The game in 5 years

[tig_prmz]

Where do you see the NRL in 5 years?

For example, do you think the speed of the game will increase or more wrestling will take place?

Do you think the NRL will reinstate the shoulder charge or will it go even softer?

How about international? Will the game get bigger?

After the retirement of smith billy jt etc- who will be the dominant player representatively and at club level?

Would you still support the game and tigers if the game gets softer and slower?

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[tigermaniac]

If the refereeing standards stay the same, we can see crowds drop further.

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[Newtown]

If the refereeing standards stay the same, we can see crowds drop further.

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The refereeing standards are probably as good as they have ever been. It is TV replays which are showing up flaws which have always existed with refereeing

 

[wtigers]

If the refereeing standards stay the same, we can see crowds drop further.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

The refereeing standards are probably as good as they have ever been. It is TV replays which are showing up flaws which have always existed with refereeing

^true. They need to give the game back to the refs and take it away from the TV cameras.

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[innsaneink]

TV pays for the game though.

There seems to be a lot of disillusionment with the game, crowds are down, other codes seem to be prospering

AFL rules seem very simple to this uninitiated observer, much like soccer, they dont seem to have the refs howlers we do - we keep stuffing around with the rules to suit the video ref (9 & FOX) ….why doesnt union have our dramas re refs, they do with some player behaviour..

We see the same players interviewed all the time, it becomes tedious, the game is somewhat predictable...it needs help bigtime

The new admin seem soft and pliable, still reactive rather than proactive....though thats probably a result of News' agenda being jammed down everyones throat

I dont see any expansion in 5 years - thankfully

I dont see reserve grade being restored to its rightful place - last step before NRL - sadly

 

[Demonborger]

I have no idea what will happen but judging from the track record the NRL is very reactive, particularly to what ever New ltd is crying about at the time.

There has to be a thorough process to streamline the rules. As pointed out already the refs are no better or worse than usual but two things have occurred in the last 15 year period.
1) More information about what happens thanks to better cameras, more cameras, more replays and greater coverage all round.
2) The coaches always evolve the metagame, which is how the game within the rules is played. They look for areas in the rules to exploit and push everything to the limit. This makes the refs job harder as the rules never updated to keep the core of the game intact. This is why we see the wrestle bog down games and the ruck become an subjective mess amplifying referee impacts on the game itself.

The NRL has to identify what makes the game interesting and entertaining to watch and reform it. The tackle and ruck need to be reformed in such a way as to remove the subjective influence of the refs whilst accentuating what makes the game rugby league. I'd guess that the fans want to see action in the initial collisions of the tackles rather than the slow smothering wrestling, and to see the game play with men on their feet and with the ball in motion rather than guys lying on the ball carrier on the ground.

The AFL ruleset is perfect when it comes to limiting the ref influences and as an alternative product is a great threat to the NRL if the status quo regarding the impact of the refs on the game. I personally as a fan of all football codes am finding the AFL as a viable entertainment alternative whereas 5 years ago it was never even a thought.

Also we live in a time where sport is big business and determination of results for ratings and match fixing for corporate financial gain is a real threat to the integrity of the game as well as the threats posed by traditional gambling match fixing. Streamlining the rules increases the transparency and would help to demonstrate to the fans that the comp is worth following.

 

[Gold_Coast_Tiges]

I agree that the rules should be made more straight forward and any change that gets away from ref's "interpretations" would be better.
Three rule changes which would go a long way towards this is to
1….. Do away with the double movement rule and when an attacking player is tackled near the line , if he can reach out and ground the ball on or over the line than a try should be awarded. It takes out the ref having an opinion on whether his momentum has carried him over the line or not..(obviously he cannot move his body closer to the line) but if he can reach it then it shouldnt matter if momentum does carry him or not, as long as he gets the ball down on or over the line.
The change does not favour one team or another as it applies exactly at both ends and all the ref has to make sure of is that the player does not move the rest of his body once tackled.

