I understand that the NRL needs to continue to find new fans to help the game grow, but it should not be looking out for those potential new fans’ needs at the expense of the current fan, who has invested so much of their life and money into this great game.
Over the last 18 months we have seen the banning of both the shoulder charge and fighting in an effort to not only increase player safety, but to clean up the game’s image. While worrying too much about the game’s image for the sake of a few new supporters, a nasty word has begun to creep into many descriptions lately when commenting on the game – soft.
It is the ultimate insult to a game that has taken pride in its gladiatorial nature for over 100 years.
The game is worse off without the shoulder charge. When performed well, it is a great spectacle for fans and can be a huge lift for a team, while being of absolutely no harm for the victim. The shoulder charge should be treated the same way as any tackle – if you go too high, be prepared to face the consequences of maybe a couple of weeks on the sidelines.
The same can be said about fighting – the fans love a good fight every now and again on the football field. There has been an increase in the amount of niggle seen in the NRL since a zero tolerance to fighting was introduced, which could be seen as a bigger blight on the image of rugby league than fighting.
Two examples of this include the grabbing of Will Chambers’ testicles by Sam Burgess in a tackle, along with Burgess raking his fingers across the eyes of James Maloney. In days gone by, players would need to think twice before performing such grubby acts for fear of the opposition responding with a quick one, two.
Player safety and the game’s image has again been brought into the spotlight since the unfortunate incident involving Newcastle’s Alex McKinnon and Melbourne’s Jordan McLean, which has left McKinnon with a terrible spinal injury and an uncertain future.
Because rugby league is a contact sport, injuries and accidents will invariably happen, and while the injury to McKinnon is absolutely devastating to all involved, emotion should have be taken out of the decision by the NRL judiciary and only the forensics of the tackle should have be examined.
The seven-week suspension handed down to McLean at the judiciary was a massive overreaction. Krisnan Inu received five weeks for a spear tackle on Greg Inglis last year, while Richard Fa’aoso received eight weeks for two separate spear tackles in the one match (coincidently, both were again on Inglis). The McLean tackle is not even close to these.
It was stated on Triple M’s Rush Hour program on Wednesday afternoon that rugby league-types were suggesting two weeks’ suspension of McLean, while non-rugby league types were calling for seven weeks or more. It seems as though the non rugby league-types – the types who do not know enough about the game to be commenting on it, the types who do not pour their income into club memberships, merchandise and match-day tickets, the types who do not spend time volunteering at their children’s junior grounds of a Saturday morning, the types who are not real fans – have got their way.
Why?
The great game of rugby league is trying too hard to accommodate people who do not really care about the game, while not worrying about or listening to the people who really matter most, the fans.
The fans want the big hits, the little man taking on big man, the aggression, the blood, sweat and tears. They want rugby league in its purist form, they do not want a watered-down version of it.
If the administrators allow this to continue, rugby league will lose the elements of the game which make it such a spectacle, and it will become a pale imitation of itself.
Mic
Guest
Is that why QLD have won 8 straight?Lots of merch $$ there to prop the NRL books for almost a decade.Is this why NRL boss Dave Smith said QLD was the 'heartland'?The last QLD based club NRL premiership win was Brisbane Broncos prior to the Origin streak in 2006.South Sydney were wooden spooners same year.Crowds in Brisbane will rise the minute Brisbane win a Premiership again.Despite being a strong team Melbourne do not get very big crowds and the NRL/media says bugger all about it.Same for the NQ Cowboys and the Worriers (NZ Warriors) who are the only NRL gig in their respective regions but sometimes struggle to fill their stadium.The Brisbane Broncos are the only NRL team in Brisbane area and despite the fact that they average 30,000 plus crowds the mob down at Robina (Gold Coast Titans) which is approx. an hour from Brisbane,only have a stadium capable of holding @25,0000.Where are all those passionate QLD rugby league loving fans?Even Brisvegans won't travel to see games otherwise the stadium at Robina would need to hold a minimum of 40,000.Add crowds in NSW together and you get roughly the same numbers as QLD when games are played there.Crowds are down because the NRL,the clubs and stadium management (Suncorp is Gov't owned) are a little greedy.Yes it is a business but without CUSTOMERS then what will it become? If I were the boss of the NRL a family ticket would be no more than $50.00 and would include 2 adults and 3 children.(equates to $10.00 tickets) I am sure the NRL would then see more families out at the games.They also need to look at putting on more daylight games which is far more family friendly especially for those who live in Canberra.Seriously who would want to go to a night game in the middle of winter down in Canberra?Not very family friendly! Let families bring their own food,make tickets cheap and more day games and they will come to the games...how simple is that?
Dan
Guest
The NRL cares about a fans money, full stop. They have marketing suits who try to figure out the best way to get us through the turnstiles, sign up to membership drives and buy merchandise. It's all about numbers and dollars like most other professionally run businesses, it's the reality of modern day sport. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. Professional sport is a money making machine nowadays, it's not about recreation and socialising after a weeks work like it was decades ago. I get more enjoyment watching my nephew play under 13's footy on the weekend than I do from any NRL game.
