In a piece I wrote last week about State of Origin 3, I paraphrased the saying “The problem with common sense is that it’s not very common.”
It was in relation to the Origin shield not being awarded to the winning team until after Game 3, even if the series has been decided. I find that a little silly, and yes, lacking common sense.
However, it got me thinking about other elements of Australian rugby league that appear to lack logic. Thus we have some musings on changes the NRL should at least investigate.
I feely admit that some of these are a little out there, but some are no-brainers. Regardless, the intent is to serve as a discussion starter on what Roarers believe are some common sense changes the NRL could make to improve rugby league in this country.
Let’s get the ball rolling.
1. Remove all and any association with gambling. No advertising. No sponsorship. Nothing. I’m aware that gambling generates a lot of money for the NRL, but at what human cost? And what perception damage? Don’t simply take the money on offer, find other streams of revenue to replace what gambling generates.
2. ‘Three strikes and you’re out’ rule for players, with regards to legal trouble. If you’re found guilty of any three offences – DUI, assault, illicit drugs, etc – then you receive a life ban from the NRL. Come to think of it, that may be too lenient; but again, it’s a starting point for discussion.
3. It’s often said that rugby league is a great television product, yet it has the potential to be even better. Live broadcasts on free-to-air TV might be an old topic, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be mentioned again. Show games live! And for goodness sake, broadcast in high definition. It’s 2014.
4. If a player brings the game into serous disrepute due to an incident involving alcohol, they receive a full-year ban from drinking during the NRL season. That’s means a random breath test may be executed at any time. Any training session, any game. If that player is shown to have even sniffed an alcoholic beverage during that 12-month period, it’s an automatic six-month suspension from playing. The message is clear: you can drink, but if you’re dickhead on the piss – and one that hurts the image of rugby league – you either stop drinking or stop playing.
5. The NRL needs to admit that the refereeing isn’t up to standard at present. It would be a start, at the very least. Daniel Nichols wrote a great piece on this topic, and I echo his thoughts. I’m not sure exactly what the solution is, but something definitely needs to be done. Like most fans, I’m sick of referee mistakes overshadowing the footy.
6. Only articulate and/or engaging presenters should be put in front of TV cameras. Ex-players certainly have their role in broadcasts, due to their star-power and fame, as do print media journalists, but their contributions should be kept to a minimum unless they’re a good advertisement for the game. This is just one of a number of areas at which the AFL truly excels – current Brian Taylor controversy aside.
7. Hold a summit with rugby league’s sharpest brains, including the national broadcaster, to ascertain whether the current Origin scheduling is the best for the players, Channel Nine’s ratings, revenue generation, and the overall NRL competition. It very well may be, but no stone should be left unturned when it comes to developing the optimal rugby league calendar.
8. No player other than the captain can talk to the referee, unless asked a direct question. The captains can only ask questions – rather than mere whinging – and they must do so in a respectful manner. The referees should also use the 10 metre penalty more often to enforce player behaviour. Conversely, the referees must only refer to players by their number, or as ‘the captain’. The communication between referees and players is appalling at present.
9. No lifting in tackles. None. It should be an immediate three-week baseline ban, and then weeks added on top of that based upon the severity of said tackle. I’m not 100 per cent sure about this one, as I’ve seen plenty of good, legal tackles that had an element of lifting in them. But the nagging voice in my head says if we have another Alex McKinnon incident in the next 1000 years, it will be too soon. Anyway, let’s discuss.
10. I’m getting a bit freaky now, but keeping players back the full ten metres really opens up the game and enables proper football to be played, rather than making it a dogfight, which is ugly. So if the referees are incapable of consistently keeping the defenders onside, then utilise technology. Players now have GPS tracking devices in their jerseys, so it should be relatively easy to immediately establish which players are offside.
There you go. Fire away.
TheSmak
Guest
I cannot stand the amateur display some of the commentators put on, it's a joke! To much bias and using player nick names and slang while calling gameplay. I have no problem with names like 'The Hayne Plane', but when they call him 'Haynsey' and the like, its annoying. HD and live games are a must in order to move forward. Like the article, but a few things i would disagree on.
chis
Guest
Use what $$$ for to poach NZ/P/I's Rugby and the ARU so we might get to see one Rugby code Trans Tasman and make the ORB wake up.
