Phelpsy wrote:So anyone for any constructive comments? Like the two commentators I don't think the nrl are in dire straights but there is a problem. The idea of getting rid if the fixed scheduling so as to improve ratings seems an interesting one. Not sure about the idea of the top 25 players being paid by the nrl and farmed out to weaker clubs but at least it is thinking outside the box.
I think it was interesting that they felt the competition standard was mediocre though ?
It would be good to have a half serious discussion about a thread topic. i.e. without RD ranting on everythring bar the actual thread.
The concerns mentioned could be levelled at the AFL as well.
Too many teams. Well the AFL has two more teams but they (the teams) are spread throughout Australia,
but of course the statement was meant to be too many teams from the old competition - the NSWRL and VFL.
Melbourne has a big problem with the distribution between the bigger and smaller clubs but even the smaller clubs are large by most standards.
The problem is excerbated by practices like crowd maximisation that punishes the smaller clubs long term by removing them from the limelight.
This correction of inequality is a priority concern for the AFL atm.
In Sydney the clubs are a lot more even but very few are doing well so it's hardly a compliment.
It's hard to see exactly what the nrl is doing about rl in Sydney
They don't seem to have an idea about ground rationalisation, folding teams, merging teams or re-locating teams.
they seem belligerent in not wanting to cull any Sydney teams so they don't appear to be shrinking.
Typifying their belligerence is the continuing to play out of ANZ when the SFS is the ideal stadium for rl.
Boring play. The AFL continues to change and the fact that the game has become a lot faster with more athletic players has been countered
by the introduction of some less than exciting coaching tactics. Thankfully most coaches have realised that to win games
you have to go back to idea of delvering the ball fast into the forward line so the spectacle remains.
The strength of rl is that it is a much cleaner and simpler than it's parent RU however that lack of options have the detractors labelling it boring.
That's an inherrent matter of sporting taste but there have been some relative changes. Changes were made to speed up the game some time ago.
However some changes removed the few highlights of the game - stripping the ball, shoulder charge, strong tackles and even the biffo.
Star appeal. This is what the fans pay money to see. This is what it's all about. In AFL the absence or presence of one star can make a 5k crowd difference.
Star appeal tends to be a bit cyclical but atm most AFL teams have a selection of stars from the forwards, defenders, rucks and midfield.
I don't know about nrl these days as there is zero news about rl in WA but it does seem the nrl has lost some of it's biggest stars
and embassingly lost them to other codes. The nrl does seem to have an endless supply of replacements but these seem to be islanders not Australians.
The AFL also is recruiting outside of Australia more but the influx has a much wider spread. Joining the Irish imports are players from many countries.
As to the solutions.
IMO fixed sheduling is set in stone except for minor tweaks like end-of-year adjustments or moving to larger capacity stadia.
All stakeholders need the assuredity of long term planning.
As I have said before SOO is killing the nrl competition and needs it's own timeslot.
I'm not sure whether changes to drafting etc will have the desired effects.
There isn't much room for rule changes either.
Maybe if they had had decent scrums - but now you're talking the impossible.
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