg said, of how well the Broncos rated on TV.
He said the NRL had consulted players and the NSW and Queensland coaches about shortening the Origin period to two weeks between games rather than the current three.
“There wasn’t an appetite to support that,” Greenberg said.
“Primarily that appetite wasn’t there because they felt the spectacle of Origin, as good as it is, requires that period of time between games in order to bring themselves back up to that level.
“We’ve agreed to re-look at that.”
He confirmed there was a possibility of Manly taking an NRL game to China next year, but said it was not yet commercially viable and needed more financial backing to happen.
Other features of the draw include two games at the SCG and the Warriors playing their first three matches at Auckland’s Eden Park in what could be a permanent move in seasons to come.
The season starts on March 6 with an ANZ Stadium clash between South Sydney and Sydney Roosters, one of a handful of Thursday night games.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I explained the removal of the Bears played into the hands of ru and the AFL,and people drifted over to those codes.i have met such people ,during my marketing days. Bringing back the Bears circa 2017/8 ,would assist in some way (despite a CC domicile),in revitalising the code on the north Shore. There are more than a handful of Bears supporters young and old,who would love to see a couple of matches under the Moreton Bay figs at NSO.The demographics for quite a few BTW are middle mgt to CEOs. I suggest that whilst the Bears are sweating on getting back,both ru and AFL would be hoping they don't. At junior level Clipper rl is also growing in Melbourne and Perth and west Sydney ,and who knows the lie of the land in those cities a generation down the line.Perhaps 2 Melbourne NRL teams? Certainly a Perth team.The NRL now has the financial resources to also as the AFL is doing,pour money into grassroots development. The opportunities for grassroots rl development are huge as many states such as Vic/SA/Tas /WA have not really been pushed at this stage.Getting access via the inclusion of Touch football played in large numbers in all states,is a smart move. Getting over 14,000 in Hobart for a trial Storm v Broncos a couple of years back ,shows there is also interest there. As far as demographics go for the West of Sydney,the last report I had the residents had the largest disposable income of Sydney. Whilst there are battlers,there are also large numbers not so. Soccer has always had the junior numbers.it has done so where I live for ages,yet NRL crowds here have tripled compared to 1970.
clipper
Guest
CC, I agree with you that there will be no drift from league fans to AFL, although there will be a few that will follow both sports, and I also agree that if the AFL thought that signing Falou would bring Polynesians flocking over, there would've been sadly mistaken. The NRL faces no threat from the AFL out west, at least for a generation - their main rival is Football, even if it only clashes a few weeks every year, but at junior level it is really growing. The difference is, of course, to do with the demographics, and easily explains the drift from league with the removal of North Sydney. The same wouldn't happen out west.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Yeah, nearly fell over my cornflakes when I saw QBE advertising at RLWC games because they are staunch supporters of AFL/other sports bar rugby league. They even sponsor a lot of union in the UK so they are very much the yuppie company when it comes to sponsorship of sport.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The head of QBE is a devout AFL fan,and has been very supportive of that club from day one.I note you stated mid 90s.the very time SL came into being.They will be lucky to make $500,000 this year,after an exceptional year. All sporting club s are supposedly non profit.Even the Broncos are privately owned contribute large sums to junior sport and the community.And even AFL clubs are quite happy to have poker machines,but you hear little about it in Sydney. I am not rubbishing the expansion teams,i am responding to you point about credibility as you described them.GWS has to make a choice either they are a greater western Sydney team or they are an ACT team.The notion GWS(Sydney) has the ACT in its environs is ludicrous.And that is where the credibility factor takes a hit. I am also responding to your notion that rl fans will drift to these AFL teams ,if they don't get a stack of live FTA games.My point in response was,Swans have been here for decades.had a SL war for a leg up losing Nth Sydney and merges where fans did drift. They are not likely to drift if they have a team.You appear not to understand rl fans and their team passion. If you read and heard the comments by AFL fans and media ,about the Storm rubbishing them over the years,you get the picture.We even on rl threads get the usual two or three who continue with Storm bashing and the demographic crapola.They were also to the fore when the RLWC was on. Players from scratch,yeah kids to start and then the benefit of the draft.If I am misinformed ,then there is a whole swag of AFL fans on Big Footy,who believe they get thrashed regularly.Leading at half time,is not full time.Rl teams have led at half time and been thrashed in the 2nd half.That is just spin my friend.I must use that next time for my team.Sheedy uses it,we were in in up til half time.Fans are concerned about full time. The NRL clubs would IMO never allow an expansion club to start up with kids,steal a high profile AFL star,and spend $20m pa underpinning same. I have already quoted you on your NRL TV estimates,the track record is not a good look.
