Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die

Newtown

Well-known member
Ben Glover 3 hrs ago

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has been railing against the NRL's obsession with expansion for some time.

Last year, when expansion was gathering momentum to give the game the best chance to increase its value for the next broadcast deal, Johns was one of the loudest dissenting voices.

He said it would be bad for a competition in which a divide was growing between the haves and the have-nots and advocated instead for the NRL to have the courage to shed some dead weight and forge a future with just 12 clubs.Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has been railing against the NRL's obsession with expansion for some time.

Last year, when expansion was gathering momentum to give the game the best chance to increase its value for the next broadcast deal, Johns was one of the loudest dissenting voices. He said it would be bad for a competition in which a divide was growing between the haves and the have-nots and advocated instead for the NRL to have the courage to shed some dead weight and forge a future with just 12 clubs.

Johns is no oracle and didn't have the first clue that the NRL was soon to be changed forever by a global pandemic.

However, speaking on Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth this week, he said COVID-19 might force that future on the game, which Johns believes will ultimately enhance the product.

"The worrying thing for me, I was thinking last night in bed, was this year I could see a bigger difference between the elite and the poor club, the clubs that were struggling," Johns said.

"And when we come back (from the COVID-19 forced suspension) the gap is only going to be bigger and bigger and bigger between the wealthy clubs, the strong clubs, the clubs with the best players, and the teams that are down here.

"The stronger will get stronger and the weak will get weaker. I've been saying for a while that I think the best number is 12 teams for the competition, I think if you look this year especially, I think the stronger teams, the teams up the top, look far superior to the teams down the bottom.

"How we do that? I've been saying for a while, only the strong survive, maybe this forces the hand.

"If you have a look at the juniors, there's less kids playing, for whatever reason, whatever you want to toss up. Not only rugby league but sport in general.

"So we'll always have the elite kids coming through but there's less numbers. So I think 12 is the best number, how it happens I don't know."

NSW coach Brad Fittler agreed that the NRL needed to seize the opportunity to reshape the game and solve some problems that had been exposed by the game's enforced suspension."Maybe some teams are going to be pushed into different areas, so a new Brisbane team. You look at the Titans and the way they've been going at the moment and you've got to think that's got to move up there."
 
Funny how he doesn’t have the guts to name the clubs who he thinks need to die. I read somewhere last night, clubs most vulnerable are clubs who rely on handouts from the NRL. One of those clubs is the one where he’s currently employed as a halves coach. I agree, let them die Joey.
 
Interestingly he mentioned kids are not playing league or other sports as much as when we and he were kids...theres a very simple answer...they are more interested in xbox and p/s with their mates on the weekends...Ive seen it first hand with my partners young bloke...and they are getting lazier and fatter..
Its the way of the modern world and new technology...
feel free to tell me Im wrong...I don't think so though if you look ay junior sports they are dwindling at a very fast rate....this is my opinion only...
 
The golden opportunity i see here is an introduction of a draft. If they don't use this opportunity then you could have a 6 team competition and the best players will still flock to a couple of clubs.
 
@Russell said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137057) said:
Doubt he would be shooting his mouth off, if one of the 4 clubs to be given the flick was Newcastle.

Newcastle's main backer is a League's club remember ...they are in the same boat if they don't have a private backer prepared to hump up several million dollars
 
The cynic in me suggests Johns is doing channel 9s dirty work for them since he is employed by them.As a reduction in teams means a smaller pie so TV rights should be cheaper for ch 9 to bid for.
 
@happy_tiger said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137068) said:
@Russell said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137057) said:
Doubt he would be shooting his mouth off, if one of the 4 clubs to be given the flick was Newcastle.

Newcastle's main backer is a League's club remember ...they are in the same boat if they don't have a private backer prepared to hump up several million dollars

Wests (Newcastle) are huge. I doubt they'll be in trouble.

I thought the same thing as Russell - I can't imagine Johnsy saying this a few years ago when Newy we're on the brink on financial ruin.
 
He is entitled to his opinion, as drug induced as it may be.

Agree with others that he would never say if the Knights were in the firing line.
 
@TrueTiger said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137062) said:
Interestingly he mentioned kids are not playing league or other sports as much as when we and he were kids...theres a very simple answer...they are more interested in xbox and p/s with their mates on the weekends...Ive seen it first hand with my partners young bloke...and they are getting lazier and fatter..
Its the way of the modern world and new technology...
feel free to tell me Im wrong...I don't think so though if you look ay junior sports they are dwindling at a very fast rate....this is my opinion only...

