After being both a Roosters and rugby league fan for quite some time now, it’s safe to say that I understand the level of commitment required to compete at the top level.
Without having played in the NRL myself, the ‘grind’ of NRL is something I’ve grown to admire, and I further appreciate the way the athletes perform on a weekly basis – not only for their own success – but for the fans of rugby league.
Being a 10-year-old boy, I would go to the SFS with both my mum and dad to watch my beloved Roosters play. I would typically sit with my meat pie and be captivated by the players and there footballing ability. There would nothing better than see ‘Mini’ score length of the field tries, or even Freddy Fittler’s unstoppable left foot step that would see him cut through even the toughest of defenders.
They were the heroes I looked up to as if they were some-what immortal.
What I would watch and understand at such a naive age, were two teams playing a game of football for 80 minutes. There were 34 blokes running out on a football field trying to win a game of footy – nothing more, nothing less. I wouldn’t pay attention to the contract sagas, I wouldn’t know about the off field dramas and wouldn’t care so much about the rivalries – I would purely just love the game for what it was.
It’s the game I grew to love, a game I still very much so love. However, what I have now learned is that rugby league, in many aspects – is more than just game of two halves.
Unfortunately, I can’t turn back time and go back to the days where I didn’t have a care in the world. The worst of my problems were the Roosters losing in golden point, not the fact that a star player was caught out drunk the night after.
There are so many events that can happen in a game of rugby league that grasp the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It is such a shame that what captures the attention of rugby league fans is the more negative occurrences that open up a target for not only the players – but more so the NRL hierarchy.
It now seems that minor details of rugby league are overpowering the game for what it is, and what it has been. Unfortunately, common sense never prevails. If only it was that easy.
As I now grow older and become more intrigued in the politics of the game, what I witness are controversies and arguments that have nothing to do with the game itself and it’s unique nature. It seems that the game I’ve grown to love is far becoming a more contentious topic for debate for all the wrong reasons.
Fans now argue about refereeing howlers that “lost there team the game”, rather than appreciate the quality of football that was played that day.
More often than not, fans look for excuses that act as a scapegoat for a teams loss – we can no longer value the players and there ability to win a game of football. A superstar like Greg Inglis could pull of the freakiest of plays to win in the last minute of the game, but hey – it’s the referees fault the other team lost, right?
How often have we heard the same old story of Dave Smith not doing his job? The NRL schedule is a joke. Why the hell is State of Origin interfering with club football? The salary cap isn’t working. Television rights need attention, or fans complaining “I’m over my team playing on a Monday night”.
Yes, it is inevitable that NRL fans must deal with the circumstances of the business the NRL is – there’s no doubt that the external issues of rugby league do need attention. But how much attention do we need to emphasise on the blights of the game?
What ever happened to rugby league being loved for the excitement that it offers? The intensity of games that puts the smiles on the faces of so many people in Australia – a game that establishes a sense of community for even those who are not as fortunate as others.
It is a sad but true conviction that footy fans find it harder in this day of age to appreciate the game of rugby league and what is has to offer. Players and athletes alike bust themselves every day of the year to not only bring success for their club, but for the fans that have supported them in the most darkest of hours.
The point of this article is not to boast about the negative aspects of rugby league, but rather urge fans to support the game that I’ve grown to love. Let’s value the players and there freakish athletic ability, and marvel at the unique form of entertainment that simply, nothing can compare too.
Just love the game for the 80 minutes of raw emotion that it offers – maybe even 90 if you’re lucky.
That’s the beauty of the game isn’t it? Its inevitability, it’s unpredictable nature that we are so lucky to witness. I don’t think we should ever stop and take for granted the spectacle of rugby league we have on offer, because something that we do know and certainly can all agree on, is that it is truly the greatest game of all.
Karlos
Guest
Andre i couldnt agree more. I am sick of hearing how tough our rugby league game is. Just watching it anyone can see it is tough. Yet replay after replay of blokes being tough are used to supposedly promote the game when there is just so much skill on display week in week out. No wonder outsiders think its a game for boneheads.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Politics has been part and parcel of rugby league since it became a pro sport.Money does that in all sports not just rugby league.Try O,Neill & Pulver in ru.McGuire in the AFL.People bitch on about admins,and what they haven;t done and what they should do.It's the nature of the fan beast. When I played and was then interested in ru at school,I can remember people complaining about the admin.But more so now. The code has a TV station supposedly "the home of rugby league".Yet anyone can see at times they treat the code as their personal fiefdom ,and do with or ignore it at their will. EG.ch 7 beating them to attemnd the SOO dinner in Melbourne,which ch9 initially refuse to get involved with.The fact their Melbourne ch9 news apparently the night of the SOO in Melbourne ignored it. Until the current TV deal finishes with its "totalitarian" First & Last rights clause,the code will be hogtied in its scheduling. I await the ARLC's decision after Richardson's final report on the game and where it should be heading with recommendations. I see some issues rugby league has ATM with crowds,rules(reduce the interchange),scheduling and need for expansion. and penalties sometimes out of kilter.Yes and the need for some facilities to get with the real world.I have watched other codes live and on TV ,y(et still with some of its issues on the field) IMO rugby league still far and away from favourite sport since my late teens. However I also see a code that can draw 91,000 at a non heartland venue,and a better game of NRL ,football in the process with more running,clubs becoming more business like .rather than the raffle mentality,a number of areas wanting to be part of the NRL,more people playing the game throughout this country than ever before,the tie up with touch,the improvement and emphasis on Internationals.Academies popping up oversea in the Pacific,record numbers of females playing the game. I am scratching my head as to being moderated,I spelt out facts and my personal views as to where i stand.NO where attacking any one else or other code.