bbt
Guest
The Raiders should get more home games early in the season due to the Canberra winter.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Well QBE has been sponsoring the Swans for 25+ years so that's hardly all been at the pointy end..QBE supported them in good and bad times…members/crowds fluctuate but since mid-90s (like the last 20 years) even a very poor Swans crowds/membership is comparable to an NRL team on a good day/season..and profit? …AFL clubs, most of them, are non-profit organisations by design..they spend what they earn on players, coaches, community programs etc…some larger clubs (Pies, Crows, WCoast) make profits but even these clubs are not about profits…rubbish the other expansion teams if you want but Swans are doing fine… Suns & Giants are coming together nicely…both are on a slow boil…bringing together two new 38 player squads from scratch is no mean feat…both clubs are tracking very well… you are misinformed to say Giants get 'regularly thrashed' - they genuinely lead in several game against top teams, and they improved on many measures (e.g. quarters won) but they are essentially a bunch of kids playing men so it'll take time - they tire in games and sometimes fade badly so a lopsided score can occur when the game is close over the first half or three quarters …the Suns/Giants are on track…performances will lift over next three seasons and so will the crowds and memberships…you want to quote me on something quote me on that - the Suns/Giants are on track and will lift considerably both on/off the field over the next three seasons,… planning for the future?… well let's hope for your sake that the future includes live broadcasts of your NRL team every week...
Boomshanka
Guest
They got their one billion dollars by flogging the product and allowing the rights holder to do what they want even if to the detriment of the game. Even when leasing a car, one is expected to at least have it serviced, maintained and operate in a safe manner. Nine do nothing, zip, zero for the game. Broncos for the first 10 rounds - its a joke.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I can only respond to the numerous posts ATT by many from your side who guestimated figures.When one is out by 50% finally, no amount of guesswork,taking anything for granted can be used as an excuse. You should also remember one of the clubs is not an Australian one. When Masters cited low figures for the AFL TV deal,he was ridiculed when the final figures came out and rightly so.Conversely those who did likewise for the NRl deal,should fall into the same category. Every man and his dog in rl land,knew the last Tv deal done by Gallop wearing two hats News and the NRL,was well below par,and the new Tv deal only reinforced that view. They got in toto with Sky over $1,2bn.I suggest that is at least on par,and with less contra.Also taking into account the fall in Tv ratings when clubs were weakened with SOO players. "Four credible teams",please champ,rephrase that to four actual teams. GWS with due respect tooing and froing between Canberra and Sydney,and being regularly thrashed makes the description credible shaky.Credibility has to be earned historically. The Suns and GWS would not be viable without the $20m injection.lets not kid ourselves.despite making money from rock concerts. And whilst the Swans have the crowds and sponsorship,when they are doing well for a decent amount of time,should they be at the bottom end of the ladder that would change.The club despite all this ,is not the profit making venture one makes out.The Lions lost money again this year.The Swans got their original leg up with SL,which one would have to be naïve to suggest otherwise.Check the crowd stats ATT. I think the NRL is not quaking in their boots with the Swans/GWS/Suns/Lions Tv ratings in the northern states.they do at least recognise they are in competition with all winter codes,and the very reason they maximised the monetary value of the Tv deal.Planning to underpin the future. I don't want to labour the point,but rugby league has SOO series live huge Tv ratings,packed houses,tests ,and now the Auckland 9s to be televised live.,in addition to the normal season schedule.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
I can't speak for the 'many posts'…i thought 800m for 8 NRL games on a roughly 'like for like' broadcast basis which i took for granted (i.e. live broadcasts into the markets that the NRL covers, like AFL is live into its markets)…the main reason i was out because of the stacking of NRL games into prime time slots by delaying broadcasts - the AFL runs more day slots, including its day GF…anyway NRL fans for decades have bragged that their game is 'the best TV game' and that it was worth far more than the AFL…in the NRL bubble these assertions make sense but it just doesn't gel with reality…they had to fiddle with their broadcast (delays) and they still couldn't get the same dollars….anyway I just think the NRL fan deserves better…in 2013 they shouldn't have to put up with delayed broadcasts.. you could be right about Swans games…but time will tell…what you can say is that the AFL has four very credible teams in the expansion states of NSW and QLD which is a huge achievement..it's easy to shoot this effort down and say it won't work but they're out there having a red hot go….and any impartial observer would say that the Swans in particular has succeeded - they have membership, sponsorship and revenues that most NRL clubs would be very happy with…the Swans are sustainable..and in time I think the Giants, Lions and Suns will work.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
