This is an open letter to John Grant and Todd Greenberg at the NRL, Nigel Wood boss of the RFL and David Collier who is CEO of the RLIF
With the globalisation and digitalisation of our world, the next five to ten years for rugby league is our time to make some significant structural change or slowly die away.
In recent years, cricket and soccer have made dramatic changes to stay relevant by creating the Big Bash and A-League. Similarly, rugby league needs to evolve if it wants to stay on the map and stop the player poaching, dwindling crowds and recognition paranoia.
For the sake of the game we love, please read the top 15 ideas below and feel free to plagiarise as much as you see fit.
1. Create a representative mid season window for State of Origin and international tri-series
Help reduce State of Origin’s negative impact on the international scene by Creating a window for the top ten countries (excl. Aus) to play a tri-series. All players are to be paid the same as Origin players and all games televised on free-to-air.
It is another great opportunity to promote the game internationally. The games are to be a tri-series with 1 v 2, 3 v 4, 5 v 6, etc, with home games based on the higher ranked country. Based on current standings, this will see New Zealand to play England, Scotland v Samoa, France v Fiji and Ireland v Wales.
2. Create a ‘magic NRL weekend’ for Round 1 to promote the game to new markets
Round 1 to be a ‘magic weekend’ where all teams play their match at the same venue on one weekend. This should be used as a unique opportunity to promote the game around the world as the best ‘rugby’ competition in the world.
As it’s Round 1, this match could be played anywhere in the world, with possible venues include London, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Rome, Paris, Hawaii, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Capetown, Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne
3. Rugby league to be a leader for Indigenous celebration
Rugby league is already a leader for celebrating indigenous culture but we can do so much more and lead our nation. The pacific region is celebrating and advocating for indigenous recognition.
The All Stars game is a great initiative, however we can do more. Talk from the Australian players about reintroducing an Australian war cry would be amazing for our Australian culture.
Other opportunities to provide greater on the ground support across the Australian and pacific regions through the use of current and past players and funding should be explored.
4. Strengthen ties between NRL and Super League through formal club affiliation
Create stronger links between league two strongest competitions by linking each team together, allowing clubs to share resources such as players, coaching staff and admin staff and creating a second team for supporters.
Where possible, connections should be found such as the Wigan Warriors and New Zealand Warriors.
5. Encourage more Sydney derbies, in centralised venues reciprocal members rights
The new parramatta stadium to host western Sydney derbies, the upgraded SFS to host Eastern Sydney derbies and the upgraded Homebush Stadium to host the big six central Sydney derbies.
6. Create a fully professional women’s league that mirrors the NRL
Women’s rugby league is fantastic and when played on TV it rates through the roof. Now’s the time to take the imitative and create a pathway for professional sports women and young female fans.
Rugby league can be a leader in this area and the health of the whole game will benefit.
7. Use state leagues to Test all possible expansion clubs
There are some great possible expansions clubs being touted for the NRL. The NRL should use the expanded state league competitions to test and develop all of these possible teams, setting a clear evaluation criteria after a five-year period, which include crowd numbers, club success, club finances, community support and appropriate venue.
The two best placed clubs after five years will then be promoted up to the NRL among an 18 club competition.
8. Incentivise NRL clubs to foster junior development through salary cap relief and transfer fees
Each NRL club should be allocated formal junior ‘nurseries’ covering all of the pacific region. It is the clubs responsibility to foster and grow the games in their region.
In return the club will get first pick of players from the area, with discount on salary cap and compensation through transfer fees for players leaving the club or its affiliates.
9. Reduce number of NRL home-and-away games to allow for more representative games and increase crowd numbers
Once the competition is expanded to 18 teams, the home-and-away games should be reduced to 17 allowing every team to play each other once. This creates more meaning one every game and increases crowds in over-saturated Sydney.
It also allows more space for dedicated mid-season rep window, international games, world club challenge, expanded 9s series and all stars
10. Each NRL team to be affiliated with two teams within the new Platinum State league teams – playing three home games in the adopted area
Each NRL should be affiliated with a ‘home’ state team and another ‘regional’ or ‘frontier’ state team.
The NRL team should play a minimum of three games per year in the regional/frontier area to help grow the game and support regional areas. In return, all juniors from these regions will be allocated to their affiliated NRL team.
If this occurs following expansion to 18 NRL clubs, there would be 36 platinum league clubs with non-NRL expansion areas still gaining three games a year through affiliation.
11. Stronger free-to-air TV content to grow game internationally
The governing bodies should seek to get free-to-air exposure in all international markets, even if it requires to give it away for free. Rugby league is a great TV game, and it should be used to grow the game internationally.
