The taste of Test football

"I’ll take state over club so you’ve got a second but that said who cares? " Mushi, just having a discussion and voicing my opinion. Am really surprised 3 people would rather watch state or int RL over their club but each to their own.

I'll take state over club so you've got a second but that said who cares? All three options are avialable so why do we need to measure dicks over which is better within our own code. I mean this is taking the petty small mindedness of code wars to whole new level.

No problems with that. Talented players will either see it as a place to express their talent, or a stepping stone to bigger and better things. It has always been thus, although in the past there were fewer alternative careers to pursue.

I do not attempt to speak for or against Craigo's viewpoint. I am stating the current situation as compared to the past when it comes to rl tests against the Kiwis. I visited NZ in the 80s for my wife's relos,and I found then the attitudes prevailing then toward rl then different to those of today.I can assure you rl prior to the Warriors IMO was not as popular as it is today. I also remember the ABs had an aura about them ATT. My last para re comments when tests are one sided is .not challenged,because it is a fact.

"Your fact is BS. I consider myself state over club. And my team only just won a premiership last year" well maybe 99.99999999% of people prefer club over state you're the first person that I have ever heard say that but that's your choice

in that case, be prepared to lose many more of the better league players to other sports who are looking to grow. the nrl will become a feeder ground for japanese and french rugby millionares who dont want the hassle of developing their own athletes. the salary cap makes the nrl players relatively cheap to buy.

Cross Coder Criago's comparisons were incorrect to say the least. Any major sporting event in NZ on Saturday night would command a good viewing audience League , soccer international 20/20 , one dayers etc.. , go back over the 2010 Tri nations and the Kiwi's have always had a good viewing audience infact for the double header in Auckland 2010 44000 and there were lots of children and that includes the second game-I was there. Mind you there were a few thrown out for drunk and disorderly. Whether you like or don't like a comparison measuring contest is not for discussion. Craigo submitted figures , he didn't do the research and same with TV ratings. It skewer's peoples perspective and gives the wrong impression. RL has always been popular in NZ especially if we win , but like soccer if we start losing and it go's down hill aka Wallabies. Because of the Warriors for RL and Phoenix for soccer both codes are in good shape so they ain't going backwards but like in Aus everyone has to compete for dollars and the attention.

So apart from the AB's game, the only other events to surpass 20,000 in Wellington this year were the only two rugby league matches played there? That's gotta be encouraging for the NZRL and the Orcas bid...

Have to agree , 9 has dictated to RL far too long, kids staying up till 10pm just to watch it on TV, or getting home at midnight if they go to the game . You don't see a lot of kids in the crowds anymore , I like to see stats on that. They are our most important market. Maybe next broadcast deal we will finally be able to dump 9

Have loved this series. The level of competition was high with very little between the teams. It certainly gave WAY more than expected.... I have sometimes felt that an end of year series is sort of a post-script to the NRL season, but this year blew that theory away. Samoa's strength has given us a taste of what Pacific Island League can offer with further growth and opportunity, England are making leaps and bounds as more of their players are coming through the NRL comp. New Zealand under Steven Kearney are brilliant. His nurturing of a new culture in the Kiwis camp is paying off. A very excellent end to Rugby League 2014

All I am doing is spelling out the status of rl in NZ,no appendage measuring contest. In fact PhillNZ.At one stage it was reported 26,000 tickets had been sold,so the time I propose was a deterrent.Ask yourself how many families want their kids lobbing around at near 11pm.It would deter people in this country. Correct it was to fit in with the Aussie Tv market.Channel 9 are a law unto themselves,as soon as the code breaks the nexus with them,the better it will be for fans and players alike. And as far as my last para,I challenge anyone to disagree with that assessment.As we have had plenty of examples on this site over the past few years.

Every country gets better RL coverage than Australia! In New Zealand they play the two Friday night games live on two seperate channels (its called choice), and in HD. Sports fans and the codes here are both losers. Even the head of Channel Seven (Stokes) was arguing last week for all media regulating to go - except anti siphoning, such is the value of this corrupt peice of legislation to the otherwise dead networks. There are exemptions to liquor and betting ads for sport hence the plethora of such marketing to an otherwise family and youth catchment. One addiction feeds another and none more so than quality live sport. We need to be careful that our sport does not become the vehicle for turning us into addictive beer swilling punters.

Crosscoder The Kiwi's have always had a good following , especially when we win. READ CRAIGO's posting for Westpac Stadium and DID NOT mention the AB's and Super XV games he also compared the Kiwi's game v a pre game AB show. So in effect he was selective in his posting , hardly a fair and indicative reflection when one quotes figures. The surprising point was it looked like headed for a sell out , which should of been. Home game , beat England , beat Aus we were on a high. All this time structure was to fit into the main Aussie Market Eastern seaboard for a 7pm TV kick off . So can some one show us the ratings for the Aussie TV market.

Tours back then were much bigger affairs, including a hectic schedule of matches against club, state and select sides as well as the tests. The 1946 'Indomitables' actually split their squad in two to play matches in different regions of Australia, meeting up for the tests and state matches. I can't see clubs releasing players for that sort of workload in the modern era.

It has come to something when British fans get better live RL broadcasts than Australia. All matches were live on Premier Sports. Additionally, the Final and all the England games were live on the BBC (TV and radio). That said, although the tournament was a delight, I'm looking forward to a few lie-ins on weekend mornings now it is all over. Setting the alarm clock for 5am is no fun!

Storm Boy - Yeah only since 1910. Ritchie is a deadset moron. And his editors must be dumber.