2:Stop letting players stand, or be held for as long as they now are . this rubbish started with Harrigan, when the Bronco's entered and he started letting players not only take twice long as they
previously did, but also let passes be thrown off the ground, way more than any referees ever did before(In the name of flowing Football). Any one who wishes to , only has to look at some old vision of the Early Broncos and count the number of passes thrown off the ground or excessively late (especially by Langer )
This habit of Harrigan of letting players stand longer and look around for an age ,eventually led to Gang tackles coming into the Game,and that developed(thanks to MelbournE )into the untidy mEss of Chicken wings ,Crushers and worst of all the Cannonball tackles into a players knees(mostly sideways , a direction that knees are not intended to bend) that we have to put up with every week,
Change the rule to what it was supposed to be. which was: When his forward progress is halted or the arm carrying the ball comes in contact with the ground ,Call HELD!!!! Simple. Still flowing ,faster football , a LOT less injuries and gets rid of the scourge that Bellamy and the Storm have foisted on us as spectators
A by-product of this rule change would be that the massive forwards that we now see changed every 15 minutes or so would be tire quicker ,and just maybe there would be more room for Halfbacks andFive eighths to use skills in a game .

3........Penalties for stripping: If point 2 is used then the gang tackles will drop off, as players will be unable to get to tackles like they can now and still get back in the defence line in time ,so we will have less players in tackles.,less injuries , quicker play the balls, More flowing football, exactly what Harrigan was trying to do ,without all the stuffups that he started, more importance would then be placed on the ball carrier to have better ball security amd we will see the lotto that is now a stripping penalty go once and for all
Maybe not perfect , but simple changes that take away at least Some of the decisions now that never seem consistent
Especially the double movement one.

 

[cqtiger]

Fine the coaches $100,000 instead of $10,000 for blaming everyone and everything after they lose.

Every sport has issues with officials but league coaches sook at any bloody thing. The longer they sook the more chance of another rule change.

Who has played a sport where everything goes your way? Not me.

I've been on this forum when somebody posts about poor decisions going against us but invariably there are others who truly believe that the officials got it right.

There will never be perfect referees, just as there will never be perfect players.

Our game will be so much better for it.

Will the coaches stop whinging in 5 years?
Bets anyone?

Nuff said

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[Demonborger]

Fine the coaches $100,000 instead of $10,000 for blaming everyone and everything after they lose.

Every sport has issues with officials but league coaches sook at any bloody thing. The longer they sook the more chance of another rule change.

Who has played a sport where everything goes your way? Not me.

I've been on this forum when somebody posts about poor decisions going against us but invariably there are others who truly believe that the officials got it right.

There will never be perfect referees, just as there will never be perfect players.

Our game will be so much better for it.

Will the coaches stop whinging in 5 years?
Bets anyone?

Nuff said

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

NRL is too reactionary and so yea raising the fine amount seems like something they would do…

I get your sentiment here but I disagree with some of it too. Personally I think the NRL should allow criticism but it has to be logical, rational and articulate criticism with an intention of feedback to make the game better and the refereeing better. In short positive criticism should be encouraged. If they coach can't support his criticisms with logic and evidence then go ahead and accuse him of being a whiner.
\
\
Silencing coaches is not a good look, it's like silencing a whistleblower (no pun intended) from exposing poor business practices. Transparency and rational logic should be promoted.

 

[innsaneink]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight player brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

 

[Blake93]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight player brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

Absolutely ridiculous penalty, they need to get rid of video replays in general play and reserve it for tries only

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[Ed_Reschs]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

League has turned into a game for homo's. what a disgraceful decision. The swans are on 504\. Time to switch

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[system]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

League has turned into a game for homo's. what a disgraceful decision. The swans are on 504\. Time to switch

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So you are saying that homosexual men can't play Rugby League. Are you actually saying that the sexual choice of an individual some how reduces their playing ability? Are you a [This word has been automatically removed]ing moron.

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[Blake93]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

League has turned into a game for homo's. what a disgraceful decision. The swans are on 504\. Time to switch

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

So you are saying that homosexual men can't play Rugby League. Are you actually saying that the sexual choice of an individual some how reduces their playing ability? Are you a [This word has been automatically removed]ing moron.

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I believe he is, anonymous

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[system]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

League has turned into a game for homo's. what a disgraceful decision. The swans are on 504\. Time to switch

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

So you are saying that homosexual men can't play Rugby League. Are you actually saying that the sexual choice of an individual some how reduces their playing ability? Are you a [This word has been automatically removed]ing moron.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

I believe he is, anonymous

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

So what are you saying 93 !!!

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[Mccarry]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

League has turned into a game for homo's. what a disgraceful decision. The swans are on 504\. Time to switch

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

No. I reject your ignorance.

Such a weak comment.

Get help fella. You shame yourself and all of us who enjoy this site. My day is less due to reading your shameful ignorance.