kevin dustby
Guest
but the warriors are shown live FTA in NZ? who cares if they are on Friday night in Australia. Canberra should worry about getting more crowds
kevin dustby
Guest
Develop? as in go into other teams areas offer them huge money as 18yo to play for an area where they show AFl in the pubs and bars
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Sarcasm Andre...
turbodewd
Guest
Andre, youre a Sydneysider for a start, so I have little sympathy. My Canberra Raiders get zero FTA TV games because the NRL is a Sydney shop with some hangers on to make up the numbers. How often do you see the Warriors or Cowboys on friday night?! Its rare. And non-live games dont count. If game isnt live then it doesnt count. So, yes, every fan has his gripe and that is my main one. The NRL claims to be even with its salary cap, but the Sydney teams get a huge leg-up by Channel 9. I mean Parra get loads of games every season despite always getting the wooden spoon.
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
Zut alors! Andre, it has always been the way for the GGOA. Politics was part of the mix when the first Rugby League casserole was cooked in 1895, and was a major ingredient when the recipe was rejigged in 1908 and 1995, with a soupçon of French bastardry stirred in by the Vichy in 1940. Dissent is in Rugby League's DNA, love it or loathe it.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Stories are what humans relate too - so we put stories to everything including sport. The Souths winning last year was the story of a long awaited triumph, as was the Blues victory. The Tigers winning in 2005 was the story of the underdog. Name any team this season and you can apply a story to them. That's why everyone loves all the off-field intrigue in sport, it makes the stories more interesting and more complex.
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
I think we have a good future. Hastings is still young, likewise with Latrell Mitchell - Also reports that Brett Stewart or Jarryd Hayne may be on there way to the chooks next year. Not sure how valid the Hayne reports are though..but Stewart is looking likely.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The NRL is no longer a game, it's not even a business. It has graduated to an industry. Players are just replaceable characters in newsprint or on TV. Blaming a ref brings headlines and gets people talking. The latest coach dummy spit brings airtime and column inches. There are only 8 matches a week, but airtime and headlines and conversations need to be available 24/7. Writing an article on a good play or a good player is going to potentially alienate another teams fan base. If the Courier Mail yesterday didn't put "ROBBED" as their headline then they would have to give credit to NSW. And how will that go down? It's all just noise
Freddy from Bondi
Guest
Hmmm....that sucks. But I guess the club who has won the last 2 minor premierships has now lost two of its biggest stars to teams that haven't made the 8 in the last couple of years. To me the this was bound to happen and shows that the cap works. I cant see the chooks being top 4 next year without Maloney and RTS... we'll now need to find a goal kicker in a hurry too!
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Maloney gone mate - signed with cronulla on a three year deal!
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Phillnz, I am clearly attempting to speak positive about the Game and asking fans such as yourself to love the game more for the 80 minutes its played. IF you watched Origin II - you would know about the QLD fans complaining about the ref, a clear example as to why I wrote this article. The NRL is a business, and it is incredibally stubborn of you to say that there are no issues in the greatest game - the is no denying that there are. However, if you took the time to read my article properly - you would know that i'm actually urging fans to love the game more and hate it less...so don't try and tell me that i'm bringing the game into disrepute - I am clearly attempting to do the opposite.
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Chui, you are a perfect example as to why my article was written. Your first instinct was an attempt to contradict my article as a result of me being a Roosters fan. The negativity is something we need to lose in our game in order to appreciate it for what it is - i'm not solely talking about the the CEO'S and who runs football clubs but more so the other aspects that grasp the attention of the media for the wrong reasons. If you read my article correctly, I think you would somewhat understand my perspective.
Freddy from Bondi
Guest
Here we go again.... So the roosters develop young players, sign them to long contracts, and then they subsequently turn into stars...therefore the roosters are blatantly rorting the cap blah blah blah.. (some would call this outstanding talent identification and roster management) Never mind the fact that since 2014 we've lost... Sonny Bill Williams Roger Tuivasa Sheck Mini Frank-Paul Martin Kennedy (twice) Nene MacDonald and possibly/probably Daniel Tupou, Sam Moa and James Maloney... But hey...the salary cap doesn't work, the roosters are cheats etc. etc. etc.
Matt
Guest
Rugby league has never been stronger. Academies in PNG and Fiji will soon bear fruit, there are numerous international competitions taking place in Europe and the NRL is primed to expand again. Politics is hampering rugby league, but nothing is killing it.
Paul D
Roar Guru
For my part, I can relate to your blissful enjoyment of the game as a kid – I was a mad Broncos fan growing up in QLD, and remember (probably with rose coloured glasses) the broncos side of the 90’s – what a team that was. Dripping with superstars and playing some of the most exciting football you can imagine. It’s hard to put a finger on what made me walk away from the game, I guess as I got older I started to find it repetitive, and couldn’t readily identify as much with the game.
Chui
Guest
I'll let the irony of a fan of a club run by Politis complaining about politics wash over me.
peeeko
Guest
we get the media we deserve
Phillnz
Guest
You cannot say anything bad about The Greatest Game" especially after origin II. How dare you bring the greatest game into disrepute by merely saying nay hinting there are issues. There are no issues in the greatest game I'm going to tell David Smith about you. The NRL marketing arm will have to come down hard on this treasonous speculation.