A lot of hyperbole regarding the state of the game, I think the so-called demise of the game is great exaggerated. It seems those who are expressing this view, are those who believe the game should make them millionaires.
Tyrone McCarthy claims kids no longer want to play RL as players do not get paid enough and those who agree are people on Twitter who are trying to make a career for themselves out of the game by not even playing the sport!
A lot of hyperbole regarding the state of the game, I think the so-called demise of the game is great exaggerated. It seems those who are expressing this view, are those who believe the game should make them millionaires. Tyrone McCarthy claims kids no longer want to play RL as players do not get paid enough and those who agree are people on Twitter who are trying to make a career for themselves out of the game by not even playing the sport!
Make no mistake about it, the game IS in free fall at the moment for various reasons, and the financial aspect is definitely one of those reasons.
In what way is it in free fall? Attendances are probably than they were in the 70s and 80s, my only issue with the sport currently is that, the excitement level during games is decreasing, mainly due to how teams play.
Financially, any player who truly loves the sport would be content to earn nearly three times the average working class wage.
In what way is it in free fall? Attendances are probably than they were in the 70s and 80s, my only issue with the sport currently is that, the excitement level during games is decreasing, mainly due to how teams play. Financially, any player who truly loves the sport would be content to earn nearly three times the average working class wage.
In every way.
- Reputation of the game has been irreparably damaged by multiple expansion failures.
- The majority of Super League clubs are skint.
- The majority of Lower League clubs are skint.
- The game itself has become stale and boring, and unattractive to investors.
- Cost of admission is pricing a lot of people out of the game.
- The games 2 governing bodies (SLE and The RFL) don't have a clue what they're doing.
- International game is a non-existent joke.
- Amateur game is dying because people don't want to play Summer Rugby.
And that's just off the top of my head...
Rugby League needs to return to what it was and what is its natural level.Part time semi professional and playing the game 'off the cuff' instead of the metre gaining and quick play the ball then a kick after 5 tackles.Concentrate on the neglected areas such as Oldham,Rochdale, Whitehaven etc which are the game's strengths, not weakness.Abandon the pie in the sky fantasies.
In what way is it in free fall? Attendances are probably than they were in the 70s and 80s, my only issue with the sport currently is that, the excitement level during games is decreasing, mainly due to how teams play. Financially, any player who truly loves the sport would be content to earn nearly three times the average working class wage.
In every way. – Reputation of the game has been irreparably damaged by multiple expansion failures. – The majority of Super League clubs are skint. – The majority of Lower League clubs are skint. – The game itself has become stale and boring, and unattractive to investors. – Cost of admission is pricing a lot of people out of the game. – The games 2 governing bodies (SLE and The RFL) don’t have a clue what they’re doing. – International game is a non-existent joke. – Amateur game is dying because people don’t want to play Summer Rugby. And that’s just off the top of my head…
But financially when has the game ever had money? Throughout the years clubs have struggled to keep their heads above the water, the only issue today is that financially clubs operate beyond their means, relying on the SKY money. The game just focus on been a sustainably efficient northern game like it has for a hundreds years rather than trying to emulate other sports and ultimately failing.
I personally do not think the admission price is an issue. Premier League clubs sell out at over £50 a ticket. I agree with most of the other reasons mentioned above.
One massive reason IMO is many parents now do not want their children to play rugby of both codes due to the link with dementia etc which the media is whipping up about RL whereas boxing not mentioned to the same extent.
Secondly the game up to 25 years ago was littered with ex Rugby Union stars that attracted supporters. Players now go the other way. Our Stephen Myler is a good example of that. People would go just to see the likes of Bevan, Vollenhoven, Murphy etc. The current game has very few stars & personalities.
There are now many other alternative distractions that people can do with their time & while the game struggles as it is doing now they will not be attracted to it.
Having said that I do not expect the game to die just yet. I recall when I first started watching in 1958 people then were talking about the game dying. This is nothing new.
