STEVE SHARP SLAMS NRL

Parramatta launch extraordinary attack on NRL, claiming neglect by the game’s governing bodyDean Ritchie Daily TelegraphFED-up Parramatta have launched an extraordinary attack on the NRL, claiming they have been constantly neglected by the game’s governing body.Eels chairman Steve Sharp told The Daily Telegraph his club felt stranded as Parramatta fight AFL club GWS and the A-League’s Wanderers in Sydney’s west.Sharp even claimed his coach, Brad Arthur, was being ignored by NRL referee’s boss Tony Archer.The NRL hit back on Thursday, declaring they had spent hundred of thousands of dollars promoting Parramatta games and supporting western Sydney, as well as helped grow the Eels’ membership base.“The general administration of the game needs to be focused more around the clubs,” Sharp said. “It’s my belief that the 16 clubs are the NRL and each club needs a little more personal attention.“There is unhappiness from the clubs, particularly the ones out west and in Sydney, about a lack of support from the NRL in some areas. I would like to see them promote the game more on visual TV.“Individual games need to be promoted more on mainstream TV or Foxtel. I don’t think we will get too much coverage when Parramatta play Melbourne on Sunday week at Pirtek Stadium.”As Sharp and the Eels prepare for next week’s board elections, the former Eels forward said rebuilding Parramatta Stadium should be a priority for the NRL.“The so-called war chest should be spent more in that promotional area in trying to get fans to games,” Sharp said.“I understand there are 16 teams in the competition and they all have competing needs but, in our area, we’d like to see the NRL support us and lobby a lot harder to try and get Parramatta Stadium rebuilt to a 30,000 to 35,000 seat stadium. We haven’t seen too much of that at the moment.“They are spending a lot on the fringes of our game but neglecting the heartland.”Sharp claimed Arthur often had to wait up to a week for a return call from Archer.“We’ve been disappointed about the lack of response we get when Brad wants to talk to the referee’s boss and doesn’t get his calls returned.We are one of the most heavily scrutinised teams on the football field. Brad will make a call and then have to wait three or four days or a week to get a response back. It’s not good enough.”Parramatta invest in junior and senior coach education, junior league participation, referees education, junior elite pathways, Eels educate schools program, community education programs for disadvantaged youth, game development at Catholic schools, junior and senior player welfare and education, player insurance for junior rugby league and touch football/tag football programs.The Eels now some help from the cashed-up NRL, claiming the AFL and FFA help their sports.“It’s important the NRL consolidate the existing clubs in greater western Sydney,” Sharp said.“Soccer has got in, the AFL has got in. Five years ago if you drive around Parramatta you wouldn’t see AFL posts in a school. Now we have 40 or 50 schools in our area that have AFL posts.”An NRL spokesman fired back at Parramatta, saying: “The NRL has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into promoting Eels games and supporting rugby league in the western suburbs already this season.“This includes everything from providing transport to marketing, membership recruitment and promotion of major events such as Easter.“The Eels have benefited from a pilot program, funded by the NRL, which has generated more than 2000 memberships for the Eels. In addition, the NRL employs five game development officers in the Parramatta district and this has resulted in an increase in rugby league participation in the region this year.“The western suburbs is a key area for our game and we are making sure it remains rugby league territory.”http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-launch-extraordinary-attack-on-nrl-claiming-neglect-by-the-games-governing-body/story-fnp0lyn3-1227329092213

Top work from Sharp. We keep wondering if the NRL is giving us a raw deal and it's great to see that our chairman has had enough of us being ignored. He's right in saying that advertising of the game is poor. You get a couple of ads from Channel Nine for their Friday night and Sunday night games but they're promoting you watching the games at home. The NRL does a very poor job in that respect.

He's again right on the poor support given to deal with the A-League and AFL threats. It's the like the NRL thinks that just because western Sydney is the heartland, it'll look after itself. Sharpy could be prompting other clubs to speak up here and we could see some real change happen at the NRL if other clubs get involved.

