Watching a handful of NRL teams simply turn up their toes and fail to compete in Round 23 was an insult to their respective fans and the competition as a whole.
Not that we haven’t seen it before and the drubbings dished out over the weekend just passed have become increasingly common across recent seasons. However, the efforts mustered by four clubs and the subsequent lop-sided and almost comical defeats were anything but professional.
UK-based corporate finance firm Oakwell Sports Advisory valued the NRL at $3.1 billion in 2020, domestic broadcast rights numbers have been widely publicised and the Australian Rugby League Commission reported a $43.1 million surplus in 2021.
Those are the stakes the NRL plays with each and every week, when 16 clubs take to the field to excite their fans, compete and generate the revenue required to see rugby league continue to grow in the future.
The nature of such professionalism demands that well-paid and pampered NRL players come to the party no matter their team’s position on the ladder, irrespective of how close an end-of-season trip might seem and regardless of whether the jersey they wear might be of a different colour the following season.
What the Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Tigers and Warriors dished up in Round 23 was the antithesis of that professionalism.
Sure, we can all see the deficiencies in their squads, the injuries affecting them and understand that semi-final play will not be happening in 2022. However, the four matches that involved the teams listed above drew a collective 71,037 people who were hoping for a contest.
While fans of the Roosters, Cowboys and Eels were cock-a-hoop as their teams ran in try after try on home soil, the Manly fans in the 12,243 crowd who turned up at 4 Pines Park to watch the Sea Eagles capitulate against the Sharks deserved their money back and an apology.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The unprofessionalism of the efforts and the inherent psychology behind them is a fascinating watch.
Seemingly now a rabble, the Sea Eagles’ season left the tracks late last month as soon as seven players decided that their professional wage did not directly correlate to their professional responsibilities.
As such, it is no wonder the disharmonious group dished up such a poor and uncommitted performance against the Sharks, with their commitment and professional approach to the cause seriously in question.
After something of a mid-season revival, the Bulldogs’ frailty in defence against a rampant Eels showed that Canterbury have well and truly switched off for 2022.
The 84 points conceded across the last two rounds are evidence of that, with the signing of new coach Cameron Ciraldo potentially signalling a pointlessness to the remainder of the season from the players’ perspective. Perhaps there is simply no motivation remaining to impress interim coach Mick Potter.
The Warriors were once again awful in their 44-point loss to the Cowboys in north Queensland and either side of the Round 22 win against the Bulldogs, have conceded 48 points per week.
The less said about the Tigers’ 72-6 loss to the Roosters on Sunday the better, with no other explanation required other than the fact that Wests failed to compete.
(Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Whilst the end of season floggings will throw up the usual discussions around parity in the competition and potentially finding ways to ensure that interest is maintained in the majority of fan-bases right up until the final whistle is blown in Round 25, that simply cannot occur if players choose to switch off and go through the motions across the final month of a disappointing season.
In reality, that is exactly what is occurring and it is simply unprofessional, disrespectful to club members and fans, as well as being problematic for the bean counters at the NRL.
The weekend score lines would have been far different had the four culprits been playing for their lives and in fear of relegation to a second tier competition.
However, that is not how the NRL operates, thus creating a comfy space for the also-rans to limp home with little or no determination to do anything but stay healthy and play for what should be a well-deserved break come the end of the season.
Thus, we are in for a few further bashings in the next fortnight, with fatigue no doubt cited as the reason for the drop off in performance.
It is interesting that those still in the hunt for the premiership will offer no excuse and nor should any professional athlete.
Those destined for an early finish in 2022 should remain as committed and passionate as they were in the opening week of the season.
That is what professional athletes do, with pride in the jersey and their own performance overriding any feelings apathy and disappointment.
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Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Teams on the lower positions on the table playing each other has never been interesting apart from avoiding the wooden spoon. Now with 16 teams there are more of them and with no Kangaroo selections to make it interesting these games are doomed. The old problem of too many Sydney teams and no other competitions like the old Amco Cup.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
The bottom 8 teams should be playing off for final ladder positions same as the top 8 finals. And make it worth something ? Team finishing 16th plays the premiers twice in 2023 and in the opening round 2023 ? ? Team finishing 15th plays the runner up twice in 2023 and in the opening round 2023 ? Also gives some addition games for TV in the finals series
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The game needs to expand so it will have to be 18 or 20 teams playing each other once.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The talent gap exists because each team needs their hard running pigs and ball playing forwards and halves as well as backs that can run, pass and tackle. The best example is St.George of the early sixties. They were lucky to have Reg Gasnier, an attacking weapon, playing left centre so they needed tough defensive inside centres to protect their talent.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1. Rugby League is a dangerous sport with strong bodies colliding with each other. There are plenty of injuries and the worst are head and spinal injuries. The problem is getting kids to play the game. 2. We do need to expand to Perth and have 18 teams who play each other once. No more of the unfair draws where two teams fight for 8th place with one playing Penrith twice, the other playing Wests twice.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I totally agree Matt, well said.. :thumbup:
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Probably.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Penrith would probably end up with 5 teams in.
