NRL need to bite the bullet.?

Question

Too many teams in Sydney, TV rating not so good, NRL the poor cousins of Australian sport, not my comments but those of Brad Fittler and Craig Bellamy, I'd reckon they would know!!

The future of NRL is not in it's heartland, it needs to spread it's wings far and wide, it is the heartland that is rejecting the game, crowd numbers disgraceful and now we learn that the much vaunted TV ratings are not as flash as some of you would have us believe, The AFL has set the blueprint for expansion and it would be derilict of the NRL to ignore this, Perth, Adelaide, Cental Coast must be pencilled in for NRL franchises but having said that the NRL must then do there utmost to support thase clubs, the Melbourne Storm get no help whatsoever as far as scheduling and NRL promotion, this weeks game is up against a 65,000 crowd at the MCG and no replay until midnight, go figure!! If the NRL is to survive it is the non rugby states that need beefing up, like it or not you need us more than we need you!!!

Answer 1

Just give up-Rugby League is a dying sport and the smart management by the AFL is the reason. Perth HAD a team in the comp, they went out backwards.

If you really want NRL to continue, don't axe clubs in Sydney, just axe a few of the dinosaurs on the NRL management. It needs a big shake up, or you'll see the other games continue to grow at NRL's expense.

Personally, I think soccer, the world game, is the way of the future-not many mums want to see their eight year old with cauliflower ears and the paychecks of the Ronaldos and Beckhams are much much more enticing than the peanuts being paid to NRL players.

Answer 2

Crowd numbers are not disgraceful. Most European Leagues including both Rugby and football(soccer) would dream of getting a 16,500 average crowds. The fact of the matter is that Australia is situated too far from anywhere for it to bring up any interest in Europe. They have enormous TV deals in Europe because there's more people to watch their sport instead of having to wake up at 3am in the morning to watch the Broncos belt the Rabbitohs.This is why European leagues have more money but average less than 8000 heads a game.

Regarding biting the bullet. You should be more concerned about moving out of that dark room of yours hiding away from the real world and stop believing tabloids that are putting things out of proportion.

With Sydney supporters though, i couldn't agree with you more! I know they are the biggest bandwagon supporters in the country(i'm surrounded by them) and will almost never turn up for games because they are spoilt with TV. But with the TV ratings i advise you to read this article before you make yourself look anymore like a nob

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tv-pays...

The NRL has the money, all they need is some few changes with sponsorship rules, a team in Perth, Adelaide, and some other places like West Brisbane/SSC or the Central Coast, pump some money into them for a few years and watch them flourish. You really think Sydney and Brisbane had it easy with their AFL teams? Crowds for Sydney were DISGRACEFUL come the first decade, but AFL stuck by them and look how its doing now, maybe not dominate but it can at least stand on its own feet. The same thing will happen with Melbourne Storm once they move to their new stadium next year, and get more money pumped into it, continue to do well in the comp and keep a good management. 5-10 years and they will have better attendances than ALL Sydney teams.

Cut 3 or 4 Sydney teams or merge them, hey presto. There's your answer.

EDIT:Ah, my bad. Melbourne Victory play out of it in 09, Storm in 2010. but makes no real difference anyway.

Answer 3

We have all heard the talk of moving Sydney Teams to Perth and Adelaide again.

If they do they need one big change..... get off the ovals and into grounds made for the sports. The Knights and Jets are not perfect freidns but the manage to make use of a sports ground year round with minimal issues.

Lets see the NRL sit down and at least see if Adelaide and Perths football sides would consider joint venues. Sports do not always need to be competitors, there are some areas where a little less ego could become benificial.

Adelaide had crowds of 16,000 plus the year before they closed the club, what could they generate at a rectangular ground closer to the game.

If football and league made joint approaches to both cities what clout could they have to get top class areans made for their sports and not be forced onto cricket ovals as poor cousins again.