ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie has hailed the NRL’s scandal-free summer, describing off-field behaviour as the key to growing crowds and the game.
Brisbane and St George Illawarra will kick off the premiership race on Thursday night following the first off-season in recent memory free of stories of player misbehaviour and ugly headlines tarnishing the game’s image.
The stoush between the clubs and the ARLC over constitutional reform was the only controversy to mar the break and Beattie vowed to resolve that impasse this month.
Total NRL attendance was down by two per cent last year and Beattie pointed out they had remained fairly constant during the past decade.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has long argued the redevelopment of ANZ, Allianz and Parramatta stadiums as key to attracting more fans through the gate.
Travel, poor facilities and inflated food and beverage prices are often cited by fans as reasons for staying home instead of attending games.
Beattie said players keeping their noses clean was also vital to improving the game’s reputation and keeping turnstiles clicking over.
“It’s absolutely crucial. If we’re going to attract more and more fans to the game, on-field behaviour and off-field behaviour have to be fantastic,” Beattie said.
“But let’s be positive about this and I want to talk up the game. I think we need to do more of that and I urge all our fans to talk up the game.
“You’ve got some great ambassadors – Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, the list goes on. JT (Johnathan Thurston), these are great ambassadors for the game and they’re the sort of people that are role models.”
Beattie said he would meet Melbourne chairman Bart Campbell in a bid to convince him to vote for constitutional change at the March 12 vote.
The vote was postponed last month when it was clear the Storm, Gold Coast and Canterbury would shoot down the overhauls of the independent commission, which are designed to give clubs and the state bodies spots on the board for the first time.
Beattie vowed to cease the in-fighting between Rugby League Central and the clubs, which forced his predecessor John Grant out of his job.
“I want to bring a fresh start to the commission and the clubs. There’s been a lot of animosity over a long period of time and I want to end that,” Beattie said.
“We’ll resolve (the constitutional reform) one way or another and we’ll either make the old constitution work or a new one.
“I’ve spoken to the Titans, I’m about to talk to the Bulldogs and I’ll talk to Melbourne on Monday. Hopefully by March 12 we can resolve something.”
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not really. Noticed all the hoo haa on Lodge?
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
It seems we could be testing the idea of " there's no such thing as bad publicity " . I tend to think the viewing audience will be up , not down , for Thursday night's season opener , thanks to the Lodge story . I would expect the networks to be selling their airtime as such . I watch a lot of NRL but I can't recall ever seeing him play . Is he any good ? I guess he must be ... to be getting the Todd Carney package and not the Steve Irwin . Just to clarify .... Steve Irwin ( Raiders team mate ) not the great man I admired and respected who left the planet way too soon ...... RIP .
Bill Moi
Roar Rookie
Cathar isnt this a Rugby League story? Why do you continuously revert to other sports? This is a Rugby League article
Bill Moi
Roar Rookie
Old mate Ferret was whinging about News Ltd not knowing the impact News Ltd has on Rugby League.. why are you continuously bringing up other sports? What is wrong with the poor victim Rugby League community?
RandyM
Guest
actually i think you have a bit backwards, foxtel wouldn't exist if it wasn't for rugby league.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
And tell what sports would survive without News Ltd in the past couple of decades at a level they are at now? They perfected a perfect 'roman empire' building ploy on most sports in this country. Where is AFL televised? or Super rugby union? or A league? Most of these sports wouldn't be in existence or executed their expansion without News LTD but somehow you think the NRL is the only sport relying on this company. Oh dear I'd rather be a ferret than an ostrich with one's head buried
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Hey, you do not have my permission to use my personal name, why you continue to do so for your amusement is beyond me? If you think it is about getting a rise out of someone, think again, its a breach of someone's privacy & akin to bullying.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
tell that to the record number of women taking up the game. AFL had one of their 'legend' players up for domestic violence & a young Collingwood player for drink driving of late not to mention a litany of offences by AFL players who end up remaining in the sport, what is the difference?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Rugby league prior to Super League was going swimmingly. Teams in Perth & Adelaide suggests you don't know what you're talking about. So we know who the ignorant one is.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
going very well, perhaps as good as you changing your alias every week!
Emcie
Roar Guru
Congrats on making it to your second article Mr Moi
Bill Moi
Roar Rookie
You do know that Rugby League would not exist if News Ltd doesnt exist?? Dont you? Your not that ignorant are you?
Emcie
Roar Guru
Haha! Gotta say, it wasn't even close to what I was expecting
Bill Moi
Roar Rookie
Lodge would be the perfect face for Rugby League to advertise in the States. Atleast someone in the States know who he is and knows the name of the sport he plays. If that doesnt happen maybe Russell Packer although he probably wont be allowed in the States with his record as well. And we wonder why kids and women want nothing to do with the sport...
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
LOL yes. Watched this doco in awe for it to only be an artist's promo for an exhibition. A truly elaborate hoax. Very interesting though! The other article: http://crlnsw.com.au/record-season-looming-for-south-coast-group-7/
Emcie
Roar Guru
I feel like one of those links may have been an accident, interesting though
ferret
Guest
Ahh, as predictable as the first swallow of spring News Ltd press will dig up a "controversy" to release in the week before the NRL kick foo. They do if EVERY year!! Isn't it AMAZING how the Lodge footage just happens to surface 7 days before the Broncos V Dragons game? This footage couldn't be found during the past 3 years but miracle of miracles, a Daily Tele journo stumbles across it just before the season starts. (& The ABC jumps on board) But kudos for Fairfax for treating it as the old news it is. News Ltd are only interested in click-bait and are possibly the biggest impediment to rugby league moving forward.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
They've been hitting the Lodge story ad nauseum to make up for it.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
there's good news after good news happening in the country RL as well! Out West towns that haven't had teams in years are now laying again. https://hyperallergic.com/391158/damien-hirst-treasures-from-the-wreck-of-the-unbelievable-venice-punta-della-dogana-palazzo-grassi/ http://crlnsw.com.au/proten-community-cup-bringing-rugby-league-back-to-group-17-after-12-years/
B.A Sports
Guest
Never seen anyone spell it “Tod”, then it is done twice in the space of 10 comments by two ‘different’ people... how peculiar...