Gay is not weak. Gay is being attracted to the same sex.

Player health after football should continue to be important.

Society will catch up on both homosexual ignorance and player safety. We got there with, passive smoking, aboriginals voting and women voting. Complaining about these topics once made a man appear weak!

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[cqtiger]

The soft shit that was Melbournes first try off a penalty for a knight brushing slaters head is one major thing turning people away

League has turned into a game for homo's. what a disgraceful decision. The swans are on 504\. Time to switch

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

No. I reject your ignorance.

Such a weak comment.

Get help fella. You shame yourself and all of us who enjoy this site. My day is less due to reading your shameful ignorance.

Gay is not weak. Gay is being attracted to the same sex.

Player health after football should continue to be important.

Society will catch up on both homosexual ignorance and player safety. We got there with, passive smoking, aboriginals voting and women voting. Complaining about these topics once made a man appear weak!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Please, can we get back to the topic

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[Knuckles]

I hope within five years golden point is replaced with golden try.

On the referees, they make mistakes in other codes as well …. It's just the commentators don't go on about it like Ch9, 2BL and 2GB.

On the whole, I think the game is better now then when I first started following it in 1973.

 

[stryker]

I have become very dissillusioned with rugby league over the past few seasons. I really love the sport but in my eyes it is degressing badly. The players are athletic robots and very few of them are tue footballers. This is reflected in what happens in nearly every game, every weekend. All teams prepare well, all teams hit the paddock with a set game plan and at half time it is plain to see in most games who got it right. The majority of games seem to be decided by the break and the supporters of the other side are left clinging to hope of a miraculous comeback. The game has become so "paint by the numbers' that it is starting to become a bore.

The magicians who loosley follow the plan but rely more on their natural instincts are being pushed out for the players who rarely make a mistake….mainly because they are too scared to take a risk. Scoot from dummy half, hit up, hit up, hit up, kick is the norm with the occasional variation of scoot, scoot, hit up, hit up, kick being used. In defence we see high ball and all tackles with the attacker being bent into un-natural positions to ensure that they go down and the defensive line is reset. It is boring. Ironically, the players on the field these days who show the most artistry are the wingers who constantly manage to place the ball over the try line whilst upside down, with their whole body over the sideline, facing backwards. To me it is funny that these players, historically the most maligned of footballers are the true entertainers of todays game. Thank god for them!

Taking away shoulder charges has weakened this sport considerably. It has taken the big hitters out of the game that was designed for men to collide at velocity. We still have a few left...Matulino, Gallen, Plum, SBW, JWH... but they are on the outer and are under severe scrutiny whenever involved in a tackle. This is one area where the other codes could not compete with us. Sure you have to be tough to play any of the codes at the top level...but to play RL you also had to be HARD. You were well aware that getting hurt was not just a possibility but an inevitability. You were looked at with a bit of jealousy by rival code players when in the same room as even though they were just as committed and talented as you, you were the real deal because you played the toughest, hardest sport in the country.

Nowadays, due to the bleeding hearts brigade who scream 'what about the children?' at every damned opportunity, we are seeing hard tough men lay on the ground and roll around or fain unconsciousness whenever they cop a subtle high one that the ref missed. Very reminiscent of those weak soccer wusses who carry on like pork chops when they are tripped over and need to be helped off the field because they scun their bloody knee! We are becoming as bad as that.....

I really hope things turn around but in 5 years time I can see myself becoming merely an observer of the game rather than a fanatic and I fear I wont be on my Pat Malone. Viewership and attendences are dropping...we are playing semi finals in front of crowds of 20K when our rivals are filling stadiums.

We need to encourage the natural players to do their thing and trust them to play what is in front of them, we need to allow the big men to be angry and belt the opposition.

 

[pHyR3]

Very good points stryker. The game has become very boring. I think the NRL needs to focus on several key aspects of the game:

1.) Streamline the rules, make them more quantitative than subjective to refs as well as easy to understand for newcomers to the sport.

2.) Shoulder Charge and the biff. I think it all started because of Gallen, if they'd just given him 10 it would have been fine but to leave him unpunished sent the wrong message and Dave Smith was heavily pressured into banning any kind of punchon.

3.) To encourage creativity like stryker said. But on that point, i'm pretty lost on what to do. Removing the wrestle and reducing interchange would help I'm sure but playing it safe is just so tempting and effective to be honest….

How would you rectify the rules to encourage that creativity within players?