Before the Eels’ match against the Dragons on Sunday afternoon, I thought I would calmly watch and take little notice, given it was a trial
I was wrong.
The minute the game started, I was on the edge of my seat, cheering every break and cursing every error. A couple of minutes later I was crying into my drink after what would later be revealed to be a season-ending injury to Haze Dunster.
Just like a regular season game, supporting my team was a rollercoaster of emotions.
I still don’t think it’s worth reading too much into trial games, but my behaviour on Sunday demonstrated how excited I was to have footy back.
It seems I wasn’t the only one; all weekend my social media was lighting up with hot takes about players to watch and people just generally being excited.
The numbers back it up too. Most of the trials received six-figure ratings on Fox League and that’s before you include the numbers on Kayo. Compare this to the 74,000 people that watched the Super Rugby match between the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels on Channel 9’s GEM and the decision to televise the preseason seems even more of a no-brainer.
But I don’t want these broadcast numbers to introduce complacency, particularly as we (hopefully) progress past COVID. Additionally, it’s my view that many people, like me, were tuning in to get footy back on their screens and not because they had a particular interest in these games.
The past two years have been extremely difficult for sport. The pandemic has placed increased pressure on administrators, employees and most importantly our players. In order to keep seasons progressing, players have relocated, remained in hubs and had limited time with their families.
This is one of the reason that so many players decided not to compete in the All Stars fixture. After a long two years, another week in quarantine in a hotel may have seemed a bit too much to ask.
Jordan Rapana of the Maori All Stars is sent off for 10 minutes during the NRL All Stars match. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Given the impacts of the coronavirus, the decision to televise was an easy win. Clubs have always played in trial games, it is an important opportunity to test players and try new combinations. Given playing these games places no additional burden on clubs, why not put them on TV?
But the NRL must consider what an ideal preseason calendar looks like.
There are so many potential opportunities, but would require commitment from the NRL and the clubs alike to make them work.
The World Club Challenge is a good example. The pandemic has meant that excuses for wriggling out of this game have been easy, but it is an important fixture, particularly given increased Aussie interest in Super League, with so many former NRL players competing there.
The All Stars game has been a permanent fixture but there are questions about where it fits best on the calendar and perhaps that’s worth consideration.
I would love to see the Nines concept return – for the men and the women. It was fun and another good opportunity for clubs to showcase a variety of players. The talk about expansion is constant, but the Nines presented a great opportunity to take the game to new places.
Jason Taumalolo and his Cowboys lift the NRL Nines trophy. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
I would hate to see the Nines become a COVID casualty, simply because it’s a lot easier just to televise preseason trial matches. There could even be an opportunity here to make it a World Nines and feature players from other rugby league playing countries.
In five years’ time, if all fans have to look forward to is the All Stars fixture (with clubs still baulking at their players being involved) and trials, it will be a missed opportunity for the game.
Our preseason can be so much more and expanding the calendar is an easy way to appease an audience that is already hungry for footy.
One final point.
On Sunday, the NRL Women’s premiership starts with a triple-header in Newcastle.
Given the obstacles these women have had to overcome to play this ‘2021’ season, I encourage you all to channel your hunger for footy and turn on your televisions.
I promise you will not be disappointed.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
The All Stars game, and 9s if you must, should be played after week one of the semis. Players from teams finishing 7th to 16th only to be selected. Provides some filler for when there are only a couple of games each weekend.
Mel Storm
Guest
Fair enough, dion! Looking forward to another great season!!
Dionysus
Guest
Hi Mel, nice to meet another Storm supporter. The nines is a bit of fun, its a boozy party with teams made up of veterans, fringe first graders and a few kids along with a token star or two. Its a Long weekend held in one place with lots of fellow league fans and costs nothing as far as the real season goes. That is why I am in favour of it. Let the party begin.
Dionysus
Guest
...... but its way more valid than Basket ball's world series.
Dionysus
Guest
Sick of hearing about how our season is too long. Its about 5 weeks shorter than the ESL and you never hear them complaining. Increase the size of the playing roster to spell blokes by all means but shortening the season is B.S. Player fatigue is down to clubs and coaches to manage not the schedule.
Mel Storm
Guest
Hi Mary, no more 9s please. No sevens either and no T20. All these abreviated sports are awful IMO.
Eric
Guest
Mary why is it called the World Club Championship when it only represents the ❤ of 2 countries. It's nearly as embarrassing as the Rugby League World Cup
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I definitely hear what a lot of you are saying about a long season already... I'm definitely opening to reducing the season and considering what the calendar looks like. I especially like the idea of taking a pause in the middle of the year for Origin.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Not with you on this one Mary. The season is long enough for the players now without any extras for the novelty of it. If a Haze Dunster type of injury happened in the nines there would be many disappointed fans. For those that enjoyed it, good on them but it's not for me.
More of the same
Guest
International rugby league has been treated woefully since the SLW.
NostraSportus
Roar Rookie
No. No more nines. The reason the week one trials were a ratings successful is because it's actual 13 v 13 RL. Not some Michael Mouse game that nobody cares about. Plus people have been starved of League. Oh, and don't forget how poor the cricket was this summer. Sure Aussies enjoyed watching the Brits get thrashed, but the BBL was horrendous. The competition reached a new low in every single way.
Dionysus
Guest
I have to take issue with your headline Mary. How do you define the Trials as being a success ? Trials are supposed to be a part of the preparation for a new season, about trying new combinations, about trying out some theories in a zero risk environment. They are about giving the players and coach something to work on and should NOT be about getting a result or about entertaining fans. So unless you are an insider in a club and know the questions that were being asked ahead of a trial, I contend that no fan can possibly know whether a trial was a success or not. Now I am as keen to see some footy being played as anyone but televising trial games for me is a backward step. I would sooner trials be kep't in the coaches toolbox and not for public consumption. As for the Nines, yes please. This is a proper comp and is a lot of fun. Getting this up and running (and on TV) would be a great option. Another option would be getting some English Superleague games on FTA at least until the NRL starts. As they commence their season a month before us, this would be a great warm up.
Adam
Roar Guru
I'm inclined to think the season should be shorter as it is already
Aiden
Guest
There’s just no point of difference. Sevens for instance looks quite different to Rugby, in the same way that T22 is different to a test. The Nines is just the NRL with a few less blokes and some big gaps in the defensive line for rookies to run through.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I think you either have trials or Nines, but not both. Not sure where the nines get played, as the schedule is already jam packed and I'm a big believer in quality not quantity so you shouldn't add events just for the sake of it. Nines was fun while it lasted
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Everybody gets excited for the Nines, it gets talked up. And then afterwards everyones feeling was that "it was ok"
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
On this occasion i struggle to agree sorry. Expanding the calendar just continues to diminish the actual NRL competition. If we want things like Origin, AllStars, Nines and World Club Challenges, then the actual NRL competition needs to lose about 4 rounds. Attention spans can't be maintained that long. Give people too much of something and it is no longer something they pursue, it quickly becomes something they know is always there so they will check it out from time to time. And the game needs more fans who are paying attention, not just casual observers. That will be how the grounds fill up, the atmosphere comes back, the excitement of the game increases and more fans and players are drawn to the game.
Dave
Guest
9’s was fantastic to watch, good mixture of established players and young guns, the inclusion of a retired player was a bit of fun too. NRL just need to do it themselves rather than outsource it to an events company like they did in the past