NRL is on its knees. (OT)

[Fact.]

There's a bit of grumbling going around in League circles of late. There's a distinct divide in League circles. One side thinks that League is strong and there's nothing wrong, the other side say there is a problem, how do we fix it?

Rusty and that perennial working class chip carrier Roy Masters have claimed that League is strong and that because they get better ratings than AFL on Fox, then that means it's more popular. What Rusty and Roy over looked was that AFL is mostly free to air. Fox get the 4 crap games every week. Most people in AFL states just watch footy on the TV.

On the other side of town, Ray Warren and Phil Gould acknowledge the ARL are broke and in a precarious position and want to brainstorm ways to fix it. Whilst this rift makes no difference to the plight of League, it does make for interesting topic.

Mark Gasnier just left League for French Rugby Union. Some cried greed, but that is not the issue here.

So what is the problem? Gas left and other senior players cried "We're not getting paid enough! Our top players are earning half what top AFL players are earning. It's unfair!" The fact is, footy players get paid a slice of their code's pie. AFL players are just as good athletes as EPL players but the cold hard facts are the EPL generates vastly more amounts of cash. That's why Kewell gets $130k a week and Judd gets $20k a week. League again doesn't generate the same amount of cash as AFL, so it's no wonder why they aren't getting paid as much.

But guess what? League players n the UK and union players across Europe are getting paid a lot more. The ARL is the world's premier League comp. For now. How long until enough players go searching for their true market value before the ARL is usurped by the English League? Players going to union will fastrack this.

How will the ARL stop them? They are broke. They can't pay them any more, partly due to the fact that chain smoking, binge drinking, gambling addicts were the financial backbone of the League Clubs and now you can't smoke in clubs, pokies bring in less profit and as a result multiple Rugby League Clubs are on the brink of collapse from reduced contributions from the social clubs.

The AFL is expanding into the Gold Coast by 2011 and West Sydney by 2012, which is almost like stabbing rugby league in the heart to further add to League's problems, the war between AFL and ARL is well and truly over, ARL is on its knees and the only question that remains is:
How long will League survive?

 

[JediSith]

Didnt read you post... just wanted to say to you Pet, GO TIGERS...

 

[Farscape]

There's a bit of grumbling going around in League circles of late. There's a distinct divide in League circles. One side thinks that League is strong and there's nothing wrong, the other side say there is a problem, how do we fix it?

Rusty and that perennial working class chip carrier Roy Masters have claimed that League is strong and that because they get better ratings than AFL on Fox, then that means it's more popular. What Rusty and Roy over looked was that AFL is mostly free to air. Fox get the 4 crap games every week. Most people in AFL states just watch footy on the TV.

On the other side of town, Ray Warren and Phil Gould acknowledge the ARL are broke and in a precarious position and want to brainstorm ways to fix it. Whilst this rift makes no difference to the plight of League, it does make for interesting topic.

Mark Gasnier just left League for French Rugby Union. Some cried greed, but that is not the issue here.

So what is the problem? Gas left and other senior players cried "We're not getting paid enough! Our top players are earning half what top AFL players are earning. It's unfair!" The fact is, footy players get paid a slice of their code's pie. AFL players are just as good athletes as EPL players but the cold hard facts are the EPL generates vastly more amounts of cash. That's why Kewell gets $130k a week and Judd gets $20k a week. League again doesn't generate the same amount of cash as AFL, so it's no wonder why they aren't getting paid as much.

But guess what? League players n the UK and union players across Europe are getting paid a lot more. The ARL is the world's premier League comp. For now. How long until enough players go searching for their true market value before the ARL is usurped by the English League? Players going to union will fastrack this.

How will the ARL stop them? They are broke. They can't pay them any more, partly due to the fact that chain smoking, binge drinking, gambling addicts were the financial backbone of the League Clubs and now you can't smoke in clubs, pokies bring in less profit and as a result multiple Rugby League Clubs are on the brink of collapse from reduced contributions from the social clubs.

The AFL is expanding into the Gold Coast by 2011 and West Sydney by 2012, which is almost like stabbing rugby league in the heart to further add to League's problems, the war between AFL and ARL is well and truly over, ARL is on its knees and the only question that remains is:
How long will League survive?

They will adapt
the same thing was said about formula one when tobacco was moved away from TV viewing in a lot of countries
these sports will always find a way if they have supporters and dedicated people who want to play

 

[Fact.]

They will adapt
the same thing was said about formula one when tobacco was moved away from TV viewing in a lot of countries
these sports will always find a way if they have supporters and dedicated people who want to play

These dedicated people who want to play are leaving to other countries for better money and these supporters don't buy memberships.

 

[Mijac_Chmon]

Can you please state in the thread title that this is OT (Off Topic).

Thankyou.

 

[Lady-Tor]

Didn't read your post, coulnt give a hoot... and yeah, put OT please so i know to ignore this crap

 

[General Electric]

Didn't read your post, coulnt give a hoot... and yeah, put OT please so i know to ignore this crap

harsh

 

[Fact.]

Can you please state in the thread title that this is OT (Off Topic).

Didn't read your post, coulnt give a hoot... and yeah, put OT please so i know to ignore this crap

Okay... okay... see heres where the double standards of this forum kick in, first of all I construct a post of actual relevance to the wide world and meaning and get a moderator telling me to state in the title of the thread that its OT, then I get someone who had literally just made a thread that is COMPLETELY off topic and has no relevance to anything AT ALL come in and tell me that my thread is crap without even reading it and asking me to slap a OT tag onto it?

Mate, Mijac... I know your upset about your lovely parramatta and NRL on the verge of folding, but seriously take a look in the mirror once in a while.
Not 5 days ago Jahira made this thread: http://vboards.stratics.com/showthread.php?t=90482 This thread is completely off topic and has no relevance to anything whatsoever and is probably the definition of pure horse crap, you make the first reply in the thread contributing to the horse crap and then have the audacity to tell me to put an OT title onto my thread? The perfect example of why this forum is full of simpletons.


Enjoy watching AFL in primetime in 5 years, even in your rugby littered state!

 

[Katlene]

The perfect example of why this forum is full of simpletons.

And here you are.

 

[Mijac_Chmon]

This thread is completely off topic and has no relevance to anything whatsoever

You are correct, and I apologise.

 

[Sneaky Que]

There's a bit of grumbling going around in League circles of late. There's a distinct divide in League circles. One side thinks that League is strong and there's nothing wrong, the other side say there is a problem, how do we fix it?

Rusty and that perennial working class chip carrier Roy Masters have claimed that League is strong and that because they get better ratings than AFL on Fox, then that means it's more popular. What Rusty and Roy over looked was that AFL is mostly free to air. Fox get the 4 crap games every week. Most people in AFL states just watch footy on the TV.

On the other side of town, Ray Warren and Phil Gould acknowledge the ARL are broke and in a precarious position and want to brainstorm ways to fix it. Whilst this rift makes no difference to the plight of League, it does make for interesting topic.

Mark Gasnier just left League for French Rugby Union. Some cried greed, but that is not the issue here.

Gasnier leaving for Union is a non-issue IMO. I guess is your a Dragons fan you would think otherwise but, meh. He has given 8 years to the game and if he wants to go earn some extra cash at the end of his career then good luck to him.

So what is the problem? Gas left and other senior players cried "We're not getting paid enough! Our top players are earning half what top AFL players are earning. It's unfair!" The fact is, footy players get paid a slice of their code's pie. AFL players are just as good athletes as EPL players but the cold hard facts are the EPL generates vastly more amounts of cash. That's why Kewell gets $130k a week and Judd gets $20k a week. League again doesn't generate the same amount of cash as AFL, so it's no wonder why they aren't getting paid as much.

First off, the AFL has nothing todo with this at all, its not like all our NRL players are rushing off to play for the Swans or something.

