I’ll watch the television coverage of tonight’s NRL game between Manly and South Sydney – but on delay. I’m going to watch the A-League game between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar live instead.
That is more interesting and exciting to me at the moment.
Now, before you get stuck into me for mentioning my viewing plans as if it is a guide you should follow, that wasn’t my intention.
The reason I mentioned it is because I wanted to explain the reasons why – and see if any other people felt similarly.
There has been nothing remotely resembling a big build-up to the clash between the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs. It’s been boring – the same as the lead-up to the opening game of the season between Sydney Roosters and Souths.
Manly and Souths – the clubs and their fans – used to hate each other, going back to when Manly started stealing Souths’ best players in the early 1970s.
But the hate is long gone. No one stirs up genuine rivalry between clubs anymore. Players, coaches and officials, they say nothing.
Three reasons. One, they want to avoid the opposition seizing on anything controversial that might be said and using it as motivation. Two, they distrust the media. And, three, coaches are control freaks. They drive the agenda.
It’s a different percentage of these reasons with different clubs.
But, please. This is professional sport. If something the opposition says is going to take you higher than whatever it is you’ve been doing to prepare all week, it says less than zero for your preparation.
When the people involved do have something to say, it adds spice. It creates a buzz, increases interest – and, yes, dare I say, increases crowds sometimes.
Really good pre-match publicity – some genuine hype – helps get people talking and can sell tickets.
Last Friday, I wrote a feature story for Rugby League Week lamenting the disappearance of hatred from the game’s rivalries – particularly that which used to be associated with Manly and South Sydney.
The magazine wasn’t hitting the news-stands until yesterday, but I was as sure as I was of the sun rising on each of the six days in-between that nothing would happen to make me a look a fool.
And, of course, nothing did. No one said anything to stir things up pre-match.
In the story, I quoted former Souths and Manly player Mark Carroll, who, thank God, has always been prepared to say something.
He said: “No one says anything anymore. Officials and players used to say stuff that would ignite things, but now the players are told what to do, what to say and what to eat. It’s all the same, so there’s no reason to really hate a team.
“You might dislike a particular player, but you don’t hate a whole club.
“The players are all friendly now. They’re shaking hands and even cuddling, with the shoulder bumps, at the end of games.
“When I was playing for Manly, if we lost I was scared to go back to the dressing-room because ‘Bozo’ (coach Bob Fulton) would be there – and he wouldn’t be happy!”
I’m talking about this because of the issue of lack of media access to players that has been a story in itself this week.
Now, please, spare me your complaints along the lines of: “Why should anyone talk to the media when they just write crap about them anyway?”
First of all – and so obviously that I feel like an idiot explaining it – not even remotely are all stories “crap”.
But balancing that, I’ve been in the media all my working life and I’ll readily admit the media has done the wrong thing plenty of times in the way it has covered stories.
Some stories are negative and that’s just the way it is. But then there are times where the subjects of stories are treated unfairly.
I’ve got a suggestion that might help with that.
If NRL chief executive Dave Smith is serious when he says the media access guidelines are going to be reviewed – they are ridiculously tight as they stand, compared with major sports overseas, and not policed by the league anyway – then he should consider creating the following position.
A media officer with the specific role of monitoring coverage of the game and addressing complaints and issues affecting both sides of the fence – the media and the people they are writing about – with a view to improving the relationship and maintaining it at a good level.
Greater media access leading to improved coverage of the game can only be good for you, the league fan, because you’re going to learn more about and, so, be able to identify more with the individuals and teams you follow.
Finally, back to tonight’s game. Unlike maybe some people who are rabid league followers and wouldn’t for a second consider watching the football instead, I’ve enjoyed covering both codes at different times over the years.
I don’t feel compelled to watch one over the other, so I’ll watch what I feel like watching at the time.
Tonight, it’s the football. I’ll watch a replay of the league later.
What I’m interested to know is whether there are other people out there who are league fans but who also like the football and are favouring the A-League tonight.
Heritage13
Guest
Thank you Cathar !! It keeps getting better
gelei horloges
Guest
Wow ~ very good.
Glenn Innes
Guest
The United States for whatever reason is the nation that has a tradition of great sportwriters indeed Hemingway,Mailer and Kerouac all worked as sports journalists and of course you had the great Damon Runyon. Even Hunter S Thompson was kind of writing about sport although it was hard to tell.Australia really doesn't have that tradition of literary sports journalism... we have crap with the partial exception of a couple of cricket writers but even they lack that generic quality of the best of the Americans .
Mr Sportsbet
Roar Rookie
The real sporting journos do not write crap (and yes I am a Queenslander and must admit that Sydney have the best Rugby League Journalists) - (That was hard to say by the way). As a fan - that's how I like it - a Journalist getting to the players and getting quotes,etc before a game. It makes it much more interesting and promotes more of a setting, anticipation and a sort of prelude to the game that only the true fans really get and appreciate whilst the fair weather fans may buy a ticket or two if it is a cool game to be seen at and go to. Obviously, this act has affected journalism reporting to an extent, however if the NRL do not do something about it, we may lose potential and current fans that thrive on hearing the latest and gossip and drama about their club. It is always interesting when a player makes a statement prior to a big game.
code 13
Roar Guru
I bet you believed the Mayan apocalypse was going to happen as well
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Ah Roosters ANZAC day, next game, so usually anywhere between 50-60,000. Don't represent the WHOLE of Sydney either.
Paul Callings
Guest
You then missed a high speed game between NQ and Brisbane with a number of high quality players on show and lots of aggression but also good sportsmanship. Barba, Sammy T, J T, The Sims brothers , and a host of future young Qld stars. 42,000 NRL fans at the game. I watch soccer once every 4 years when they play for that Gold Trophy. Glad the world cup soccer final wasn't on last night. I would have missed it for the footy.
WestieRBB
Guest
I can assure you that even before the alleged racism last week in A-league Sydney derby those two teams hate each other. No marketing required to sell this one out now! Its split on demographic and as league knows from fibros vs silvertails there is nothing better to fuel a rivalry over a long time. The AFL 'derby' is plastic... very flimsy plastic.
Davo
Guest
Wait cathar didn't u say u weren't interested in tv ratings?? Ok let's start with last night: the crowd figure was just above 13k. The average this season is a tad over 19k which is actually impressive considering it matches the roosters champion winning season with SBW in for them too. (lets see what the roosters get this year). So please save your lame comments of the attendance last night. So they got 53k in 2 games in two weeks. Let me know when the roosters get that at back to back regular home games. The tv rights deal also takes into consideration of the socceroos and im pretty sure they achieved some pretty massive ratings in the last few world cup qualifiers. It doean't really matter because my argument was never really about the here and now. I made it pretty clear i was talking about growth and the future state of the game and that is that football will grow much much bigger. In 8-10 years max we certainly won't be the little brother to league.
Davo
Guest
Yeah fair enough Cathar My original comment was in reply to Code 13 I have every right to defend football like you have to defend League. This might have been a League post but it made mention A-league so i was intrigued. Nothing wrong with that. And You might not come across and dish crap about football but on football posts but trust me there are many other leagies that don't miss a chance to dish it out even when the article has no mention of Rugby League in it. And i agree that if anything there is more respect between League and football then there is with afl and football or afl and league.
ctar
Guest
Its obvious that AFL's days are numbered in this country. Demetriou has jumped off the sinking ship. It just wont be able to compete with the of other football codes.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
15K is an alright figure. It's above league average and was 3/4 full. Not bad for a region that's been treated so poorly by the NRL.
Storm Boy
Guest
37000 at Collingwood game in Melbourne.
Scott
Guest
That's your opinion chief. I suggest you enjoy the NRL while it lasts. It's dying a slow painful death as a sport in this country. Poor attendances, poor administration, and zero interest from any sports fan except for the diehards in Nsw and Qld.
ctar
Guest
Manly vs Souths only got 15k, but I figure many of the central coast locals have forgotten where bluetongue stadium is as no one goes to Mariners games. The Manly game still beat the top of the table a-league clash at Allianz though.
Punter
Guest
Cathar Treize, I agree, league & Soccer have a long & mostly good history. Long may it continue to co-exist.
Punter
Guest
BTW it wasn't a soccer journalist who wrote this article.
Punter
Guest
Yes all I have, I am a dragons fan, no need to have a go at League like you are about football, but my comment pretty true. Considering it's 90th soccer competition in the world as you have allured to many times on this thread, not a bad effort to pull 13k.
Renegade
Guest
42,000 at the Broncos game last night! Wonder if there will be an article or headline about it ;)
code 13
Roar Guru
A-League fans apparently feel so confident about their game they insecurely troll other sports pages. Their aggression is cute really in a kind of sad and miserable way...