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We have seen a slight evolution in female sports presenters in the media over the years. In the past, female presenters were required to…
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[caption id="attachment_30418" caption="John Hartigan, chairman and chief executive of News Limited (left) with Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League David Gallop (centre)…
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David wasn’t talking about NRL clubs recruiting. He’s talking about the real rugby league.
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
Yet you still reply…
You want to register your objection but all the facts are against you. It’s ok – it isn’t just you having this problem. There are several others writing one-liners and not knowing how to argue against the article as well.
And we aren’t blaming you! We realise that it isn’t a lie if you actually believe it.
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
Actually, The Barry, you use the Broncos as an example of NSWRL’s benevolence “allowing them to join” and then use it as a source of unfairness that the Broncos have all of Brisbane to themselves. You have cake all over your mouth as well as a full slice on your plate – amazing.
The Broncos were created for the NSWRL, not for Queensland. The Broncos have been looked after – at the expense of the QRL, the grassroots clubs throughout the great south east, the SQ Crushers, the Gold Coast Chargers. Why do you think the QRL-backed Crushers had an average crowd of over 20,000 in their first year?
Through creating the Broncos, the NSWRL circumvented the QRL and successfully accessed the finances generated from Queensland fans without any money going to Queensland rugby league – except through the Broncos club itself.
Yes, it is all about Sydney – and the article highlights how the Sydney Solution is still being pursued today and is NOT in the best interests of the game, just Sydney.
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
Cynicism isn’t trolling. Especially if it is based on factual observation.
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
Unfortunately the money raised by the NRL does not go to grassroots rugby league. The money goes to the 16 NRL clubs and they can choose to spend it on the junior clubs that they select.
There are clubs even in Sydney not aligned to an NRL club – such as the North Sydney competition which is now without NRL representation. The junior clubs in the Bears area for example only get some (not all) of their council field hire paid and that is it. In fact, the Bears stopped funding junior player insurance just this year citing insufficient funds. How much NRL money do you think flows to junior clubs at Gosford, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo or Wagga? The clubs around NSW, QLD and Australia get almost no funding whatsoever unless they are aligned to an NRL club.
By linking game development funding to income generation, you are supporting a system whereby the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. People justify this system by suggesting that the money stays where it came from, however it merely creates a situation where talent flows from the country to Sydney in order to get better paid. That is, talent is artificially transplanted to Sydney which is then used to justify the money staying in Sydney. It is perverted.
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
Some other steps in the Sydney Solution:
1. Build the Rugby League Headquarters (over $17.4 Million) as a monument to the Sydney Solution and communicate to everyone that the Sydney Solution is strong and here to stay. CHECK.
2. Create a league called the “NSW Rugby League” but only allow membership from Sydney clubs – not the outsiders from the other side of the Nepean or Blue Mountains. CHECK.
3. Allow the “Country Rugby League” to exist and have one game per year. That is sufficient representation – after all, we have the Newcastle Knights in the competition so the rest of the state can support them. CHECK.
4. Make dual-registration in NSWRL and QRL illegal. This change prevents all NSW and ACT NRL clubs from using feeder teams in the more talented QRL competition and forces them to use the Sydney clubs. The standard in the QRL is way too high and we must force all CRL clubs to support the NSWRL. After all, we give them one game a year. CHECK.
5. Above being unbiased, we must be seen to be unbiased. We must call our Directors the “Independent Commissioners” and we must distance all NRL executives from judicial decisions by having an independent “Judiciary” to suspend players. The independent Judiciary should have former NSW players making suspension decisions – not QRL players. These are important initiatives because it is the appearance of unbiased decisions that matters – not actually making unbiased decisions. CHECK.
6. Investigate expansion. Expansion is important to many players and fans outside Sydney that are not represented and as it is these outside areas that provide most of the player talent and financial income, we must always investigate expansion. In the Sydney Solution it is always important to be seen to be investigating expansion so this will be regularly communicated to the fans. ONGOING (ON TRACK).
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
Actually, I think Geheimagent has put forward a very strong argument.
Rugby league in Australia was created in Sydney in 1907. Sydney is the foundation competition and we still have some foundation clubs that built the foundation of our foundations. Foundationhood is everything! And as some of our clubs are foundation clubs, the other Sydney clubs should also be protected from the scourge of other regions wanting to be represented in the National Rugby League – the NRL is a Sydney competition – we are the foundation!
