Is it just me, or does it seem like the sport of rugby league is perpetually stuck in ‘grumpy mode’?
It doesn’t seem to matter how successful the code is going, or how entertaining the game is being played, some people still feel the need to whinge about something. Or someone. Anything.
Yesterday, perennial bagger of all things rugby league, Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, had a piece published about 2015’s biggest coaching brain snaps. On face value, it would seem an incredibly negative opinion, but it was actually one of the most positive things Buzz has written all season.
Last Friday, Paul Kent, one of rugby league’s premier – and grumpiest – writers, penned an article labelled ’15 things the NRL must fix’. The article was written in a tone that suggested the game is on death’s door, and just months away from collapsing and disappearing from our lives forever.
Except it came during the same week when the NRL announced a new broadcast deal with Channel Nine, further filling up the sport’s coffers, and securing itself an even brighter future.
I don’t mean to pick on News Limited journalists either, because when it comes to rugby league, there are plenty of examples from other media outlets and personalities that are just as whingy and whiney as anything from a Rupert Murdoch-run organisation. I mean, no one is rugby league more than Gus Gould, yet he absolutely loves ripping the game apart every chance he gets.
In truth, I myself have written many articles that could be perceived as negative or grumpy whinges. Technically, this piece is yet another one, right?
The reality is, when it comes to rugby league, it’s very easy to do.
But why? Why do we all feel the need to constantly snipe away at a game we’re supposed to love?
One theory is that the game is built on feuds, grudges and ill feeling, and like a habitual liar who can’t stop telling fibs after he starts, once rugby league folk begin ranting, maybe they can’t stop. Muscle memory takes over, and there becomes a need to hate on something at all times.
You need look no further than the jewel in rugby league’s crown to find evidence of how quickly things can spiral out of control, once the raging commences.
State of Origin has become as much about the whinging between New South Wales and Queensland, as it has the actual footy played between the Blues and the Maroons.
The whinging is fuelled by the media, who whip the respective states into a frenzy by producing biased and parochial agendas that incite the masses on both sides of the state border.
While I have no issue with the harmless banter that goes on during the Origin period each year, I grow increasingly frustrated with those fans who fail to see that they’re being brainwashed into thinking one state/team is, for example, ‘grubbier’ than the other. It’s especially frustrating when I’m one of said fans.
Origin sees everyone – coaches, players, media and fans – get all worked up and intensely petulant with each other, and the game itself.
Yet the whinging doesn’t finish when Origin does, as not a day seems to go by without someone having a major gripe with the NRL.
Chicken-wing tackles. Referee blunders. Shoulder charges. The Nines tournament. Contested scrums. Blocking runners. High definition. Crowd numbers. Night-time grand finals. Suburban grounds. The TV broadcast deal.
The third man in. ANZ Stadium. Channel Nine commentary. Salary cap concessions. Crowd behaviour. Punches. Delayed coverage. Penalty loadings. Player burnout. Souths favouritism. Send-offs. Niggle.
Head high tackles. The salary cap. Play-the-balls. Daly Cherry-Evans’ contract saga. Head pats. Concussion laws. Expansion locations. The representative calendar. Interchange rules. Grubs. Video referees. Media coverage.
Needless to say, I could go on.
Isn’t anyone in rugby league ever happy?
Yet perhaps there is a strange – somewhat ironic – reason for all the negativity: that we all love the game too much.
Is it possible that all the whinging actually comes from a place of intense passion? That we love our team, our players, our state, our entire game, so much, that it clouds our judgement and makes us a little crazy?
Is it a case of simply being heavily emotionally invested?
Maybe, just maybe, the whinging comes from a place of love, not hate.
That’s what I’ll keep telling myself, anyway.
Kirk
Guest
To each their own but many people in NSW and QLD don't think AFL is quite that exciting and they have been to a live game. Plenty of people also think League is boring, or soccer is pointless as well. No game is intrinsically more entertaining than another. You are pushing the same embarrassing parochial nonsense that people like Kevin Sheedy were saying - just get them to watch one game of AFL and they will be hooked.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Fact is that AFL game pull much larger average crowds that any other code in this country, and it's been like that across all markets for decades. And it's the intrinsic qualities of the game itself as a spectacle that is consistently drawing large average crowds. I've worked with several RL supporters in Sydney who constantly bagged AFL but has never been to a game - almost without exception, if they finally end up attending a Swans game they come back and admit the atmosphere is fantastic. The crowd is on their feet and engaged in the game play by play. Whatever the reason it is the game itself that excites people, and has done fairly consistently for decades across the five states.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Basketball is monotonous? Get outta here! Hogwash!