You can say it as many times as you wish. The cupboard was bare end 2012.The Tv stations would have known that.A 6 years $500m TV deal ,would have given a hint. "He could not have achieved both",did you listen to Gyngell at the time of the announcement.You know more than Grant or Mattiske FHS .That is poppycock. Do you know who was actually involved in the negotiations,the very same guy who was involved with the last AFL deal(name escapes me ATM)You suggesting he is amateurish enough not to be able to get the best deal possible taking into account live.delayed and income? It is rumoured the head of Foxtel Williams ,lost his job due to the money paid for the NRL. You make some wild generalisations,by making a suggestion he could have achieved both,when you and I were not there at the negotiating table.I would dare not. I am being moderated as a rl fan ,for putting forth a view,that is in direct contrast with one of an AFL one in a rl thread.Yeah we get the balance. .He (ch9/Gyngell)had financial backers looking over his shoulder ,to ensure no charity was forthcoming. My club appears only once live on Friday night with the Broncs at Suncorp.,one sunday afternoon game and 4 Monday night games.I suggest I have more of a right to bitch.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Upon reading all the many prior posts about the expectations of the Tv deal,it jumped up and down like the proverbial jack in the box.Varying from as low as $600m to $800m>and emphatic statements such as" no way they will get $1bn,no Tv stations will pay double or more.,there are more ads in an AFL game,and it is therefore worth much more "etc etc. Well if as you say the $800m did factor in 9 games v 8,it cannot be like for like,or appleds for apples,also with no teams in Adelaide and Perth.They got it horribly wrong and would not admit so. This year the code is getting Saturday afternoon games ,instead of two on a Saturday night.That is catering for the fans I suggest. GoGWS.We have been offered live Swans games in fact AFL games on Saturdays for seemingly eons.People have voted with their remote controls,as the TV ratings have been pretty ordinary for a long time.Like all the swinging voters from the Polynesian community who were going to vote when Folau defected.Give me a break.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
the 800m did factor in 9 verse 8 games difference… and there was some rough reasons that 800 seemed about right on like for like basis… the extra $$ the NRL got was down the manipulating scheduling to delay games and stack prime time viewing… interestingly the NRL seems to have at least listened to their fans that they went too far in bending over to the broadcasters for prime time games - in 2014 they scheduling more day time games… Maybe NRL fans are used to delays..maybe they don't care…the NRL has to be a bit careful...sports fans in NSW/QLD are going to be offered live Giants/Swans/Lions/Suns games verses sometimes live NRL games…for anyone in these states who is a 'swinging voter', so to speak, they can tune in to watch a live AFL game or in many cases watch a NRL delayed game where they will often know the final/progress score….the sometimes delayed offering of the NRL verses the always live AFL is a competitive disadvantage..for rusted on NRL fans it makes no difference but for those who are 'swinging' then why wouldn't you go for the live AFL game and google the NRL result...
GoGWS
Roar Guru
I'll take your word for it,…I'm just glad i'm not watching my AFL games on delay…the only time i watch on delay is when i choose to do so because I have something else on, and then I'll IQ the game to play back later when I'm free… the NRL knew what the AFL achieved so presumably also looked at an 'all live' schedule as a possibility but in their desperation to make the headline $1bn, and to make themselves look good, they've thrown ordinary RL fans a few scraps rather than getting them a decent deal…. anyway I hope you enjoy your delayed NRL games..for the next four seasons, at least… Ch9 is firmly committed to delayed NRL broadcasts the very best of luck changing their minds..
clipper
Guest
Boomshanka - i don't think that's a good analogy - what person that hires a car checks the oil water etc, even if they do it for their own car. The whole situation was that the NRL wanted the magic figure of 1 billion plus, not matter what the cost was to fans.