Brisbane didn’t even register their league until mid 1907 – months after Sydney – and Brisbane didn’t start their competition until 1908 which is a full 12 months after Sydney. Queensland’s competition is only 107 years old whereas Sydney’s is 108 years old. So how can Queensland expect to be considered an equal? Ridiculous.
One of the most important steps in the Sydney solution was to ensure we built the new Rugby League Headquarters next to the Sydney Football Stadium – the stadium where we play all our biggest matches, apart from the ones that are too popular as it isn’t big enough… The Rugby League HQ building cost over $17.4 Million Dollars – but thankfully the NRL Independent Commission had the vision to create this wonderful monument to the Sydney Solution, if not rugby league itself.
I, for one, am a big supporter of the Sydney solution. Anyone who has read my previous articles knows how proud I am of the NRL Independent Commission – finally we have a Board with the money, power and mandate to stop expansion once and for all.
Well done, Geheimagent. You are totally correct and, no, it isn’t a lie if you believe it!
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL
The suggestion that we can only produce 16 (or 12) quality teams is just not true. The fact is that clubs are risk averse – and so are players (in fact, people are risk averse).
For the players – embarking on a career in professional rugby league is pretty dumb. If you make it, it is only a 10 year game and then you need to find something else (some State of Origin players are mine workers now…). But chances are that you won’t even make it, due not in a small way because there aren’t many spots available. Say you are of average height and build and are starting to pack on some muscle in your teens – you probably have a chance of less than 5 positions in a squad, which makes 80 contracts per year. Estimating 10 year careers, there are 8 new signings per year. Good luck if you don’t have a well-connected dad who hooked you up at age 16. In fact, if your career trajectory is offcourse at age 19, you are finished.
For the clubs – signing a new player is risky. It will cost you dollars and time. The ‘dollars’ are not just the contract payments but also the cost of developing them, training them and, in Cronulla’s case medicating them. The ‘time’ factor exponentially increases the ‘dollar’ risk because if you choose poorly, it is a 3-5 year mistake and you can’t afford many backups. As a club executive, you are a fool not to go with the regional development squads that grassroots leagues have recommended – that is, the sons of the Board members. Of course, there is also a lot of legitimate talent that make it every year as well but you then need to invest time and money into finding it for yourself. Hmmm, too hard.
Now consider expanding the opportunity – 35 clubs equals 175 potential contracts, 17 new signings per year using the above assumptions (for the average height and build teenager).
Are your comments really suggesting that going from 8 to 17 new signings per year is something Australia can’t manage? Of course it is. In fact, because of the risks for players and clubs I have mentioned, it actually creates more opportunity for new talent to be uncovered with little downside risk to match quality.
And that’s not to mention that a forward-thinking, growth strategy would actually increase participation in both the developing and developed states (and countries) which similarly increases the talent pool.
Of course there is enough talent! The problem is the current risks and barriers for players and clubs and expansion of the NRL. Rraising the profile of second tier competitions in all states (in whatever form) is the future. Just don’t expect the not so independent NRLIC version 1.0 to achieve it. Viva revolusi!
The future of the NRL through expansion
Except for not including the Souths Logan Magpies!
SQUAWK!
Bears, Jets and Bombers could create a real Super League
No. It just takes a court case to make it cool. Average crowds were 2000 before they got kicked out. Now all the wannaby fans are out waving flags and putting stickers on their cars.
Bears, Jets and Bombers could create a real Super League
There is a reason why some wise bloke selected the scene of opposing teams, a big guy and little guy, embracing and exhausted after the contest to be the trophy and symbol of our game.
The contest isn’t about cheap shots and thuggery. Our game is much more exciting than that.
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
Good game, netball. If I was a chick, it would definitely be my game to play. But really I just check out the gals and appreciate the teamwork.
But I am a rugby league fan. And a coach. I know what makes our game great and it certainly isn’t dangerous hits.
Anyone who likes our game simply because it is “tough” is missing the best parts.
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
The “covered” areas should be fairly represented in the “National Rugby League”.
Central NSW, Central Coast, North Coast, Central QLD and Logan should be represented in the NRL.
They shouldn’t be taken for GRANTed, used for their ratings dollars and be expected to follow some Sydney club.
After all, these are the regions that provide the talent – the Sydney clubs travel to those places to buy their players.
