The " out of touch" NRL

[Ralphie]

I'm almost teared up in sadness reading that.

But mate they just don't care, we, old fans , are meaningless.

I'm not quite at the point you are but not far away.

You're right, they don't care and they have made the game unrecognisable from what really made it great. The wrestle is rewarded whilst textbook legs tackles are penalised. Shepherding is now legal most of the time, unless they want to call obstruction to help a favoured team. The ruck is an embarrassment and is policed so erratically that it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that they see it as an area of opportunity to give away discretionary penalties.

 

[manly al]

Seems quite reasonable for former prominent politicians with previous club allegiances to be appointed to affiliated club positions but surely not ideal for a governing administration body . Obviously judging by the expressions and opinions from this thread and topic , some serious and even entrenched dissatisfaction with many aspects of the game and how it is run and administered at many levels . While no doubt many or most of these grievances and complaints are warranted and valid ,personally i do not think that things or the situation in general is as dire or conspiracy based as perhaps others here . The main priority and necessity really should be to find and implement actual improvements and remedies and to try to restore some confidence in the code at all levels .

 

[Bearfax]

Look I think Gallop's effort was incompetent but this present admin is diabolical. They operate totally in a reactionary manner, no forethought at all. No serious plans for the future of the game, just patch up the holes as they appear and do it in a manner that suits their agendas and preferences. I agree with Ralphie, Mark. I and my brother without fail sat on that eastern hill opposite the northern quarter line at Brookie every game. I remember travelling to Leichhardt, North Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Kogarah, SCG etc regularly. SuperLeague destroyed that love of the game. Have watched it less and less over recent years. Interested in how Manly go, but the game has become a farce, and Greenburg is a toxic poison etching away at this much loved entertainment. As far as I'm concerned in the end he will just end up playing with himself (oops), as no one else will be interested...

 

[eaglebuzz]

Look I think Gallop's effort was incompetent but this present admin is diabolical. They operate totally in a reactionary manner, no forethought at all. No serious plans for the future of the game, just patch up the holes as they appear and do it in a manner that suits their agendas and preferences. I agree with Ralphie, Mark. I and my brother without fail sat on that eastern hill opposite the northern quarter line at Brookie every game. I remember travelling to Leichhardt, North Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Kogarah, SCG etc regularly. SuperLeague destroyed that love of the game. Have watched it less and less over recent years. Interested in how Manly go, but the game has become a farce, and Greenburg is a toxic poison etching away at this much loved entertainment. As far as I'm concerned in the end he will just end up playing with himself (oops), as no one else will be interested...

I was no fan of Gallop but he ran the game with a lot more fairness and transparency than this current mob does. I honestly can't see the premiership being won fairly any time soon. I think maybe they'll let the Storm have it this year as a celebration of the "big 3" playing together for their final year, but after that I fully expect the Eels, Titans, Panthers, Warriors and Raiders to be the next premiers. Simply because that's what the "fairytale" dictates needs to happen.

 

[yokahontas]

You're right, they don't care and they have made the game unrecognisable from what really made it great. The wrestle is rewarded whilst textbook legs tackles are penalised. Shepherding is now legal most of the time, unless they want to call obstruction to help a favoured team. The ruck is an embarrassment and is policed so erratically that it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that they see it as an area of opportunity to give away discretionary penalties.

You're right, the game is unrecognisable from what made it great.

There was no better example of this than the women's Origin game last weekend - it was like being back in the mid-90s again. Free-flowing, pretty clean around the ruck, good hard hits around the hips, 'cheek-to-cheek' style just like I was taught to tackle. Players of all different shapes, sizes and skill-sets, not this 'bigger, stronger, faster' obsession there is now. And it was allowed to flow, the refs were as they should be - barely noticeable. NRL matches are horrible to watch by comparison.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

You're right, the game is unrecognisable from what made it great.

There was no better example of this than the women's Origin game last weekend - it was like being back in the mid-90s again. Free-flowing, pretty clean around the ruck, good hard hits around the hips, 'cheek-to-cheek' style just like I was taught to tackle. Players of all different shapes, sizes and skill-sets, not this 'bigger, stronger, faster' obsession there is now. And it was allowed to flow, the refs were as they should be - barely noticeable. NRL matches are horrible to watch by comparison.

I couldn't agree more...
It's no longer a game that everyone can play and what's worse its losing its live appeal. Went down to the game today and although I was never going to enjoy it with that scoreline) it was fairly boring. When compared to watching AFL matches live down here I'm not surprised the NRL can only build the supporter base by having the Storm remain on top of the table. It is becoming more and more geared to TV with the exciting slow mo video refs and commentators carrying on about the legends of the game.

 

[Catch_20_2]

You're right, the game is unrecognisable from what made it great.

There was no better example of this than the women's Origin game last weekend - it was like being back in the mid-90s again. Free-flowing, pretty clean around the ruck, good hard hits around the hips, 'cheek-to-cheek' style just like I was taught to tackle. Players of all different shapes, sizes and skill-sets, not this 'bigger, stronger, faster' obsession there is now. And it was allowed to flow, the refs were as they should be - barely noticeable. NRL matches are horrible to watch by comparison.

I have to admit I've been drawn to watching women's sport for this very reason. The professional conversion of sport may not be the best thing for it. As the game has evolved yes there are amazing displays of athleticism and incredible efforts, but the raw, innocent, unstructured aspect of the game has slowly died. Now it's up to the game's administrators to try and arrest the crap that's infested the game and start giving some direction on what they want the game to be .... it can't be what it is now.

 

[MuzztheEagle]

I have to admit I've been drawn to watching women's sport for this very reason. The professional conversion of sport may not be the best thing for it. As the game has evolved yes there are amazing displays of athleticism and incredible efforts, but the raw, innocent, unstructured aspect of the game has slowly died. Now it's up to the game's administrators to try and arrest the crap that's infested the game and start giving some direction on what they want the game to be .... it can't be what it is now.

You're right. And I think the game will have to change to continue, either for the fan's sake or the player's. The big question is what does the NRL (as well as the wider rugby league community) see the future of rugby league as.

 

[HK_Eagle]

I couldn't agree more...
It's no longer a game that everyone can play and what's worse its losing its live appeal. Went down to the game today and although I was never going to enjoy it with that scoreline) it was fairly boring. When compared to watching AFL matches live down here I'm not surprised the NRL can only build the supporter base by having the Storm remain on top of the table. It is becoming more and more geared to TV with the exciting slow mo video refs and commentators carrying on about the legends of the game.

I made my first trip to Melbourne and caught the Swans Hawks at the MCG on Friday night. Results aside, I have to say the AFL experience was far more impressive and exciting as a spectacle. I did enjoy the closer personable scale of AAMI Park, but the game itself didn't compete with what I watched on Friday night. I grew up a league guy and still tend to understand and follow it more closely, but AFL seems to make a better show TBH