A lot of league fans remember times when the main game was played on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
Yes, of course, times change but the same fans will also remember when rugby league was hailed as ‘our game’.
Realistically, the NRL cannot lay claim to that title these days. In a time when its administration wants to attract fans and encourage kids to the play game, ultimately ensuring its future, they seem to have a very obscure way of displaying this.
For example, Thursday night games are played at 8.00pm. At this time of night and on a week day, who has time to take their kids to this fixture when they must attend school the next day and parents have to work?
On grand final day, there were the earlier minor games then a few hours of so-called entertainment before the actual grand final was played at 7.30pm. People want the old days where they could cook up a barbecue, have a few drinks and watch the game in the afternoon.
A lot of people weren’t interested the grand final. One indication was the remark made by a nearby bottle shop manager, who said sales were way down compared to the previous weekend when the AFL grand final was played.
The weekend games such as the Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks clash that ultimately rounded out the top eight was played at 2.00pm, while a game that had absolutely no bearing on the competition whatsoever was played at 4.00pm.
Through these examples and many others, a lot of league fans have concluded that it is not Todd Greenberg and co. that control rugby league. It’s television.
Everybody knows that any professional sport needs sponsorship, but it should not have an effect where fans prefer to stay at home and watch the game, if at all.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Fans are also over the commentary – in particular, the free-to-air service where an inner circle group make stupid attempts at humor and drive more people to sign up for pay television.
It’s time for rugby league to find a new free-to-air station where the commentators are actually talking and remarking on the game and not behaving like frustrated comedians.
Finally, and without trying to take anything away from the Roosters’ grand final victory, most fans saw what they thought were two of the worst decisions in grand final history. Unfortunately the standard of refereeing remains terribly inconsistent and unprofessional.
I will never forget the commentary I heard during the very first game of the 2019 season where it was said that the referees were at least letting the game flow. That was the only positive remark I heard regarding refereeing all season.
I did catch a few games of the British Super League. From a spectator’s point of view, it leaves our game for dead. It’s one referee and he has control of a faster and far more entertaining game than the one Todd Greenberg claims we have here.
macho
Guest
TV owned the game (and cricket) ever since that same network Nine weaselled andrew Johns in to play cricket for NSW in a T20 game against full time cricketers - can u believe that?
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Fair point. I'd honestly argue that $5 a month is not a significant expendature if you truly want to watch the sport, the fact that these services always have loop holes and the fact that, anyone with any abilities on the internet can find ways to circumvent having to pay as reasons to justify adding the expense though. If we are thinking of ways to better the game, sometimes its a requirement to make the hard decisions like that. I'd argue Rugby Australia being on foxtel verses and NRL provided app is different. In terms of cost, 10 months of proposed $5 a month would pay for 1 month of Rugby on foxtel.
Dingo
Roar Rookie
Interesting views Brendon, take the game away from free to air where people from any area or socioeconomic status can watch and enjoy the game. Mmmmm cut out the fans from having a voice regarding the game, the rules, the refs' and give the NRL more control. Do you work for Rugby Australia?.....sounds like their policies. Aren't they doing well since they left free to air TV!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Clipper. I agree about poker machines being a blight on society.And the NRL clubs in quite a few cases are reducing their reliance or assistance from them.And no doubt expect the AFL clubs will be doing the same. However, that aside, you made the emphatic statement the NRL has"no aces up its sleeve".I just gave you examples, where in fact they do have plenty to offer.I understand you dislike rugby league, it shows clearly with your responses.You ignored it with the excuse"there's nothing more to say". Then you say "everyone knows they've bowed to the Tv gods",yet no negotiations have even started for the next TV deal.Wow!!! The 9s you cited,which I didn't even mention are chicken feed, as far as offerings go. The point is regardless of whether the TV stations refuse to increase the offers or reduce the bids, the offerings can be split and sold off to various platforms, and the NRL is in a position to work on in house production.Last time ch10 was in no strong financial position to bid.
