Are the NRL in self destruct mode?

Admittedly I'm fired up. I'll try to be rational but no guarantees. Here's my points of concern.1. Refereeing standards.This has become a lottery. They are human and having refereed myself it's not easy. However, we accept that in any season there will be times that you will be burnt by a wrong call and times that you benefit. I can't see any up sides that have happened for parra this year, but we have lost at least 3games through wrong calls. Why? My concern with ref standards is preconceived ideas for how sides will play OR reluctance to penalise particular clubs or players through fear of repercussions. Ask Klein which way the 50/50 calls will go in future Storm games that he controls!2. Match schedulingFrom ridiculous draws that have teams playing each other twice in a few weeks to teams being blessed with only playing certain clubs once or others benefitting during origin, we have entire seasons determined by arbitrary decisions, not form. Furthermore the scheduling of so many night games is not fan friendly. The crowds are really stagnating, not growing at all.3. Journalism driven by agendasThis may be something that the NRL could not control, but surely it's an area that should concern them. The bias reporting or rumour mongering masquerading as journalism is a blight on the game. Certain journos are stooges for certain players, player managers, clubs, or the NRL party line. Enough said on this.4. The salary capEveryone knows that certain clubs can really stretch their cap when others are heavily policed. How can some clubs field rep level players in every position and other clubs are prevented from signing a single marquee player. I know that the quality of management has a bearing on what a club spends but you don't have to Einstein to question the roster that is allowed to exist at favoured clubs.5. Judiciary charges and decisionsThis is so unfathomable that I am beyond elaborating on this!6. Match day costsFamily ticket prices are a step in the right direction but food costs are absurd.7. Multiple jersey designs and merchandise costsThe jerseys make it difficult to maintain traditional links with team colours. The merchandise .costs make it so difficult for families to give their children the chance to go in team gear to games. For me, I never buy new season jerseys. But that's buying for myself not a parent keeping their child in their teams gear.8. The proposed junior draft.Anyone reading my recent blogs knows how passionately I feel about this. I won't repeat the detail I've gone into on those blogs but please read them if you haven't already. Nonetheless, any proposed junior draft that impacts local juniors will not spread the talent. Our club, which invests heavily in junior development will be severely impacted. I have no problem with a senior draft. If a player wants to leave a club, let him enter a draft. That will REALLY Spread the talent. But no! The nrl won't take on the real issue. They'll make young kids move interstate or to NZ because they know that a kid trying to establish a career won't challenge a draft in court, but an established and influential player will!9. The treatment of the EelsThe team with the greatest supporter base in Western Sydney and the amazing supporter base outside of Sydney, continually receives unfavourable treatment by the governing body. Not expecting favourable treatment, just a fair go! Why alienate such an incredibly huge fan base and drive them away from the gáme? It's madness.No doubt there's many more issues equally as important to other supporters. But as I deal with the frustration of being an Eels fan today, these are the ones that come to mind. It worries me that as a lifelong parra fan, I am having moments where I am questioning the investment I place in the game I love. From my own connections with junior development which involves a significant amount of my time, to the money, passion and time invested as an Eels member, it is an important and enjoyable part of my life that is gradually being eroded by decision makers.How are you all feeling?

We can all whinge whine and carry on all we like but unless supporters from all clubs are galvanised as one unit to challenge the NRL then absolutley nothing will be done. The Nrl can lie all they like about crowds being up but blind Freddy can see that the crowds are down, referee's controling the outcome of games not the players raises questions on the integrity of the refs every week-end and yet the NRL does nothing, the game is dying a slow death and if it wasn't for Parra playing I would stop watching the game all together. Hopefully some one with contacts and a better knowledge than me about how things work in the NRL can figure out some way to organise support from other clubs and then we can start to challenge powers that be

"He scored a good try and set one up but he was also terrible in defence and dropped one or two cold. The other try assist were really just a bit of luck. Not sold on him just yet and the fact we only have him for 12 months means we don't have the…"

"Zero tackle dosnt show it either on the contract list, but that dosnt mean a lot either at times.
I found a fox article that states Will has just resigned to the Eels for 2026. That article was written late May 2025.
I can't find any other…"

Replies

FME August 16, 2014 at 12:36pm

Self destruct sequence has been initiated. Nrl will self destruct in T minus 2 minutes. Nrl reaction: "huh did someone hear something".
- sixtiesboy > FME August 16, 2014 at 12:37pm
  
  Indeed!
josh jones August 16, 2014 at 12:41pm

The NRL exists purely from its huge and loyal fan base with regards to TV and state of origin. Basically they could run the game like garbage as they have and us fans will still support it. Over the last 10yrs there is basically zero promotion, advertising campaigns etc etc. A couple of those years it was actually zero!

Moving on to last nights game. It pisses me right off. It seems like every parra game we are the ONLY ones ever caught in the 10 in prime penalty position. Prime I mean a team in there danger area ie between there own 10-30. Its bs.
- FME > josh jones August 16, 2014 at 12:44pm
  
  It's not just parra josh. There seems to be a group of teams who get these calls and the rest don't. Yes it's total bs.
- sixtiesboy > josh jones August 16, 2014 at 12:46pm
  
  I've stated in other blogs from last night that it was so evident at the game. You could see the refs control two teams in different ways. The dogs were offside, they wrestled and they lifted. I had no idea about the Eels penalties but I expected it. Have not been as furious since the Hartley era.
- josh jones > josh jones August 16, 2014 at 12:51pm
  
  I agree FME.
macybrown August 16, 2014 at 12:47pm

Well summed up sixties. It all put together makes for a pretty bad rap sheet.

You would swear that NRL management has been infiltrated by someone trying to undermine the success of the best game of the lot. The powers to be hold the fans in contempt almost.

Sigh...if only we did not care about our team sooo much.
wee scotty August 16, 2014 at 1:11pm

We can all whinge whine and carry on all we like but unless supporters from all clubs are galvanised as one unit to challenge the NRL then absolutley nothing will be done. The Nrl can lie all they like about crowds being up but blind Freddy can see that the crowds are down, referee's controling the outcome of games not the players raises questions on the integrity of the refs every week-end and yet the NRL does nothing, the game is dying a slow death and if it wasn't for Parra playing I would stop watching the game all together. Hopefully some one with contacts and a better knowledge than me about how things work in the NRL can figure out some way to organise support from other clubs and then we can start to challenge powers that be
- macybrown > wee scotty August 16, 2014 at 4:41pm
  
  Yep you are right. Could this blog be somehow sent to various fan forums or the like?
  
  Sixties has perfectly summed up how many fans feel, but unless supporters can galvanise as one unit it won't hold much weight and may be just dismissed as sour grapes from us.
Tin Tim August 16, 2014 at 1:35pm

I've said it once I'll say it again. Disgrace that Gallop was pushed & we've ended up with this rubble.

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