NRL today - Better or worse?

[Peter C]

Just watched Fox Sports (only because on FTA). 2 chicks (not that there is anything wrong with that) discussing last nights game.

Anyway, the crowd figure came up and they said how disappointing it was (doh) and then mentioned the AFL crowd of 90k. Blow me down one of them said not sure if we are comparing apples with apples between the codes. EXCUSE ME!! The 2 largest competing codes and some dimwit is unsure if they should be compared. FMD!!!

Then went on to say is it grounds, is it the prices, I dunno. When is someone going to step up to the plate and state it is the grounds and it is the prices. Not that hard to put out the facts surely?

Also, I watched the AFL last night, and what really stood out was the commentators, players, coaches and administrators putting the fans on a pedestal. They embrace them in nearly all conversations. What a bloody contrast and they wonder what is wrong with the NRL.

It's not the grounds, it's the mindset of the people down there.
I've been following rugby league for over fifty years now, and even in the sixties, I was in awe of the crowds they used to get down there, where we would have around 12,000 as an average figure at suburban grounds, the AFL would have around 50,000, and it's fair to say that populations in both cities have almost doubled.
The night games have had a detrimental effect on crowds, especially when it's a Channel Nine game, and also very few can make it to the six o'clock game on a Friday.

 

[brad]

19,200 people at a round 2 elimination final.... Think the game is worse....

Although Todd and Peter think they're doing a fine job so all is ok.

Richmond get more to a training run.

 

[qldeagle]

Forget Manly being a no show in the 2018 finals...was a sad season, but obvious a long way from home.

The game overall in 2018 has become this "product" and the players a "brand"??

The game I loved back 80's through to now, has lost a fair bit of its soul.....

The toughness, loyalties, playing ab lib footy, media vultures, the players were there because they loved the game - the money was a bonus.... and so much more seem a distant memory.

Maybe seem hypocritical in a sense, as I don't miss a game and still get into it, just seems a shell of the game I grew up on in many ways.

Maybe just a sign of the times and I need to leave the cave and get with the times, but keen to hear long time supporters opinions on "then" against "now".

Mate I couldn't agree more. There's just something not quite right with the NRL now. The players aren't in it for the grit and grind. A perfect example is Sam Burgess, have a look at him tonight when ever he's in the action his eyes go straight up to the screen and he looks at himself. It's all to do with them as individuals and not the team. DCE is the perfect example of that. Unfortunately when it turned professional it lost it's soul. The hugs and kisses after the game is the tell tale sign that they really aren't motivated by anything else other than the mula. However they do start to play like old school players when they're in there last year of there contract. That's why it's ludicrous to sign anyone up for longer than 2 years. Rant over.

 

[Bird of Prey]

Don’t know how you fix it , the game is stale and manufactured. At the moment the assets (players) are acting like spoilt overpaid brats and the organisation is being run by less than capable individuals . We in NSW and Queensland seem to think it’s the dominant sport in Australia and live some dreamland that this will go on forever. People a getting smarter and asking more than what’s being presented and IMO Foxtel has killed the game , if you can only get 19000 to a Penrith v Sharks game last night then you know there is a major problem.

 

[Wombat64]

The problem with the crowd last night was that Manly fans don't travel. It's obvious.

 

[Harvies elbow]

Now I'll watch the chicks play rugby league the way it should be played not NRL the way it shouldn't.

 

[Class of 96]

It's not the grounds, it's the mindset of the people down there.
I've been following rugby league for over fifty years now, and even in the sixties, I was in awe of the crowds they used to get down there, where we would have around 12,000 as an average figure at suburban grounds, the AFL would have around 50,000, and it's fair to say that populations in both cities have almost doubled.
The night games have had a detrimental effect on crowds, especially when it's a Channel Nine game, and also very few can make it to the six o'clock game on a Friday.

It’s absolutely the grounds when it comes to semis, and the lack of fan engagement. The crowd capacity at Shark Park is 22,000. Sure just a little more than the crowd at the stadium, but it would have been packed, and it would have had atmosphere. Your stats are right on current crowds between the NRL/AFL but the gulf has grown ridiculously. The NRL has become completely out of touch.

 

[Bird of Prey]

Now I'll watch the chicks play rugby league the way it should be played not NRL the way it shouldn't.

The people who run the NRL see the women’s NRL as a fixer for the code ha ha ha .

 

[Budgie]

Mate I couldn't agree more. There's just something not quite right with the NRL now. The players aren't in it for the grit and grind. A perfect example is Sam Burgess, have a look at him tonight when ever he's in the action his eyes go straight up to the screen and he looks at himself. It's all to do with them as individuals and not the team. DCE is the perfect example of that. Unfortunately when it turned professional it lost it's soul. The hugs and kisses after the game is the tell tale sign that they really aren't motivated by anything else other than the mula. However they do start to play like old school players when they're in there last year of there contract. That's why it's ludicrous to sign anyone up for longer than 2 years. Rant over.

Not being provocative but I wonder what you see as the difference with AFL. Same generation. Professionals. Still gets massive crowds.

 

[HappilyManly]

Not being provocative but I wonder what you see as the difference with AFL. Same generation. Professionals. Still gets massive crowds.

My AFL friends said it's as simple as their game not translating to the small screen.

Even at live NRL games, I see so many off the ball incidents that ultimately decide the game. But the camera is just focused on where the ball is.
Then I watch the replay and it's almost a different game

AFL's 360 degree scope is completely reduced by the camera and Fans need to be at the game to get the full picture

 

[Class of 96]

My AFL friends said it's as simple as their game not translating to the small screen.

Even at live NRL games, I see so many off the ball incidents that ultimately decide the game. But the camera us just focused on where the ball is.
Then I watch the replay and it's almost a different game

AFL's 360 degree scope is completely reduced by the camera and Fans need to be at the game to get the full picture

It’s far more than that HM. Fans are embraced as the foundation of their game. They make decisions quickly, they get their reviews right without fuss. The fans want to go to games because they see it as mainly fair. They have their **** together, the NRL is amateurish I’m comparison. I’ve lived in Melbourne and also follow the AFL, and you know sure as hell that the best team wins. It’s quite frankly embarrassing trying to debate the codes.

 

[Harvies elbow]

We used to get 3 games to go and watch.
Going to the footy was a full day out if you wanted it.
You could watch the u/23s, reserves and 1sts. Or not.
You could see who the future stars were from all clubs.
In the sanitised bs we get now you can't take a divet out of the pristine surfaces of the fake big stadiums or god forbid, have players with dirt on their jerseys.
The only thing that makes it a full day of 'entertainment' is the travel to the empty caverns.
Great family fun especially getting home after midnight.