But guess what? League players n the UK and union players across Europe are getting paid a lot more. The ARL is the world's premier League comp. For now. How long until enough players go searching for their true market value before the ARL is usurped by the English League? Players going to union will fastrack this.

The NRL is the competition, not the ARL. The ARL is an administrative body that governs RL in Australia. The ARL used to be a competition also, prior to the super-league war and the creation of the NRL in 1998. As for payers leaving NRL for ESL, whats new? Its called a competitive market, something the AFL would know nothing about.

Lets look at a Rugby career vs an AFL career shal we? If you want to live/work in Vic or SA with a small chance of employment in select regions of Australia then AFL is the sport for you. However if you want to live/work in Eastern Australia with many, many opportunities for work in a verity of Rugby competitions around the world (to many countries to list), then Rugby (league or union, take your pick) is for you.

How will the ARL stop them? They are broke. They can't pay them any more, partly due to the fact that chain smoking, binge drinking, gambling addicts were the financial backbone of the League Clubs and now you can't smoke in clubs, pokies bring in less profit and as a result multiple Rugby League Clubs are on the brink of collapse from reduced contributions from the social clubs.

The ARL wont stop them. At the end of the day if player X decides he want to make more money playing in England and he feels that is the best move for him personally then thats what he is gonna do.

See if you knew anything about RL you would know its not the ARL that is 'broke' at all, in fact nobody is 'broke.' Some of the Sydney clubs are struggling like you say due to the recent changes to clubs, quite understandable since no less than 9 Sydney teams are competing with each other in a relatively small area and some of their major sources of revenue has been taken away.

History has shown though that big name people are prepared to put big money behind rugby league clubs. Russell Crowe and his ownership of the South Sydney is a great example of this.

Oh and the idea that the NRL is broke is a laughing stock! You do realize who owns the NRL dont you Pet? I'll tell you. The ARL own half of it, the other half is owned by News Limited. You do know who News Limited is dont you Pet? News Limited was the principal holding for the business interests of Rupert Murdoch until the formation of News Corporation in 1979. News Limited is now a subsidiary of that company. Does the name Rupert Murdoch ring a bell at all Pet? Fox? Sky? ROFL keep trying kid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_Corporation


How will the Sydney clubs solve their problem? Relocation more than likely. In the near future two of the Sydney teams will either relocate or be removed from the comp in favor of two new expansion teams. You know what that means Pet? Western Reds and Adelaide Rams here we come...

The AFL is expanding into the Gold Coast by 2011

Oh, really? Its a pity (for you) we beat you by over 20 years...

The Titans commenced their inaugural season on March 18, 2007, at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. They are the second top-level rugby league club to have been based on the Gold Coast, the first being the ill-fated Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers, which existed from 1988 to 1998.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Coast_Titans

...and West Sydney by 2012

Your only 100 years behind us on this one...

which is almost like stabbing rugby league in the heart

Hmmm, kinda like our highly successful Melbourne Storm did in 1998 and have been doing ever since ay Pet? In fact Melborune loves their rectangular pitched sport so much they are building the Victory and Storm a new stadium... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Rectangular_Stadium

to further add to League's problems, the war between AFL and ARL is well and truly over, ARL is on its knees and the only question that remains is:
How long will League survive?

I'm not sure how you came to this conclusion (probably from being pumped full of anti-NRL propaganda from the Melbourne media) but you couldnt be more wrong. If you have any evidence to substantiate your claims then please fill us in...

 

[Lady-Tor]

Didn't read your post, coulnt give a hoot... and yeah, put OT please so i know to ignore this crap

harsh

No its not. I mean if i made some huge long post about how i think pixy dust is a government coverup, people would say the same thing...
Its crap.

 

[Fact.]

First off, the AFL has nothing todo with this at all, its not like all our NRL players are rushing off to play for the Swans or something.

I know for a fact Israel Falou is considering a move to the AFL (isn't he meant to be rugby leagues greatest young player?), several AFL clubs have been talking to him.

You know Garry Jack "one of rugby leagues greatest fullbacks"? Kieran Jack, his oldest son is now playing for the Sydney Swans.

Lets look at a Rugby career vs an AFL career shal we? If you want to live/work in Vic or SA with a small chance of employment in select regions of Australia then AFL is the sport for you. However if you want to live/work in Eastern Australia with many, many opportunities for work in a verity of Rugby competitions around the world (to many countries to list), then Rugby (league or union, take your pick) is for you.

An AFL career is more highly paid (even almost on debut) than a Rugby League carer in Australia. You can play AFL in an AFL team any state (except Tasmania), and most footballers after retiring (good ones) go on to a career in the media (100s more AFL tv shows than NRL ones, even with News Limited).

Some of the Sydney clubs are struggling like you say due to the recent changes to clubs, quite understandable since no less than 9 Sydney teams are competing with each other in a relatively small area and some of their major sources of revenue has been taken away.

Thanks for proving my point. Rugby league is nothing but a two-state competition (In Australia) that is on its knees due to the fact that AFL is very quickly taking all of its supporters and that NRL clubs are making so little profit.

Oh and the idea that the NRL is broke is a laughing stock! You do realize who owns the NRL dont you Pet? I'll tell you. The ARL own half of it, the other half is owned by News Limited. You do know who News Limited is dont you Pet?

ARL = broke. News Limited cannot and will not invest money into a dying company

Read this article http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24062899-5001021,00.html.

News limited cannot and will not keep spreading rumors about rugby league being healthy.

This is how pathetic NRL are getting trying to attempt to boost their crowd figures:

Bring passport, (some) get in free
July 16, 2008 12:00am

THE Bulldogs have come up with a novel approach to boost flagging attendances, throwing the gates open to all Kiwis, Samoans, Tongans and Fijians for Saturday night's NRL clash with the New Zealand Warriors.

Ex-pats will need to bring a passport to gain free entry, the idea prompted by discussions between star second rower Sonny Bill Williams and chief executive Todd Greenberg.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001023,00.html

And it still results in:

Crowds at the weekend of 10,000 to see a top 4 side, 18,000 to see the team leading the comp and 21,000 for two Sydney teams paints a sad picture for the game. 12,000 to see the Bulldogs with most of the crowd allowed in for free.

Your only 100 years behind us on this one...

Actually the AFL wasn't a National competition till 1990, and we had the Sydney Swans in competition in 1982. Now the AFL feels it's time to kill off NRL by putting a second team in NSW but this time right in the heart of rugby league territory.

Hmmm, kinda like our highly successful Melbourne Storm did in 1998 and have been doing ever since ay Pet? In fact Melborune loves their rectangular pitched sport so much they are building the Victory and Storm a new stadium... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbour...ngular_Stadium

Lol. You were only 150 years behind us on this one, and if you call averaging 10k crowds successful... well done...

And I have honestly only seen 1 storm game and that was when they were in the grand final whenever it was... nobody in melbourne cares about NRL. The rectangular stadium is being built for Melbourne Demons (and payed for) as an administration headquarters, NRL and A-League want to leech off of them and make it their home ground. This stadium is far from being complete by the way. The stadium is also being built in anticipation of Australia trying to get the world cup, as we would need more stadiums.

 

[AnaemicBullfrog]

I think the biggest question overall is.... Who really cares?? AFL is crap. League is Crap. Football. Ie. The real football (soccer as you uncultured swine call it) is a sport that is actually played worldwide, can you name more than say..... 4 Countries where League is played at a high competitive level??

Can you name more than say...... 1 country where AFL is even cared about??

 

[Lady-Tor]

I think the biggest question overall is.... Who really cares?? AFL is crap. League is Crap. Football. Ie. The real football (soccer as you uncultured swine call it) is a sport that is actually played worldwide, can you name more than say..... 4 Countries where League is played at a high competitive level??

Can you name more than say...... 1 country where AFL is even cared about??