I think you're completely right mate. I was trying to talk to my 18 year old boy about the seriousness of this corona virus, and about how he needs to be putting money aside as may lose his job. I was trying to scare him and let him know the gravity of the situation, by saying that certain things will change. Electricity and internet strength for one may not always suffice to play the games he likes to, and his response to that was her wouldn't be able to cope with no internet. I told him not to be so silly (he's 18, often silly) but he honestly could not conceive of a world where he can't play online.
 
@gallagher said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137087) said:
I agree with him. A 12 team national comp with the kiwis and a strong Sydney and Brisbane comp.

You wouldn't get the money from broadcast rights..not that I think it will be as great next time but they are the on'e who want a 16 or more team comp...6 games a week won't cut it for them either..
 
@Geo said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137113) said:
@gallagher said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137087) said:
I agree with him. A 12 team national comp with the kiwis and a strong Sydney and Brisbane comp.

You wouldn't get the money from broadcast rights..not that I think it will be as great next time but they are the on'e who want a 16 or more team comp...6 games a week won't cut it for them either..

Do they, or will they , still want 8 games? Ch9 only broadcast three atm and who knows how fox will be positioned after this. They've already cut super rugby.
 
@gallagher said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137114) said:
@Geo said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137113) said:
@gallagher said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137087) said:
I agree with him. A 12 team national comp with the kiwis and a strong Sydney and Brisbane comp.

You wouldn't get the money from broadcast rights..not that I think it will be as great next time but they are the on'e who want a 16 or more team comp...6 games a week won't cut it for them either..

Do they, or will they , still want 8 games? Ch9 only broadcast three atm and who knows how fox will be positioned after this. They've already cut super rugby.

Fox will..they pay the most and broadcast All games..any reduction will see them losing subscribers ..

As for 9..who ever thought they would lose cricket but that happened...lose league as well especially Origin they be relying on MAFS
 
@Geo said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137115) said:
@gallagher said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137114) said:
@Geo said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137113) said:
@gallagher said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137087) said:
I agree with him. A 12 team national comp with the kiwis and a strong Sydney and Brisbane comp.

You wouldn't get the money from broadcast rights..not that I think it will be as great next time but they are the on'e who want a 16 or more team comp...6 games a week won't cut it for them either..

Do they, or will they , still want 8 games? Ch9 only broadcast three atm and who knows how fox will be positioned after this. They've already cut super rugby.

Fox will..they pay the most and broadcast All games..any reduction will see them losing subscribers ..

As for 9..who ever thought they would lose cricket but that happened...lose league as well especially Origin they be relying on MAFS

I wonder how fox will be going with no sports anywhere going on. With other platforms around now they might pull out of Aus.

I think it's time we format our game in the best interests of the game THEN take it to the broadcasters. Letting them decide the direction of our game hasn't worked out .
 
@happy_tiger said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137068) said:
@Russell said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137057) said:
Doubt he would be shooting his mouth off, if one of the 4 clubs to be given the flick was Newcastle.

Newcastle's main backer is a League's club remember ...they are in the same boat if they don't have a private backer prepared to hump up several million dollars

Wests leagues are one of the richest clubs around - The knights aren't in any danger or Joey would't be saying anything.
 
@Russell said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137144) said:
@happy_tiger said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137068) said:
@Russell said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137057) said:
Doubt he would be shooting his mouth off, if one of the 4 clubs to be given the flick was Newcastle.

Newcastle's main backer is a League's club remember ...they are in the same boat if they don't have a private backer prepared to hump up several million dollars

Wests leagues are one of the richest clubs around - The knights aren't in any danger or Joey would't be saying anything.

Tell me how much money they will lose if closed for the next 3-6 months and then what will be there biggest concern ...some NRL side they back with funds or saving their own bacon
 
I wouldn't be too worried about what Joey thinks. Great footballer but hardly a scholar for the game. He should shut his mouth and count himself lucky he even has a job in league after his escapades off the field.
 
@Tcat said in [Johns calls for NRL to let weakest clubs die](/post/1137155) said:
I wouldn't be too worried about what Joey thinks. Great footballer but hardly a scholar for the game. He should shut his mouth and count himself lucky he even has a job in league after his escapades off the field.

Personally don't think his extra curricular activities have anything to do with it.
 

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