Nate Myles re-signs for three years

[Kingbilly]

The NRL licenses are due for renewal in 2012, so the scramble has already begun in earnest. Especially, with the emerging view that Sydney can only sustain 4 - 5 teams at the most. Not the present 9.

This view really shits me. (not you saying it)
I honestly believe that if they cut any more Sydney teams people will turn away from RL in droves. Probably on 10% of fans from cut teams would support teams in the top level. The crowds for the teams left would not increase that much.

I honestly think its QLD RL political rubbish and is as much truth as expansion to WA and SA would work well.

[Guest]

This view really shits me. (not you saying it)
I honestly believe that if they cut any more Sydney teams people will turn away from RL in droves. Probably on 10% of fans from cut teams would support teams in the top level. The crowds for the teams left would not increase that much.

I honestly think its QLD RL political rubbish and is as much truth as expansion to WA and SA would work well.

Sorry guys, I trawl most of the NRL supporters chat forums. You should do it sometime, they're pretty funny and also gives you a good perspective. It's easy to start believing your own bullshit, for instance the Dogs sites (Kennel and Debate Page) are all happy clappy at the moment with the occasional conspiracy about video refs, the Dragons (Jubilee Avenue) spend their time gazing at the ladder in disbelief, the Sharks (Sharks Forever ... <smirk>) is just hilarious.

So if I find an interesting thread on any of them I tend to stalk it for a bit ...

Anyway, the problem in my humble view is this whole concept of "product". A term so misused that it ranks right up there with the word "vision".

Unfortunately, News Limited believe the product is the NRL and whilst it continues to generate cash (or returns) on their original investment it is not in their interest to outlay any further money on it. This will only dilute their profit. In fact, so in love are they with the NRL as a cash cow they created an "NRL Lite", more commonly referred to as the NYC.

So like all businesses, they maximise the profits in their "product" by stripping costs. First to go were the Presidents Cup and Reserve Grade / Premier League. Next it will be entire clubs.

This lack of investment in the broader game leads to the real problem. Where is the investment in the future? There is no investment in infrastructure or the next generation.

The ARL is broke, they need SOO each year to stay afloat.

Rugby League has no assets of its own. Where is the stadium strategy? Are they going to rely on the scraps from the soccer money? With the world cup bid, football (ie soccer) will now get money to build their infrastructure. Last time I looked FIFA doesn't provide guidelines for rugby league, so soccer will decide how the stadiums will be designed and where they are built. Including the use of synthetic surfaces, again not exactly league friendly. (I'm a soccer person by the way.)

What about the junior strategy? Is there a clear pipeline for every junior into an NRL club? Is Junior rugby league producing the right skills for the NRL? I heard Gould and Johns lamenting kids not wanting to play as halves due to the modified game they play.

Country Rugby League? Why is it supposedly dying? What are they doing about it? Apart from holding the City-Country game in Outer Gulargambone once a year.

The rules? The game played bears no reflection to the rule book. The game has been so diluted for the marginal fan rather than the hardcore. I hate the wanton violence of the past but gee I'm getting frustrated with this running from dummy half. Bring back the contest for the ball, allow good defences to dominate and reward teams that play more than 2 passes from the ruck. Allow the game to find solutions to dominant teams, not constantly meddle with the rules until the most influential person in the competition is now a retired ego-maniacal referee who has delusions of "managing games."

I've already commented on the media rights and the management structure of the game.

It’s not in the interests of the NRL to actually put long term strategies in place. It is not in their interests to outlay money in the game whilst the incomes are healthy. Gallop is a putz, no doubt, but he’s doing the job his masters want him to. He is just running a customer service department, poorly, but that’s all.

The game is resilient even Gallop couldn’t wreck it ... I hope.

[supermario]

Imadog, i'm begining to like you !!

you talk some good football ! Like Darque, pre Souffs sellout.

you are talking sense, the "owners" of the game see no value in putting money into the NRL.

News have the TV rights, so regardless of the money the NRL make, they will make more from Pay TV rights.

I have always found it odd that the ACCC have never looked into news limited's involvement in the NRL and the bidding process of the TV rights.

Like you said, News limited bid for tv rights for a game that they own.

Do we dare get back Ken Arthurson and John Quayle????

[stsae]

Sorry guys, I trawl most of the NRL supporters chat forums. You should do it sometime, they're pretty funny and also gives you a good perspective. It's easy to start believing your own bullshit, for instance the Dogs sites (Kennel and Debate Page) are all happy clappy at the moment with the occasional conspiracy about video refs, the Dragons (Jubilee Avenue) spend their time gazing at the ladder in disbelief, the Sharks (Sharks Forever ... <smirk>) is just hilarious.

So if I find an interesting thread on any of them I tend to stalk it for a bit ...

Anyway, the problem in my humble view is this whole concept of "product". A term so misused that it ranks right up there with the word "vision".

Unfortunately, News Limited believe the product is the NRL and whilst it continues to generate cash (or returns) on their original investment it is not in their interest to outlay any further money on it. This will only dilute their profit. In fact, so in love are they with the NRL as a cash cow they created an "NRL Lite", more commonly referred to as the NYC.

So like all businesses, they maximise the profits in their "product" by stripping costs. First to go were the Presidents Cup and Reserve Grade / Premier League. Next it will be entire clubs.

This lack of investment in the broader game leads to the real problem. Where is the investment in the future? There is no investment in infrastructure or the next generation.

The ARL is broke, they need SOO each year to stay afloat.