QFT

 

[Sneaky Que]

I know for a fact Israel Falou is considering a move to the AFL (isn't he meant to be rugby leagues greatest young player?), several AFL clubs have been talking to him.

Well since Israel has just this year signed a contract with Brisbane from next year onwards (think was a 3 year deal, not sure) so I dont think thats gonna be happening anytime soon...

...and no he is not leagues 'greatest' young player, he is a good player yes, not great (yet, he is to young, maybe in future).

You know Garry Jack "one of rugby leagues greatest fullbacks"? Kieran Jack, his oldest son is now playing for the Sydney Swans.

WOAH! So? One son of a former player means nothing in the scheme of anything.

An AFL career is more highly paid (even almost on debut) than a Rugby League carer in Australia.

Yes, the AFL salary cap is set higher than the NRL cap, something which could easily be changed. Our cap is set lower to allow all clubs to compete in contract negotiations.

I think you will find they work out about the same tho, the AFL's cap is 8.5m/club and the NRL's is 4.1m/club, this looks like a big difference but when you take into consideration that AFL teams are much bigger (18 players per side as opposed to 13 for RL on field @ one time, not taking into account extra subs etc) it balances it out, the AFL clubs have more players to pay due to their panzy rules.

The NRL Salary Cap for 2008 is $4.1m for the 25 highest paid players at each club. If each player was paid an equal amount, they would get about $160,000 each. Each club can exercise its discretion in relation to how much individual players are paid, providing that total payments do not exceed the $4.1m cap. In addition to the $4.1m Salary Cap for top 25 players, each club may spend up to an additional $350,000 on players outside the top 25 who play in the NRL competition.

In 2008 the NRL has introduced an exciting new competition for players 20 years and under {televised live of Fox Sports}. Known as the Toyota Cup NYC Competition, this new competition will have a Salary Cap of $250,000 for the top 20 players who qualify for the Toyota Cup but do not sit in the clubs top 25 Salary Cap. In addition to the Salary Cap for the top 20 NYC players, each club will be able to spend an additional $50,000 on players outside the NYC top 20 who qualify and play in the NYC.

http://nrl.com/AbouttheGame/ReferenceCentre/tabid/10429/default.aspx#

...and most footballers after retiring (good ones) go on to a career in the media (100s more AFL tv shows than NRL ones, even with News Limited).

How do you think this is any different from the NRL media? There is live RL (of some sort or other) every day of the week on either Channel 9 or Fox Sports.

In fact the NRL paved the way for Foxtel to be the success it is today, it is quite likely that if it had not been for Fox Sports acquiring the pay TV rights to the NRL then Foxtel, Austar and Optus Vision would all be failures. Of cource NRL is not the only reason, and it obviously could not of done it alone but since acquiring those rights Fox Sports' NRL programs have consistently been the highest rated programs across the entire list of Pay TV stations Australia wide (and continue to do so) making the NRL the highest rating pay TV. This year Fox extended its ARL coverage by featuring two live games from the new Toyota Cup each week, which have also been a great success. http://www.astra.org.au

Thanks for proving my point. Rugby league is nothing but a two-state competition (In Australia)

*edit* That didn't work... see here for original.

I see teams in three states (not two) covering Australia's most populated regions and in the A.C.T. and NZ. Another two things NRL brings to the table that AFL does not, a team from a territory and a team from overseas...

ARL = broke. News Limited cannot and will not invest money into a dying company

I wouldn't expect News to give the ARL anything... the NRL however is a different story. If you knew anything about RL you would know the NRL is actually not broke at all, its actually fine. As I said before, it is some of the Sydney clubs that are struggling (independent companies from the NRL), none are broke though and they are all adapting to these new changes. Remember, the leagues clubs changes are in no way the fault of the ARL/NRL, its something that has been forced on us (as with everyone else), as we have done before we will adapt.

Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_League_war if you want to understand a little more about the ARL/NRL and how it is formed.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24062899-5001021,00.html.

Thats all about Channel 9's footy show (which as the article suggests is a bit lax, always has been IMO), it has NOTHING to do with News Corp, in fact it is a direct rival of News. I was watching the show last night actually and they were joking around a bit (as they do) about this very subject (their poor ratings last few weeks) and it has been confirmed (by Channel 9) that the show is not going anywhere. Remember this is the show that...

At the 47th Annual Logie Awards held on May 1, 2005, the NRL version of the program won the Most Popular Sporting Program award. The NRL Footy Show successfully retained the award in 2006 and 2007, cementing it as the most popular Australian sports program on television, having long surpassed its AFL rival, despite lower TV ratings compared to the AFL footy show in a larger TV market in Sydney. The AFL version has won several Logies over its existence, but has in recent times failed to match the successes of its NRL contemporary. Paul Vautin has accepted the awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRL_Footy_Show#Awards

News limited cannot and will not keep spreading rumors about rugby league being healthy.

What rumors are these?

This is how pathetic NRL are getting trying to attempt to boost their crowd figures:

That game was between the team coming 2nd last (Dogs) vs the team coming 3rd last who is from ANOTHER COUNTRY. You do no expect the Warriors fans to fly over from NZ every time they play do you (especially when they are not playing so great)? I think its a great idea and should be done more often. Again the AFL would have NO IDEA about these kinds of INTERNATIONAL situations...

Lol. You were only 150 years behind us on this one, and if you call averaging 10k crowds successful... well done...

Actually I was talking about the Storm's playing abilities. They are a great team, completely wasted (crowd wise) on Melbourne, there is however an ever increasing supporter base for them, and they regularly pack out Olympic Park (granted no great achievement there). Oh, and I wouldn't worry about them going broke anytime soon, in fact they are probably the LAST team that would go broke (if any), because they are owned by... yes thats right, News. Just another friendly present to the AFL from Fox...

...and if all that was not enough, next year, AGAIN (because Victoria secretly really wish they could have it), Rugby League brings the most fierce rivalry in Australian sport to the Telstra Dome. State of Origin. Talk about a stab in the heart alright...

And I have honestly only seen 1 storm game and that was when they were in the grand final whenever it was...

They have been in the GF the last two years, they won it last year against Manly and lost the previous year to Brisbane. They also won the GF in 1999 against St. George.

nobody in melbourne cares about NRL.

Incorrect statement. They care enough to warrant a team and for State of Origin matches to be played there, also World Cup 08 matches after the NRL season. Maybe you dont care about it Pet, but others obviously do.

The rectangular stadium is being built for Melbourne Demons (and payed for) as an administration headquarters, NRL and A-League want to leech off of them and make it their home ground.

I think thats already happened Pet, the Storm will play there from 2010 the article claims.

This stadium is far from being complete by the way. The stadium is also being built in anticipation of Australia trying to get the world cup, as we would need more stadiums.

Exactly, its going to be the home ground for the Storm and Victory; while filling the cities current void when it comes to a purpose built rectangle stadium (Olympic Park doesn't really count, its old and ****y and the running track round the pitch is far from ideal).

 

[Sneaky Que]

can you name more than say..... 4 Countries where League is played at a high competitive level??

That depends on your definition of 'high competitive level.' I would say that playing in the upcoming RL World Cup at the end of this year would qualify as a 'high competitive level.' So that will do as a start. Those countries are...

Australia (host country)
England
Fiji
France
Ireland
New Zealand
Papua New Puinea
Samoa
Scotland
Tonga

=10

Apart from that...

Rugby league is played in more than 30 countries, though it is most commonly played in the United Kingdom (predominantly northern England), Australia and New Zealand. Australia, where it is a winter sport, is generally thought to be the strongest of the three. Rugby league is most popular in England, Australia, New Zealand, and France and it is recognised as the national sport in Papua New Guinea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_league#Rugby_league_worldwide

PNG roxor!

Can you name more than say...... 1 country where AFL is even cared about??

Well to be fair, there is a small overseas TV audience but thats about it, nothing even remotely in the same league (pun intended ) as the RL overseas audiences, for obvious reasons. A better question would be "can you name more than say...... 1 country where AFL is even played professionally?"

It {Australian Rules} is also played at amateur level in several countries and in several variations but only played professionally in Australia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football

 

[AnaemicBullfrog]

That depends on your definition of 'high competitive level.' I would say that playing in the upcoming RL World Cup at the end of this year would qualify as a 'high competitive level.' So that will do as a start. Those countries are...

Australia (host country)
England
Fiji
France
Ireland
New Zealand
Papua New Puinea
Samoa
Scotland
Tonga

=10

My definition of played professionally is...... They can actually play the sport in any form of competitiveness compared to the top teams. Australia, NZ and England.

In all honesty, besides 05, name one time where Australia has not been the dominant force in the sport during the last 30 years.

I also do wonder, how much do top league and AFL players earn, compared to say.... Football, where the worlds best earn into tens of millions a year.

Hell even Gridiron pays people more for kicking a ball maybe 5 times a game or just standing there looking threatening wearing giant amounts of pads.

How about I go to the Fifa site and find a list where all the teams who play internationally....... 207 Nations. Oh thats right it's known as the World game.
AFL..... Well its known as AFL or "Aussie Rules" for one reason and one reason only. Its only played here. Hell its not even played that well either.

 

[Sneaky Que]

My definition of played professionally is...... They can actually play the sport in any form of competitiveness compared to the top teams. Australia, NZ and England.

In all honesty, besides 05, name one time where Australia has not been the dominant force in the sport during the last 30 years.

How (from an Australian perspective) is that a bad thing?

I also do wonder, how much do top league and AFL players earn, compared to say.... Football, where the worlds best earn into tens of millions a year.

Oh yes, no doubt they do not compare. A major reason for this though is because Australia only has 21m people divided between NRL, AFL, ARU, A-League and the other minor sports. Many countries just have two football codes, usually soccer and one other (union or league). The other countries that have as many major codes all have much higher populations (UK, USA, etc). This says how much Australians love their sport more than anything else.

Hell even Gridiron pays people more for kicking a ball maybe 5 times a game or just standing there looking threatening wearing giant amounts of pads.

Exactly, just because your payed higher does not mean your better. Both the NRL and AFL are far superior to American football, for many reasons. AFL players that normally look rather panzy look like gladiators compared to them...

How about I go to the Fifa site and find a list where all the teams who play internationally....... 207 Nations. Oh thats right it's known as the World game.
AFL..... Well its known as AFL or "Aussie Rules" for one reason and one reason only. Its only played here. Hell its not even played that well either.

Well I agree with you here, but nobody in this thread has even really mentioned/attacked soccer, I think you will find that Pet and I will agree that soccer is the world sport, no argument there.

 

[Farscape]

How (from an Australian perspective) is that a bad thing?




Well I agree with you here, but nobody in this thread has even really mentioned/attacked soccer, I think you will find that Pet and I will agree that soccer is the world sport, no argument there.

Nope!! lawn bowls is lol

 

[Fact.]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24082022-23214,00.html

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

NRL is on its knees.

 

[Sneaky Que]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24082022-23214,00.html

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Mmmm, I find it quite amusing too! SBW Signs French contract thats worth 3m for two years, 1.5/y. Thats 500k more a year than the highest paid AFL player. Most sources I could find said 'Anthony Koutoufides' (Anthony WHO???) is the highest paid player, at ~1m/y.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/17/1082140113258.html


In fact SBW's new contract is worth more money than ANY Australian football contract from ANY code, yep, SBW is worth more than our Socceroos hero, John Aloisi.

Aloisi, 32, has signed a two-year deal as the marquee player, and though the figure was not disclosed it is reportedly worth $1.4million a season, making the Socceroos hero the highest-paid player based in Australia in any of the four football codes.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/sydney-show-off-star-trio-107571/

The reason why these rich clubs keep buying NRL players is for one simple reason. The NRL is the best (rugby, of either type) competition in the world in terms of player skill and competitiveness (by a long shot) and produces the best players, as a result they are in high demand. AGAIN, its not like RL players are running off to France to play AFL!

Like I said in my above post, an NRL vs AFL career does not compare. AFL is small time, unless you live in Victoria/SA.

So tell me Pet, where are the rich overseas clubs/comps trying to buy/willing to pay high amounts for all the AFL's players?

Oh, yeh thats right...

Thanks for bringing this up and helping me prove my point even more


Just on SBW. He has been unhappy at the Dogs ever since the start of this year/end of last (due to the Willie Mason saga), really it was only a matter of time before he tried to get out of his contract. The only reason why he didn't do it earlier is because the NRL Footy Show was running a "Win SBW for a day" coaching clinic comp for junior kids, which SBW attended on Friday. I thought that was nice when I heard it, yeh he has done the wrong thing walking on the Dogs, but he obviously didn't want to leave without for filling his commitments to the kids before he left.

However, I think you will find he is actually in a fair amount of ****. As the article from Fox you linked states...

"Quite simply, if Sonny intends to play overseas, we'll be looking to take out an injunction which will effectively stop him playing in France, England or anywhere else he intends to do it," Greenberg said.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24082022-23214,00.html

...SBW is still contracted to the Bulldogs and the NRL, in fact he is only 1 year into a 5 year contract. It is obviously devastating news for the Bulldogs (and the Kiwis for that matter), they have done the right thing, its SBW who has walked out (illegally). Not that you will ever get me to feel sorry for the Bulldogs (they are a rival team after all, 1994 is all I need say...haha)!!

NRL is on its knees.

Keep telling your self that Pet. When you find evidence of it, be sure to let us all know, K? Thx Pet.

 

[Fact.]

Mmmm, I find it quite amusing too! SBW Signs French contract thats worth 3m for two years, 1.5/y. Thats 500k more a year than the highest paid AFL player. Most sources I could find said 'Anthony Koutoufides' (Anthony WHO???) is the highest paid player, at ~1m/y.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/17/1082140113258.html
.

LOL Yeah he retired, you know "Kouta" off of gladiators? AFL generally doesn't disclose on how much their players are getting payed but Judd is believed to be on a 6m five year contract... Brown and Fevola are also in negotiations for their contract which will probably end up more than that.

The reason why these rich clubs keep buying NRL players is for one simple reason. The NRL is the best (rugby, of either type) competition in the world in terms of player skill and competitiveness (by a long shot) and produces the best players, as a result they are in high demand. AGAIN, its not like RL players are running off to France to play AFL!

These "Rich clubs" so your stating that the NRL is poor compared to EVERY other competition on the WORLD. They don't want to play NRL because its a **** competition and is third biggest football code in its county (AFL is 1 by a MILE, A-league second).

So tell me Pet, where are the rich overseas clubs/comps trying to buy/willing to pay high amounts for all the AFL's players?

You see Australian Rules Football is only played in Australia because we invented it (go back to england) here and we aren't sell-outs. AFL has so much more money invested in it than the NRL it's not funny... well actually it is pretty funny.

The only reason why he didn't do it earlier is because the NRL Footy Show was running a "Win SBW for a day" coaching clinic comp for junior kids, which SBW attended on Friday. I thought that was nice when I heard it, yeh he has done the wrong thing walking on the Dogs, but he obviously didn't want to leave without for filling his commitments to the kids before he left.

Nope he's a complete dog like the rest of the NRL.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=604414

Keep telling your self that Pet. When you find evidence of it, be sure to let us all know, K? Thx Pet.

Evidence? All your best players are leaving, your crowd figures are so poor that VFL/SANFL/WAFL (2nd tier of AFL) are drawing bigger crowds and your about broke.

So when you find evidence of NRL's healthy revenue or huge crowds, be sure to let us all know, K? Thx janitor.

 

[Sneaky Que]

LOL Yeah he retired, you know "Kouta" off of gladiators? AFL generally doesn't disclose on how much their players are getting payed but Judd is believed to be on a 6m five year contract... Brown and Fevola are also in negotiations for their contract which will probably end up more than that.

No, I can't say I watch gladiators. 6m for 5 years still works out at less than 1.5/y.

These "Rich clubs" so your stating that the NRL is poor compared to EVERY other competition on the WORLD.

Nope, thats not what I'm saying at all. I'm simply saying that some of these overseas clubs ARE richer (just like Bill Gates is richer than Rupert Murdoch, doesn't make Rupert poor lol), ya know it might have something to do with world economics and France/UK (and others) being much richer countries with much bigger populations than Australia. AGAIN would not of expected an AFL fan to understand an overseas player market.

They don't want to play NRL because its a **** competition and is third biggest football code in its county (AFL is 1 by a MILE, A-league second).

lol, whatever Pet (see below).

You see Victorian Rules Football is only played in Australia because we invented it (go back to england) here and we aren't good at real football.

I edited this to more closely resemble the truth. Oh and you might want to look at the foundations of this country before you tell me to 'go back to england'... you don't need an Australian history lesson do you Pet? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Australia_(1788-1850)

Nope he's a complete dog like the rest of the NRL.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=604414

See Pet, this is why we have the saying "don't believe everything you read in the news"...

Before the great escape

Williams missed a training session on Friday morning after reporting he was vomiting and had diarrhoea but still managed to fly to Uralla in the state's north-west to train an under-10s side in freezing conditions as part of a segment for The Footy Show. "I spent the entire day with him and he gave no indication he was about to leave," Gary Burns, the show's executive producer, said. "He was going to come on the show on Thursday to present the segment. Obviously he won't be now." When the story started to emerge on Saturday morning, everyone seemed to know. Jack Prichard - the 13-year-old son of the Herald's doyen league reporter Greg - even received a text message before news of it broke.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/sonny-skies-for-french-connection/2008/07/27/1217097059654.html

It was also reported live on ABC radio from Canberra stadium as the news was breaking (on Sat night during Raiders vs Titians game, which I was at), there was MUCH concern that SBW had just done a runner on the kids too, but then it did emerge that doing the training session with the kids was just about the last thing he did before he left.

Evidence? All your best players are leaving, your crowd figures are so poor that VFL/SANFL/WAFL (2nd tier of AFL) are drawing bigger crowds and your about broke.

All our best players are not leaving... Gasnier is at the end of his career (like most players who leave the NRL) and well SBW is a special case because he has been having a massive argument with the Dogs all year. Its no coincidence that within the past year, and looking forward to the end of this one, that so many of the Dogs have left, even their coach is quitting at the end of the year. The Doggies are in bad shape, playing talent wise, not that I as a Raiders fan really give two ****s.

Players leaving the NRL for overseas/rugby union and visa versa is in no way a new concept Pet, its been happening for decades. It might be a new (unheard of even) concept for YOU and YOUR two state sport but in rugby where we have a vast playing market from many countries its just common place. There are plenty of league players past and present who have come from union or elsewhere (such as the ESL).

So when you find evidence of NRL's healthy revenue or huge crowds, be sure to let us all know, K?

Sorry Pet, I'm not the one trying to prove that NRL is "on its knees" I don't need to prove anything, you made that argument, not me. However, last year should provide some food for thought...

2007: Further expansion

Main article: National Rugby League season 2007

In its tenth season the NRL returned to having a club based on the Gold Coast, Queensland with the inclusion of the Gold Coast Titans. The Titans were the first professional sporting team to occupy the Gold Coast since 1998, when the Gold Coast Chargers were one of the teams removed during the NRL's rationalisation process between the end of the Super League war and the 2000 season.

The 2007 NRL season kicked off on Friday 16 March 2007 with eight games each round. 2007 also saw the return of Monday Night Football and the inclusion of two Friday night games. Both of which turned out to be ratings successes. Another change from the previous seasons was a reduction in the number of byes per team in the season. With an odd number of teams contesting between 2002 and 2006, the draw meant that at least one team would have to have a bye each weekend. With the inclusion of the 16th team for the 2007 season, the National Rugby League had the option of reverting to back to the system used between 2000 and 2001 where every team played each round. That system was not used however, with teams were given just a single bye during the year, grouped in periods that will assist clubs around representative fixtures.

The opening round saw two matches at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, the first featuring reigning champions Brisbane against fellow Queensland side North Queensland, while the second match featured the new club, the Gold Coast playing St George Illawarra. The weather during the middle of the season was less than ideal, with cyclonic conditions severely affecting many NRL games played in Sydney and Newcastle.

The finals series was contested over a period of four weeks and saw the newly privatised South Sydney Rabbitohs return to finals football for the first time in decades. The season culminated with the NRL Grand Final on Sunday 30 September 2007 contested between a resurgent Manly and a Melbourne team looking for redemption from last years Grand Final loss. Melbourne ran out convincing winners with a 34–8 scoreline and the Grand Final achieved the honour of being the most watched television show in Australia in 2007.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rugby_League_season_2007

 

[Fact.]

[YOUTUBE]cUDSF9xWkH0[/YOUTUBE]

Last 20 seconds are the most important.

 

[Elwood]

Pet maybe one day when your a little older you'll actually form an opinion of your own that maybe, just maybe, actually comes from any life experience. Until then, keep quoting others and regurgitating their arguments.

The thing I noticed about that clip is the fact that NOT ONE SINGLE TEAMMATE came in to back up the guy that Hall blatantly flattened. You see in Rugby League there is an understanding that you back your team mate up at any cost, which is why you see everyone rush in and start throwing em' in a league fight. Quite clearly 'sticking solid' to your mate is not high up on an AFL players priority list, I guess I will never fully understand that game...

 

[Fact.]

Pet maybe one day when your a little older you'll actually form an opinion of your own that maybe, just maybe, actually comes from any life experience. Until then, keep quoting others and regurgitating their arguments.

I've been to AFL Grand Finals/Finals/Every home game thats played, been a member of my club for my entire life... I think I know more than you about AFL.

The thing I noticed about that clip is the fact that NOT ONE SINGLE TEAMMATE came in to back up the guy that Hall blatantly flattened. You see in Rugby League there is an understanding that you back your team mate up at any cost, which is why you see everyone rush in and start throwing em' in a league fight. Quite clearly 'sticking solid' to your mate is not high up on an AFL players priority list, I guess I will never fully understand that game...

A couple of people went in for a push and shove, but unlike thugby they aren't all morons who will get suspended over a punch. I agree though that it was pretty weak by West Coast not to send players at him, although he did break his wrist in the same match... karma got him.

Hows this for backing up your teammate (not the best quality)?

[YOUTUBE]PYngY5-8ubw[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Fact.]

Also might I add, Israel Falou's catches have been dubbed as some of the best try's ever in NRL... yet these marks are taken nearly every match by AFL players. Ill quote NRL commentary "He flew through the air like superman"... well **** your average run of the mill AFL player must be superman.

 

[Elwood]

Bahahaha, a push and shove competition LOL I think I saw one punch being thrown.

Pet maybe one day when your a little older you'll actually form an opinion of your own that maybe, just maybe, actually comes from any life experience. Until then, keep quoting others and regurgitating their arguments.

Here is my post again, read it slowly, now tell me where it says I presume to know more about AFL than you do? What I said is get your own opinion and stop quoting others. Being a know it all 15 year old who (most of us were at that age) prides himself on computer game skills you have a very limited perspective on most things especially professional sport (any code). I don't expect you to understand yet though, give it about 10 years...

 

[Elwood]

Also might I add, Israel Falou's catches have been dubbed as some of the best try's ever in NRL... yet these marks are taken nearly every match by AFL players. Ill quote NRL commentary "He flew through the air like superman"... well **** your average run of the mill AFL player must be superman.

Players get referred to as graceful as a swan too does that mean they are all swans as well?

 

[Fact.]

Here is my post again, read it slowly, now tell me where it says I presume to know more about AFL than you do? What I said is get your own opinion and stop quoting others. Being a know it all 15 year old who (most of us were at that age) prides himself on computer game skills you have a very limited perspective on most things especially professional sport (any code). I don't expect you to understand yet though, give it about 10 years...

Yeah... a very limited perspective? Dude you have no idea how much more I know about sports, age doesn't mean everything. You're trying to be a know it all however old you are (30?). I don't pride myself on computer game skills whatsoever - I probably pride myself on sports knowledge a hell of a lot more than computer games. You assume because I play computer games I don't watch much sport/play much?

My reasons why AFL > NRL? Bigger crowds (more supporters), more skills required, higher cardiovascular fitness base required, more agility required... the list goes on and on.

Hows that for a perspective. Thugby = on its knees.

 

[Sneaky Que]

[YOUTUBE]cUDSF9xWkH0[/YOUTUBE]

Last 20 seconds are the most important.

LOL You got me to watch that entire thing expecting some American giving his opinions to impress me? Seriously Pet common.

I find it very funny how you completely ignored my previous post too BTW lol

 

[Fact.]

LOL You got me to watch that entire thing expecting some American giving his opinions to impress me? Seriously Pet common.

I find it very funny how you completely ignored my previous post too BTW lol

Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Paige, Jr. (born June 27, 1946 in Memphis, Tennessee) is a sports columnist for The Denver Post, author,[1] and a regular panelist on the ESPN sports-talk program Around the Horn. He was also a co-host of Cold Pizza and its spin-off show 1st and 10 until Nov. 4, 2006, when it was announced that Paige would return to the Post.[2] Paige was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee and is a Baseball Hall of Fame voter.

Pretty sure he'd know more about sports than all of us... from a completely unbiased opinion too.

I find it funny how you've ignored all valid points and posts I've made BTW lol.

 

[Sneaky Que]

Pretty sure he'd know more about American sports than all of us...

I find it funny how you've ignored all valid points and posts I've made BTW lol.

No I haven't lol, look up the thread Pet I have answered every post, where you have still completely ignored...

Originally Posted by Fact. View Post
LOL Yeah he retired, you know "Kouta" off of gladiators? AFL generally doesn't disclose on how much their players are getting payed but Judd is believed to be on a 6m five year contract... Brown and Fevola are also in negotiations for their contract which will probably end up more than that.
No, I can't say I watch gladiators. 6m for 5 years still works out at less than 1.5/y.

Quote:
These "Rich clubs" so your stating that the NRL is poor compared to EVERY other competition on the WORLD.
Nope, thats not what I'm saying at all. I'm simply saying that some of these overseas clubs ARE richer (just like Bill Gates is richer than Rupert Murdoch, doesn't make Rupert poor lol), ya know it might have something to do with world economics and France/UK (and others) being much richer countries with much bigger populations than Australia. AGAIN would not of expected an AFL fan to understand an overseas player market.

Quote:
They don't want to play NRL because its a **** competition and is third biggest football code in its county (AFL is 1 by a MILE, A-league second).
lol, whatever Pet (see below).

You see Victorian Rules Football is only played in Australia because we invented it (go back to england) here and we aren't good at real football.

I edited this to more closely resemble the truth. Oh and you might want to look at the foundations of this country before you tell me to 'go back to england'... you don't need an Australian history lesson do you Pet? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...lia_(1788-1850)

Quote:
Nope he's a complete dog like the rest of the NRL.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=604414
See Pet, this is why we have the saying "don't believe everything you read in the news"...

Quote:
Before the great escape

Williams missed a training session on Friday morning after reporting he was vomiting and had diarrhoea but still managed to fly to Uralla in the state's north-west to train an under-10s side in freezing conditions as part of a segment for The Footy Show. "I spent the entire day with him and he gave no indication he was about to leave," Gary Burns, the show's executive producer, said. "He was going to come on the show on Thursday to present the segment. Obviously he won't be now." When the story started to emerge on Saturday morning, everyone seemed to know. Jack Prichard - the 13-year-old son of the Herald's doyen league reporter Greg - even received a text message before news of it broke.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/son...097059654.html
It was also reported live on ABC radio from Canberra stadium as the news was breaking (on Sat night during Raiders vs Titians game, which I was at), there was MUCH concern that SBW had just done a runner on the kids too, but then it did emerge that doing the training session with the kids was just about the last thing he did before he left.

Quote:
Evidence? All your best players are leaving, your crowd figures are so poor that VFL/SANFL/WAFL (2nd tier of AFL) are drawing bigger crowds and your about broke.
All our best players are not leaving... Gasnier is at the end of his career (like most players who leave the NRL) and well SBW is a special case because he has been having a massive argument with the Dogs all year. Its no coincidence that within the past year, and looking forward to the end of this one, that so many of the Dogs have left, even their coach is quitting at the end of the year. The Doggies are in bad shape, playing talent wise, not that I as a Raiders fan really give two ****s.

Players leaving the NRL for overseas/rugby union and visa versa is in no way a new concept Pet, its been happening for decades. It might be a new (unheard of even) concept for YOU and YOUR two state sport but in rugby where we have a vast playing market from many countries its just common place. There are plenty of league players past and present who have come from union or elsewhere (such as the ESL).

Quote:
So when you find evidence of NRL's healthy revenue or huge crowds, be sure to let us all know, K?
Sorry Pet, I'm not the one trying to prove that NRL is "on its knees" I don't need to prove anything, you made that argument, not me. However, last year should provide some food for thought...

Quote:
2007: Further expansion

Main article: National Rugby League season 2007

In its tenth season the NRL returned to having a club based on the Gold Coast, Queensland with the inclusion of the Gold Coast Titans. The Titans were the first professional sporting team to occupy the Gold Coast since 1998, when the Gold Coast Chargers were one of the teams removed during the NRL's rationalisation process between the end of the Super League war and the 2000 season.

The 2007 NRL season kicked off on Friday 16 March 2007 with eight games each round. 2007 also saw the return of Monday Night Football and the inclusion of two Friday night games. Both of which turned out to be ratings successes. Another change from the previous seasons was a reduction in the number of byes per team in the season. With an odd number of teams contesting between 2002 and 2006, the draw meant that at least one team would have to have a bye each weekend. With the inclusion of the 16th team for the 2007 season, the National Rugby League had the option of reverting to back to the system used between 2000 and 2001 where every team played each round. That system was not used however, with teams were given just a single bye during the year, grouped in periods that will assist clubs around representative fixtures.

The opening round saw two matches at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, the first featuring reigning champions Brisbane against fellow Queensland side North Queensland, while the second match featured the new club, the Gold Coast playing St George Illawarra. The weather during the middle of the season was less than ideal, with cyclonic conditions severely affecting many NRL games played in Sydney and Newcastle.

The finals series was contested over a period of four weeks and saw the newly privatised South Sydney Rabbitohs return to finals football for the first time in decades. The season culminated with the NRL Grand Final on Sunday 30 September 2007 contested between a resurgent Manly and a Melbourne team looking for redemption from last years Grand Final loss. Melbourne ran out convincing winners with a 34–8 scoreline and the Grand Final achieved the honour of being the most watched television show in Australia in 2007.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...ue_season_2007

 

[Elwood]

Yeah... a very limited perspective? Dude you have no idea how much more I know about sports, age doesn't mean everything. You're trying to be a know it all however old you are (30?). I don't pride myself on computer game skills whatsoever - I probably pride myself on sports knowledge a hell of a lot more than computer games. You assume because I play computer games I don't watch much sport/play much?

Yes pet a very limited perspective, knowing facts and statistics is one thing, having experienced any code at a high level and understanding the physical demands and skill required is another. Ask Shane about what I have done the last 10 years and maybe you will understand.
Oh, and you call me a know it all? Who started this thread? Look back over your posts and tell me who the know it all is...

My reasons why AFL > NRL? Bigger crowds (more supporters), more skills required, higher cardiovascular fitness base required, more agility required... the list goes on and on.

I'm not here to say one is better than the other, i'm trying to explain to you that you haven't the faintest idea what skill it takes to play league so don't make any assumptions on the physical demands or skill level of league because you do not understand the game. Now I don't claim to know AFL like you pet but I have lived in AFL heartland - Melbourne and Adelaide and I have seen plenty of games live. In fact I have trained with a few AFL clubs over the years because of what I do so I would have to say I have a better understanding of the skill and fitness required of BOTH codes. Even so, I as a staunch League man, I will not say one is better than the other because it is a pointless argument. I will, however, say that I prefer League because it is what I know and what I was brought up on. Same goes for you. Pet they are two completely different games and you cannot compare them. Pet I am not a scholar, I am not a computer wiz, I am not even very artistic or creative, my life has been revolved around sport (from junior to elite) and sport is what I know.

I agree that age isn't everything but at 15 you do have a limited perspective on things and unfortunately for you you are at that age where you think you know everything, everyone goes through it. You will see differently some years down the track. Know though, that when you make comments like "He is a dog like the rest of NRL" it does make you sound childish though pet...

Lastly, what has Sonny Bill and Gasnier leaving to play overseas have to do with one sport supposedly being better than the other? I guarantee you that if AFL was played professionally in europe, more specifically the UK then naturally there would be an exodus of AFL players leaving our shores to play over there too, no club here can compete with cashed up english or french clubs throwing the pound and euro around. Especially from Rugby Union Clubs, I lived in france for 2 years and the money that french rubgy union players got paid was rediculous. With corporate backers like airbus and renault you can understand why though... At the end of the day League players have been going to europe for decades now, who cares? For me it's only an issue when someone breaks their contract to chase those dollars ie Sonny Bill, that needs to be stopped.

 

[Fact.]

Yes pet a very limited perspective, knowing facts and statistics is one thing, having experienced any code at a high level and understanding the physical demands and skill required is another. Ask Shane about what I have done the last 10 years and maybe you will understand.
Oh, and you call me a know it all? Who started this thread? Look back over your posts and tell me who the know it all is...

Try telling us what you've done over the last 10 years? You can't pretend to be some elite sportsman (like your doing) without having any proof (not that I don't believe you but try providing some evidence) - I don't talk to Shane.

I'm not here to say one is better than the other

I didn't in my original post, however it was Sneaky who deflected onto that topic.

Pet they are two completely different games and you cannot compare them. Pet I am not a scholar, I am not a computer wiz, I am not even very artistic or creative, my life has been revolved around sport (from junior to elite) and sport is what I know.

Proof?

*edit* Oh and I have an extremely good understanding of the fitness base required to play AFL.

 

[Elwood]

My argument is simply this: Everyone is entitled to an opinion whether they have played sport or not. You can be very knowledgable and even offer some great insight into the game (any code) even if you haven't played it, however it is a LIMITED perspective. What you can't do is tell me that one is better than the other because of these reasons -
"more skills required, higher cardiovascular fitness base required, more agility required... the list goes on and on." as you have no idea of what is required to play at the top level of EITHER sport.

Quick question: Why is it that the majority of sports commentators and panelists are ex players?

Oh, and check your pm's...

 

[LaundryBoy]

.....more skills required, higher cardiovascular fitness base required, more agility required... the list goes on and on.

LOL @ this..... OMFG Pet, you are by far the biggest Sh1t talker.....
where did you read up on this? copy from a sports website? or is it your own knowledge that you have played both these sports competitively for many years??? playing these games in your schoolplayground is little basis for making these claims.....

i'll make some wild claims too:
playing the Violin requires more skill than playing the piano;
cooking a steak requires more skill than cooking a stew;
running 100m sprint requires more skill than running a marathon....

see how stupid that sounds now?

 

[Sneaky Que]

I didn't in my original post, however it was Sneaky who deflected onto that topic.

No Pet, you started going on about Gasnier etc... and I explained to you WHY some players such as Mark go overseas. You also claimed that 'NRL is on its knees' which I also disproved (you are still yet to reply to that post above...).

Nowhere have I said that NRL is better than AFL in this thread (although I obviously think it is). So just for the record... NRL > AFL.

 

[Fact.]

No Pet, you started going on about Gasnier etc... and I explained to you WHY some players such as Mark go overseas. You also claimed that 'NRL is on its knees' which I also disproved in my own mind (you are still yet to reply to that post above...).

fixed.

For the record if I havent replied to your post then its probably the giant wall of text than i dont want to spend 10 minutes of my life reading.

The facts:

AFL draws higher crowds than NRL.
AFL generates higher revenue than NRL.
AFL is the most dominant sport in Australia.
NRL is quickly losing supporters, money and players.
AFL is even more quickly taking over NRL at grass roots level.

 

[Fact.]

Quick question: Why is it that the majority of sports commentators and panelists are ex players?

I agree that they would have more knowledge due to playing the support and thus they are more common but it doesn't stop extremely strong and knowledgeable sports media personality's and journalists (and even some coaches) from existing without even playing a game of football in their life.

 

[stumpy]

cooking a steak requires more skill than cooking a stew;

Depends how good you want the steak.

The perfect steak is hard to get.

 

[Sneaky Que]

For the record if I havent replied to your post then its probably the giant wall of text than i dont want to spend 10 minutes of my life reading.

Don't pick a fight that you don't intend to finish then.

 

[Elwood]

I agree that they would have more knowledge due to playing the support and thus they are more common but it doesn't stop extremely strong and knowledgeable sports media personality's and journalists (and even some coaches) from existing without even playing a game of football in their life.

Agreed in part, however, I don't know if I could respect a coach (as a player that is) who has never played the game though...

 

[Elwood]

The facts:

AFL draws higher crowds than NRL.

On average yes I agree

AFL generates higher revenue than NRL.

I don't know about that one. Do you have any idea what fox pay for tv rights to NRL games? Even still the NRL turned down an offer from C7 Sport a few years back which would have added an extra 40 million or so over 5 years on top of what fox was offering. Who owns fox again? Remember NRL games are telcast in NZ and on Sky in Great Britian and France too

AFL is the most dominant sport in Australia.

That is subjective, pretty much like this whole argument is...

NRL is quickly losing supporters, money and players.

We are not losing supporters, it's just that some of the sydney teams don't draw big crowds, it's been like that for a while now.
The NRL do not disclose their earnings, despite numerous requests from the rugby leaue players association over the years, so i'm not sure how you can tell me they are losing money. A couple of the individual sydney clubs are struggling that is true.

AFL is even more quickly taking over NRL at grass roots level.

The AFL is making some great developments at the grass roots level, this is an issue that i think the NRL needs to address. The NRL have become a little complacent in areas that are generally considered rugby League heartland.

The NRL is in a precarious position right now I will agree, however in no way is it in any danger of dying.

 

[Sneaky Que]

AFL draws higher crowds than NRL.

Rugby League draws higher crowds than Australian Rules.

AFL generates higher revenue than NRL.

Rugby League generates higher revenue than Australian Rules.

AFL is the most dominant sport in Australia.

NRL is the most dominant sport in NSW, QLD and ACT where over half the population of Australia is located.

NRL is quickly losing supporters, money and players.

NRL is not losing supporters, in fact last years grand final was the most watched TV show of the year and this years State of Origin series, well I'll let The Australian tell you...

An average of 2.096 million TV viewers tuned in to the Nine Network as Queensland thumped NSW 30-0 to square the Origin series 1-1 and set up a decider in Sydney next month.

