As a young boy growing up in country New South Wales, Australia, there was only one sport I truly loved.
I would watch just about any sport on television, from cricket to tennis, to motoGP, but it was rugby league that had my heart.
I played ‘footy’ as we called it, from the age of 6, and 30 years on I still play the game. Although some would question my contribution on the field these days.
When Autumn rolls around each year, I still get that excitement in the week or two leading up to the new season of the professional league, the National Rugby League (NRL), but it’s not like it used to be.
Nowadays, rugby league at the elite level has lost appeal for me and many other avid fans.
Whether it be because of rule changes, inconsistencies in officiating, lack of loyalty in player and coaching contracts or some other reason, fans seem to be disillusioned with the direction the NRL is taking under Todd Greenberg.
Thankfully, around the time my love of NRL started to wane, one of it’s biggest stars decided he ‘had a dream’ and would travel to San Francisco to take on the yanks at their own game.
Jarryd Hayne was a true superstar in the NRL before he left the sport at the end of 2014, twice winner of the Dally M medal (MVP in US speak) and for a period he looked better than everyone else, unstoppable, a bit like a Todd Gurley ‘2018 model’ running-back.
Hayne’s NFL journey was short-lived and he has since found himself back in rugby league but not as the player he was before 2014.
He now has a fight to secure a new NRL contract and some pretty serious legal allegations hanging over his head too, not that he has actually been found guilty of anything.
Jarryd Hayne (AAP)
What he was guilty of was converting me to American football in a big way. I now call it my favourite sport and having watched a game live in LA last season, I have developed a soft spot for the Los Angeles Rams.
The fact that they are running rampant over most teams they face this year probably only adds to my passion for the sport.
NFL is real theatre, it is not watered-down at all and its athletes are simply amazing. So today I am going to outline the reasons it has taken over as my number one sport,
NFL Media access is better
NFL players and coaches probably dislike the media as much as any other athlete. Sports ‘journalism’ has become a bit of race to dig-up-dirt in recent years, with so many different news websites and blogs, there is a constant quest to get the exclusive story about some sensational travesty.
The NFL manages its participants disdain for the media way better than rugby league, where there is a growing culture of avoidance of journalists.
Whether it be daily press opportunities or mid-match interviews, the NFL sets strict guidelines with generous media access to teams and this ensures fans are never short of excitement and content, even during the off-season.
You get to know the thoughts of your team’s head coach or quarterback every other day of the week, keeping you in the game.
NFL allows its athletes to show off their amazing physical ability
American footballers are pure athletes. Many of them would be competing at the Olympics or in another professional sport if they weren’t in the NFL.
It is not uncommon to see a player hurdle an opposition defender and keep running, or do a full somersault into the end zone. Of course, these plays carry immense risk but these are allowable because they add to the spectacle of the sport.
Compare this with the NRL who are on a ‘ban everything’ campaign when it comes to player welfare. The gladiatorial side of rugby league is being eroded by the removal of things such as the shoulder charge and over-policing of the tackle.
The man on the street who watches the sport is not being consulted when these rules are changed, and it’s to the overall detriment of the game.
NFL plays numerous games on Sunday afternoons
There’s something magical about a Sunday afternoon at a suburban rugby league ground, watching two teams go to battle in the sun, with a dry pitch and grippy ball.
The quality of the game is often better and the atmosphere of the crowd is buzzing. But this scenario is all too rare under the current NRL TV rights deal, with scheduling tailored specifically to television ratings at the expense of the game day experience.
If Greenberg is looking for reasons for diminishing crowds, this is certainly one of them. Often when there is a Sunday afternoon game, it’s played in a monstrous stadium in front of a small crowd, which is also a despicable look for the sport.
NFL plays matches concurrently
A highlight of my week is getting up early on Monday morning (Australian time) and watching NFL Redzone.
This is a program that shows highlights from about ten Sunday NFL games all happening at the same time – all the touchdowns and big plays are aired.
This is a throwback to the glory days of rugby league – a time you would sit around with your grandfather and listen to the Sunday ‘game of the week’ on ABC radio, eagerly awaiting the ‘around the grounds’ to see if your team had scored any tries since the last cross.
Think of the excitement the NRL could create if it had it’s own version of Redzone. I’d certainly be tuned in.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Darrelle Revis on the sidelines. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NFL does rivalries properly
I’ve been saying for years the NRL needs a conference system with an increase in local derbies. The NFL is split into eight geographical divisions and each team plays the other three teams in their division twice during a 16-game regular season.
This guarantees many derby games each weekend and of course creates heightened interest in the sport. It’s a no brainer for the NRL this one.
NFL takes its game to the world
Hosting a series of NFL games in London each year is a recent promotion the NFL has undertaken. When you have a spectator sport as good as it does, why wouldn’t you show it off in a city with a population of over eight million?
Instead the NRL insists on taking marquee games to places like Adelaide and Darwin, where, with all due respect, nobody really cares.
NFL has a draft system that works
The NRL (then ARL) scrapped its draft system years ago after it was challenged by a player in court. It has never seriously been considered since. Rugby league now has a salary cap and third-party player sponsorship system that heavily favours the teams with strong ties to the corporate sector.
The NFL draft is one of the biggest events on the US sporting calendar, raking in many millions of dollars in television revenue for the sport and creating a whole other narrative leading into each new season. Rookies in the NFL have their own contract system and this provides lowly teams a genuine opportunity to climb to greater heights the following year.
Having said all that, teams like the New England Patriots seems to have found a way to remain relevant and dominant year on year. I think the point here is whatever sport you follow, there will always be a team or teams that are managed better than others.
(Jeffrey Beall / CC BY-SA 3.0)
NFL keep its superstars in the sport
For decades rugby league has not been able to generate enough revenue to prevent some of its biggest stars leaving the sport.
Sonny-Bill Williams may have been remembered as the game’s greatest ever player had he not left for rugby union early in his career.
Other stars like Sam Burgess and Israel Folau also left the game for better monetary offers and the potential to travel the world.
Even the game’s eighth immortal, Andrew Johns, seriously thought about playing for the Wallabies. This type of sporting betrayal is almost unheard of in American football, where the game’s athletes are not regularly targeted by big money offers from rival sports.
For all the above mentioned reasons, rugby league continues to lessen in relevance in my mind and in international sport.
The current NRL leadership seems fixated on a direction that is too focussed on political correctness and too reliant on television revenue.
The introduction of an NRL Commission promised to make positive change but sadly it has only removed some important traditions, and taken the sport backwards.
Rugby league is a sport with working class roots, its people are staunchly proud of their traditions, and they love the toughness the sport is known for.
That’s why it was no surprise to me when the NRL Footy Show, a staple on commercial TV in Australia for 30 years, folded the year after it sacked its long time host, Paul Vautin.
The way the NRL is going, rugby league people will all be getting up early on Mondays to watch NFL Redzone before long.
aem
Guest
"American footballers are pure athletes – yeah, have a look at some of those 350 pound guys that barely move." The awkward moment when you realise Valentine Holmes' 40 yard dash time was closer to OT Desmond Harrison's (one of those big linemen) time than the actually fast NFL receivers... Those guys can move, don't you worry about that. There's always going to be a few exceptions - mostly nose tackles... but there are barely any pure nose tackles left in the modern NFL, and a bunch of them can still break the 5 second 40-yard time, so even there...
aem
Guest
Have to disagree with just one line :P Gurley isn't the MVP. Half a RBs production comes from his offensive line... and Todd is playing behind the best one in the league right now. He's a hell of a player, perhaps the 'best' player - but he just isn't the most valuable, because you could plug Malcolm Brown, Justin Davis or John Kelly in and get probably 90% of what you get from Gurley (not even a hypothetical - the only one of them to see significant game time is Brown, and he's got the same yds/carry, and almost identical yds/rec). Can you say the same about any of the top 10 QBs? The only non-QB I'd consider this year for MVP is Aaron Donald. That dude is downright scary - gets more pressure on the QB from the interior than even the best edge rushers... and not just by a little bit, but by a third again of the pressures total of #2 (and edge rusher, of course - Dee Ford)!
