We all agree the NRL runs the brand? Yes, Who pays for the NRL? Fox & Channel 9? If you invested the money they do, they need to protect the investment.
This in my opinion is that all the rhetoric is a directive to make us all believe that the game is great, their doing the best job ever, and the game is led by outstanding minds and the administration of the game is the best ever.
This is total BS. The game is in trouble. Why have a press conference in the first place if people need to be scripted in what to say in the first place. Do we not have freedom of speech? Why on gods earth are we not permitted to question officialdom when we require EXPLAINATIONS! Did Trent ever call the refs cheats, or abuse them, No he asked for the officials to go in the dressing room and explain to the players the decisions they made. All we get is a coach fined $20K for being honest and asking questions, what would have Toovey been fined for the "needs to be an investigation" rant.
What does it say when my kids (26,22 & 8) all supporting other clubs sorry to say, all question the worth of going to games because they no longer see value in going to games when the basic question of fairness is gone from the game. My 8 year daughter told me stop watching games because I got too upset with what was happening. She would cuddle me as say "its just a game Daddy", next week will be better. But is it?
The game has serious issues, it's not two coaches at a press conference, why is now all about protecting or stemming the number of refs leaving the game?