Gus Gould and I have something in common.
We both have NRL crystal balls, which we use to gaze into the future and know with a fair degree of certainty what’s going to happen to the game. The difference is, his crystal ball is set to doom-and-gloom mode, while mine is set to joy-and-happiness mode.
There’s no doubt the NRL is in a difficult financial position now the season has been postponed – but so are our other winter sporting codes.
The only differences are the degrees of financial stress that each code will have to manage. The obvious factors each will face are their financial positions, the length of time they’ll be unable to source revenue and their financial commitments until this crisis is over and they can get back onto the field.
Prior to gazing into my crystal ball, I went back and looked at crises in Australia since federation and there were two key elements governments have strived for.
The first is once the crisis was over, governments wanted to return people to normalcy as quickly as possible.
The second is that sport was seen as a terrific way to get people interacting and also as an escape from the difficulties they faced as they tried to put their lives back together.
The specifics of the current crisis are different from what Australia has had to face previously, but the outcomes the government would be wanting are the same.
Knowing this is what the prime minister will likely want, when I looked into the future, I saw a very different picture from that presented by that other ball gazer, Mr Gould.
Phil Gould. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
The NRL will start again, as soon as the medical experts give the all clear. The exact date was hazy (I’m not Nostradamus), but it seemed to suggest sometime early July, but no later than August.
The NRL will be provided with sufficient funds by the federal government to supplement income from other sources for the 2020 season. This will likely be in the form of an interest-free loan, payable on the date the Titans win their first premiership.
All teams currently in the NRL will be playing again this year.
The NRL and RLPA will work harmoniously to manage player payments for 2020, with players accepting reasonable pay cuts.
And Joey Leilua will have enough to pay his mortgage and bills.
I tried to look past 2020, but the further I tried to look into the future, the more cloudy and obscure were the outcomes.
I sensed a major review of the game coming up before the 2021 season, but the outcomes were not clear. What was clear was the game would be improved by the changes, making it more resilient to manage future problems.
The one overriding emotion I sensed was happiness. Rugby league will continue in Australia in the future, fans will passionately support the game and it will continue to dominate conversation in our winter months.
Chilli
Roar Rookie
I would like to see similar to EPL but on our scale. You got your top 12 Teams who play NRL and attract major sponsors etc and then you have tier 2 ARL (example) then NSWRL and QRL. Bottom 1 or 2 teams of NRL get dropped to ARL, bottom teams ARL get booted to either NSWRL or QRL based on their location and obviously the reverse for club promotion. This would make the game extremely competitive both on and off the field.. employ many more players.. involve more local sponsors.. grassroots footy flourishes.. pathways clearly defined.. always a game on tv somewhere.. more crowds at live games creating more secondary employment opportunities and like EPL fans will still support their clubs and become members through thick and thin. I for one would follow the bunnies no matter what division they were in and still hate the roosters etc. End of season would be terribly exciting would it not!!
Big Daddy
Guest
Rellum, that is absolutely scary. I hope they don't put it on TV similar to the s##t going on in Italy. It's viewing like that cause people to panic and make everyone s life a misery.
R N
Roar Rookie
I love the footy and would love to see some games this year but it won't happen.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If anyone is in any doubt about if shutting down games was the right thing to do read about "game zero". It is weird to think back now and realise death was being passed around that stadium when I was watching it. https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/uefa-champions-league/game-zero-the-biological-bomb-which-triggered-sports-global-shutdown/news-story/055186c2484f3194c033aef07103fefc
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Canterbury Leichhardt??? No Southern Sydney team, no Northern Sydney team? Yet not one change in teams in Queensland? I see. So who in Sydney would this appeal to? I can think of half the fans in Australia’s biggest market will walk. I mean aside from the big league fans of Norton St. No point in thinking this will automatically be picked up on Rundle Mall and/or Fremantle? Expansion is supposed to increase not decrease your reach. The fans you lose by culling the Sydney sides you have will not be made up for in largely unreceptive markets like Adelaide.
Big Daddy
Guest
I like the idea of Newcastle playing some matches out of Gosford particularly if they start incorporating 2nd tier. The whole landscape will change. Wouldn't be surprised if Newcastle local comp and Central Coast amalgamate to strengthen league in that area. Also keeps East's out of Central Coast juniors.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I am certain of a few things. The first of which is that Rugby League and the NRL will be back. The other thing is that we won't be seeing any new teams or merging of existing teams. I also doubt that any of the clubs particularly the traditional ones will go under. Now is not the time for massive changes the main reason being that there is not too much wrong with what we had. The current problems are totally external they are not caused by a drop off in ratings and popularity. Despite what all the whingers and glass half empty people were saying the game was still going strong.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Lol
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I would take that.
Nick Symonds
Guest
If they base a reconstucted league around stadium rationalisation, you could have just 3 teams in Sydney based in Moore Park, Homebush and Parramatta. 12 TEAM LEAGUE: East Sydney West Sydney Canterbury-Leichhardt Newcastle Canberra Brisbane Gold Coast North Queensland Melbourne Adelaide Perth New Zealand
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Keep reading train, it's meant to be rediculous
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"....but the outcomes the government would be wanting are the same." .....agree Paul! (.....but for goodness' sake don't start off an article with "Gus Gould and I have something in common." - it brings up some pretty strange images Paul!) ;)
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Maybe he'll be looking for a hobby to spend his profits on?
Samtwocantoo
Guest
Glass half full of dreams !
Birdy
Roar Rookie
I'm flattered kk
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I stopped reading when you said player salaries would be slashed (ignoring that external demand drives this and if SL, OS Rugby, etc. survive and offer big money that will remain) and that the players will get rid of their union. A reduction in player wages will only seen unionism become stronger.
Big Daddy
Guest
FT, as much as I'd like to see that I think Singo is making more money from racehorses and real estate development.
Nick
Roar Guru
He'd blame the referees on the bowl only being half full instead of full.
Big Daddy
Guest
This has so many connotations. The thing I have nightmares about is when this all finished is now we have limited times for hairdresser's is the return of the MULLET. We see so many weird haircuts but I get Goosebumps I'm thinking about it.
Nat
Roar Guru
These 'Titans-premiership-based' loans you speak of, are they available to everyone? :stoked: Pay no mind to Gould, he could find a half empty bowl of diamonds and still be pesimistic.