clipper
Roar Rookie
I did not ignore it, just there is no more to say - everyone knows they've bowed down to the TV gods, there is not much more they can do to increase the offer. We'll just have to wait and see. Can't see the 9's tournament making much of a dent in the offer though. Maybe the reason the NRL clubs are open about the pokies is because there are far more of them - they're pretty much a blight on society, no matter which code has them, although the WA clubs seem to do alright without them.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No need to remind you about %s, it is hardly a secret.Then again the NRL clubs are open about poker machines,AFL clubs that use them a tad more" cautious". Notice you ignored my response to your" no aces up their sleeve comment." Just to keep the ball rolling in today's SMH owned by ch9, is an intriguing story about NRL TV rights under the heading:- NRL considers in-house production for next TV rights deal. Thus Clipper, perhaps another ace up the NRL's sleeve, the same sleeve you stated had no aces.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Yes, agree, media landscape may well be different and all codes will have to start looking for other revenue. Remind me again the percentage of revenue the media deal makes for the NRL compared to the AFL.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well Clipper I guess most of the Eastern Suburbs Roosters fans(living in the East) were attending the NRL G/F.Whereas AFL fans in the East were bereft of their team in the G/F, nothing to cheer about. Rest assured in the Greater Western Area of NSW encompassing all points of the compass.GWS fans had apparently gone AWOL.Certainly nothing in Canberra to speak of. "No aces up their sleeve"LOL.ch9 has stated they don't want Thursday nights in their next TV deal.Ch10 has already publicly expressed interest in bidding for the TV rights.SOO is wanted by all the FTA.Expansion is still under discussion for 2023.Greenberg etc have been visiting the US at the huge social media outlets, just like Gil did. I doubt V'landys will be as accommodating as his predecessor was on TV deals.And you ignore the impacts of a new SFS and ANZ Stadium within that time frame. And the impact of a new Townsville stadium. To suggest there are no aces up their sleeves a bit presumptuous.Or not being au fait with work in progress. You can be sure the AFL won't be getting that loot extra Rupert supposedly bumped up the last Tv deal.Not with the TV industry the way it's going.Hence why codes are looking at other revenue avenues.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Channel 9 have already told the NRL they don't want Thursday nights in the next TV deal. So if that is 100% correct,then that's a good starting point.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The AFL has a $2.5 billion tv deal, expiring in 2022. But they have told the broadcasters when the GF will be held. During the season, there are only 8 Thursday night games, majority in the opening rounds. Why do we need Thursday games?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Hate to say it but look at the AFL. Regardless of what the broadcasters want, their GF is a daytime affair which is what the fans want. There is no reason why the NRL can't do the same except that the NRL are probably afraid that the broadcasters might cut their funding if they don't get what they want.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Back on the topic of TV; what the NRL really needs to step in and enforce with the networks is taking anyone currently associated with a club as a player, coach (even if they’re a kicking coach) or board member/administrator out of a commentary position (I know this whittles it down). I truly believe this whole ‘sky is falling in’ vibe that surrounds the game throughout the year is primarily down to the fact that a good chunk of those setting the agenda in the media have a paid commitment to a club- where that clubs on field success is the main KPI in their role. Interviews- absolutely. But paid commentary roles- not while they’re on the books of a club.
Rob9
Roar Guru
The NRL needs to strike a balance. Of course some TV influence is required and at the end of the day, the networks MO is to see games played in timeslots when the most eyeballs are able to watch. They’re a dog to attend but I actually liked Thursday and Monday Night Football. It’s nice to put the little one down, crack a school night beer while the missus sets up with whatever reality rubbish she wants in the other room and have something to talk about around the watercooler the next day. May be bring them forward half an hour or so to try and get more people out to the games (balance). And Sunday Nigh GF’s no biggie to me. In Queensland the pubic holiday has made it palatable and the early October night air is balmy enough to flock around the barbie. It sounds like this is where the AFL are slowly moving as well. But of course ‘balance’ isn’t something in the NRL vocab. They’re purely driven by the almighty $ as they demonstrated again today by passing on the logical concept of a Suncorp GF (or 2) in favour for playing 2 GF’s at an AFL/cricket ground.
Big Daddy
Guest
After today's announcement that next years grand final will be played at SCG I'd say the game is now owned by the State government. Also every GF to be played in Sydney till. 2046. It's no longer the NRL but should be run under the banner of the NSWRL. I hope this decision come back to bite them.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yep, agreed mushi. It’s funny how arl and channel nine used that rally call in super league war, ‘news’ will own the game. Lol.
clipper
Roar Rookie
The lol is on you, CT - that's over 10 times you've accused me of posting under another name and not once have you been right. Sometimes people don't agree with you - it's just a fact of life. In fact I agree that the AFL GF was quite dour this year, most blow outs are.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Must be a huge rock
mushi
Roar Guru
I think this is a perfect illustration of how far a consumer's perception lags their experience. TV has owned the game for two to three decades, if Australian sport follows global media consumption trends it soon will not.
Nick
Roar Guru
That last paragraph is horribly off the mark. the English super league is far slower in pace than the NRL. the only good thing about it is that it has one ref. But there is a very good reason why England get spanked by Australia in the rugby league...they just aren't playing at teh same pace.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru