Roar Guru
Joined July 2012
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The World Cup final for 2017 was about as intense a game of Test match rugby league as I have ever seen. It was…
After years of waiting, Lady Luck has finally given England a most desperate reprieve. Nobody who witnessed it can ever forget the agonising game…
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has named his squad to take on the Australian Kangaroos in next Friday's Anzac Test. The Kiwi coach has…
The NRL have erred in their appreciation and awareness of drama and narrative. Professional sport is a form of entertainment. It is like a…
On the 20th April, Lebanon's University of Balamand (UOB) erased the demons of recent grand final losses to defeat Lebanese American University (LAU) 17-10…
I read some comments on Super League the other day that suggested the competition ought to be more aggressive in how it portrays itself…
They've done it. England have finally done it. After eight long years without any silverware to show for their efforts, England have taken out…
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Following the Rugby League International Federation's Annual Congress and AGM in Paris on the fourth and fifth of November, the much anticipated Strategic Plan…
England is back. Well, kind of. After a lacklustre first 30 minutes, England clawed their way back to totally dominate the second half with…
Later on this evening, South Africa and Lebanon will face off for the second match of a two-Test series in their attempts to qualify…
After some diabolical handling performances, the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Penrith Panthers will be desperate to not lose grip on the rest of the…
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Both the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm will be looking to bounce back from recent woes at Pepper Stadium in Penrith. Join The…
In the midst of the current obsession with the shenanigans surrounding the Good Friday clash between Souths and the Bulldogs, rugby league journalism here…
The Gold Coast Titans and Wests Tigers will be looking to leave recent woes behind them as they get their 2015 premiership seasons underway…
![[VIDEO] Gold Coast Titans vs Wests Tigers Highlights: NRL scores, blog](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AaronWoods-415x285.jpg)
With two matches done and dusted, the Super League is now pinning its hopes on 2014 champions St Helens to overcome NRL premiers South…
Undoubtedly the most famous of all grand finalists, the St. George Dragons seared themselves into the imaginations of rugby league fans by winning a…
With all the talk of expansion and internationalism, now is a good time to pause and reflect on the rich tapestry that is rugby…
What does the success of the Auckland Nines, the Four Nations and the push for an expanded World Club Series mean? It means that…
Rugby league's history, tradition and future will be on display in February courtesy of the 2015 World Club Series. Some of the code's oldest,…
Internationals aren’t meaningless. You don’t have to like them but others do.
You’re right. It probably is cultural cringe.
Got to love the village. Nothing beats it.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
I’ve responded on many occasions to the points you’ve raised.
My offense, such that it is, is the positioning of the NRL as the be all and end all of rugby league.
In the world of rugby league, the NRL is like an elephant standing in front of the sun.
The glare makes people imagine it is the source of the light.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
Shush!
Players are sleeping. You’ll wake them.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
That’s an argument, Barry, to not do it.
If the will is there, it will be done.
The problem is that not having the will to get it done becomes confused for there not being any value in doing it.
And you know where that leads….
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
No competitive product at the elite end of the international game?
?!?
Did you not witness New Zealand win half the international tournaments on offer over the last decade?
Did you not just witness one of the most intense games of rugby league ever played in the World Cup final?
Did you just not witness Tonga and Fiji take down New Zealand?
Did you not see the England v New Zealand semi-final in 2013?
It’s great you have your club dream.
But all you have argued for is that a club’s dream should get more priority over the future of the code.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
Not quite.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
An international weekend was purposely set aside for this reason.
If clubs can agree on Origin then why can’t they agree on a single Test match?
A pox on the lot of them. Seriously.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
Yes, and you don’t think there is more money etc to be had with a broader reach?
With an almost apathetic approach to promotion etc, Test matches in Australia still draw more than NRL matches.
Remember when 31,000 turned up in 2014 to watch Roosters v Wigan at the SFS for the WCC title?
The usual approach is to strike while the iron is hot but in rugby league they tend to let the metal cool down to justify not doing anything.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
The NRL negotiate media deals, not the clubs.
The NRL give the clubs x% to cover the salary cap and then some.
You would imagine that a media deal reaching international markets would eventually generate more money for clubs.
You know, myopia and provincialism tend to obscure the view that bigger slices can come from bigger pies.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
What do the RLIF do? They struggle against myopia…
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
Clubs don’t pay players. The NRL does.
The clubs are just money exchanges.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
You’re right.
There is no such thing as rugby league in Spain, Serbia, Greece, Toronto, etc etc.
People just made it all up so they could get one over on Annandale.
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential
I’m going to step in for Riley here.
