Over the past year the NRL has been under new management.
Primarily we have a new CEO Dave Smith who from the get go has been criticised for not being one of the “boys” and by that I mean he has not been raised and bred in the NRL like David Gallop or Ian Schubert.
No Dave Smith comes from the banking sector and that had the media scared.
We all read and saw how the media reacted with most condemning the move and stating he wouldn’t know how to run the game.
Well I ask this question, does anyone know how to run the game?
For years the media and NRL powerhouses have insisted we needed someone from within the NRL or someone who has been around the NRL for years to run the game.
For years on end we have had a game which has not really made any profit, we have clubs which struggle to even survive in a saturated Sydney market and when we do introduce a new team such as the Titans, they themselves struggle financially and if the media is to be believed where close to bankruptcy.
For years the NRL has stayed in a holding pattern as it would with not much progress being done to expand the game or even make it stable with healthy profits etc.
Instead we get the NRL being run by NRL men who think they know what’s best for the game which has generated not much.
We have a new TV deal but clubs are still struggling and there are no real headways to expand the competition globally or even nationally.
Then Dave Smith is hired, a banker who I believe dreams about profits, portfolios above everything.
A man who could care less about the boys club that is the NRL, who comes into a culture that has soaked in so deep it threatens to destroy itself.
Dave Smith doesn’t know the NRL, he wasn’t born or raised with it like so many of us and that’s a good thing.
In one year alone Dave Smith has approved a new nines tournament which while not run by the NRL was approved by it.
While this may be a gimmick it does generate revenue and interest.
He also introduced an integrity unit which will hopefully try to clean up the game.
There is also an effort to make NRL games more entertaining with jumping castles, rides and even live entertainment from bands etc.
Pretty much to make every game more inviting and to make it feel more of an “Event” rather than just your average game, Again however this was panned in the media as useless….Well is it?
Think about it, aren’t we all complaining that ticket prices are too high. Doesn’t this sort of solve that problem by giving us more value for money, and doesn’t this make the game more “Family Friendly” so that everyone can enjoy the game?
It shows Dave Smith is actually trying to improve the overall game, not just what’s played on the field but outside of it.
There will always be errors on the field etc, but we expect that and the refs and now Todd Greenberg can always solve these problems.
What we need is someone like Dave Smith who will aim for profits and customer satisfaction because while we may not like it the NRL is a business.
It does need to make profit and so do all the clubs.
The NRL must evolve if it is to keep up with other sports such as the AFL, Big Bash League and so on.
These will leave us in the dust we do not chase after them and try and make up ground.
For too long we have relied on the NRL to simply live on without any thought as to how or why.
However Dave Smith will make sure the NRL keeps up with other sports and keeps its presence in the Australian sporting landscape.
He will have to make unpopular decisions. He will have to prioritise money. But just remember, every company must change to stay relevant, and that is what the NRL must continue to do.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
I only have positive things to say about David Smith, and am glad to have him in the game. I never really bought into the news ltd agenda at his start, though did anyone seriously. Surprised at turbodewds negative focus. Yeah, those things happened - but we need to balance the view. It was a year where many popular teams were at their lowest. And the 3% figure is also in the margin for error (5% im thinking) when it comes to statistics. Yes, much was made about it. So let me make a big list of all the things I can remember for now. Rejoice. The sport is on fire. You can tell its a giant standing, and others stand in its shadow. Its ready soon to walk across to Perth. This is the year they confirmed/reaffirmed an expansion review in the coming season. What I do know is this. The NRL put 45m in the future fund, the player bargaining agreement was modernized finally, they did the salary cap review and increased 3rd party payments and made it overall a better system - they even got rid of the lone Salary cap Auditor who served well up to now really overall - they aligned with touch, they did a game-wide analysis, Souths made a million dollar profit on FOOTBALL REVENUE ALONE! Thats awesome. Ok, and memberships were up 20% or so last year, and they are up 20% more this year (compared to same time last year). The NRL have a club in South Sydney who will break the 30k members barrier this year (in the crowded sydney market, which again, members increase year on year).....the NRL app was a success, the world cup was awesome, the origin series was the most attended ever + made the most money ever+ it had 1 billion