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Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 1:00 pm
by nathan_rugby
First Try Tickle wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:25 am We need to do away with the salary cap and let teams pay big money for superstars. Big names attract big crowds.

In the 80's and 90's when Wigan had the unbeaten cup team full of superstars, there were always better gates at the away grounds as people came to see the superstars of league. The thought of seeing Offiah, Gene Miles, Ellery Hanley and the likes brought fans in that wouldn't normally watch the local team.

Fans of other teams would go and watch the big players, I remember going to a Saints game with my dad to watch Mal Meninga.

Its like the Latics when they was in the premier league, a lot of people got season tickets so they could go and watch the superstars playing for United and Liverpool.

If Edwards does turn up next season then that will really turn a few heads to our sport, especially if Wales have won the world cup. And if he can bring Owen Farrell with him even better.
Has the increase in popularity of Premier League football impacted Rugby League viewing do we think?

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 1:03 pm
by nathan_rugby
Wigan_forever1985 wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:58 am
nathan_rugby wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:24 am
Mike wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:28 pm A focus on the entertainment value of the game on the pitch. I remember long range breaks being pretty common, but that's been stifeled by the full time professional atheletes leveling the playing field. I'd say we should make the game more attack oriented and remove some of the advantages of size and power against skill and elusiveness.
They are aiming for this with the reduction in interchanges, shot clocks etc.

Are viewing figures low because the game isn't Entertaining? Or are viewing figures low because the sport isn't marketed properly? Probably more a combination of both but mostly the latter.

Most people outside of Lancashire and Yorkshire do not even know Rugby League exists. Here in lies the problem.
I think its a lot to do with the fact the league means absolutely nothing in fact its has become a running joke. I dont mind the playoffs etc but the league should be the biggest prize and it isnt - not even close. Ever since Leeds won the comp from 5th the league has took less and less value. It takes all the intesity out the games because frankly they dont matter coaches simply keeping their powder dry through what is effectively a long preseason.

I think the league not being the focal point of the everything means teams run their season like a long distance runner, they will take losses because as long as they hit that top 5 its all to play for (and to point out currently 5th place

For example last year to win the premier league Man City won 84% of their games in winning the big prize - we won 76% however had warrington beat us in the final they would have won the highest honour while only winning 60% of their games.

If the winner of your league can do so with basically losing nearly half their matches then it says something about the sport.
I agree. I think also the fact that we play each team twice and some teams three times also ruins it.

We should just keep it simple - You play each team twice. The team top of the league goes through to the final and then positions 2-4 battle out for the other grand final place.

The reason that will not happen is due to TV rights and the amount of revenue teams generate from the playoffs.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 1:25 pm
by Mike
nathan_rugby wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:24 am
Mike wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:28 pm A focus on the entertainment value of the game on the pitch. I remember long range breaks being pretty common, but that's been stifeled by the full time professional atheletes leveling the playing field. I'd say we should make the game more attack oriented and remove some of the advantages of size and power against skill and elusiveness.
They are aiming for this with the reduction in interchanges, shot clocks etc.

Are viewing figures low because the game isn't Entertaining? Or are viewing figures low because the sport isn't marketed properly? Probably more a combination of both but mostly the latter.

Most people outside of Lancashire and Yorkshire do not even know Rugby League exists. Here in lies the problem.

Marketing just gets people to see the game. On field quality (including star players etc) brings them back.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 2:26 pm
by nathan_rugby
Mike wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 1:25 pm
nathan_rugby wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:24 am
Mike wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:28 pm A focus on the entertainment value of the game on the pitch. I remember long range breaks being pretty common, but that's been stifeled by the full time professional atheletes leveling the playing field. I'd say we should make the game more attack oriented and remove some of the advantages of size and power against skill and elusiveness.
They are aiming for this with the reduction in interchanges, shot clocks etc.

Are viewing figures low because the game isn't Entertaining? Or are viewing figures low because the sport isn't marketed properly? Probably more a combination of both but mostly the latter.

Most people outside of Lancashire and Yorkshire do not even know Rugby League exists. Here in lies the problem.

Marketing just gets people to see the game. On field quality (including star players etc) brings them back.
Would be interested to compare crowds from the 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s as well as Sky viewing figures from when Rugby League was on Sky to then decide if the above statement is actually correct.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 6:05 pm
by pedro

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:29 am
by First Try Tickle
Another problem is there are so many channels on TV now that you choose what you want to watch, not watch whatever is on TV. Even with Sky, when it first started it was just one Sky Sports channel, now there seems to be a separate channel for every kind of sport, so you choose which sport to watch. Its much harder to get a southern football fan to think i'll watch the super league.

It was the same with the Challenge Cup on the BBC, most men watched Grandstand so they then watch the rugby. Now they watch the football game they choose either on Sky or a European TV channel.

Its also the same with the papers, most read these online now so just choose what they want to read. I used to read about most sports in the mirror, start at the back and move inside. Now I check the BBC for the sports I want.

We need a big promoter, talk sport were talking the other day about boom sports and darts come out on top. Now how boring is darts live, you can't see the board and people throw beer at you.

We need the Hearns on board.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:53 am
by stevethegas
There's no one reason why Rugby League has dropped down in terms of participation and audiences, both televised and at the grounds.
My own view is that poor management and poor publicity have not helped. Sadly neither has the fact that all the televised games (bar the Challenge Cup) are on Sky. That's a pity, because overall Sky have actually been good to the game, but don't seem as relevant to the wider public.
Interestingly cricket following and participation have fallen nationally since all the games went to Sky, so it's not just us.

In management terms the RFL don't always appear to be doing their best for the wider game. Inept bits of publicity are damaging. The poor advertising deal with Eddie Stobart a couple of years back gained us nothing. Threatening to bar Catalan from this year's Challenge cup was crass, as was the timing of Wigan's 2 point deduction when all the publicity should have been all about new possibilities. And so on. And the lack of the reserve league doesn't help.

Actually with the Women's League doing well, and the support of minorities, the handicapped and player welfare RL has much to be proud of. But it isn't sold to the wider public as examples of this great sport doing things well.

On the pitch the actual game is fine. Wigan might not be doing well just at the moment, but some of the other games I've watched this season show that this is still a wonderful exciting spectacle.

Sadly. also, there have been far too many complaining and whining criticisms on this fans' forum. Even when justified, as many may be, the tone of comments and the negativity are damaging in the long term. Such negativity does not enhance the sport.

Just as there is no one reason for the following of the game to be less than before, there is no one answer either. But it is up to us all to try.
It was heart warming to see the response of Widnes to the risk of the club's demise - an example to us all.
So, bring your friends, sell the product, make it seem relevant. Make complaints constructive. If something isn't right then it's fair enough to say so, but hopefully with an answer - not just a criticism.
We all have a part to play.

A lot of small parts go into the bigger whole. We who love the game must do what we can to support and promote it.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:21 am
by Nezza Faz
Great post above Steve, truly relevant.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:13 pm
by nathan_rugby
Wigan's between 2006 and 2014 is better than the 80s and 90s. I would not have guessed this.

I wonder how viewing figures compare.

Re: How can Rugby League be grown?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:53 pm
by josie andrews
First Try Tickle wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:29 am Now how boring is darts live, you can't see the board and people throw beer at you.
We have Wigan ‘fans’ doing just that too at away games 🥴😂