aem
Guest
"NFL Media access is better" Yep "NFL allows its athletes to show off their amazing physical ability" Demonstrably incorrect - the exact same thing RE rule changes with safety concerns in mind is happening the NFL right now.. there are a load of complaints about it (seems even more prevalent than NRL fans..) "NFL plays numerous games on Sunday afternoons" NFL has twice the number of games, and play on less days than the NRL due to competition/cultural factors (high school football is on Friday nights, college football played on Saturdays, leaving Thurs/Sun/Mon as NFL days - and Thurs/Mon are only 1 night game each). Simple structural reason as to why so many games are on Sunday arvos - those issues don't exist in Australia. "NFL plays matches concurrently" This is terrible, and I'd hate the NRL to do this (again). Redzone works for the NFL because there are significant periods with no action, so switching to where the play is running is always preferable - there are also many built-in, regular stoppages to provide switching points. This is not true of the NRL. And tbh... I don't much like Redzone anyway - prefer following the ups and downs of a single game (even in the NFL... rely on the commentators to fill in the space - which is why the Monday night team are getting slaughtered this year... Tess/Witt/Booger are just not good at it and Monday night = no Redzone shield for them - anyway, that was a bit of a tangent so I'll stop now). "NFL does rivalries properly" NRL can definitely do their scheduling better - though I'm not sure introducing formal conferences are the path to success here. Too many other factors. "NFL takes its game to the world" NFL = big market at a global scale. NRL? Not so much. NFL also take their games to places where it's convenient times for both local attendees and their core (American) audience on TV - something that can't be done in the London example given if the NRL tried it, as the time zones just don't line up. The NFL understand that attracting potential new viewers is important - but they must do it while continuing to service their core audience, and not alienate their core viewers. Which is what would happen if the NRL start taking competition games into bad time zones. "NFL has a draft system that works" The NFL draft system is a rookie draft (unlike the attempt in the 90s NSWRL - which is why it ultimately wasn't ruled to be legal), which stops players controlling their own clubs for the first 4 years of their career, and is attached to a predetermined rookie payscale. All of these things work in the NFL, because they don't have any real competitors for the same talent (there is minor crossover, but even there the competing sports have rookie draft systems in place). This is not true of the NRL. Try implementing a rookie draft and watch a plethora of talent bail out to Rugby Union (domestic and overseas) - or just never arrive in the first place (the schoolboy Rugby talent coming over - particularly from NZ - would slow to a trickle). Or, hell, the Super League. It's a bad idea that wouldn't work in practice - because the circumstances just aren't there. "NFL keep its superstars in the sport" Keeping superstars in the sport is key, but you want to move more games to Sunday arvo and/or have games overlapping and therefore reduce the biggest income stream the game has? Muddled thinking. NRL simply doesn't have the means to keep everyone - and that's ok. There are always new superstars over the horizon, so long as you don't neglect your grass roots and development (like a draft would start to do...). And most of them stay anyway... or come back.
piru
Roar Rookie
As one of those '350 pound guys who barely move' I'd say don't mistake size for a lack of athleticism or skill. They might not be doing backflips and one handed catches, but they work harder than anyone on the pitch.
Shane
Roar Pro
Todd Greenberg has been quoted as saying, “we want mums to let their kids play our game”, in response to rule changes. End point.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Double posts because they got lost in moderation
Kangas
Roar Rookie
“”appealing to ‘soccer mums’ with the way the game is being sanitised (banning the punch after Gallen’s state of origin incident for example”” That’s degrading to women and degrading to most people who love sport but don’t condone punching to the head . The nfl does not allow punch to the head
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I’m with peeko , you’re comparing apples with oranges And You can’t throw a punch in nfl either Don’t think the soccer mums comment is right , it’s actually degrading to women (. Roar Ed’s ?? ) why is a sport superior if you can throw a punch for god sake I love nfl, and been watching it for 40 years .... but watching Redzone is not a real reflection of the game . Go the bears
Shane
Roar Pro
Thanks for the feedback. Take your point about the athletes. NFL positions are more highly specialised with power being more important than endurance. I appreciate both sets of athletes but the offensive players in the NFL blow my mind.
Shane
Roar Pro
Thanks Fraser. I also watch the full games live or on replay if I’m at work. Like today’s game which I left work to watch live. I don’t think anybody who watched LA v Chiefs could argue that that there is a more entertaining sport than NFL when it plays out like that one!! I still love rugby league, I just think the NRL is making a lot of unnecessary changes and not many productive changes.
Shane
Roar Pro
Thanks for your feedback Randy. Agree the NFL has vastly more resources. That doesn’t mean other codes can’t learn from what they do well. NRL is far from perfect!
Shane
Roar Pro
Very true. Making $700 return flights to LA appealing!
