As a passionate rugby league fan, I am disillusioned with the role Country Rugby League plays in the progression of the sport.
How much funding does the CRL get? How is that funding allocated? Why isn’t more funding going into the groups that run rugby league in the country?
But my biggest question is why does the National Rugby League keep pushing the issues of rugby league in regional areas aside?
Newcastle Rugby League (not the Newcastle Knights) is in a bit of pickle. The Knights, once owned by Nathan Tinkler, guaranteed the Newcastle Rugby League (known as the Real NRL) more than $200,000 in funding per season to keep the local competitions in order.
Unfortunately, now that Tinkler has departed, so too has the guaranteed funding that kept league as the number one sport in Newcastle and the Hunter. The Knights’ new controllers, which last time I checked was the NRL, have decided not to honour the agreement.
Now you would think that the governing body of the game would honour the previous agreement for the good of the game, but it seems that this is not the case.
The shortfall in funding now leaves local footy with a massive hole to fill. Where does the Real NRL get an extra $200,000 a year?
One suggestion is to hit the nearly 8500 registered players with an extra $10 a season. Sure – why not make it $20 or $50 and while you’re at it, and hand AFL and football the keys to the dressing sheds of all the local sporting facilities too.
Hitting players and clubs with an extra tax is not the answer. Players and even potential players are turning away from league because of the stupidity that continues to burden the game. A tenner may not sound like much but it is a hell of a lot when it comes to deciding what sport your child will play next winter.
The NRL is quick to hold press conferences to tell everyone how financially sound they are and what great things they are doing for the development of the game in Western Sydney, but what about the rest of the country? It is about time NRL became proactive in supporting the game at all levels.
As for the Country Rugby League – which is based in Sydney – I’m still not sure what they actually really do, except hold a couple of coaching clinics and organise a few tournaments here and there, which are probably run by volunteers.
It would be great to read the opinions from other regions and towns on this matter. Maybe if enough people start raising their voice in forums like these, the NRL and CRL will finally act.
It is already too late in the Newcastle area, where football has already taken over, but hopefully this article will get some movement from the top.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
That tiny demographic represents PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Cooks, NZ, plus Penrith have a Frenchie, England, & Scotland to my knowledge have birth players running around the NRL and makes it a hell of a lot more multicultural than most sports in this country.
Justthetip
Guest
That's a great idea. It's to an NRL club but would do wonders for a local junior club.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
TB sounds like a few AFL posters who no longer are able to cause trouble on league threads. Different name same ammo. Just hit the report comment button I think!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Grosxs exaggeration TB.Should take up acting.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I rely on David Hill for politics as much as I rely on him for current rugby league matters.Little to be precise.
trenerry boy
Roar Rookie
You are missing the point here, but you always do, not the point but quite a few of those people you mention were not even footballers when they did what they were alleged to have done, if Joe Blow gets in trouble but he is a blue collar worker or a dentist we suddenly don't disparage all blue collar workers or dentists, same as Muslims. You really can't understand. My posts have nothing to do with who are bad boys, but are in regards to grass roots RL, i agree with Phil Gould and David HIll
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
You forgot Cappa. don't know if he did anything illegal but the bloke is probably the stupidest, immature, and just plain offensive person I've ever met. This coming from a guy who enjoys the comedy styles of SouthPark. I'll admit though he was funny as hell. Still a w@nker
bart
Guest
I would not say that RL is multicultural whilst around 50 % of the playing population comes from one tiny demographic that represents under 1% of the population, that being PI's.
Justthetip
Guest
Where's the local business support? I know there's coal mines nearby. Surely each local club can sort there own sponsorship out and no reason Newcastle RL couldn't do the same. I never paid for a thing playing footy. Sign on fees, jerseys, training shirts, shorts, socks, strapping the lot. The council also contributed to the minimal infrastructure needed for league fields. What do you need 200g for?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not totally clueless. At least they get out and support the teams in their Groups. You will often find them in clubs and pubs on Friday nights and Saturday lunchtimes selling raffle tickets to raise money for the clubs. Why? because it is often the only way to pay for jerseys, ground hire, referees. When the NRL clubs looked at a possible increase in funds, what did they want? An increase in Salary cap. No word about increasing funding for juniors or promoting the game.
