PantherPower83
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2004
- Messages
- 3,118
- Reaction score
- 7
I thought this was a great read:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...on-for-big-tv-rights-deal-20110507-1ed7f.html
Here's an exert: (worth reading the entire article though)
Fiddling leaders burn chance to rejig season for big TV rights deal Phil Gould
May 8, 2011
If and when the new independent commission is established, I would hope one of the first matters to appear on their extra-long list of agenda items is a total rethink on the NRL season schedule and the all-important representative fixtures.
When I say "if and when" the commission is established, I mean that as a big IF and WHEN.
Self-interest, hidden agendas and survival tactics are still severely restricting this process. I will discuss the real reasons behind the prolonged procrastination in these negotiations and those responsible some time in the coming weeks - they can't keep me silent for much longer. It's time this stuff is set free for public consumption. Fans will be up in arms when the truth is revealed.
I believe it is vital we consider an overhaul of our season schedule because the current system is simply not good enough. Everyone knows it's not good enough. However, to force the necessary changes, we need strong leadership and independent thinkers who act only in the best interests of the game.
We need to consider what we want our game to look like in two, five, 10, 20 and even 50 years' time: How many NRL franchises will we have? Where will they be? How many players and teams will each franchise field in NRL, second-tier and elite junior competitions? How big do we want second-tier state leagues and competitions such as the Toyota Cup to become? What's the optimum number of home-and-away games for each season?
How many levels of representative football should we have? Should we have three-match Test series against Great Britain and New Zealand on a regular basis? Should State of Origin be expanded to a best-of-five series? Should Origin be expanded to include a new Polynesian-based team?
If we reduced the NRL competition to 20 or 22 home-and-away games - and then set aside a four- or five-week period mid-season for all stand-alone representative fixtures to be played - could we run a big-prizemoney, mid-season knockout competition for all other players in the NRL competition during this club football hiatus? Could our game cope with a five-week period mid-season of only representative football? Could TV broadcasters cope with such a period? Would fans tolerate such an interruption? Would fans trade such an interruption in exchange for knowing their club would never have to play without their rep stars, or see their tired rep stars back up shortly after a taxing representative match?
I'm just brainstorming - I'm sure there are plenty of smarter people than me who could come up with even better ideas.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...on-for-big-tv-rights-deal-20110507-1ed7f.html
Here's an exert: (worth reading the entire article though)
Fiddling leaders burn chance to rejig season for big TV rights deal Phil Gould
May 8, 2011
If and when the new independent commission is established, I would hope one of the first matters to appear on their extra-long list of agenda items is a total rethink on the NRL season schedule and the all-important representative fixtures.
When I say "if and when" the commission is established, I mean that as a big IF and WHEN.
Self-interest, hidden agendas and survival tactics are still severely restricting this process. I will discuss the real reasons behind the prolonged procrastination in these negotiations and those responsible some time in the coming weeks - they can't keep me silent for much longer. It's time this stuff is set free for public consumption. Fans will be up in arms when the truth is revealed.
I believe it is vital we consider an overhaul of our season schedule because the current system is simply not good enough. Everyone knows it's not good enough. However, to force the necessary changes, we need strong leadership and independent thinkers who act only in the best interests of the game.
We need to consider what we want our game to look like in two, five, 10, 20 and even 50 years' time: How many NRL franchises will we have? Where will they be? How many players and teams will each franchise field in NRL, second-tier and elite junior competitions? How big do we want second-tier state leagues and competitions such as the Toyota Cup to become? What's the optimum number of home-and-away games for each season?
How many levels of representative football should we have? Should we have three-match Test series against Great Britain and New Zealand on a regular basis? Should State of Origin be expanded to a best-of-five series? Should Origin be expanded to include a new Polynesian-based team?
If we reduced the NRL competition to 20 or 22 home-and-away games - and then set aside a four- or five-week period mid-season for all stand-alone representative fixtures to be played - could we run a big-prizemoney, mid-season knockout competition for all other players in the NRL competition during this club football hiatus? Could our game cope with a five-week period mid-season of only representative football? Could TV broadcasters cope with such a period? Would fans tolerate such an interruption? Would fans trade such an interruption in exchange for knowing their club would never have to play without their rep stars, or see their tired rep stars back up shortly after a taxing representative match?
I'm just brainstorming - I'm sure there are plenty of smarter people than me who could come up with even better ideas.