Shane
Roar Pro
Thanks for your feedback Peeeko, although I don’t really understand the need for the aggressive tone. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on lots of my points. My point about political correctness is the fact that the NRL seems intent on appealing to ‘soccer mums’ with the way the game is being sanitised (banning the punch after Gallen’s state of origin incident for example). While violence in society is bad I don’t think it’s up to the NRL to provide solutions to this problem. Plenty of sports involve violent actions and don’t claim to represent what should or shouldn’t happen in society.
peeeko
Roar Guru
"Compare this with the NRL who are on a ‘ban everything’ campaign when it comes to player welfare. "- as for this comment- the NFL has plenty of rules about collisions and unnecessary roughness and has massive problems with head injuries you should also look up the definition of politically correct. it is not about player safety
peeeko
Roar Guru
So many holes in this article i dont know where to start? American footballers are pure athletes - yeah, have a look at some of those 350 pound guys that barely move. SBW would not have been the games greatest ever player the draft is in the NFL as there is nowhere else to go and thats why they keep their stars is London the world? for a dominant game in a huge country, the game has hardly spread anywhere else rivalries are not done properly - a 16 game season and 32 teams leads to conferences]matches are played concurrently due to time restraints and because its illegal to play on friday and because college rules saturday the reason why red zone works is that there are that many stoppages that a game takes 4 hours and its easy to change between games as there is nothing happening in the other
AGO74
Guest
Your point on media is not an apples and apples comparison because the NFL exists in a market with 300m people and many many cities equal to or larger than Sydney or Brisbane. Hence its media gets diluted and agendas etc can't gain traction in the way they do in Sydney in particular and to a lesser extent Brisbane. It's a great game NFL. I enjoy Redzowne like you but as another guy above posted it's all the glitz and glam. There is a lot of stuff going on in those games that could be described as boring that doesn't get shown. I actually think as pure athletes NRL players are superior given their longevity in that they have to keep up a relentless pace for 80 minutes over 100 minutes (with a 20 minutes half time). Compare that to 3.5 hours to play 60 minutes where most of those athletes by law of averages play less than half a game by the time you factor in the defence teams, offence team and special teams.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
The point about officials is spot on. NFL & rugby union both make the on-field official untouchable - complain to their face and you'll get a penalty. Their calls can be questioned (although in both they make more correct calls than you realise), but they maintain high levels of integrity and respect. Contrast that with some sports (soccer is far worse than league) where the ref gets players in their face after almost every decision, and you wonder why anyone would want to be a ref.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
As an Aussie living in USA, I'm getting more and more into NFL, but also miss NRL because it's a superior sport in many ways, and also let down by its administration. 1. If you're only watching Redzone, you're not really watching the game. You're watching attempts to score only. Sure that's where the action is, but NFL can also be a long, boring game, especially with the many inept teams in each conference. 2. Don't discount the excellent athletes in the NRL. I'm pretty sure the top speed of NRL athletes in 2018 was superior to their NFL counterparts, who admittedly are weighed down by pads and helmets. NRL players also cover far more ground and are multi-skilled, playing offence and defence with fewer breaks. 3. Ironically the last couple of years have seen traditionalist fans of NFL apparently leaving the game in droves due to numerous rule changes in the next of safety. For instance, players aren't allowed to lead with the helmet anymore, the quarterback is a protected species, and the kickoffs are a complete joke. 4. I really miss Friday night football. It's so frustrating having one game on Thursday night and then waiting until Sunday to watch another game. 5. MVP is as much of a joke as Dally Ms. Gurley is the MVP, but it will probably be Mahomes. I guess my point is, NRL isn't doing too poorly considering it only really appeals to about half of Australia, compared with the huge population of USA watching football. I think the NFL does a great job of making calls and moving on. You don't see players in the faces of the officials complaining about a call. The media coverage is infinitely more positive and insightful. NRL media is basically gossip. NFL athletes are really impressive. Football (including College because it's even more popular than NFL) is a ridiculously popular sport to watch in bars. Without volume. With 7 games on at once. People just love to be around it and have a few drinks on a Sunday. Bars must love NFL season. I wish NRL had that kind of pull in Australia because it would be magnificent. Great post. Long reply!
RandyM
Guest
Everyone know the NFL does team sport better than anyone. The media coverage, highlight shows, analysis and just the way business is conducted etc is the benchmark. But that comes from being the only football code and professional competition in a country of 350 million people, consisting of over 40 cities that have 1 million+. That is such a huge market and the NFL could probably have 60 very successful teams if they really wanted to but it's too many for a home and away season. Comparing NRL or even AFL to the NFL is unfair on those competitions.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
All well and good, but the NFL is over there, and the NRL is here.