The NRL is failing it's fans

[Mark from Brisbane]

I don’t think you stand alone with your views there, I was recently back in Australia visiting family and I was surprised that my dad, uncles and some of their mates no longer watch the game liked they used too.

Their collective views were one of the salary cap and third party agreements show the game is a failure to compete evenly, the subjective nature of the six agains, the momentum swings pushed by officials along with different opinions from the officials.

Most people want the rules black and white and at least the referees signal what the six again is for, the high shots etc, Wayne Bennett called it earlier this season I thought when he said professional fouls sin bin and the rest leave for the MRC.

Having grown up listening to the ABC country radio each weekend with the games called it’s a shame to see an older generation not enjoy the game what they loved in the seats of their home on television or phone.

That’s all I had as a kid , match of the day on the ABC. I was about 13-14 when we first got TV, again , match of the day on the ABC.

It wasn’t until I was late teens that commercial radio came on board and broadcast most games , I say most as many were played at the same time back then.

Loved the gladiatorial nature off the game when players like Mal Reilly , Terry Randall and the like we’re playing.

Back then the best team won the game , none of this referee interference.

Like many on here I miss those days.

 

[sheridanstand78]

The game and the way it is run is out of control!!

The draw is uneven, the game is way too fast. It is officiate by nit picking officials who are more and more deciding games rather than allow to players to do so.

We see in recent times, the same old teams at the top and it is so hard for teams to get to the top 4 now.

The game day experience is also at the stage where you cannot have a conversation with the person sitting next to you due this relentless racket that we hear from the ground announcer, it is so loud and over hyped. I love how the AFL play the two club songs before their games and the winning team after, I wish the NRL would take note of this!!

This years finals you know will be marred in controversy as the people who run the bunker have no clue at times about what is an obstruction, what isnt? Also contact to the head which should be a sin bin needs to be more consistent.

I am at the stage where I watch Manly play and I am forced to mute the TV commentary as they have no love for us, death ride us during the game which makes it unpleasant.

I gave up my Foxtel subscription due to this and I track games on NRLcom. I can understand why people especially of my generation are less interested in the game now, the game is becoming more and more like T20 cricket. I might be a dinosaur for having this opinion, I crave to see the game played hard and fair and the players decide the result!!

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The game and the way it is run is out of control!!

The draw is uneven, the game is way too fast. It is officiate by nit picking officials who are more and more deciding games rather than allow to players to do so.

We see in recent times, the same old teams at the top and it is so hard for teams to get to the top 4 now.

The game day experience is also at the stage where you cannot have a conversation with the person sitting next to you due this relentless racket that we hear from the ground announcer, it is so loud and over hyped. I love how the AFL play the two club songs before their games and the winning team after, I wish the NRL would take note of this!!

This years finals you know will be marred in controversy as the people who run the bunker have no clue at times about what is an obstruction, what isnt? Also contact to the head which should be a sin bin needs to be more consistent.

I am at the stage where I watch Manly play and I am forced to mute the TV commentary as they have no love for us, death ride us during the game which makes it unpleasant.

I gave up my Foxtel subscription due to this and I track games on NRLcom. I can understand why people especially of my generation are less interested in the game now, the game is becoming more and more like T20 cricket. I might be a dinosaur for having this opinion, I crave to see the game played hard and fair and the players decide the result!!

X 2

Although I still have Foxtel ( which I’ll get rid of and go down the Kayo track when I get home from this trip).

 

[bringbackbeaver]

I hate the NRL, I just stick around because I love Manly and it's not our fault when officiating is so poor. I'd be punishing my club if I walked away from the game, so I won't. But the actual game itself and the officiating is an absolute disgrace. The futile pursuit of perfection has destroyed the fabric of the game. It's a terrible product that we have now. There's no spontaneity in those exciting moments anymore because the Bunker will intervene or there will be a Captain's Challenge or play will suddenly be halted for a HIA. Then you've got that stupid bell that rings for '6 again'; what a ridiculous rule. Powder puff slaps that come up off the ball are penalised and when someone shoulder charges another player in the head that goes off for the rest of the match, suddenly that's just a penalty and no sin bin.

The game is grossly over-officiated and it's destroyed the excitement and destroyed the product. NRL HQ should hang their heads in shame. I don't blame the referees. They're confused and responding to pressure from the earpiece and the post-game media deconstruction. Everyone that has played a role in getting us to this point should sack themselves.

Agree with this 100%. The only hope is that PVL and Abdo go asap . Need to be replaced with a Gus Gould type

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

The job of the referees should be to apply the rules, not to decide the rules.

The NRL need to get some rugby league sanity back into the game by putting the referees, bunker, match review & judiciary all under a person or three-person panel who know rugby league, such as trusted and respected ex players or coaches. A Geoff Toovey and others.

 

[MissKate]

When most of the talk among fans and the media is all about the reffing and not the game you know there is a serious problem

It’s almost like people don’t even notice who is top of the table etc, all the talk is regarding sin bins and non binning

It’s a joke but also rather sad and disappointing

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

The sin bin for 40 years was for deliberate or repeated infringements of the rules.