"Some players need to get sacked from a club and risk losing it all before they really knuckle down and put in the work. Why did he get sacked, was it lack of discipline for footy and training or off field issues?"

"I love Twidle, you can just tell he is not a robotic NRL player, he plays with instincts. Not saying he is Munster, but Munster plays the same. Apa gets the ball, looks to see what is infront of him and says "Let's try this". That can be dangerous…"

"Iongi
Samrani
Simonsson
Penisini
Russell
Pezet
Moses
Williams
Smith
Moretti
Kautoga
Guymer
Doorey
Walker
Paulo
Tuivaiti
Latu if Ryles thinks he is ready
Izack Tago if we get him
Twidle

I thought I posted this earlier including explanations but…"

Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown April 30, 2015 at 10:05pm

Nice work Sharpie, give it to the clowns.
- robert maxwell > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown May 1, 2015 at 1:14pm
  
  snake you got to ask your self is this all about next weeks election?.yes or no, to me its a true,the eels are not getting a fair go from the refs and video refs, the nrl needs parra and there jnrs on fire.
  
  penrith turned it around, after years of having a strong jnr league going no where. parra should be going better in the holden cup and nsw cup, and nrl..
  
  we can come up with refs are to blame,we have to many injuries , but in my view ,brad arthur needs more control with the nsw cup and holden cup ,da less..there combo may not be working well. snake where are you on this mate.
Nutcracker April 30, 2015 at 10:12pm

This is a very interesting article. If you look at Sharpie's quotes they are measured and thoughtful. He's standing by his coach and club. I'm not a fan of the sensational headline - that's all about selling papers/getting people to click in the link. Sharpie's got every right to make observations about what the NRL are and aren't doing for his club - he's our Chairman, not the NRLs.
SuperEel 22 April 30, 2015 at 10:18pm

Top work from Sharp. We keep wondering if the NRL is giving us a raw deal and it's great to see that our chairman has had enough of us being ignored. He's right in saying that advertising of the game is poor. You get a couple of ads from Channel Nine for their Friday night and Sunday night games but they're promoting you watching the games at home. The NRL does a very poor job in that respect.

He's again right on the poor support given to deal with the A-League and AFL threats. It's the like the NRL thinks that just because western Sydney is the heartland, it'll look after itself. Sharpy could be prompting other clubs to speak up here and we could see some real change happen at the NRL if other clubs get involved.
Frank The Tank April 30, 2015 at 10:31pm

About bloody time Steve. Stick it to them.

Its also interesting to hear that he and BA feel as though we aren't getting the rub of the green with the refs. Well done mate lets hope the NRL give us the respect we deserve now.
- FME > Frank The Tank April 30, 2015 at 11:04pm
  
  Yes very interesting indeed tank. Seems like BA's nice guy approach towards the refs is getting the team ignored on the field and BA off it. Simple answer, if they won't answer his questions during the week or don't start giving us an even break on the park then slam them in the post match interview. It may cost him, or the club, $10,000 but it will get the attention of the nrl. Speak up BA now's the time.
Frank The Tank April 30, 2015 at 10:36pm

Ouch!!
Jimmy April 30, 2015 at 10:38pm

One thing for sure is Archer will be on the blower first thing tomoz. Embarrassed into action. Shame.
- Bup > Jimmy May 1, 2015 at 8:41am
  
  I hope the NRL cop a pasting from our clubs administration, coaching staff , players and fans. If we all kick up one almighty stink the medias forced to report on it ,ultimately forcing the commission to act. It would pay to have a few scribes in the print media on the books to publicise the clubs agenda . Screw the NRL.
Muttman April 30, 2015 at 10:45pm

Outstanding work from Sharp. The NRL has neglected our region for too long. Without Parramatta there is no rugby league. It really is that simple. Yet for way too long the NRL has focussed on fringe areas like Melbourne whilst the heartland was under attack from rival codes. For the past 15 years we've become the poor cousins in the NRL. High time this changed and kudos to Steve for stating facts.

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