#DownWithSydneyClubsImmuneToTheWillOfTheGrassRoots
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
And he is the player that has gained the most from the performance enhancing drugs they took.
He should also be stripped of the 2011 Wally Lewis Medal and player of the match awards as he won these during the season he has now been charged for, and admitted to, taking performance enhancing drugs.
Has Paul Gallen been punished enough?
The suggestion that Gallen accepted injections that he knew would help him play better but he thought it was legal is an absolute joke.
How do you think the conversation went? “Hey Gal, come to training early because I have an injection that’ll help you play better and/or recover faster. Yeah yeah, don’t worry checking for yourself, I’ve checked and the performance enhancing injection is legal.” and then Gal says “Cool, I’ve always wanted to play 80 minutes of an Origin match and receive the Man-of-the-Match honours, the 2011 Wally Lewis Medal and accolades and media contracts for the rest of my career. Thanks for making sure its legal – who would’ve though heh?!?!?!”
Some of the commentary on this is bazaar. Yes, old mate Bennett hit out at the club management – he was pretty annoyed his own player had to do time. He tried to defend his player as he always does. Hardly an impartial comment. In fact, he doesn’t make impartial comments because he only makes comments when he is working (i.e. has an agenda).
But anyone who seriously thinks the players were somehow tricked into accepting injections that they knew would help aid recovery and/or performance has some problems. Why else did they think they were injecting drugs?
Has Paul Gallen been punished enough?
Shoulder charges are devestating for junior player recruitment. They don’t make the game attractive, they make it dangerous and something to avoid.
I care more about the grassroots game being fun and challenging for all than I do about having someone injured on a highlights reel.
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
Definitely!
Why not an NRL team representing central west NSW?
The Cowboys represent a big area and have an appeal even broader.
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
I agree. We should decrease the amount of Sydney clubs to build the game bigger and wider.
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
I’m glad to see shoulder charges gone. Other than for the appeal of thuggery, it added no skill or entertaining play. It was at odds to the essence of the game – which is to progress or stop progress of the ball – because it focussed on damaging the other player.
I still remember Chief and Carrol – awful – watch it again and tell me if you think that is good for the game strategy, good for the players or good for the image of the game.
It is strange that the same people who like shoulder charges hate grapple and crusher tackles. It’s a bit hypocritical, or should I say a lot…
The fans have spoken, but will the NRL listen?
Finally someone who sees that ‘starting’ is different from ‘perfecting’.
Wrestling has been in rugby league since 1907. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never played.
Turning people around in tackles, coming up with the leg, third man flops, general holding down, squeezing under arms to prevent play… all of them are wrestlingesque.
The more dangerous grapple and crusher are meant to achieve the same thing-slow the play. By admission, they also make the opposition feel ‘uncomfortable’ which both intimidates and stops the struggle which makes slowing plays less noticeable to refs. They ‘were’ within the rules when done just right but are high risk and I’m glad they are now explicitly outlawed.
But versions of grapple and crusher have also been around for decades. Melbourne trained and practiced to perfect these. The same professional approach to all elements of their game and the reason they are consistently among the best in the comp. Most clubs soon copied but, as with everything else, few NRL clubs had the discipline to do it as well.
Melbourne didn’t introduce wrestling. But they tried to perfect it along with all aspects of play. Cam Smith is part of the Storm machine but hardly the person who introduced wrestling…
It’s just another excuse from lazy undisciplined Sydney clubs for why they’re not as good as Storm or why the big 3 QLD players are successful. The real answer is talent, practice, discipline and professionalism.
Is Cam Smith still the best hooker in the NRL?
You say all Sydney clubs are steeped in history. As several of these are mergers you therefore accept their history isn’t lost from those mergers. But then you say future mergers would be throwing away those clubs’ histories.
Which is it? Do the Tigers and Dragons now have no history or tradition – or would future mergers not erase history either? You want it both ways – at least for the Sydney clubs. You probably don’t care about the history of the Souths Logan Magpies (106 yrs), central coast clubs, bathurst, dubbo, ipswich, coffs…
Your article is just hypocritical Sydney dribble.
Sydney's population can sustain its NRL clubs
Just settle down a bit, Epi! If you didn’t find it funny then that is ok. You could just enjoy the factual commentary on the state of rugby league that the author brought out.
The Sydney Solution: Fixing the NRL