Accidental or careless or deliberate high tackles were never a sin bin. If it was really bad it was a send off. Sent off players and other players were dealt with after the game by citings, suspensions or fines.

The counter argument to the above was that it was opposition team the next game who got the advantage from a suspension, not the team that suffered the high tackle and maybe lost a key player.

So it was the NRL who in the past few years decided to change 40 years of the sin bin by including the option for the worst accidental or careless or deliberate high tackles.

And yet again, the NRL referees body took what was a sensible and reasoned addition to the sin bin rules, and amped it up into the overuse that we have now.

 

[Peter C]

DCE is part of the problem at times. The decision to challenge after 90-odd seconds was one.

Another is that for two weeks in a row he has come in as third man in a tackle in Manly’s half, leading to a penalty against and a momentum shift.

After 14 years in the top grade, DCE still comes up with some amazingly stupid decisions.

Not only that, he tends to play a Hail Mary low percentage play quite often on the second or third tackle when we're attacking in the opposition half, and we're not often in the opposition half.

 

[The Who]

What team, leading by 16 points after 15 minutes, suddenly feels the need to infringe and give away six straight penalties?
C'mon. It defies logic.
It's plain to see that corruption is part of NRL. The incompetence argument won't wash. No ref is that incompetent.

 

[davohan123]

The game and the way it is run is out of control!!

The draw is uneven, the game is way too fast. It is officiate by nit picking officials who are more and more deciding games rather than allow to players to do so.

We see in recent times, the same old teams at the top and it is so hard for teams to get to the top 4 now.

The game day experience is also at the stage where you cannot have a conversation with the person sitting next to you due this relentless racket that we hear from the ground announcer, it is so loud and over hyped. I love how the AFL play the two club songs before their games and the winning team after, I wish the NRL would take note of this!!

This years finals you know will be marred in controversy as the people who run the bunker have no clue at times about what is an obstruction, what isnt? Also contact to the head which should be a sin bin needs to be more consistent.

I am at the stage where I watch Manly play and I am forced to mute the TV commentary as they have no love for us, death ride us during the game which makes it unpleasant.

I gave up my Foxtel subscription due to this and I track games on NRLcom. I can understand why people especially of my generation are less interested in the game now, the game is becoming more and more like T20 cricket. I might be a dinosaur for having this opinion, I crave to see the game played hard and fair and the players decide the result!!

Great post
Also another small game day experience for us which I hate not running out to eagle rock at home but this USA style nfl drum run out I hate it and another lost tradition by us

 

[Peter C]

Great post
Also another small game day experience for us which I hate not running out to eagle rock at home but this USA style nfl drum run out I hate it and another lost tradition by us

I can't see why they have a need to play loud rock whenever there's a break in play.

 

[lsz]

Some things for mne

1. There is a massive difference between incompetence and conspiracy. I have no doubt there are a number of incompetent officals in the game however thinking there is some sort of conspiracy to guide the game? And no news has ever come out even though, as an example, there have been multiple refs who have let the game with bad blood?
2. Re standards a quick google search from 2017 shows similar sort of fears - a sample here NRL bunker in a tug of war between spontaneity and getting it right
3. Like most sports unless the rules are simplified more and left to no interpretation then there are always going to be issues. Something like mitigating circumstances are great in theory but how do you measure it in a subjective, fast paced situation?
Finally re speed of the game Bill Harrigan had this to say the other week 65 万次播放 · 2,826 个心情 | Bill Harrigan on which rule he doesn't like in the modern game. ❌ #9WWOS #NRL | NRL on Nine | NRL on Nine · 原声

There are far smarter people than me but in such a fast paced game I am not sure you can do much

 

[maxta]

Some things for mne

1. There is a massive difference between incompetence and conspiracy. I have no doubt there are a number of incompetent officals in the game however thinking there is some sort of conspiracy to guide the game? And no news has ever come out even though, as an example, there have been multiple refs who have let the game with bad blood?
2. Re standards a quick google search from 2017 shows similar sort of fears - a sample here NRL bunker in a tug of war between spontaneity and getting it right
3. Like most sports unless the rules are simplified more and left to no interpretation then there are always going to be issues. Something like mitigating circumstances are great in theory but how do you measure it in a subjective, fast paced situation?
Finally re speed of the game Bill Harrigan had this to say the other week 65 万次播放 · 2,826 个心情 | Bill Harrigan on which rule he doesn't like in the modern game. ❌ #9WWOS #NRL | NRL on Nine | NRL on Nine · 原声

There are far smarter people than me but in such a fast paced game I am not sure you can do much