tweets on twitter which is massive (over a couple months= 10s millions a day), and it was the most watched origin on tv ever, and it had 400+k in melbourne which is really cool. The season saw several large crowds, 50k's, 54ks, several 40ks, in Sydney! for regular fixtures. There was Sonny Bill, and Sam Burgess, the NRL was everywhere. This year I have noticed a massive increase in talk about NRL NRL .. com was up by 30%, its now the leading sport site of any code in the country. Its doubled revenue on the site, and its the most valuable now in the country for sports. They also increased ground signage revenue 56% with a revolutionary new system/screen painting..origin i think. The test match anzac was well attended. This is also the year we found out 1.3 million kids get involved with rugby league/touch by choice in some form, and also 800,000 school-aged kids are exposed to rugby league through programs each year. Thats impressive. They reviewed reserve grade and while it didn't come back due to excessive cost and logistics, we will get a NSW/QLD cup play off on GF day, plus more quality 2nd tier matches to be played before NRL games across country. The integrity unit came into being, they reviewed the rules and made some good additions, they went to the USA to check out the video-ref-control room, ect, and they continued to monitor captains call, and they improved the ref ranks/structure. It was an excellent year. I put the 3% thing on tv down to fluctuation of statistical error, and the drop in crowds simply for the fact the most popular teams had some of their worst years/poor tv choices by 9. Also, they are increasing non-tv revenue at a staggeringly good rate, I forget actual figures, but its doubled on some recent time, and its set to double again by 2017. They track these things/work towards it. They are a switched on bunch. They doubled revenue on semi's and the game including the grand final were crackers. So let me speak openly, I am basically confident that in this year, rugby league got *way* more solid than it started with - on and off the field - and that its going from strength to strength, and next year will be bigger and better. Dave Smith has not been idle, he's been innovative, refreshing, and impressive, and all his team as well, the people we dont normally attribute things to. How can anyone not be impressed by the ARLC/NRL these days. Im not saying give them a free pass, no free society should, I'm saying credit where its due, dont get hung up, that was a magnificent year.
Josh
Guest
When should he go on holiday then? When should the Nrl boss take 2-4 weeks off. You may say the offseason but inf act this should be when his job his hardest at it, planning for the new year. I would imagine mid season perhaps just after origin is the perfect time for the nrl boss to go on annual leave
Mal
Guest
SB, wow what a revelation - Sydney people read a Sydney paper! You must have an axe to grind - where do you live?
Will
Guest
What it does do is expose the NRL brand to people that would not normally have anything to do with it - Living in Adelaide I can tell you that there are plenty of people who play touch footy who don't know anything about Rugby League. The new contract will help fans of touch footy link it to the NRL and they might start watching
JCVD
Guest
It may not grow TV viewership or crowd numbers, but what it will do is have more access to Government money to improve facilities at local clubs etc...
Billo
Guest
I was lucky enough to meet Dave Smith when he was in London during last year's league World Cup, and the bloke is very impressive in the way thinks about where rugby league is heading. He is streets ahead of David Gallop. Rugby league fans should feel very happy about this. Those of us who prefer other sports should be concerned about the competition.
turbodewd
Guest
Sorry Bruce, thats pretty small fry. How does that grow TV viewership or crowd numbers?!
turbodewd
Guest
Its still too early to judge the NRL CEO on his performance, it will take 4-5 years to judge things. So far crowds were down 3% this year on last year and this was the worst performance for 12 years if you factor in population growth. The question in 5-10 years will be: * are more NRL clubs profitable * are those profits bigger * do more people play the game * do more people watch the game on TV * are crowds higher * has the NRL increased market share * has the NRL increased its footprint My biggest worry is the Titans, their crowds have gone down every single year since inception :^( The next biggest worry is the Raiders whose crowds have averaged 10k...for 15 years!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Can't wait for the season to start. They're already getting ready for the UK Super League with a Mark Webber promo. Succinctly said! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODH4d7N00Qo&feature=youtu.be
Brucey
Guest
One of Smith's biggest achievements was the strategic alliance with touch football in Australia. The results of this alliance won't be known until 5-10 years but it should help with grass roots development and getting more women involved in rugby league.
Storm Boy
Guest
The DT does seem to have a very large readership number of people in Sydney.
Mal
Guest
SB, are you saying NRL fans are stupid??
