“Happy” New Year. There’s not a lot positives about government-induced house arrest in the bleakest of British winters, but at least it has given me the chance to watch copious amounts of Test cricket, while keeping myself suitably hydrated.
Thanks to the allegiances of my brother’s soon-to-be-departed girlfriend (sans partner) I’ve also seen a fair bit of the Big Bash. Now I’m by no means a cricket snob – I love a big six and fast runs as much as your next man – but I would certainly prevail myself with the truest format over some here-today gone-tomorrow slogathon.
Which brings me, somewhat tenuously, onto rugby league. I’m not referencing some of the recent cocking about with some of the rule changes ahead of the 2021 season – however reminiscent they are of new one-day legislative gimmicks in the name of entertainment.
There may be new counting methods by way of timing and scoring, but it is still fundamentally the same game.
What brought my train of thought back to the greatest game was rugby league’s past innovations with new, shorter forms in an attempt to captivate and draw in a new audience.
These range from pre-season and international Nines, through to the disastrous Sevens back in the ‘90s, and whatever the holy sacrament Mal Meninga thought up with his 40-minute menage-à-trois circa 2017.
Mal Meninga. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
On the subject of Nines (the only ‘format’ possessing a modicum of sense or potential), I’ve heard it lazily referred to the T20 of rugby league. But is it really, and would that even be desirous?
It’s fair to say the 2019 Nines World Cup at Bankwest was not a barnstorming success, but then it never could be. The raison d’être of such a format is as a gateway to ‘proper’ rugby league – luring new audiences in with promises of glitz and hits, then selling the 80-minute variant.
The same logic applies for Magic Weekend. An innovation taken from the northern hemisphere (a refreshing change for once) means that if the competition is to be further distorted from a home-and-away schedule by throwing in a ‘neutral’ round, then at the least there needs to be tangible benefits in terms of future return and new rugby league interest.
That was the remit of the original ‘Millennium Magic’ in Cardiff, why the weekend in Newcastle (North-East England, not Hunter) is enjoyed by so many, and while the 2019 edition at Liverpool, so close to the heartlands, felt a bit flat.
Despite being a tightly packaged, shorter form of the game designed to accentuate the game’s positive and attractive attributes, Nines is ultimately limited in its appeal.
It can be a good way of attracting new fans, being more economical and easier for the untrained eye to understand (I’ll admit that watching my first game in 2013, I didn’t have a scooby what was going on in the first half).
But unlike T20 or rugby union Sevens, even to relatively new fans, once you compare the 20 and 80-minute versions, no one would prefer to see the short-hand version to the true form.
I cannot foresee the mind that would opt for Nines over full-blown rugby league in the same way that many T20 fans don’t watch Test games, or punters flock to Hong Kong and Dubai to watch Sevens tournaments but not 15-a-side games.
We do not have the player pool or money for a Nines circuit. But the fact that it is so easy for 13-a-side players to adjust (in contrast to the difficulty of switching from rugby union 15-a-side to Sevens) does mean the sport can economise by using the true stars of the game for any limited Nines occasions.
If nothing else, we may appreciate a good pre-season NRL/Super League run-out to distract us from the monotony of the off-season.
An international Nines World Cup, if done properly and used to bring in new fans, in addition to lobbying for inclusion in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games are options that should be pursued. If breakdancing can get in, then surely the greatest game deserves a spot.
PS: As for my last article, please forgive my sins. VB is terrible, but you get used to whatever you can while travelling on a budget. Of course, if anyone wants to send other beers for me to try, I will happily be an impartial judge.
Count to ten with me
Guest
Yeah 90 minutes... Jesus wept.
Jamaal Hoppa
Guest
80,000? This will be good
Howdy Doody
Guest
80,000 is the figure apparently.
Interested
Guest
So more than 80,000? I doubt it.
Jamaal Hoppa
Guest
Fair chance. Its not hard to beat 3 men and a dog
Interested
Guest
Has union ever broken rugby league’s crowd record for seven aside?