I rate every 1 smart as the next on here, basically different opinions and I feel by the posts.....most have played the game at various levels.
And as you rightly state, it's a very fast paced game today, but there are 2 distinct things that are of Massive concern imo....consistency and the odd rulings.
Many games (not JUST Manly) the Referee in my eyes, does not ref BOTH sides equally....I mean a flurry of 5 - 10 penalties on a row to 1 side, basically gives (1 team) a 15 minutes of possession and multiple scoring opportunities, opposed to the other team getting fatigued.
And to top it off, during this period, the team getting hammered by the refs, are laying on the tackled player the same as the "perfect team"....maybe longer.....and then they pull out the funny rules like - downtown rule, which we could see 15 penalties a game for, used as a 1 off wild card....which unfortunately does smell like a leg up after a series of other events....the you see a few players "clipping" oppposition high as they fall toward the ground cop a sin bin, while others far worse (like a shoulder charge to the head) are simply a penalty.
Another 1 which has become grey is this obstruction rule, have seen many games the exact same situation with a player stopping in the line or at outside shoulder getting green lights and other times its red....so just make it a coin toss, as I don't want it deciding a final and can see it coming.
And if they have a chat pre finals, try fixing up these blokes getting tackled, walking 2 metres off the mark and the ref is calling the marker out of play instead of penalising the bloke playing the ball "off the mark'...it's not U6's so at least get this right !!

 

[BOZO]

I can't see why they have a need to play loud rock whenever there's a break in play.

My only gripe is this
I would like to hear the Eagle Rock at every ground every time Manly goes in for a try!

Ground Announcer :
Tommy Turbo is in for the length of the field Manly Try
Please all be up standing and sing along
All together now.....
Hey Hey Hey good old Eagle Rock is here to stay,
I'm just crazy 'bout the way we move,
Doin' the Eagle Rock.
Woh-oh-oh come on fast, you can come on slow
I'm just crazy 'bout the way we move,
Doin' the Eagle Rock.

 

[lsz]

I rate every 1 smart as the next on here, basically different opinions and I feel by the posts.....most have played the game at various levels.
And as you rightly state, it's a very fast paced game today, but there are 2 distinct things that are of Massive concern imo....consistency and the odd rulings.
Many games (not JUST Manly) the Referee in my eyes, does not ref BOTH sides equally....I mean a flurry of 5 - 10 penalties on a row to 1 side, basically gives (1 team) a 15 minutes of possession and multiple scoring opportunities, opposed to the other team getting fatigued.
And to top it off, during this period, the team getting hammered by the refs, are laying on the tackled player the same as the "perfect team"....maybe longer.....and then they pull out the funny rules like - downtown rule, which we could see 15 penalties a game for, used as a 1 off wild card....which unfortunately does smell like a leg up after a series of other events....the you see a few players "clipping" oppposition high as they fall toward the ground cop a sin bin, while others far worse (like a shoulder charge to the head) are simply a penalty.
Another 1 which has become grey is this obstruction rule, have seen many games the exact same situation with a player stopping in the line or at outside shoulder getting green lights and other times its red....so just make it a coin toss, as I don't want it deciding a final and can see it coming.
And if they have a chat pre finals, try fixing up these blokes getting tackled, walking 2 metres off the mark and the ref is calling the marker out of play instead of penalising the bloke playing the ball "off the mark'...it's not U6's so at least get this right !!

I agree that is is very inconsistent and there are times where they may ref teams differently however I just do think it is some form of a master plan by the NRL, TV or someone else. What has always struck me a different about the NRL compared to say Football is the way that rules are changed / interpreted seemingly on an adhoc basis. Where was went unpunished earlier in the season is now punishable.

What I still do not understand is why we ask the ref to mark 10 mtrs then watch a ruck from a distance often on the move. I know the 2 ref system was abandoned for some sort of reason but it feels like this is one place where technology could actually help reduce the load on the ref's

 

[Eagle 1]

My only gripe is this
I would like to hear the Eagle Rock at every ground every time Manly goes in for a try!

Ground Announcer :
Tommy Turbo is in for the length of the field Manly Try
Please all be up standing and sing along
All together now.....
Hey Hey Hey good old Eagle Rock is here to stay,
I'm just crazy 'bout the way we move,
Doin' the Eagle Rock.
Woh-oh-oh come on fast, you can come on slow
I'm just crazy 'bout the way we move,
Doin' the Eagle Rock.
View attachment 28001

Funny you should mention this Bozo, have noticed in South's away game's when Souths score they do a short rendition of the Sths supporters song, only goes for 4 sec, but, found this strange for the home side to allow this.

 

[BOZO]

Funny you should mention this Bozo, have noticed in South's away game's when Souths score they do a short rendition of the Sths supporters song, only goes for 4 sec, but, found this strange for the home side to allow this.

I do not know how Souths can get away with playing their song in all away matches
I want to hear the Eagle Rock as well
Especially when Saab scores the runaway 2024 Premiership winning try

 

[Eagle 1]

I do not know how Souths can get away with playing their song in all away matches
I want to hear the Eagle Rock as well
Especially when Saab scores the runaway 2024 Premiership winning try

Maybe Souths pay for this privilege, would never be allowed at Brookie.

 

[MissKate]

What I still do not understand is why we ask the ref to mark 10 mtrs then watch a ruck from a distance often on the move. I know the 2 ref system was abandoned for some sort of reason but it feels like this is one place where technology could actually help reduce the load on the ref's

What about the touchies, surely they can help police this aspect of the game

 

[lsz]

What about the touchies, surely they can help police this aspect of the game

It will be hard for them to communicate to players at the same time I would think