Early on in season 2014, the National Rugby League has achieved substantial parity of playing talent among clubs.
I have been following rugby league since 1965 and I have never seen a more even competition, where each week all teams have a chance of winning.
The entire concept of player parity has been championed by the National Football League (NFL). Since 1960, when Pete Rozelle became Commissioner and took the NFL willingly into the television era, one of the fundamental philosophies of the NFL has been the objective of player parity across all teams.
The belief is that, at the beginning of every season, a healthy league provides hope to fans of all teams that their team can compete each week and possibly make the play-offs.
To read more of Bernie’s writing outside The Roar, head to his website
The NFL uses the player draft and the salary cap to attempt to achieve equality of playing talent. It has been said that the NFL Commissioner’s perfect season would be every team emerging with eight wins and eight losses from the 16-game regular season.
Look at the improvement in the first five rounds of 2014 of certain clubs that did not make the play-offs in 2013. There is no question the Gold Coast Titans, Canberra Raiders, Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons are better teams than they were last year. I am not saying they will all make the play-offs this year – although some surely will – but they are definitely providing more hope for their fans.
I know there are tweaks that can be made to the much-criticised salary cap but, at a macro level, it contributes to a more even competition. The reality is the richer clubs would dominate playing talent if there was not a strictly-enforced cap.
The other significant factor is the diminished gap in professionalism between the clubs. Even going back to the mid-to-late-1990’s there was a monumental gap between the management abilities and financial positions of the top clubs and the bottom clubs – consider the vastly different circumstances of the Brisbane Broncos and the Western Suburbs Magpies.
The more money there is in a sport, the more resources are spent in the pursuit of victory. While clubs can become even more professional, there has been a quantum leap forward in professionalism over the last 15 years. There are larger numbers of qualified management and administrative staff, as well as more coaching and training staff. The result is more intelligence in the coaching and preparation of the players.
This is the real area of improvement across the NRL. While some of the 2014 head coaches are clearly better than others, most are good operators and they have the support of a team of qualified assistant coaches, training staff, and medical and rehabilitation staff.
The gap has narrowed substantially between the clubs from the perspective of the resources, both coaching staff and training facilities, dedicated to the football programs. All the teams these days are reasonably well prepared, with the level of intelligence and analysis by coaches far greater than past eras.
With the player talents reasonably even, the difference between winning and losing is very fine these days – significant factors include the mental attitude of a team that week, injuries to key players and the key players themselves. Just look at the impact on Souths when they lose Greg Inglis. That is why the game-changing players deservedly receive a disproportionate share of the salary cap – they win games.
We have the Gold Coast Titans sitting in first place after five rounds, with a negative for-and-against, while pre-season favourites, the Roosters and Rabbitohs, are in 10th and 12th respectively, with a positive for-and-against – a wacky, unpredictable competition.
I really like the Wests Tigers’ chances of playing semi-final football, based on the improved physicality of their forwards, their focus on less-risky attack (but still with good ball movement at appropriate times), plus their genuine speed.
Which team will be your surprise packet to make the 2014 play-offs?
Bernie Gurr is a former Sydney Roosters player (1978-1983) and Chief Executive Officer (1994-2003), presiding over eight straight playoff appearances, three grand finals and the 2002 NRL Premiership. A lifelong league fan, his first memory is being taken to the 1965 grand final by his grandfather. Prior to CEO role at the Roosters, Bernie was a Senior Executive for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He joins as a regular columnist on The Roar, but to read more of his writing on rugby league check out his website and follow him on Twitter @BernieGurr.
Misto
Guest
NRL - champions one week chumps the next which makes it riveting for some (incl bookies)
Misto
Guest
Your point was they paid too much? Its lower than $600K - there are spinoffs form the investment rather than just games, the AFL will spend money in the ACT as well. You are perhaps moving on because you have run out of retorts... The ACT governemnt has been very friendly to the brumbies and Raiders because they see the benefits - open your eyes...
Scrubbit
Guest
Your argument is invalid. The sharks literally gave you those points through an intercept pass. Yeah refs make mistakes, and you weren't leading at the time btw(24 all i recall), but this was a game deciding incorrect decision (in other words it was a controversial victory). I'd put money on it that if the correct call were made Melbourne march upfield and slot the FG. (But then we get into the coulda woulda shoulda maybe what if side. A dark side even I hate to visit) the cowboys were absolutely dreadful and titans should've won by 20, but poor offence cost them, and no they didn't defend very well that game, the cowboys were just THAT bad in attack.
Arnold kerwanty
Guest
My argument is the Titans were not given the points. Their defense won it. The storm game seemed be the first which the own through both defense and attack. Comments saying the referees mistake won the Titans the game did not notice that they let throughout and were deserved victors. Referees make mistakes. It happens.
Don
Roar Rookie
Thanks Bernie. My point was going to be that for the betterment of the comp we will need to renegotiate SOO schedules to enable Sunday nights. Currently there is no way Nine will accept paying the full cop if they are asked to change the schedule. Look forward to reading more on the subject.
planko
Roar Guru
Ok you win mate paying GWS 600k a game is a good investment... No one with a brain agree's with you. If the AFL want's to stay the number one sport which BTW the i think it is. It is touch and go but at worst it is a close second with a good local comp. The ACT Government should not have to subsidise it. We are not going to agree I am moving on. Good luck... Speaking of appropriate names you mist my point.
