The NRL have locked in the TV deal and released a reasonable draw – it’s certainly an improvement on last year’s fixture. So what do they plan to do until the Auckland Nines kick off in February?
I’ve got five things they could fix this summer to make next year more enjoyable for fans.
1. The ruck
Watching the ruck is frustrating, as certain teams’ tacklers slowly wrestle the ball-carrier to the ground and then pretend their hand is stuck, while the refs don’t do anything about it.
Reward hits that put the player quickly on the ground, but when it comes to the gang tackle (let’s be honest, it’s a cuddle), make the players drop off as soon as the momentum is stopped, or roll away as soon as the player is on the ground. Turning them on their back should be penalised as should lying on them.
To make sure it doesn’t turn into a game of touch, make sure the attacking player actually plays the ball properly, using their foot. Some play the balls this year were closer to primary school tunnel ball than real rugby league.
It will take a few extra penalties in the first month of footy, but if enforced properly it should result in a cleaner ruck, fewer dropped balls, and in the long term fewer ruck penalties.
2. The video ref
Limit the use of the video ref to referring only on the act of the scoring the try. Forget about obstruction, offside from the kick, a potential knock-on earlier in the play – that’s what the two refs and two touch judges are for. Make a call boys.
Too often last year the ref wouldn’t call a knock-on or obstruction, thinking they could go to the video, only for the player to be tackled and score off the next play.
Make the on-field officials make more decisions. There will be fewer delays in our game and fewer kids eating KFC.
3. The sin bin
Bring in the five-minute sin bin and use it. If a push and shove breaks out, five minutes for the instigators. If there are repeated ruck infringements or penalties, five minutes in the bin. Professional foul? Five minutes.
And if there is dangerous play like spear tackles or stiff arms, give the offending player 10 minutes in the bin. Refs seem to have forgotten about the send off, but a dangerous tackle should have more punishment than a normal penalty, particularly when the player is injured.
It will help clean up play and make sure players think twice about doing something stupid.
4. The crowds
The NRL did a great job with ticket prices for the 2015 finals series, and we had record crowds as a result. To be able to get a $20 ticket for myself and a $10 ticket for my son meant we went to two finals games for the same price as one regular-season game. So make the ticket prices flow on to the regular season.
I’ve got no problem with the NRL forcing clubs to drop their ticket prices. Do we want 10,000 people paying $40 a ticket or 20,000 paying $20 a ticket? Make it affordable and people will come. Too expensive and we’ll just stay home and watch it on TV.
5. Access to players for media and fans
In the NFL, after the game or training the media can interview any player they want. Clubs don’t trot out one fringe first-grader at the end of training like NRL clubs. There are no media bans.
Fans want to hear from the big names, their favourite players. Give the media more access and let us hear from the stars of the game. The media will then have no excuses, and will likely stop the gossip articles and search for scandal, and write more positive league stories.
Okay, so no. 5 is probably a pipe dream, but if we can get points 1 to 4 happening, we’ll have a much better season in 2016.
Over to you for your thoughts, Roarers.
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