Nat
Roar Rookie
Nah, and I don't think it's an apt comparison either. Yes T20 is a bastardised version of cricket but designed for entertainment over strategy and it still goess for 3hrs. That said, there is still a contest between bat and ball. I don't see the 9s as something that could draw new spectators to league. Sure it can be entertaining but it's 100% attack focused and too short to grasp the concepts of the game. If you showed a game of 9s, rugby 7s or pro touch to someone who has no clue about the codes they wouls struggle to tell the difference. When a full game of league only goes for 90mins there's no need for an 'entree' version to appease those with a short attention span.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think the two differences are: - whilst t20 "isn't cricket" it still is 11 against 11 in a shortened time period, and - one dayers are still long by sports standards so there was a niche for a shortened version All T20 did was change the risk reward for a batsman so that their wicket wasn't as precious (I say all but the 20 wickets is basically the core of test cricket which is very different to other games.... I loathe T20 but can understand why it is popular) League fits in the 2-3 hour sports time slot nicely already and the 9s becomes a different game by having fewer players on the field changing everything around your defensive options. 9s is almost too fast, there's no chance to get invested in the outcome. it's like watching the previews of a great movie
Joe
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Its much easier to organise a game of 7s compared to 15s especially in the lower tier countries. Once they get hooked into the game than more participation numbers can make them more competitive in 15s. Countries like Kenya and US have beaten the top tier rugby nations repeatedly in 7s. Once they made the Olympics they got a whole bunch of new viewers.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
It's a great preseason weekend warm-up before the big dance and it also let us see more of the grils playing as well. The world cup was great. Had some team upsets and the USA scored a try against AUS which was surprising. Every Game has a baby version Rugby has Sevens, Netball has fast five and AFL has AFLX. They're all a good appetiser before the actual season starts.
Walter Black
Guest
Any Rugby is good Rugby Whilst you might prefer one format does not invalidate the existence of the other. What 9's is lacking is proper tv fta coverage especially outside of the heartlands but play the 9's anywhere near Melbourne and I will be there.
Big Daddy
Guest
The big difference between Rugby 7s and League 9 s is the Rugby have established themselves at the Olympics and have more countries and tournaments around the world which are supported very well. League can only run their 9 s on Australasia and the clubs aren't really interested and are only supplying second tier players.
Walter Black
Guest
:shocked: Your team has never won it then Max ?
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
I just read your last article Sam. There's absolutely nothing to forgive there. As for VB, I have a pint of it at my local every afternoon on my daily walk. VB may not be great, but I've never found an ale I truly like. But it's my life's magnum opus to keep testing until I find the perfect brew. Happy New Year back to you Sam.
Paul
Roar Guru
G'day Sam, I'm not sure the NRL understands what the purpose of Nines is, other than as an excuse for host partners to sell advertising space. You've rightly pointed out how many times the NRL has "gone to the well" and has come up empty when it comes to engaging fans, new or old, so IMO there are three takes from this. The first is they need to look at other abridged tournaments of ANY sport and see why they work and why they don't. For example, 7's works for Rugby because it's so different and is mostly played by guys who are the next tier down from top level. Throw in some great locations and Rugby is on a winner. The second is to take the abridged League version away from established Clubs. Why not have 9's Clubs around the world, with players from all countries able to play for who ever? It then becomes almost like a Barbarians type tournament with a mix of players in different teams. It also means traditional League stays as is. The third point is to make this stand alone and invest in it for 5 years. That gives everyone a chance to see what works and what doesn't, gets the public invested in this version of sport, gives sponsors continuity etc. By the way, you'd be in serious trouble for your VB comments up where I live. :happy:
Jamaal Hoppa
Guest
It can't grow as 13s. May as well take a punt and see if they can get any interest with 4 less players on the field
Sam Drew
Roar Guru
I think Nines can appeal to a new audience - but it has to be NEW (so no tournaments in Sydney or Auckland), and also need to acknowledge its limitations. Should not be used as an excuse to diminish genuine efforts to help the game, in its full 13-a-side form, in the South Pacific and France. As great as it would be to have 9s at the Paris Olympics '24 or a World Cup in Toronto, it will all be for nowt if it's not followed up by genuine boots-on-the-ground efforts. But resources are of course limited, hence the difficulty in using Nines to grow the game.
Sam Drew
Roar Guru
Can't even get pub takeaways now thanks to Boris! Agreed: shorter formats do tend to dilute some of the skills required for the long format (I'll be using that excuse when we inevitably succumb at the Gabba later this year) :cricket:
Tony
Roar Guru
Just hit the little "down left" arrow .
rock
Roar Rookie
Urgh, sorry for the block of text, I cannot seem to find out how to split my paragraphs in these comments as html won't work!