Republican
Guest
One of the major problems for League in my opinion is its fostering of NZ talent while their recent dominance in the code which some experts say is set to continue for many years is testament to this. League remains a minor code in NZ so their rapid rise in status makes this even more remarkable.. I do not support the code admittedly but do however know many who do. Some have expressed concern over the rapid devolution of the GR of the game in the Sydney region especially, believing it is dying. I note that many players from NZ are favoured, for their physical affinity no doubt, over locals, in what is essentially our domestic NRL. This is not a problem exclusive to League but to contextualise, our GR will be compromised so long as we continue to champion and promote the NZ national cause by allowing them to join our domestic comps, simply as that. NZ are a sovereign nation so apart from the tele rights criteria that sees them expediently usurp domestic markets, why should we allow this to continue?
Mark
Guest
Cant see the point of having a NSW-CRL anymore. The NSWRL should manage all of NSW not just Sydney Too many NRL clubs are trying to stop the ARLC distributing funds to places that provide NRL players. A transfer fee system needs to be on place where NRL or State Cup clubs fund $5k to a junior club for any player contracted into their Junior systems
MJ
Guest
The Capras (not the Comets/Vomits) basically had no support from the Broncos all of last year (only Ben Hunt was listed to play up here, more chance of Karmichael Hunt appearing) and even had to borrow 2 PNG locals to fill the bench when they played up there last season. Affiliations (From what I understand at this point) Broncos: Wynnum, Souths Logan, Ipswich, Redcliffe Titans: Burleigh, Tweed Cowboys: Pride, Mackay (think Blackhawks are indie) Storm: Easts, Sun Coast indie: Capras, PNG
john
Guest
Why do we need a CRL and NSWRL? The CRL is a NSW-only body, right?
Mike from Tari
Guest
Queensland Intrustsuper Clubs are not run by NRL Clubs, they have feeder club status, the Clubs such as Easts, Redcliffe, Wynnum, Burleigh, Blackhawks fund their teams with their contracted players, their NRL Clubs send players that don't make their top 18 players to play for those feeder clubs, Clubs such as Souths Logan, Central Comets, Sunshine Coast are assisted by their NRL Clubs with Coaching staff being paid for & players outside the top 18 on game day, with Tweed Heads, Northern Pride, Mackay I am not sure what the arrangements are. With QRL Clubs contracting their own players from Colts, BRL(Reserve grade) & Intrust super Cup & with the advent of the Under 18 & 16 Competitions it gives the players more avenues to improve & show their wares, in fact the introduction of the BRL replacing reserve grade it has opened up a section of League where players who had been lost to the game due to the limited opportunities in past have seen a chance to get back into the game, a perfect example of this was Marlon Doak, who joined the Gators a sort of second Cousin to the Redcliffe Dolphins BRL team, played so well he got called into the Redcliffe Dolphins Queensland cup side midway through the season & was one of their stars in their late season surge.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
When it comes to things like allowing old man hoppa to coach, the NRL should butt out because it's a NSWRL issue, but when it comes to a lack of funding who is the one that the CRL/NSWRL/every bloke and their dog are trying to get to foot the bill? You can't have it both ways Norfol- I mean NSWRL.
Bruce
Guest
The blokes that run the CRL are clueless amateurs. Their whole office needs to be replaced and someone with business nous and gravitas put in charge. I thought Dave Smith would sort them out but obviously he had to much on his plate.
Gus Paella
Guest
What would the 200k be for? How do you suggest it should be used? What areas could or should be improved in the region?
Matt
Guest
The more I think about it, the more the NSWRL and CRL model appears to be inferior to the QRL model. NSW gets far more money from the NRL than Qld, due to having more NRL clubs, yet the game from ISC to junior level appears to be in much better shape in Qld. Also, the NRL doesn't control Newcastle Knights. They installed a number of independent chairpersons to get the club back into a financially stable position.
kdiz
Guest
Its repeatedly been said that the duration of the current broadcast deal was about improving the running of the game, and the next broadcast deal will involve sweeping changes to grassroots operations. Shane Richardson is currently undertaking his whole of game review to see how this will take place.