Kirk
Guest
High scoring doesn't make a game exciting, otherwise no one would bother watching soccer. Basketball is high scoring and its monotonous as hell. Most AFL games are not a contest with blowouts all the time. I see people on the AFL tab complaining about the lack of eveness all the time. I also go to Broncos games regularly and there is a high proportion of females, can't speak for the other teams but you seem to be generalizing that NRL isn't female or child friendly. We could also just generalize that the AFL isn't too friendly towards indigenous Australians after recent events.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Not quite Jay C. You arguments seems to be that large NRL crowds (if they can be achieved) will somehow necessarily kick-start ongoing large crowds...like some sort of perpetual motion machine. And that AFL crowds likewise - they achieve a certain size which self-sustains them. Large crowds in both the AFL and NRL occur every season, and at some of those games the play is boring and atmosphere terrible. Also you have to acknowledge that the AFL plays (or has played) to very large crowds in all markets - the recent dip in QLD crowds notwithstanding, and also allowing for low crowds for development team GWS. So the AFL somehow achieves very large crowds across all markets, and it has down for decades. Why? Are all the five state markets somehow lucky to achieve large crowds and then somehow sustain them like perpetual motion? I don't think so. If you've been to the game you know the answer - unpredictable patterns of play, relatively high scoring (meaning teams in most games are in the contest for most of the game), regular highlights which the crowds applauds (marks/tackles/goals), rapid movement of play across the whole playing area, female friendly (not male dominated crowds), kid friendly (activities and player engagement), team banners and club songs....You attribute the good atmosphere just to large numbers of bums on seats at AFL games but you're confusing the outcome of many factors (above) as the reason for the atmosphere. It's the game itself which has for decades before the AFL existed pulled large numbers in state leagues in Vic, WA and SA. This is a continuation of an inherent aspect of the game - it's exciting to watch live (and on TV for that matter) and it's always pulled large crowds.
Birdy
Guest
It will be interesting which way the RL and state government goes when they finish their study into Sydney stadiums. Will they build 3 or 4 boutique 30,000 stadiums or turn ANZ into a purpose built 80,000 seat rectangular stadium. I honestly don't know why anyone would pay to sit 80m away in a round stadium. If they want to increase attendances let's hope they get it right and not compromise with the southern code.
Ads
Guest
Don't think the AFL are after announcing a $2.508 Billion deal..
Ads
Guest
I am over it, my point exactly. Never say never. Magpies forever
Scottyvee1986
Roar Rookie
Jay C you're 100% right mate. I have been to an AFL game and it was a fantastic DAY out. I stress the word day there because as a broncos fan i am sure you never see your Team run out during the day. I'm a roosters fan and i have the same issue. We had one daytime home game this year and it was on the central coast. I think a big part of the reason that the AFL pull crowds is because your pretty much guaranteed that your team will have at least 4 day games a season. This time is friendly for families and young adults.
Scottyvee1986
Roar Rookie
Here Here Bulldog! If it wasn't for the funny video's and photos on my FB wall i would have deactivated it a long time ago lol.
Scottyvee1986
Roar Rookie
Regardless of what's on the list, the point was to show that the NRL has a lower average crowd than the AFL. I used the other popular sports around the world to show a comparison, EPL already surpasses the AFL, but you're right, if the stadiums were bigger in the EPL they're crowds would be much bigger. Maybe the "world" comment was a little bit of an exaggeration but that's besides the point.
Jay C
Roar Guru
The key difference between NRL and AFL is match attendance. If the NRL ever truly want to compete with the AFL they must address attendance levels. These television deals are all well and good, but the bread and butter should be attendance. The AFL know it. And will forever be big brother until RL works out a way to get people to games. The problem is it's a snowball effect. You start getting 25,000 people to a game at a quality venue and the atmosphere is electric. Everyone has a great time, they are much more likely to come back/tell others. You get 8,000 at ANZ and there is honestly more atmosphere at the local A grade comp. Why would I make all that effort. You look at Soccer in England/Europe. Every single travel article or piece of advice says going to a game is a must. Not for the soccer, which we can all agree is as interesting as doing your taxes. It's for the atmosphere. AFL seems to have it (Disclaimer: I have never been to an AFL game) so why can't the NRL.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
One reason, and we're about to see this unfold in the RL media, is an inferiority complex the game has when it comes to comparing itself to the AFL. Rather than be happy with their latest broadcast deal which gives much better fan access to RL supporters, and much more money for NRL clubs/players, you can be sure there'll be a lot of navel gazing by the RL media and questions asked (again) about why the AFL has achieved a higher value broadcast deal. And this impulse to engage in unflattering comparisons to the AFL plays out in other related areas like expansion teams, player salaries, memberships and crowd averages. It's not bloggers or people on forums that do this...it's the RL media itself that loves castigating the NRL's administration for a perceived failure to deliver to its (supposedly) rightful place at the top of the pile ahead of inferior games like Aussie Rules. Again we're about to see negative articles explaining away why the AFL deal as 'over market value', and complaints about supposed missteps taken by the NRL. All misguided negativity rather than focussing on the positives.
up in the north
Guest
That was truly an outstanding comment. I applaud your work.
Chris
Guest
It bugs me how Rugby League in Australia popularity was rising from 1989 till 1994 and if the SL war handout happen we would of seen some glorious seasons from 1995 onwards.Bloody shame.
Chris
Guest
You could say that about England, Ireland, Auckland etc
Chris
Guest
I agree mate.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The NSWRL went to a national comp in 1988.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good luck...most Sydney siders will be cheering for the Bronx. I will be anyway...
Luke Rogers
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more. Well said! So much emotion embedded within the culture and history of this game. People are emotionally invested, and therefore have stronger opinions. For example, when topical discussions arise in this game (which we all know is often) people go from logical to irrational in a heartbeat. Why? Because of the emotional attachment to the subject at hand. We so often see this with the ongoing bombardment of opinion, debate, argument and confusion throughout the season (and offseason). Sometimes this 'any exposure is good exposure' can be productive, but I think most agree that in the NRL's case, more often than not the negative exposure is counterproductive to it's goal as being the premier sport in Australia. It would be better for the game if the NRL took the appropriate steps to improve 'management & communication', where the right balance of knowledge, experience and brains came together to find rational solutions to the ongoing growing pains that seem to be forever immersed within this great game.