Growing up I had role models like the Crow, Zip-Zip, Kenny (remember the Newtown grand final!), Sterlo, the Super Coach, the Bear, Peter Wynn, Edgey and of course the insurance scamming, car burning, Bulldogs trampling Guru!!!!! I still have his autograph in my year 9 religion exercise book!!……Sharpy and Muggo…….. you were safe as houses.
My 10 yr old daughter LOOOOOOOOVES the Eels. Her favourite is Corey Norman. She loves his cheeky smile. Foran is her second favourite…….. she loves his loyalty and courage. She has probably heard that from me after the contracting saga last year.
In recent months I have honestly questioned the changing influence of NRL on our kids. This is only going to escalate from here. Maybe it is exaggerated because I am a mad Eels supporter and because I can’t yet bring myself tell my daughter why Norman is in trouble. It was hard enough trying to explain that the Eels were cheating and still hoping they would support them. It made for a good conversation about forgiveness. I am sure I am not the only father that has experienced this :). I think I will tell her that Foran is on a long holiday until I know more!
I saw a great post today on this site about joining the dots and coincidences (read it) and it set off a feisty but undertandable debate to say the least. In short it involved the potential influence of one of our games immortals and his connections with gambling and more. The debate bounced between potential defamation and freedom of expression and made me feel a huge appreciation for the freedoms this land affords us and what our great game has given us for the last centrury. In my mind it is (or should be) a game owned by the people, supported by the fans and parents of our juniors and of course the players that have put in countless days and nights of blood sweat and tears. Everything else is a supporting function. The administration of the game should be a servant of its legacy that began long ago and has been bronzed in the formation of an embrace between Langlands and Summons that all 1st grade player aspire to hold above their heads come September.
I can’t help but feel that this century old legacy has been held hostage in recent years and that this ………. I will say it straight out…… Packer and Murdoch indirect ownership is quickly running this legacy into the ground. Making bucket loads of dough for sure ….. but who do our kids look up to today like we did!!
An immortal of our game is heralded by the indirect PBL owner of one PBL station as a drug taking, alcohol impacted, potential sports cheat….and on another channel of the same company the pre-eminent opinion of our game. (I personally love his commentary for what it is worth). Another admitted involvement in group sex live on TV with a teenage fan is the compere of another. Another is reported on another PBL program for infidelity and I am sure earning its story bloggers (sorry…… can’t call them journalists) many pats on that back and beers at the bar. Sorry to those that I offend……what was the legend of Hindy is now just a major self ingratiating dick…… IMO. I wish he was a Manly player.
The connections, influence and ownership of the game, its administrators, players, player managers and fans by both media and gambling entities now requires urgent review and regulation. It is an election year. Push for a people review. Gosh….. just last year Paula Dwyer (Tabcorp Chairperson) said herself there was too much gambling advertising on tv! What do we say?
As an Eels supporter we have heard from Hindy, Sandow, Foran and I am sure many more that have had some negative association with the influence of gambling power, personalities and machines. Star Casino was the Blues Key sponsor, while being the place that Jacob Loko, Corey Norman and Junior Paulo came unstuck…….. but where Jarryd Hayne and Wayne Beavis had their first media reported meeting take place since his NFL resignation. Go figure!!
Todd Greenterd has a policy of "hear no evil see no evil” that is furthering a “just don’t get caught culture”. He has no choice. He was hired to do exactly this. Manage and export a teflon program that he perfected and he has the protection of the hand (media) that feeds him. Of course he and his team feeds them too through the many leaks and private embargoed media releases. His real employer has to generate shareholder returns which it does in 3 ways. 1. Entertainment (the game and it associated programming -Footyshow, 360 etc programs); 2. Content for daily consumer consumption (breaking news, scandals, player rumours, game preview, game wraps, controversial bunkers decisions…. you get that picture)…… and 3…… the monster ADVERTISING!
I encourage every Eels supporter and League tragic to educate, explore and familiarise themselves with the vast connections and recent changes between PBL, NINE, Tabcorp, Sportsbet, CrownBet (future), News Ltd, Fox, NRL and its teams, sponsors and player managers. Then ask yourself…….. who really owns the game, its legacy, the players……….. and chooses the role models for our kids and those across the Pacific Islands.
Here is a start:
- Australians gamble more than any other nation with over 80% of people placing a bet or punching money into a poker machine. Nearly 500,000 Aussies struggle with a gambling addiction. $20 billion was spent gambling between 2011 - 2012. In 2014 it was $23.6 billion.