All professional competitions should be shown, for example Saturday night NRL games, can be played live to kids in London on Saturday morning. The USA would love to see a ‘highlights weekly wrap up’ during the NFL offseason.
Speaking of NFL, there is an opportunity to create NFL-style documentaries to promote the game in way that appeals to all sports lovers.
12. Create four confederations with one major league in each
Create four international conferences of Oceania, British Isles, Europe/Africa and America/Pacific. Each confederation should have one major ‘domestic’ competition mainly based in Australia, England, France and America respectively but with minimum of four outside teams in each competition.
Clubs should be affiliated across all four confederations.
13. Provide a pathway for fledging rugby league nations by Creating a world nines series
Emerging nations play some amazing footy with flair, however they struggle with the big nations to match fitness and professionalism. Rugby league nines removes those advantages due to the shortened nature of the game.
A world nines series provides a professional pathway for the emerging nations to build the game on. The series can travel each January/February, with four annual tournaments being hosted in – city within each confederation.
14. Play world club challenge two weeks after grand final at Wembley
Play the world club challenge as a double header with all four grand finalists playing against their antipodean rival.
The match should be held as soon after the grand finals as possible, suggest two weeks to allow for travel time.
Hosted at Wembley, this match should be the pinnacle of every player’s career. The match should be broadcasted on BBC to promote the game across the U.K and if played on Saturday night, broadcast live on Australian free-to-air television on Sunday morning.
15. Everyone adopt Toronto Wolfpack as second team
The new Toronto Wolfpack embodies most of the ideas above. They will be the first trans-Atlantic professional sports team, they have been made to enter the UK second division and work up to the Super League.
They have scouted players from all over the Americas, there expecting 10-15k every home game, they have a great TV deal and they are making a documentary about their first season.
Australian rugby league needs nothing more than to be reminded that there is more to rugby league than Australian rugby league and the Wolfpack may be just the team to do it. Plus they have awesome gear.
McNaulty
Guest
I'd concentrate on getting the game looking better and more entertaining on the field over the next couple of seasons. I would suggest the following: 1. make the 40/20 rule an anywhere 40 rule. This would force the defence to have the wingers back for most of the set of 6 and would open up some space for throwing passes and going around teams rather than straight up with the boring 5 and kick; 2. make defence more exciting so that there are plays a player can make to change the game. For instance a charge down should not restart the tackle count if the kicking team regathers. This would make it possible to put more pressure on the kicker. Also, if you knock on in attempting an intercept it should not restart the tackle count. The attacking team (i.e. passing team) should get the scrum feed but the tackle count should not restart - feed the ball but it is still tackle X. 3. Bring in weighted penalties - for example a forward pass from dummy half should be a penalty against the attacking team, but they should just be forced to retreat 20 metres rather than loose the ball (but call more forward passes from DH). Likewise a hold down infringement should only be a 20 metre penalty...same tackle (no restart to the count). The reason for weighted penalties is that the referees interpretation of arbitrary things is too influential on the game, They have more influence that the players playmaking. This needs to end.
McNaulty
Guest
Agreed. On the field we need to make the game more exciting. I think changing the 40/20 rule around so that the kicking team get the feed if they find touch over a distance of 40m (or even 30m) from anywhere on the field would be a great rule amendment. It would create more attacking opportunities as the D would need to keep the wingers back at all times.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
We are all aware Brad/Fitzy NSW that the RLWC17 will have some countries with local players,and some with heritage players. You keep banging on as though we believe they are all born and bred in every country. That's the way you eventually grow the code in these countries who are "beginners".That's how it happened in Fiji. None of my facts or references are false, you have not shown anyone of them to be .All you have achieved ,is show us the usual D measuring argument .Pretty lameTBH. You made a few false comments here and on other threads about rl.Such as no growth in 120 years.Well that is a porkie.Pluck anything out of the air, it's OK apparently.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Brad NSW or is it FitzSimons NSW finished with the parking meter." Well done for getting it" LOl. Never stated rl in Europe was something that it was not,so read what was stated,inseatd of your usual mine's bigger than yourscrapola. All countries I have mentioned have rl comps.They are small by comparison to any set pro comp on other countries. RL did not exist in any way shape or form in these countries prior to 2000.Some of these countries played RLWC Qualifiers with local players in Europe ,.a few did not. Whatever monies the code receives in the countries,whatever recognition it gets in these countries,they get it because of development work and growing the code to thew point of having rl comps..They don't get it for being a new idea with nothing to show for it. Taxpayers' money is provided to other sports, it's hard a new phenomena. You have not once shown my facts to be wrong. So be a good lad, and practise your scrummaging techniques, or whatever you are expert at elsewhere.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's a real criticism?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
You see the cup half empty and then complain that there shouldn't be any water in there.
