Hawthorn President and former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett says he would have preferred to knit underwater than tune in to the NRL when it returned from COVID-19 hibernation, labelling the game as “boring”.
Should Kennett’s comments be brushed aside as a cheeky swipe from a biased AFL fan or does he have a point?
Whether or not you are a fan of Kennett, it is never boring listening to him.
While rugby league is often referred to as the greatest game of all, the game can be prone to predictability.
The main cause of this predictability is the lack of opportunities to contest for possession.
Changes to rules have removed many chances to contest for the ball.
Two examples were the removal of contested scrums and disallowing raking in play the balls.
In contrast, other sports in Australia allow more frequent opportunities for contests of possession.
In the AFL, there are marking contests and the bounce to restart play.
Rugby union has line outs, rucks, mauls and contests at kick offs.
Soccer always allows for changes of possession with tackling and heading contests.
Many of the most exciting moments in rugby league occur when there is a contest for possession.
The classic example is when teams contest a bomb.
Another opportunity is when players steal the ball in a one-on-one tackle.
The introduction of the 40/20 rule was one of the most well received rule changes because of the unpredictability it created, allowing teams to retain possession after kicking it away.
However, apart from these examples it is hard for teams to compete for possession which can all too often lead to predictable and dare I say boring play.
A game of rugby league often gets stuck in what is known as “the grind”.
This refers to the predictable tactics of teams resorting to one out runs, running from acting half and ending the set with a kick to one of the opponent’s corners.
This sequence of events is referred to as “the grind” for good reason.
Even the supposed showpiece of the NRL season – State of Origin – for all its hype, frequently suffers from predictability.
Due to the quality of the players participating in Origin, there are usually fewer errors which leads to a predictable arm wrestle where both teams just work the ball out from their goal-lines with conservative tactics.
For all the highlights we are shown that we are told make State of Origin such a great brand of football, much of the games are spent watching the ball going through the same motions back and forth from one side of the field to the other.
Contrast that with what happened in Sunday night’s game between Canberra and Newcastle when the Raiders attempted a short kick off which saw them regain possession and score a try.
It was without doubt one of the more interesting parts of the game.
It prompted one television commentator to ask why teams don’t do it more? I agree.
It is a good idea not only from a tactical point of view but also from an entertainment point of view.
It is these types of moments – unpredictable moments – that rugby league needs more of.
Interestingly, like any game of league, it is when errors occur that games become more interesting.
Far from causing an inferior quality game, errors provide unpredicted changes of possession placing teams in greater opportunities to score.
Admittedly, the introduction of the “six to go” rule is an example of the NRL heading in the right direction in making the game more attractive to watch.
More continuity of the contest promotes fatigue in defensive lines which, at least in theory, should encourage teams in possession to utilise enterprising play in more parts of the field – not just in their opponent’s “red zone”.
As we know, however, teams tend to only unleash their attacking flair once they are deep in their opposition’s half.
The rest of the time they are usually focused on tucking the ball under their arm to win “the battle of attrition”.
It is during these frequent and predictable passages of play there are few opportunities for the defensive team to regain possession.
Rugby league could improve by promoting more opportunities to contest for possession.
It would create more unpredictability for players and audiences.
If the NRL is in the business of growing its audience, it needs to appeal to people like Kennett so eventually he will decide to overlook the knitting needles and tune in.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The goal that won West Coast the grand final was a beauty, it just made it in direction but never looked like missing. I remember my first try playing as a prop, it was a great feeling. The Victorians should have taken up Gaelic football as the guy who created Aussie Rules used many constructs from Gaelic football. It was created to keep cricketers fit during the winter so they use big cricket grounds as in the MCG.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Compulsory short kick offs? Ban on one out hit ups?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I agree that Storm were gifted the premiership in 1999. St-George-Illawarra had beaten Melbourne three times that year with a sum total score of 62-26. With the score at half-time of 14-2 things looked grim for Melbourne but the 2nd half was a complete turn around. They only wanted to make it close unlike the boring AFL grand final the day before.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
St-George had one try scored against them in the grand finals between 1959 and 1966. In 1963 Wests' Gil MacDougall scored the only try from a St-George play the ball on their line. Legend has it that Wests were robbed, they were very unlucky having beaten St-George three times that year.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Blacklock was just a winger but he was very effective. He could find the line when he was confronted with multiple defenders as well as backing up other players breaks. The St-George team of the 50's and 60's had two good wingers but John King scored more tries than Eddie Lumsden because Gasnier was a left centre in attack. Of course it was the St-George forwards that did all the work in wearing out the opposition.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
That was a magnificent catch of the high ball on the bounce. Blacklock had quick reflexes.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Canberra was an Aussie Rules town when I arrived in 1974 and at ANU there were plenty of AF fans who pretended to be unaware of the two rugby codes. Rugby is boring they would say. Jeff Kennett is a Victorian and they are lovely people and the Storm are Queenslanders in purple. They are great for Rugby League.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Nathan Blacklock was an amazing try scoring freak. He was top try scorer for 3 years in a row around the turn of the century.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I don’t think it is exciting watching a contest for possession. Rucks, Mauls and Scrums are ugly and the cause of injuries. The most boring and predictable part of the game is when teams contest a bomb. It is bash and barge for 5 tackles and then bomb. The way to fix this is allow a bomb to be punched dead by the defence and allow the only points scored on last tackle to be a field goal like in US and Canadian football. They should remove scrums all together and reduce the number of players to twelve.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1-0 is the most common score in Soccer but it isn't the only exciting part of the game. There is a lot of shin kicking but I should have followed my dad's advice and played it. I got my brain knocked around in my head from playing Rugby League. England were lucky they beat Germany in 1966 or it would've been Germany 5 World Cups to England none. The English are great at creating these games and I thank them for Rugby League even though it gave me brain damage.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
That’s pretty underwhelming
AJ73
Roar Rookie
Why is it underwhelming? Different games different scoring systems. The magic of a goal in AFL from a tight angle, or from the pack. Some teams taking the ball from end to end in a flowing style, or waiting for the right option to pass. Creating something out of nothing at times as well. Some bending in from the boundary, taking into consideration the wind is too many a wonderful thing. Just like some goals scored in soccer.
In brief
Guest
I have to admit there is something incredibly underwhelming about an AFL goal. Has anyone thought of using soccer goals with a net instead?
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Harsh but fair!
Craigo
Guest
Clipper has NRL derangement syndrome. Like Peter Fitzsimons he's obsessed with the NRL.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Foxtel it’s about 230000 nrl to 170000 afl per game. That’s the big difference.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I rely on cold hard facts. They are called statistics. They are readily available.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Oh and i forgot they changed the rules in AFL this season and Kennett seems to want this change permanently, is they have shortened the quarters to the game, it must be more boring than NRL to lessen the time of the game to make it more interesting Kennett your a dope so keep your boring mouth shut and look in your own backyard.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
I live in Melbourne and as far as Kennett goes he wasn't much of a politician all he was and is a big mouth and a lot of people i have spoken to down here, when i have mentioned his name can't stand him at all. He bought this state to their knees with his big head and mouth, he just talks crap all the time and if anyone or anything is boring he is it. I'm a Dragon's man for 63 years and i go to footy down here nearly every weekend and i can tell you it's much more exciting to watch a game of Rugby League live or on tv than to watch a game of AFL live or on tv.
Stevo
Guest
It's so exciting they have to computer generate lightning and stars in the ads to symbolise action.