Bernie Gurr
Expert
Hi Don, Good insight re perspective of the broadcaster, Channel 9. The objectives of Channel 9 are, justifiably, ratings and if they can get a residual benefit over the Thursday & Friday nights after a Wednesday night Origin game, then that makes sense for Channel 9 - good point. However - the strategic objectives of the game have, for a long time, been subjugated to the wishes of the broadcaster. There are too many net benefits for the game to moving Origin to Sunday night - is it means getting a little less TV money, so be it. I will elaborate in an upcoming article. Thanks again Don. Cheers. Bernie
Misto
Guest
Planko (well named sir) The AFL fans travel from Victoria for the game and stay overnight and spend money in the town - If any Sydney NRL supporters come they usually dont stay the night esp with a Raiderss game on Saturday arvo deliberately set up to destroy the Giants crowd- how does a govt deal with a footy body that does that to the local govt.initiative..
Don
Roar Rookie
Bernie, Let me start by saying as a fan I would prefer Origin on a weekend and understand why commercially that would have to be Sunday night. However, CH9 would still be behind in ratings and revenue if it goes to Sunday night. When you do your detail on why Origin should be on Sunday nights and how it would benefit CH9 ratings, please look at the historical ratings CH9 achieves on the Wed game night, plus the flow on to the Thurs night Footy Show (often starts an hour earlier in SOO week) and the Friday Night live NRL game. Both these programs rate above the norm in an SOO week. When I am looking at our media buy we plug in ads on CH9 both nights following Origin because there is a considerable lift in viewers watching RL shows immediately on the back of SOO. I will probably even look at buying some spots in Sterlo on Fox this year during SOO. That result won't happen on Sunday nights. You will have a blockbuster Sunday Night result and win the night but it will give no momentum into Monday or Tuesday like it does midweek. Midweek origin wins ratings for CH9 for that week. Sunday night Origin may only win the night.
Scrubbit
Guest
Didnt Brisbane go 14 and 2 before they faded away? All I remember is a big long dominant stretch and then the "post origin drought" kicked in.
mushi
Guest
To be clear I am fine with the cap, rugby league has shown that too many organisations at a club level it lacks the discipline and oversight to be allowed to manage itself and keep 16 clubs alive, that’s not a slight on you or the roosters who obviously are considered a little more advanced in that area. I just hate the being lied to by the NRL that their objective was to create parity. Increased parity is a nice complimentary outcome but it is primarily a tool to effectively create a monopsony where the NRL is the only real purchaser of Australian rugby league labour. Lets for a second put aside your previous article where you rightly, according to research in every other industry I’ve seen, highlight that salary isn't the be all and end all in regards to recruitment. We’ll also park the fact the cap is a blanket level and not based on purchasing power making it as an appropriate tool to ensure parity as a chainsaw is for slicing sashimi. You use the NFL as the starting point but expect us to ignore that the US based leagues lost games and entire seasons in an effort to install and move the salary cap. They did it for cost control for privately owned clubs (and before some one throws up “what about the packers” the packers model is now expressly forbidden by the NFL rules) and used the parity angle as nothing more than a PR sound bite. Those player strikes and lock outs were purely cost related. Now the “parity angle” is held out as the goal when in reality it is the vehicle where they appease the fan base that more closely identifies itself with players than front office types.
mushi
Guest
Also worth remembering the NRL didn't exist pre super league
Scrubbit
Guest
60 a month is cheap as cheap. People on the dole can afford foxtel now.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I eagerly await the opportunity to debate you on this topic haha.
Scrubbit
Guest
Please take it away then lol. I didn't actually watch that game (tipped raiders as well) just assumed they played well.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
http://www.nrl.com/seven-clubs-fined-for-salary-cap-breaches/tabid/10874/newsid/73305/default.aspx
JezRu
Roar Pro
FTA coverage is massive and not only for individual teams. The whole reason the NRL has failed to engage a wider audience in the southern states and WA is because of years of neglect in so far as tv coverage. How are you suppose to market you club, entice sponsors or attract players if you have no National coverage? Couple of other points of thought; 1. Perhaps clubs should do a deal with Foxtel so as a club membership includes 12mths of basic+sports package? 2. In the case of Canberra, they really need an enclosed stadium (I watched a game there once where it was in the minus, terrible conditions for both fans and players)
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I'd like to see Canberra come good. I'm not a Raiders fan but I get so frustrated watching them thrash a title contender one week, only to get flogged by a cellar dweller the next.
Ian
Guest
I think one problem with the Raiders has been that a lot of the time the last few seasons the team hasn't bothered to turn up for games, so why would fans pay good money on the chance that the team might or might not decide to resemble something like NRL standard. That, plus the fact that going to a game involves being gouged at every opportunity, parking, tickets, food and drinks etc.
Ian
Guest
I would question whether the Raiders game was a good victory. It was achieved on the back of being offside all day and laying around in the tackles and being allowed by the referees to do that. That plus totally inept Raiders attack.