BigJ
Roar Guru
what is that please explain ?????
Bakkies
Guest
The Top 14 season has 187 games whereas the NRL has 201 in theirs. That has to be taken in to consideration. The biggest regular club home ground is Bordeaux's Stade Chaban Delmas which holds 37,500 only given to the club after Girondins Bordeaux moved to the new stadium. The NRL has ANZ Stadium that holds 83,000 and the Broncos play at the 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium. The odd game gets moved to the likes of the Vélodrome and Allianz Riviera. That doesn't happen as often as it did in the past probably down to councils contributing to stadium refurbishment or new builds. Some clubs are now moving in to bigger grounds which boost the crowd averages. Lyon are moving to Stade Gerland in a few weeks. Capacity has been reduced to around 27,000 after the Football club left. Racing are moving in to a new 30,000 stadium that has a roof. Grenoble have spent the last two to three seasons playing their home matches at the 22,000 seat Stade des Alpes. Clermont, La Rochelle and Castres have recently extended their grounds. Toulon have too but are hamstrung due to space and refuse to move due to the location and supporters attachment to their home ground. They also have a café near the ground which generates income for the club. The club is largely self sufficient these days and is one of the few that makes a regular profit. There are still clubs in the league that are based in small cities and towns. Pau has a similar population to Albury and their stadium sits 13,000 at least. They're propped up by petrol money, other sponsors and of course their council. Castres has a population of 44,000. Close to Toulouse. Club is supported by Pierre Fabre. They were Top 14 champions recently coming from at least 6th in the regular season and a much smaller budget. They nearly got relegated the following season but are back fighting for a Top 2 finish. Their stadium holds about 12,000. You can't compare the tv deals either as the Top 14, Europe and 6 Nations are all packaged separately. Top 14 is largely a cable deal with the big matches on terrestrial (mainly due to French regulations stating that these games have to be shown on that medium). No split contributions from internet, terrestrial and cable to finalise one overall package and dividing up games between broadcasters. Europe and 6 Nations all nations contribute to a pot than it is distributed.
Bakkies
Guest
Not having a salary cap will destroy the clubs and competition. Rugby has salary caps (even the ARU does) just the caps in Europe are higher then the NRL and Super League's.
Bakkies
Guest
Top 14 salary cap is just over €10 million euros which is equivalent to $14.45 million AUD. Way above the NRL cap. The AP's salary cap is £7 million again ($11.1 million AUD) above the NRL's In the Pro 12 only the Welsh regions have a salary cap. It was £4.5 million in 2015 and the WRU has started to centrally contract their top players to help keep them in the Wales.
Brad NSW
Guest
Peeko you are right. I dont work over there, i just go and check the 34 people i have working for me are working. I spend most of the time at sporting events. Not much Rugby League over there Peeko, i just cant understand why?
Brad NSW
Guest
French English Romanian Icelandic Albanian German Swiss..
peeeko
Roar Guru
Brad, there is no way you work in Europe. the quality of your comments points to you struggling to have a job
peeeko
Roar Guru
which ones? name me a RU comp with bigger crowds or TV than the NRl?
peeeko
Roar Guru
3 hats - i feel for the other south supporters, they have to deal with you
peeeko
Roar Guru
its probably not ant souths, just anti the commenter
peeeko
Roar Guru
go back to stirring the soccer folk MF
peeeko
Roar Guru
300 comments unbelievable
Brad NSW
Guest
Geez the locals loved it! All 32 of them! Matt i mean Cathar if these teams played in the World Cup nobody would have dramas about the legitimacy. Classic! Im definitely saving that video
Brad NSW
Guest
The fact the international eligibility rules allows "nations" to be manufactured. When you get the world number 4 team scotland with zero scottish in the team, the Italian national team has zero italians as do the Irish team. One born in Tonga from the Tongan team, zero born on Samoa from the Samoan team.. i can go on Andrew. The only country that will bring supporters and media to Australia for the next world cup are the Poms. You get my jist dont you? All you have to do us look at the pools of teams and look at the weaker teams are with each other so there arent as many floggings. People like crosscoder will see there arent as many floggings and say the rest of the world is catching up to the only 3 countries that play Rugby League.. In some way the International Rugby League federation are smart in doing this