- Only 6 mths ago Nine secured the FTA streaming rights for the 2018-2022 season for $185M per year. Shortly after that this changed to a 5 yr sports agreement between Fox Sports, Nine Network and Telstra for $1.8 Billion.
- Sportsbet was awarded a $60 million deal with the NRL for the next 4 years up against James Packers Crown Bet. Packers’ Crown Bet pays the AFL $10 million per year.
From 2005:
"The concession for the NRL rights holder that AFL was No.1 indicates PBL- led Nine is ready to fire its best shot in the rights war. “We want to keep them if we can”, Packer said yesterday. “I am not quite sure how the bid will play out tactically, but… the AFL is the premier sport of Australia and we would love to have it on our network, and we will try hard to end up with it on our network”.
Nice’s commercial relationship with the AFL strengthened yesterday with confirmation of yesterday’s Herald Sun report outlining AFL deals with betting agency Betfair, which is half-owned by PBL, and Tabcorp. Industry sources yesterday said the Betfair deal — which, when combined with the Tabcorp contract, would reap the AFL more than $7.5 million over five years — strengthened the PBL - Nine position with the AFL.
- New three-year agreements with Tabcorp and corporate bookies are forecast to increase the NRL's slice from gambling operators from $5 million a year to between $10m and $12m annually.
- The NRL and other sports have been eager to change their betting income arrangements since the landmark High Court case won by Racing NSW in 2012 that saw millions poured into racing via the introduction of a fee of 1.5 per cent of turnover.
- Exactly what percentage of turnover agencies will now have to fork out to the NRL was on Friday unclear but there will be a sliding scale in place with lower rates paid to the governing body for standard bets, such as head-to-head and higher rates for more exotic wagers. So, the more exotic bets that are placed on NRL games games the MORE $ THE NRL MAKE. The incentive for match fixing has recently been built into the system……. like it or not.
- There's now about 100 bookies in the world that now bet on AFL and rugby league and they contribute zero to the NRL coffers.This presents a competitive pressure to maintain market share for the Australian gambling entities while setting up and very hard to trace and regulate outlet and association for players and player managers.
- There's now about 100 bookies in the world that now bet on AFL and rugby league and they contribute zero to the NRL coffers.This presents a competitive pressure to maintain market share for the Australian gambling entities while setting up and very hard to trace and regulate outlet and association for players and player managers.
Do, Or Do Not. There is No TRY!
Yoda.
Replies
Fuck me Yoda, i hope the Syd journos are reading, they would learn a thing or two from you, very well articulated and thought out mate.
I dont have kids but i will say i dont think footy players should have to be role models, nor do i think kids should be having footy players as role models, thats besides the point i suppose because many do but id hope parents can explain to their kids that these guys are just footy players, theres good and bad apples like in every profession.
I do agree theres a culture of the NRL turning a blind eye, i cant see that ever changing.
You are right the whole games built on gambling without it the game would die, it just needs to be managed better.
I agree with you 100% snake that players don't set out to be role models. They shouldn't have to be ....... unless they are receiving an income (sponsorship) for that. But like it or not, kids choose 'em. And 90% of the time the media sets it up. Maybe not deliberately...... but if they dont see 'em they don't follow them. The games future is based on kids and parents choosing to take up the game instead of other sports. This is where role models are key for the games future and the values that role models (good, bad, ugly or pretty) portray will shape the future of its leaders. This is what sets the culture of the game...... not those in League central. I might be exaggerating, but I see a risk of RL following a path in NSW like cricket did in the WI after basketball arrived. There is a reason that AFL and PL targeted western Sydney so aggressively. It is BIG potential and ripe for the picking. Not saying it will be any different. Media and gambling have an each way bet. And NRL have a strategy to recruit any shortfall from the Pac islands.
Wonderful article Yoda. Perhaps we could ask the NRL about their own "arms length" transactions? We can ban cigarette companies from being involved in the game but we encourage gambling? You can't have an arms length transaction when your getting a piece of the pie. The broadcasters, NRL, gambling houses and media are simply feeding off each other to gain more revenue. More headlines equals more money going around. No wonder there are leaks and stories go on for weeks. This sums it up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nBZ-u1ilBI
Yoda your posts of late have been nothing short of brilliant
This is precisely why Parramatta's issues must be played out in court. Court is the only place where we will receive a fair hearing on all matters. (or as is always my preferred option on everything, fix it behind closed doors)