Muzz
Guest
I do like Dave Smith and together with Greenberg we have a good balance to take our game to the next level and beyond.There will be a lot of change and some big plays in the Australian sporting landscape over the next decade.If your socks aren't pulled up and your not on your toes you will miss out and get left behind.Multiple cross code sporting franchisers will be privately owned and sort after.Our population is set to double in the next 60 years and strong growth potential will play a big part in attracting corporate investment......The new Perth franchise is only a matter of time and a second team playing out of Melbourne,Brisbane and NZ will eventually happen.Central Queensland will also have a team and one of the Sydney clubs will be relocated to the Central Coast with home games being shared between Blue Tongue and the SFS.We may also see a number of Sydney clubs left with no option but to merge with their neighbour....
Storm Boy
Guest
He got ridiculed over the Benji Barba gaff as the NRL media and I'm sorry to say most of the NRL fans can only grasp and react to simple issues. It was easy to bag Dave Moffett for going to Tour de France on a week off than examine the game's problems it had in 2001 or whenever that was. Did News help the game then with a useful examination of the game's failings? Nope. Just make fun of Moffett and get the fans to react. Same with Smith over Benji Barba. The big picture is what matters and the NRL media and most fans can't grasp what that is all about and what Smith is on about.
David Baird
Roar Rookie
That's true Code 13, I left all that out because the article would have been to long. But smith should worry everyone. He has the money now so he can really take a swing now to develop the game now and expand upon it. Let's see what he does in 2014 shall we
code 13
Roar Guru
People who hate rugby league should be genuinely worried about Smith. The game has held its own against other better resourced/connected sports long before the code war crap was spouted, its endured more than its fair share of administration infighting and it went to war, forged peace and finally broke free from one of the most powerful media companies in the world and it's practically done all that on fumes. Think what the game is going to now that it has an independent professional management structure loaded with cash.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Sport is now a business,and up till the formation of the ARLC,it(NRL) was run like the game of old.Cliques,old boys,one man controlling the salary cap like a Nth Korean dictator(sic),no set out Strategic Plan,reliance on poker machine revenues,too much emphasis on Tv monies.The chook raffle mentality had to go.Yes there were a few things the prior admin got right. Now we finally get people with business acumen unshackled by a media ownership,who not only look at the long term possibilities,but actually think outside the square. A CEO who is prepared to get down and dirty by visiting such places as far NTh Qld(no CEO had been before) ,and mixing with the locals,playing touch on the beach,and listening to the issues that are peculiar to the area. The guy stuffed up by incorrectly naming certain players in his early interviews,and was castigated for it ,by a ravenous press of News ltd persuasion,who by sheer coincidence,no longer hold a 50% gun to the NRLs head.' The very same outlet who bagged him initially for him being too slow on ASADA issues,then praised him for being meticulous and precise with his eventual findings. Smith no doubt will make mistakes along the way,but as long as he steers the good ship rugby league to its destination,he can zig zag along the way if that means achieving the result. He publicly acknowledged the ticketing price stuff up,at Coffs Harbour. An in house media unit,more management salary cap control,bringing Touch football into the fold,an Integrity Unit,Greenberg as his understudy, instituting more professional management in some of the clubs eg Sharks,Tigers,an intent to secure more funding from other sources other than TV,the setting aside of $45m in 2013 for the Future Fund and someone who actually conveys a positive stance on the code when interviewed.
Mal
Guest
I think financially the TV rights deal was ok - it was about the same as the AFL and double the last deal. The structure of it is the problem. I would like to have seen ch 10 split the FTA games with 9 - maybe two each and the rest on fox. 10 has done a great job with the BBL - they could have done likewise with the NRL. As for Smith: the best thing I have heard about him is that he was horrified at the management levels at clubs and has made it a priority to get each club state of the art management structures - finally the game can come into the 21st century.
David Baird
Roar Rookie
The TV deal was handled by the commission champ, Dave Smith was hired after the contracts where signed.
David Baird
Roar Rookie
That's true Millsy, we gave channel 9 too much power that pretty much dictates what they want and when. Imagine of the EPL did that? I believe Dave will actually do all due diligence next time the TV rights are up and actually consider all options. Instead of just backing the "Bros" that work at channel 9. As for expansion as long as the NRL continues to make profit and back all NRL teams it should do fine especially in Perth or Adelaide, However there are to many teams in Sydney atm