How long is it going to take for the NRL to start taking the game seriously?
They need to spend the money on the grass roots and a failing on all fronts.
AFL is killing it here in newcastle, almost non existant 15 years ago and now are flourishing with $100 rego for kids . Providing $40 school holiday clinics for three days.( better than day care)
Soccer participation is also strong .
NRL is killing the game !!!!!! TV rights monies won't last forever.
Replies
The Nrl posted a 6500 crowd at Campbelltown which is absolute crap, you could count the people in the stands more like 2000.
The Nrl need another Brisbane team asap
I keep hearing and reading that another Brisbane team is needed, but how does that fix the low crowd numbers in Sydney?
NRL are banking on 4 quality games every year. 3 State of Origin and 1 Grand Final.
AFL. MELB based teams : HAWKS/ DEMONS/NORTH MELB/ CARLTON/RICHMOND/ST KILDA/ BULLDOGS AND GEELONG TO A LESSER EXTENT
so too many sydney based NRL teams arguement doesnt cut it. They get big crowds all the time.
NRL NEEDS TO EXPAND like the AFL and have the draw in a way that not too many games are played in Sydney on a given weekend .
so they have more melbourne based teams than the nrl sydney based team.......so the arguement that we must cull teams is bullocks
What other sports are doing that the NRL is failing in is that their focus is mainly on the fans, the NRL has lost its focus and cares about money.
I feel that the NRL need to do the following in order to attract the fans back:
- Have games on days that people can actually attend, for example get rid of the thursday night games and friday 6pm slots because not many people can afford to attend due to work or school issues.
- Move some games back to the local/suburban grounds, this is because the aim is to fill the stadiums and at the moment most games look like nobody is there. It is also easy for travel for supporters.
- Make grassroots games based on weight not age till a certain point e.g under 17's, this will appeal to parents with the feeling of their kids being safe and it keeps the smaller players in the game
Melbourne also Trumpy have 1 NRL team; and rugby is hardly taking off. Therefore AFL is the main sport code; i get it though and agree about the costs etc. AFL throw $$$ and more importantly development officers at the game; but crucially they do not seem to change their strategies like the NRL; who seem to change things every 1 /2 years. It is quite simple, if league offered the same (and i add we have Easts here on coast and they've advertised at my school for camps), and in terms of cheap rego / etc and got into more schools / clubs with goal posts, and COUNCILS they can def compete.