Rugby League has no assets of its own. Where is the stadium strategy? Are they going to rely on the scraps from the soccer money? With the world cup bid, football (ie soccer) will now get money to build their infrastructure. Last time I looked FIFA doesn't provide guidelines for rugby league, so soccer will decide how the stadiums will be designed and where they are built. Including the use of synthetic surfaces, again not exactly league friendly. (I'm a soccer person by the way.)

What about the junior strategy? Is there a clear pipeline for every junior into an NRL club? Is Junior rugby league producing the right skills for the NRL? I heard Gould and Johns lamenting kids not wanting to play as halves due to the modified game they play.

Country Rugby League? Why is it supposedly dying? What are they doing about it? Apart from holding the City-Country game in Outer Gulargambone once a year.

The rules? The game played bears no reflection to the rule book. The game has been so diluted for the marginal fan rather than the hardcore. I hate the wanton violence of the past but gee I'm getting frustrated with this running from dummy half. Bring back the contest for the ball, allow good defences to dominate and reward teams that play more than 2 passes from the ruck. Allow the game to find solutions to dominant teams, not constantly meddle with the rules until the most influential person in the competition is now a retired ego-maniacal referee who has delusions of "managing games."

I've already commented on the media rights and the management structure of the game.

It’s not in the interests of the NRL to actually put long term strategies in place. It is not in their interests to outlay money in the game whilst the incomes are healthy. Gallop is a putz, no doubt, but he’s doing the job his masters want him to. He is just running a customer service department, poorly, but that’s all.

The game is resilient even Gallop couldn’t wreck it ... I hope.

Thats a damn good post mate, lots of truth in there you dont get to read in the media. Im glad ive found someone who questions

Unfortunatley the majority of RL fans either dont care for these discussions or just cant be bothered with them. Their love of their club or players is as far as their interest goes. Nothing wrong with that view at all, im not bagging anyone. I equate it to the VB drinker syndrome. Try and offer a VB man a Tooheys or a Becks, its a great expirement.

I know many think I may be a bit of a fruiter, well they probably know it by now. I have always questioned News and their "involvement" in our game. Off the net ive had some major discussions with friends and rellos about the issues, alcohol and even violence has been known to enter the equation at times.

At times I have to pull back and let it go, it seems to just aggrivate some. There are a few here that like to discuss this stuff, KB I know is very clued up on alot of whats happening, especially at the important Junior level.

I believe healthy discussion like this should be mandatory. I also visit many of the sites to gauge the vibe at different clubs fan bases. Its funny to see how often we all think alike. I have always held the view if ALL clubs (especially in Sydney) got together and forced News' hand we could achieve whats best for OUR game. Alot like what News did originally.

Keep going Im A Dog, you may go for the enemy, but your opinion and knowledge gives me a woody, in a non-homo kinda way of course.

[Guest]

Imadog, i think u should try talking some sense into our good mate Theo

[Guest]

Imadog, i'm begining to like you !!

you talk some good football ! Like Darque, pre Souffs sellout.

you are talking sense, the "owners" of the game see no value in putting money into the NRL.

News have the TV rights, so regardless of the money the NRL make, they will make more from Pay TV rights.

I have always found it odd that the ACCC have never looked into news limited's involvement in the NRL and the bidding process of the TV rights.

Like you said, News limited bid for tv rights for a game that they own.

Do we dare get back Ken Arthurson and John Quayle????

High praise indeed SM!!

The irony is that Theo gets Lauren's undying love and I get lukewarm acceptance, not that there's anything wrong with that !!!

Arthurson and Quayle did a better job in hindsight than what we thought at the time. At least they had the good of the game at heart.

I just get frustrated that as a mug punter I am treated with contempt by the NRL. Look at the fiasco about the night GF? The fans don't want it but Channel 9 do. So what do they do ? We have a "twilight GF". That's not what we want!!!!

[stsae]

Why thankyou.I preferred to play 5/8. I was never happy that Freddy as great as he was took my NO6 jumper.This is why I went back to Rugby

Mate youd get a run in the front row the way we are going at the moment.

Come back to the dark side of the force.

[Kingbilly]

Ima,
yes I too read the views on alot of forums re: Sydney teams and alot of I think stems out of QLD.
They are spot on the money with kids and halves stuff (except they still want to play, but don't know how)
I am coaching an U13 side and one of the hardest things is to get the half moving and taking it to the line to pass. They are so used to standing still and catching then passing because of the mini/mod rules.

[Guest]

Ima,
yes I too read the views on alot of forums re: Sydney teams and alot of I think stems out of QLD.
They are spot on the money with kids and halves stuff (except they still want to play, but don't know how)
I am coaching an U13 side and one of the hardest things is to get the half moving and taking it to the line to pass. They are so used to standing still and catching then passing because of the mini/mod rules.

We're watching the transformation in kids soccer through small sided games. The kids play 5 a side on a much smaller pitch and small goal. No goalkeepers. Every kid is involved.

I have wondered whether this can work with kids rugby league. Not unlike backyard footy when we were kids, 4 or 5 per team and let them play footy free style until they're 9 or 10. Minimal rules. You just want them to learn how to run with the ball, pass and tackle. Then progress into a 7 or 9 a side game. Then finally 13 a side when they're 13 or 14.

Dunno, I used to love footy with my mates in the backyard and down at the park.

[Kingbilly]

Thats one thing the Roosters along with Clovelly and Bondi United (Paddo and St Charles are doing **** all) are doing it right with Freddies Minis and the U6s.

Too them out of Souths and run drills and non-score keeping games.

I tell you what though the standard of kids footy is amazing compared to what it was 30+ years ago