V’landys wants NRL crowds back in July

'I think he can do anything he sets his sights on' And what might he have his sight on? He announces working towards getting fans in attendance by July 1st, but doesn't announce how many fans. If 500 are allowed in it won't be V'landys call. It will be because 1) qualified people have written a thorough health document and 2) the government has approved said document and it is legal to do so. Hint- V'landys isn't a medical professional.

Well that’s a happy post. With all the positives for our great game in the media and all the great news about the season start and extended tv deal you post this?

So no credit where credit is due? Interesting perspective. Laughable as well.

Agree placepunter. I don't think V'landys is necessarily bad for the game, but I certainly am not convinced he deserves the praise others are dishing out. Put into perspective he is confident, and throws out a date for a return with spectators. He doesn't say how many spectators..50,500, or 5000 per match? He than gets qualified people to draft up a health document, will probably brag about how many pages long it is??, and waits till the government make their call. Likely by July a few spectators could be allowed in (im thinking a very small number, 500 maybe). He will go down in history as an immortal administrator to some, but others will legitimately ask the question ' has he done anything more than another administrator in his position would have?'. At this point I am leaning towards 'no' (Starting a few weeks before AFL is not something I put down as a major accomplishment or 'smart' move as yet, although I will happily be proven otherwise)

Sadly no. My mate Brainchild ( a fanatical Broncos man )lives in Spring Hill and we’ve shuffled down to Suncorp when I’ve come up to see Manly play them. We’ve also gone down to Robina to see Manly play the Titans. That’s a well run ground, but Suncorp is fantastic. Of course, we’re obliged to get a skinful afterwards on Caxton Street. Except for my Leb mate Achmed taking me out to Parra stadium last year, the only Manly away games I’ve attended in the last 10 years have been to Suncorp, Robina and Townsville. My 1980s Wormald sponsor Manly jersey always cops a razz ! Good fun.

But it is a race! Have to move quickly to become the 1st league back in the world so the NRL can sell the game abroad and make their millions. All other things are pale in importance to this!

And the advantage to start a few weeks before AFL? Potential to gain new fans overseas? How's work on that front going? I actually don't think the AFL care less if they are a few weeks behind nrl restart. They likely will time their restart with 1) more inform players 2) spectators in attendance.

Who is being myopic, you look across the world at the number of sporting leagues that have started again after the pandemic, you can count them on one hand. So no credit to him, and all credit to the geographical anomaly of Australia being an island? So you are contradicting yourself with the tv deal. On one hand he didn't get enough, and anyone else in his position would have done the same... but tv deals will never be as high as they were... which story are you going with here? I agree on cutting the teams, but that can't be the priority right now, the priority is getting the game back on the park. He has done that, and it wasn't a race at all, but it's a good effort. I couldn't care less if it was before the AFL or the A League, I'm just glad it is back on and feel he deserves some credit for that. And I'm sure if you ask a fan of any other sporting code that is currently in hiatus that they would love for their sport to be back on the tv, so can we just appreciate that instead of focusing on all the negatives. This is seriously an old man yells at cloud scenario.

They could have a stab at Fainu...

O, I'll accept that. I didn't read his as sarcasm. :thumbup:

Dictionary Search for a word sarcasm the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. "she didn't like the note of sarcasm in his voice" The Everest pushing the Melbourne Cup aside, Rugby League starting a fortnight before the AFL! Why, the man is verily a miracle worker, a genius! The AFL must be livid. How can they possibly compete with this almost supernatural V’isionary?!

Who cares? Any interest from those fans is a cherry only. Pretty sure the whole nation knows what Vlandys is doing, it headlines every sports coverage and the amount of AFL comments on NRL doings confirms J.T's assumption.

4 year contract is insane

Can you envision what the EPL, NFL, NBA etc etc must be thinking about how many people will forgo watching their sports and cross over to watching the NRL..............no?..................maybe they'll just ask, who or what is the NRL or maybe no one outside of NSW and QLD will realise.

I just read the article, I thought you may have been speculating. Surely not 4yrs. For that investment, you would throw it at Harry Grant, Turpin or Mahoney (I'm sure there are some NSW ones as well :silly: ). I've forgotten the Hooker's name from your ISP premiership team, with the headgear? Where's he? None of them would be near $500k atm but it would interest them.

Danwain, take off the myopia sunglasses and realise that we in Australia are ever so lucky that we're in the position to start our sporting competitions earlier than most. Not because of Vlandys but because we are geographically isolated but more importantly had a government that implemented a good strategy quickly and decisively. Whether NRL starts 2 weeks before AFL is in the long term irrelevant. What is relevant for the long term is whether the salaries and clubs remain as per the present status quo. You seem to think that the Vlandys line of get the game going at all costs and being first kid off the block in Australia matters. Vlandys is first kid off the block in Australia but just like "First Movers Advantage" it means nothing or little if you can't continue to move forward. Salaries must contract for players as the game can't afford them They have been too large. The other option is to leave salaries as they are and cull teams. Probably both have to happen in my opinion. FTA broadcasting deals will NEVER !! be as much as they were. Anti siphoning laws dictate that we must have FTA broadcasts. NRL is primarily watched in NSW and Qld only so that when we move forward and try to monetize digital subscriptions the NRL is preaching to the converted (NSW and QLD). People in other jurisdictions that will watch via streaming are in numbers that resemble an endangered species. The monies that thr NRL and therefore players and clubs will have will be limited further. It's time to consolidate and that in my opinion is to cull downwards to 14 or even 12 teams. Make what there is better by streamlining everything but building a more solid viable base.

I like McCullough and I’ve gone in to bat for him many times here, but signing him as a 31 year old as he will be at the start of 2021 on a four year deal, on the downhill side of his career, with the injury worries he’s had over the last few seasons. It’s ridiculous Is this a signing you could ever see the Roosters or the Storm making? As you say, maybe a two year deal makes sense. Four years, if true, is silly. We’ll never get out of the slump if this is the thinking, it’s just more of the same...

He negotiated new tv rights deals at the most difficult time in the history of many corporations, did you really expect him to secure a record deal? No. But sell the games future to do so, and sell it for longer (the extension at a reduced annual contract) is surely not great for the future of the NRL. He looks good today getting it up and running and the people in charge in 5 years time have less money than 2019, against rising costs.

My immediate reaction to a 4yr contract was to laugh but then the Dogs have made a few 'interesting' calls in the lst 5yrs. He still has a PO at the Broncos for 2021, he'd probably take a 2yr deal to stay on the park. 4yrs for a 31yo? Are the Dogs in line for some 'Souths' treatment? :laughing: Based on those number for attendees it's hardly worth it while the 1.5m is in place. Not that I think V'landys is in the business of giving money away but even with small numbers, those services do employ staff and that's a benefit. I wonder then if there is some incentive/rebate from State and/or local Govt?

But then, is it better waiting until restrictions ease and spending the money they’ll lose opening stadiums elsewhere.... Also - we were discussing where McCullough might end up next year...reports last night the Dogs are looking at offering a four year contract from 2021 onwards...