Stolzy
Guest
so take your own food in which you can do at ANZ...and finally NSW state govt woke up and included the transport on the ticket...no excuses anymore...but yeah i agree with dj..bronx tix are a little bit expensive but still worth it
Stolzy
Guest
the same people that say they are real fans are the ones that dont bother to become members or actual attend a game
Jay C
Guest
Real Fans don't support the Roosters KB.
Mic
Guest
I don't like the AFL very much (how can anyone like a game where they reward 'inaccuracy' ?) so I just don't watch it.Same for Rugby Union.Boring...so I don't watch!Plus I am not 'excited' by head stomping etc.The lesson....if you don't like it,just don't watch.I played Rugby League in my youth and soccer.I love watching Rugby League but do not seem to watch much soccer.No real explanation but after the 'moaning' of the Socceroos at the World Cup a few years back I think it might have something to do with 'whingeing' and 'diving' and the Aussie media 'harping on' about being 'robbed'.Fair dinkum,if you have issues with a sport just do not watch or participate.On the Alex McKinnon/Jordan McLean incident I would just like to say that 'modern coaching techniques' are more to blame.Whatever happened to the 'grassing 'round the legs' tackle?The size of some players also contributes to some of these incidents.Rugby League and the NRL get huge media exposure but we all know that the media thrives on 'sensationalism'.Oddly enough it was a tragedy that has 'galvanised' (words of media) the Rugby League community.What a load of B.S.It 'shocked' most but as I said to my partner in the 35 plus years that I have watched the game I can only remember two extremely serious injuries (John Farragher and Alex McKinnon) though I know that there have been many others not even mentioned in media and therefore not readily known by the public.I was only 9 when John Farragher got injured in a collapsed scrum.Oddly my parents did not see any issues with me playing contact sports.My mother did refuse to come to games after seeing me 'elbowed' in the throat in a game at 14 but as I understand once in a while there will be a 'bad egg' who strays outside the rules.If coaches could instill better values in their players when onfield then maybe the odds of something bad happening will decrease.Then again I just realized that we are only days away from the beginning of the State Of Origin media which in a huge piece of irony will use Arthur Beetson (credited 'wrongly' with putting State of Origin on the RL map after 'punching' Mick Cronin during the game...despite the fact that 'punching' was 'illegal' even way back in 1980.) True fans will understand the game has its highs and lows and coaches,players,the media and fans can have an effect on this.If you act within the 'rules' then no issues. Educating coaches and players should be top priority.Player welfare should be a priority of ANY player regardless of age or grade. There will always be one bad egg who might 'stray' from this occasionally. By the way,I do not like country and western music....so I just don't listen to any.(nor do I comment on its existence) It is as simple as that.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Agreed and ave crowds for the first 4 rounds are up 0.4% on the average for the whole of last year. This is despite the draw being changed to balance out those crowds and also Easter as mentioned 2013 v 2014 Ave Crowd Overall = 15940 v 16002 so crowds up 0.4%
duecer
Guest
It's not that simple. Making the price 3 times cheaper doesn't mean you're going to get 3 times the number to a game - look at the recent titans / storm BOGOF offers - didn't result in twice the number of people coming. You also run the risk of devaluing the product - putting the thought into punters minds that your product is not 'worth' as much as an A league, AFL or BBL game. Tricky business getting the price right/
turbodewd
Guest
Agreed.
Ian
Guest
The Inu/Inglis tackle should have been 12 weeks. Don't ban activities just stiffen the penalties. For example 6 weeks first offence minimum for a shoulder charge that makes initial or player instigated contact with the head. Don't just ban it altogether.
eagleJack
Guest
Djcooper in all sports it is generally the retaliator that will be punished. That is what the analogy means. There will always be niggle. Teams will always bait you to put you off your game. But if you react, and let it get to you, then you will be the one reprimanded.
djcooper
Roar Guru
The analogy you used to compare showing restraint in kindergarten to a sport where the objective is to get over your opponent whilst not taking a backward step suggests that you are the one that is a little confused Epiquen.
turbodewd
Guest
That sickly noise is Rabs. That guy needs to go. He rabbits on with weird metaphors which dont make sense. He isnt funny or witty or insightful either. Now Gould is insightful and interesting to listen to, however once per game he goes into aggro mode against the NRL or refs or some rule that he doesnt like. King Gould makes for bad television at time. Cant we have 2 nice commentators who ARENT gambling losers or the world's ugliest man?
marco
Guest
anyone find the artificial sound of crowd noise during channel 9s telecasts annoying. They are really pumping the volume up latley. I'm watching the bulldogs and roosters, not much of a crowd but channel 9 are using so many sound effects that it is distracting from the game.
Cement
Guest
Nice to see real league players & fans comments are being blocked. Soft cats
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Make jerseys free too, because working families etc...
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Thanks for having a sense of humour!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Strange comment dj. Do you not understand what is being said?
Crashy
Guest
With so many clubs busting a gut to breakeven ( with most failing), I hardly think giving away yet more free tickets will help..
djcooper
Roar Guru
So we are comparing kindergarten to a professional contact sport now are we?