Michael gardener
Guest
We'll said Ryan , your points about bad refs is spot on and yes technology can help this ongoing problem. When a ref makes a mistake , it would be so easy for the video ref to overturn considering everyone watching the replay can spot the mistakes along with the presenters, this is a major problem with a great game . Your other point about bad presenters I totally agree with , I am sick of hearing presenters start an introduction with MATE and then go on to use mate in every sentence. Michael
Albo
Guest
My greatest bugbear in the game today is the stripping of the ball v the insecure carry issue ! Games are being determined by a refs interpretation of these multiple instances in every game ! It is a joke to even claim "lack of ball security" when you have 3 defenders in most tackles with at least 2 of them ripping at the ball or the arm carrying the ball in almost every tackle ! Any wonder we are seeing the spate of pectoral injuries today ! You have the great exponents of the strip like Cam Smith & Jonathan Thurston continually getting away with it, and you have some clown in commentary"tut tutting" that this was obviously lack of "ball security " ! The only way to fix it I believe, is that you cannot hand over possession of the ball in tackles involving multiple tacklers. Similar to the poaching of the ball only when one on one or it is a penalty ! If the ball comes loose in a multiple tackle, you get it back to play it ! Notice then how few balls will be lost due to "poor ball security" !
Off To Mandy's
Guest
Go back to one referee!!
Ben Southcombe
Roar Rookie
some great ideas here. the betting agencies associated with the game have cast a formidable shadow for far too long. if the match officials can use the technology to police the 10 metres, then they should go for it. And the only amendment I'd like to see made in regards to captain's talking to refs. Bringing in the captains challenge to help stamp out howlers like the Nofoaluma 'no-try' decision. Other than that, designated vice-captains for each club, in case the captain is injured or benched so the refs know know in advance who they'd need to address.
BeastieBoy
Guest
11. Allow people in the crowd who catch a ball during the game kicked from the field to keep it during the game and get it signed after the game. Like baseball. 12. Allow contested scrums and play the balls. There will a way with altered techniques in binding to achieve a tight scrum. Side putting the ball in to always get the loose head. 13. Only a limited time to take a penalty or conversion after which you lose the opportunity. Shot clock that beeps the last 10 seconds to build tension.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Haha! All good buddy. Opposing opinions are what this site is all about, so nothing to apologise for. I rarely take offense to people disagreeing with me, and certainly haven't done so here. I don't think it's a negative article, but I can appreciate why you think differently. In some aspects it is, but I see it as ways the NRL could be even better, and for me, that's positive. I want the game to be even stronger than it. I certainly don't feel I was taking pot shots. Souths about to win the GF? Now I know you're winding me up!
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
OK re-read it, it was pointing out 10 negative points about the NRL which is a negative article compared to the one you could have written about 10 positive things about the NRL "You can pretend everything is perfect in the NRL if you like" - you made that up - re-read my post, not everything is perfect and I never said it was but it is being made worse by people pointing out negatives all of the time and never the positives (that's not pointed just at you but a lot of articles and comments are negative) "hypocrisy of the league suspending players for gambling, and having concerns over match-fixing, whilst on the other hand taking cash off of gambling agencies. That’s a conflict of interest in my opinion, and I’m not alone" - therefore there is also a conflict in ripping up contracts due to alcohol related incidents and taking money from beer companies which you are not mentioning 'The association with gambling is damaging to the game. That’s a fact" - I have never seen these facts but will be happy to read them if you post them "On your second point, three ‘get drunks and fall over’ are not criminal offences. I’m talking about three criminal offences. " - yep, I misread that and got it wrong but 3 strikes laws have been tried (NT and some US states and failed in all of them) so I don't see they will work for the NRL "I can write a fluffy one for you" - i'm not after a "fluffy" one but just one about the good things - if you think that means "fluffy' or can't find good points in the NRL then maybe you need to stop following or writing about the NRL some ideas for you: record memberships, good crowds and TV ratings despite the talk of doom and gloom, the Sharks recent wins despite the crap season they are having, the Eagles yet again heading for the semi's, Jamie Soward, Penrith, Alex McKinnon's positive attitude despite the hand he has been dealt, South Sydney about to win the GF :) and yes, have reacted adversly and over the top to this article, I still luv ya Ryan, but am just sck of people pointing out what is wrong rather than what is right with the NRL- just snapped at you article...