Womblat
Guest
It could work. And it's the opinion of someone who obviously knows and cares. It's quite radical, and there is it's biggest obstacle. For 114 years the sport has evolved step by step, layer upon layer, gained clubs here, shed them there. Occasionally there was a big shift, like when they reduced a team from 15 to 13 in 1906, introduced 4 tackles in 1967 then 6 in 1971, the sin bin in 1981, and a 3 point try becoming 4 in 1983. They weren't always right, but they weren't for no reason. They also weren't willy nilly like it seems nowadays. The sport sometimes went over a decade with no changes at all. But the changes since 2000 have been huge. Obviously to make a better spectacle and a prettier TV product, they've tinkered endlessly with the nuances of the game, not always to it's benefit. But during all this extra painting, extensions and the addition of sexy solar panels, they haven't paid enough attention to one simple thing. The foundation. We all know kids aren't taking the sport up as they used to. Grass root junior numbers have been in steady decline proportionally; injuries, money, protective parents, video games, you can insert whatever reason here. Less junior players, less talent in the adult pool. Blowouts, and where we are now. I don't know the solution but it sure seems they don't have a clue how to fix it either. Maybe that's because it's out of sight, and doesn't directly effect them. It's easier, cheaper and less risky to just add layers than do a knockdown rebuild. That's why they won't do it. It's revolutionary, and I'd argue very sensible, but it's also way beyond what current NRL management are willing or capable to do. But I also believe they will have no choice in the end. Ugly blowouts, huge club talent gaps, sketchy decisions and crowd frustration will eat their bottom line and force their hand. I just hope they listen to ideas such as yours before this gorgeous memory-filled expensive 114 year old house falls down on it's neglected foundation. But keep the fire MV. One day, they'll have to listen.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I actually thought about the revenue side of it and housing teams . Be very interested in seeing annual profit and loss . Would hate to see let's say officials benefiting although NSWRL used to have a leagues club in Sydney cbd but they sold site but never continued with leagues club .
matth
Roar Guru
It’s actually pretty smart I think. If they house all visiting teams there, that $$ that stay in the game, plus a revenue stream outside of their core providing some protection plus and appreciating asset.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Choppy, good point re winning top grade and reserve grade , I have posted numerous times under the current NRL structure promotion and relegation is not possible . It has to be similar to the English FA structure where tier 2 teams have no association with top level . Just imagine Penrith having 2 teams in the NRL. For promotion and relegation to happen there has to be a stand alone tier 2 nation competition and their the problems start , who makes a decision who is in it and how to finance it . It's hard enough running the NRL let alone running 2 competitions . Its something I'd like to see but too many problems doing it .
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
MenWithVen you say "If we accept there are too many teams to keep the standard high, then we must reduce the teams to keep the standard high." I don't agree. The more that you decrease the number of teams, the less chance there is for new player to be able to break through. Players like Cobbo or Nannai this year, or Hynes last year. If there are too few good players then - I believe - the answer is to improve the quality of coaching, not to restrict the number of sides available. As to cutting the number of teams from 17 to 12, the TV rights will fall by the same proportion (remember, the TV stations fund the matches by the number of adverts they can show). Falling rights payments means a falling salary cap, and reduced payments to clubs. Apart from which you will also have put five 30-man squads of players in the unemployment queue. Clubs will not stand for it, NRLPA won't stand for it. Fans won't stand for it (league is a tribal game, remember), TV & Radio stations won't stand for it. Coaches, coaching staff and other backroom staff won't stand for it. So, if there is a shortage of quality players, then find another solution that does not involve gutting the sport.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Probably my wording matth, but my feeling is still not part of core business .
matth
Roar Guru
But those are teams put on the reverse result just a few weeks ago
matth
Roar Guru
A hotel for accommodation near Suncorp, not a pub
matth
Roar Guru
So a Suoer League then. I’m in!
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
To all of those coming out with Superleague-style proposals, reducing teams does nothing to guarantee close contests. State of Origin is a two team competition, and there's been plenty of blowouts there. And that's the best players with a tonne of motivation. Parramatta just belted Brisbane who can finish no lower than ninth. The Broncos are out of form, and finished the game with no players on their bench. Those kinds of factors would not be eliminated by culling clubs and players.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Eden what if one team wins first grade and reserve grade?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Ken I won't stand for any discussion of bottom dwelling teams without mentioning the knights. The boys have been great boosting the for and against for the opposition. No wonder Newcastle is everyone's 2nd favourite team