The Virtual Terrace • SL to return to 14 in 2019
Someday wrote:
Why do we have to keep bringing up union all the time
Because, as others have rightly pointed out, over the last 22 years we have chopped and changed our system (see topic thread) and not really grown the game to any extent whilst Union have, from a pretty much standing start, eclipsed us on most of the off field demographics that lead to self sufficiency or even profitability.
There are few other sports where the comparison works or is valid.
Someday wrote:
we are league not union and has far has I can see we have idiots in charge of us they are the ones that need sorting out
We are a professional sport where the tail (the clubs) wags the dog (the sport). It works in other sports like football where the clubs have most power, but the pinnacle of that sport is still a FIFA World Cup, in Union it is their World Cup, but in League, it is apparently 2 teams made up of players from the east coast of Australia going at it 3 times a year.
Currently 28 sides and probably soon 30 (15 Aus/1 NZ/1 France/12 English/1 Mercenary side in Canada) spread over just 2 competitions is the total sum of our top tier globally and the interests of those clubs will always take precedent over the needs of the game........I could list the top tier clubs globally in football, but it would be pointless as the top 2 divisions in the UK already eclipse League globally, but a comparison with Union is more valid. It isn't the fault of the RFL/ARL that we find ourselves in this predicament, but the self serving owners of the top clubs who will be happy to close the door and simply use the remaining semi-pro clubs that survive as feeder clubs......ergo, see the thread about an Extraordinary GM being called by the lower tier clubs.
Proof of this is the refusal of the NRL to look at a club in Western Australia or even a second New Zealand club....and given where the growing majority of their playing rosters come from, their refusal to consider NZII or even let a Fijian/Tongan side join the 2nd tier is shocking.......the 19 lowest 2017 NRL attendances were all games hosted in greater Sydney whilst 10 of the top 15 regular season attendances were all outside NSW.....there are too many clubs in NSW but whilst the turkeys have the vote, then they won't dare to vote for Christmas!
Statistics: Posted by Call Me God — Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:14 pm — Replies 287 — Views 16612