Boomshanka
Guest
As AR rightly comments........"This year, straight after the final whistle of the GF, Ch.9 in Melbourne cut straight to The Hangover 2, skipping the trophy presentation and post-interviews entirely. What a terrible waste for the game, in the most most important match of the year." There was no excuse for what they did. The movie was scheduled to start 15 minutes later than it actually did. What network has ever done such a thing. This Network has utter contempt for the game of rugby league - particularly in Melbourne, and the NRL are as complicit by doing bugger all about it.
Boomshanka
Guest
TV has enough say in the game. We have enough advertising. Channel 9 should never have had the luxury of a "first and last" clause and have not paid fully for the damage they are currently exploiting off our game. Its like leasing your car to the highest bidder only to find they've run the thing into the ground with no self preservation or interest in running it proper. Nine aren't interested in providing fans with live sport, they just want a captured audience to be lead into their parochial news service or other programming. Next week the digital switch over is complete. Will we have HD coverage or more of the same?
JezRu
Roar Pro
Maybe RL needs more stoppages introduced to allow for advertising but still have live games? IMO the clock should be stopped for stoppages anyway, scrums, restarts etc. If the ball is not in play stop the clock. The ridiculous situation of one team "forming" a scrum is a really bad look, I'd rather go to an ad break then watch that shambles. They stop the clock all the time in the last 5-10 minutes so why not just make it the norm? Also think RL could extend the game time and have quarters. More game time for fans and ad time for tv. I don't think it would effect the game play so long as reduced interchanges/substitutes were introduced to allow fatigue to still play a part.
Australian Rules
Guest
I'll say it again... The point is, Grant *could* have achieved both – a huge monetary sum and a good TV deal for the fans.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Still guessing,still assuming.Shades of the Stewart case. Sharks kept out of the limelight LOL.They have been headline on ch9/7/and 10 and 2 at various stages. The club has rarely had a run of live Friday night games over the years nor sunday arvos. The conspiracy theorists .always pop out of the woodwork when it suits.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well they didn't have one in the first place , which you have ignored,hence the reason for creating one and the only way that could be done was by maximising revenue. As I have explained if they had one with $200m in the kitty,we probably wouldn't be debating the point. No code worth its salt, can plan for the future ,with no decent liquid funds behind it.The NRL has been hamstrung ever since the NRL/News partnership was in place.The bush has been screaming for funding for ages,as well as junior rl. The choice thus, either to make more live games available on Tv and have little money left over to do anything of substance.Not hard to figure which way any organisation with no dollars behind it would go. As has already been spelt out,you cannot develop,expand with any degree of effectiveness without the financial wherewithall.You evenly admitted when you stated the $6m profit from the RLWC wouldn't go far. I repeat one more time,whilst us fans are not happy with the current live Tv arrangements,at least we now get Thursday night live for a while instead of Friday doublers ,and Saturday afternoon instead of 7.30pm doublers. The TV income has more than doubled ,when many and we know who stated it would never increase by more than 50-60%. Don't blame the NRL for what ch 9 does with scheduling.The Vic influence there plays a decent part at that station,Masters has alluded to the fact.And the Offsiders domiciled there.also underpins the argument. In 2017(when the next rights are up for grabs) the code will have the financials behind it,and can twist a few more Tv execs arms. Anycase Smith has made it perfectly clear,the emphasis on future income will be geared more to the new technologies and Tv will have a lesser influence,than it does currently. If you still believe that is not planning for the future<I can't help you. There is a fair whack going on behind the scenes which many here appear to have little knowledge about. I cite the AFR 18th Nov 2013 "Advertising revenue for the NRL's website and digital suite of products doubled this year and is expected to double again in 2014. Of the league's $32m in annual sponsorship revenue ,a rapidly increasing portion is directed towards digital advertising for sponsors,woith a fgocus on its fast growing website and mobile and tablet apps through its joint venture with Telstra.' Smith then mentioned at a recent Sponsorrs'workshop in Cairns"The sport is pushing hard to boost digital numbers,which I see as a vital way of growing interest in league." And I note that social media played a big part in engendering interest for the RLWC in places around the world. I would like to see how any sport can plan for the future with little funding.Maybe you should have a chat with the RFL