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Craig, with all due respect, it’s not a negative article. Constructive criticism is not negative, but rather it has the intent of ‘improvement’; to make something better. That’s actually positive. You can pretend everything is perfect in the NRL if you like. But in a competitive sporting landscape, if you’re not looking at ways of improving your product, you’re not moving forward. And if you’re not moving forward when everyone else is, you’re going backwards. The article was about improving rugby league, and creating discussion on how to do so. You have offered nothing in that regard, which suggests that you perhaps missed the point. By all means, dismiss my suggestions and say they’re wrong, but you’ve missed the intent of the piece if that’s all you do. In terms of the gambling comment, you seem to have missed the point there too. The association with gambling is damaging to the game. That’s a fact. Alcohol and fast food associations, at this point, do not damage the image of the game to the same extent. So your comparison is slightly out of whack. As for people going broke via gambling, you made that leap of association, not me. I wasn’t even talking about that facet of gambling, and never said I wanted gambling banned, or anything of the sort. I was refering to the hypocrisy of the league suspending players for gambling, and having concerns over match-fixing, whilst on the other hand taking cash off of gambling agencies. That’s a conflict of interest in my opinion, and I’m not alone. On your second point, three 'get drunks and fall over' are not criminal offences. I'm talking about three criminal offences. Are you saying the NRL should allow people who have committed three separate crimes to stay in the game? Really? Lastly, on your demand for a positive NRL article, may I suggest that you go back and read this current one with an open mind, now armed with the knowledge it was about ‘improvement’, which is most definitely a positive angle. If that’s not positive enough for you, I can write a fluffy one for you, if you really want!
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Ryan, damn negative article As I like your articles normally I'm refraining from pointing out how you ignored common sense and wrote this Please make amends by writing an article on 10 good things about the NRL this year. As an example of how bad this article is - you want the connection to gambling removed, we all know how financially destructive it can be but it doesn't kill, meanwhile you have not called for the removal of the connection with alcohol (SOO is basically VB v XXXX) or fast food (think about Australia's obesie epidemic) and yet both of these kill people (car accidents, drunken brawls, heart failure etc) Common sense would say it is worse to die than be broke but you are fine with dying as long as you don't lose money gambling? You got that totally wrong. Three strikes and your out is the dumbest suggestion ever. 3 get drunks and fall over are equivalent to 3 get drunks and bash someone or crash your car. Dumb Each case on its merits please As I said, I demand a positive NRL article to make amends.
Sportfreak
Guest
With Monday night NRL TV ratings crashing by a massive 30% this year, I think some of these changes should be heeded.
Ryan O'Connell
Guest
I'm not sure how you got 'no' from that answer. . . The windfall may not be made up completely, but the gulf is nowhere near as deep as you'd think.
dubblebubble
Guest
So that's 'no' then.
Benny
Guest
Bloody brilliant, send it into the nrl right away
Epiquin
Guest
Only 8? Must've only had this year's range...
miike
Guest
Just a few thoughts Too many grey areas with NRL rules may be leading to the poor reffing. Needs to be black and white, otherwise it's up to interpretation and we need to live with it. I watch alot of NFL, league could learn alot. Im not sure if league has a officiating show, but just 15 mins with head of referees explaining decisions and what referees are trained to look for. Hey even get a gopro on them so we can see what there looking at. Another is all scoring plays are reviewed. So any score that isn't completely obvious is quickly reviewed by officials upstairs. End of year free agency. Has anyone else seen NFL films? Or any other productions by NFL ,Presentation is ridiculously good, I get it has a bucket load more money, but honestly makes NRL look amateur. Good article, NRL definitely needs to get a move on.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Some good ideas there, Mark. Thanks for sharing/commenting - great food for thought.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Um . . . I never mentioned getting rid of NRL gambling. I don't even know how you'd do that. And what are you saying 'yeah right' to, exactly?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
This is so true. In modern rugby league, minor infringements can have a dramatic effect open the momentum if a game. It places unnecessary pressure on everyone involved. Rugby league is now more of a game of momentum rather than of any ad lib skill. Percentage plays seem to dominate. By reintroducing an element of competition for the ball, minor infringements will no longer have an exaggerated effect on matches.