The audience peaked at 2.494 million. It beat the record set by this year's first State of Origin match, which attracted 2.092 million viewers.

Not surprisingly, the largest viewing audience was in NSW and Queensland.

But the game also attracted significant numbers of viewers in AFL-loving Victoria, where the audience peaked at almost 320,000.

Thanks to Origin, Nine smashed its competitors nationally last night.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23851936-7582,00.html
http://www.thinktv.com.au/media/Media_Releases/Survey_4_2008_-_Survey_Ratings_Report.pdf

...and if game 2 was not enough...

A peak audience in excess of 2.5 million tuned in to see the Queensland XXXX Maroons win the 2008 Harvey Norman State of Origin series for the third year in a row, beating the NSW Wizard Blues 16-10.

An average 2.144 million viewers (Total People) watched Channel Nine's exclusive coverage across the 5 City Metro - the highest result for a State Of Origin game since the introduction of OzTam ratings.

The 2008 Origin series has been a record-breaker for Nine, with the audience of each game increasing throughout the series (Game I - 2.092 million, Game II - 2.096 million, Game III - 2.144 million). This State of Origin series now occupies the three highest rating programs for Total People for survey to date in 2008.

http://www.throng.com.au/state-of-origin/state-of-origin-3-2008

AFL is even more quickly taking over NRL at grass roots level.[/QUOTE]

When the Gold Coast Titans were admitted into the 2007 season of the NRL they beat out proposals from Gosford, New South Wales (as the Central Coast Bears) and Wellington, New Zealand (as the Southern Orcas). Both teams are still looking forward to joining the NRL in the next expansion period, speculated to be a year before the current TV deal comes up for renewal in 2013.

In 2006 the Western Australia Rugby League announced that the Perth-based WA Reds will be joining the Jim Beam Cup in 2008. The club plans to progress through the competitions below the NRL with a planned promotion to the Queensland Cup in 2010 and final promotion to the NRL currently planned for 2011 - 2012.[13]

NRL CEO David Gallop has spoken specifically about adding teams in West Brisbane[14][15][16][17][18], Perth[17] [19][20], Adelaide[20], the Central Coast[15][16][17], the Sunshine Coast[15][16][17] and Wellington, New Zealand[17].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rugby_League#The_Future

ARL Development is a non-profit company formed by the ARL to develop the sport from an introductory level to the age of 18 years. In achieving this, ARL Development has developed new modified codes that gradually introduce children to rugby league. This is done by restricting the rules and then gradually releasing these restrictions.

The two introductory modified codes currently in use are mini footy and mod league. On completion of mod league, players make a move to full international rugby league laws.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Rugby_League#ARL_Development

 

[Sneaky Que]

Oh and...

The Nine Network last night scored massive ratings for its coverage of the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final, as the Melbourne Storm took out the title of 2007 NRL Premiers, beating the Manly Sea Eagles 34-8.

The grand final was watched by a peak national audience of 2.860 million, with Nine’s coverage averaging 2.481 million across the five capital cities. Nine screened the match live in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, with 55 per cent of the audience tuning in to watch the Storm’s dominant display.

Across the East Coast stations, Nine’s live coverage of the game peaked at an incredible 2.602 million viewers and averaged 2.258 million between 7.10pm and 9.10pm (match time), securing a 60.3 per cent audience share.

In Sydney, the final achieved a peak of 1.092 million (8.25pm), with the match averaging 935,000 between 7.10pm and 9.10pm – an incredible 70.2 per cent of the audience.

In Brisbane, 65 per cent of the audience watched the clash, with a peak audience of 661,000 (8.29pm) and an average of 581,000 viewers between 7.10pm and 9.10pm.

In Melbourne, Nine’s live coverage won every quarter of its timeslot, with a peak audience of 876,000 (8.39pm) cheering the Storm to victory and an average of 743,000 viewers. The game led, attracting 49 per cent of the audience.
http://www.throng.com.au/sport/2007-nrl-grand-final-ratings

Compare that with the AFL grand final held the day before...

The 2007 AFL Grand Final has snared the biggest television audience of the year with 2.57m viewers.

But the Geelong vs Port Adelaide match was down on previous years of 2005 (3.39m), 2006 (3.15m), 2003 (2.96m), 2004 (2.80m). It was the lowest crowd in seven years.

The Grand Final traditionally nets a bigger viewing audience when non-Victorian teams play, because Melbourne fans watch the game regardless.

1.21m viewers watched in Melbourne alone, with 386,000 viewers in Perth, 378,000 in Adelaide, 321,000 in Sydney and 272,000 in Brissy. The peak audience was 2.88m.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/09/afl-grand-final-hits-25m.html

LOL The NRL Grand final almost got more people in Melbourne watching than the AFL final did in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide COMBINED. The Storm truly are a stab in the heart to the AFL according to these figures.

 

[Fact.]

Oh and...



Compare that with the AFL grand final held the day before...



LOL The NRL Grand final almost got more people in Melbourne watching than the AFL final did in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide COMBINED. The Storm truly are a stab in the heart to the AFL according to these figures.

The NRL grand final was held on a sunday - in prime time. Of course people in Melbourne are going to watch it when their is nothing else on T.V and Melbourne Storm are in it. The AFL grand final however was played on a sunday afternoon and was one of the worst in history (if not the worst) because it was absolutely 100% known who would win beforehand (Geelong - and they did by 119 points... most people stopped watching at half time because it was a clinic) and the two teams competing were both very, very low supported teams.

I could absolutely 100% garuntee you if a team like Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton... or any other major Melbourne team was competing (or West coast/Adelaide) it would absolutely **** on the NRL's. Not to mention the NRL had Melbourne watching it out of interest... and Sydney and QLD. Take away Melbourne and the worst AFL grand final in history would have beaten it.

 

[Sneaky Que]

The AFL grand final however was played on a sunday afternoon and was one of the worst in history (if not the worst) because it was absolutely 100% known who would win beforehand (Geelong - and they did by 119 points... most people stopped watching at half time because it was a clinic) and the two teams competing were both very, very low supported teams.

Well this just speaks volumes about your game then doesn't it. The NRL final was fairly one-sided too (Manly were never really in it), with one of the teams coming from Melbourne, a 'low supported team' although I'm not sure about that anymore, it would seem they are immensely popular...

I could absolutely 100% garuntee you if a team like Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton... or any other major Melbourne team was competing (or West coast/Adelaide) it would absolutely **** on the NRL's.

Yeh, its a pity all those teams were to crap (apparently) to make the final, only to be replaced by another two teams who (in your words) produced possibly the worst final ever...

Not to mention the NRL had Melbourne watching it out of interest...

Like I said, stab in the heart.

Did I mention State of Origin is coming back to Melbourne next year Pet? Better get your ticket before it sells out! lol

 

[Fact.]

The most prestigious and only national competition in Australia is the Australian Football League (AFL), which culminates in the annual AFL Grand Final, the highest attended club championship event in the world

Well to be fair, there is a small overseas TV audience but thats about it, nothing even remotely in the same league (pun intended ) as the RL overseas audiences, for obvious reasons. A better question would be "can you name more than say...... 1 country where AFL is even played professionally?"

AFL is an ABSOLUTE religion in Nauru, they had to shut it down due to too much violence. It's Nauru's national sport. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlvI1pDuP1c. They can only have trial matches to go for the national team to prepare for the Australian rules world cup - in August.

In Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States there are many thousands of players. Great Britain, Canada, Japan, Denmark and Sweden have also shown strong potential in the sport amongst local players in the lead up to the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.

A poll taken between April 2002 and March 2004 showed that 7,496,000 North Americans compared to 7,004,000 Australians watch Australian Rules Football at least occasionally on television

The International Rules Series has the second highest average attendance of any competitions between national teams.

The AFL grand final is the highest attended domestic club championship event in the world. What records does NRL hold for attendances globally? None.