Despite the title, his idea is not necessarily to get rid of the Warriors. It’s actually about improving pathways for New Zealand players to help ensure a robust future for the code in New Zealand.
Removing the Warriors from the NRL would highlight the real weakness of rugby league in New Zealand – the lack of pathways for players there.
How do you improve the pathway options for players so that rugby league in New Zealand doesn’t just rely on the Warriors?
That is the real question Riley is asking here.
For rugby league to grow, the Warriors have got to go
I like what you want to do with this idea Riley.
I’m just not sure if removing the Warriors is the way to do it.
For rugby league to grow, the Warriors have got to go
Super League was a joy to watch this year with so many teams challenging the traditional big four.
Leeds, Wigan, St Helens and Warrington all struggled for major parts of the season with Warrington really falling by the wayside.
Castleford won the the League Leaders Shield (minor premiers) for the first time in their 91 year history playing an exciting brand of rugby league. Unfortunately for them, they limped through the finals and then got blown away by big game specialists Leeds.
Wakefield, despite their off field stadium woes seriously challenged for top four honours as did fan favourites (sic) Salford who displayed grit and tenacity for the first half of the season to see them comfortably heading for the finals before losing a zillion games in a row in the back end of the year.
Warrington found themselves entrenched in the bottom four after a stirring win against the Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Series. Wigan took out Cronulla in an equally impressive performance but unlike Wigan, Warrington weren’t able to rebound from that high and were in the doldrums the entire season.
The RFL admittance of the Toronto Wolfpack was a stunning success which saw the Canadian-based team take out their division and be promoted to the second division in their first season.
The Balkans Super League tournament has grown to now feature 15 club teams from five European domestic competitions, including Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria.
Anyway, just a reminder that rugby league isn’t just NRL and its immediate confines.
Merry Xmas all.
2017 Rugby League year in review
Wests and Balmain merged because, like many, they thought that competing in the professional league was the same as survival.
But that’s not true.
Both clubs still exist, the Wests Tigers sitting ‘above’ them is not them.
The trouble with the Wests Tigers
I think providing pathways for Pacific Island nations to end up playing in the NRL rather than trying to make the domestic leagues of those nations on par with the NRL.
As long as you have a dedicated nursery for the professional ranks, I think everything will be fine.
How future Rugby League World Cups can be improved
Well said Barry.
It’s amazing the lengths that people will go to imagine that something is wrong.
Rather than being on the back foot all the time, rugby league administrators, managers and those in the public eye really ought to take the initiative and promote and publicise their creativity and adaptability to the world around them.
Tribalism and the diaspora: Rugby league's toxic paradox
That’s right.
There aren’t any problems that won’t be fixed by simply playing more Test matches.
To go even further, there isn’t a problem in the first place, other than not enough Test matches.
Tribalism and the diaspora: Rugby league's toxic paradox
I think the figure is around $7 million. Not much, really and their funding program is based on good governance principles though I’m not sure how much national federations get as a result.
How future Rugby League World Cups can be improved
There weren’t any credibility issues.
If a player is eligible why is that not credible?
The code would do well to stop being dictated to by the arguments of those have an agenda.
Rugby league needs a public face that can mock the critics and give them a progressive uppercut when the cameras are on and the reporters are around.
Tribalism and the diaspora: Rugby league's toxic paradox
Does the RLIF earn income from a percentage of ticket sales?
And if it does, does that income compare favourably with the corporate sponsorship that is possible from staging matches in the bigger stadiums?
Whatever the case is, the RLIF made their decision and as you stated, there was a specific reason for it.
The RLIF need some kind of guaranteed funding in order to operate. Relying on percentages may have been a tad too risky in their eyes.
How future Rugby League World Cups can be improved
Provided that you have regular international events, then the down time between nation switching can increase.
Tribalism and the diaspora: Rugby league's toxic paradox
No, it doesn’t turn the game into a free for all since very few players actually go chopping and changing ‘all the time’ anyway.
In anycase, players switch because they are eligible. Why is that not credible?
I agree with your proposal of a 100 day notification period. I think it is a good one. It’s a practical amount of time for coaches to select squads and prepare for their next match or tournament.
Of course, a set international calendar would help no end here.
Tribalism and the diaspora: Rugby league's toxic paradox
I was thinking it!
Trying to make something work given the restraints shouldn’t be considered as drinking from the kool-aid jug Barry.
The restraints as you’ve pointed out aren’t going to change.
But you’ll find – simply go over many of the comments – that restraints are used as excuses to never do anything.
You know, village thinking.
THAT is also Kool-aid you know…
NRL: Where Test matches are meaningless and trials on suburban ovals are essential