I do think admission prices are skewed when it can be more expensive to watch a bog standard SL match than a final or an international which has a deal on.
I also think that the power of RU financially has crippled RL in terms of there will never again be a current Welsh superstar switching over.
I think the age profile is a bigger issue though, see a higher proportion of over 60s at a RL match than say a football match; the key question, apologies for being morbid, is will new fans replace those over the next 20-30 years or not and what is being done to engage younger people?
In what way is it in free fall? Attendances are probably than they were in the 70s and 80s, my only issue with the sport currently is that, the excitement level during games is decreasing, mainly due to how teams play. Financially, any player who truly loves the sport would be content to earn nearly three times the average working class wage.
In every way. – Reputation of the game has been irreparably damaged by multiple expansion failures. – The majority of Super League clubs are skint. – The majority of Lower League clubs are skint. – The game itself has become stale and boring, and unattractive to investors. – Cost of admission is pricing a lot of people out of the game. – The games 2 governing bodies (SLE and The RFL) don’t have a clue what they’re doing. – International game is a non-existent joke. – Amateur game is dying because people don’t want to play Summer Rugby. And that’s just off the top of my head…
But financially when has the game ever had money? Throughout the years clubs have struggled to keep their heads above the water, the only issue today is that financially clubs operate beyond their means, relying on the SKY money. The game just focus on been a sustainably efficient northern game like it has for a hundreds years rather than trying to emulate other sports and ultimately failing.
Less money means higher admission prices ...which leads to less crowds.
Add to that, The amateur game (which was always the backbone of the sport) is dying, so the game is effectively dying from the roots upwards.
I personally do not think the admission price is an issue. Premier League clubs sell out at over £50 a ticket. I agree with most of the other reasons mentioned above. One massive reason IMO is many parents now do not want their children to play rugby of both codes due to the link with dementia etc which the media is whipping up about RL whereas boxing not mentioned to the same extent. Secondly the game up to 25 years ago was littered with ex Rugby Union stars that attracted supporters. Players now go the other way. Our Stephen Myler is a good example of that. People would go just to see the likes of Bevan, Vollenhoven, Murphy etc. The current game has very few stars & personalities. There are now many other alternative distractions that people can do with their time & while the game struggles as it is doing now they will not be attracted to it. Having said that I do not expect the game to die just yet. I recall when I first started watching in 1958 people then were talking about the game dying. This is nothing new.
Trouble is Geoff, the EPL is one of, if not, THE biggest League's in the world, in the biggest sport in the world.
The 2 are totally incomparable.
Not resident in Widnes but I am sure posters have said that RL is no longer played in the Widnes schools. If so that is a ready provider of fans/supporters.
If it is true and common throughout the RL M62 corridor that is in need of correction, locally and nationally!
Wade Deacon got to the Wembley final about 2/3 years ago.
I know from an educational point of view the change to summer is not ideal as it clashes with the run up to and sitting of exams, so maybe that puts some kids/parents off around the age of 15/16.
Finney said we had barely any Primary School age season ticket holders, which I think is of massive concern though!
Not resident in Widnes but I am sure posters have said that RL is no longer played in the Widnes schools. If so that is a ready provider of fans/supporters. If it is true and common throughout the RL M62 corridor that is in need of correction, locally and nationally!
I think Rugby League is still played at schools in Widnes, but I suspect, like it was when I was at school, it was never pushed.
Mind you, our PE teacher at St.Josephs was Nick Buckton, brother of former England RU International, John Buckton.
My Great nephew who is 8 plays in a team Halton Farnworth Hornets and there are 20 teams playing there. His team are unbeaten this season with one match left.
So there are still quite a few children playing RL in Widnes, even if they aren’t playing as much at our schools.He is also a season ticket holder, but perhaps not everyone who plays there is, maybe the club should be targeting the children who play there, and trying to get them to come to the games, and bring their parents/Grandparents
In what way is it in free fall? Attendances are probably than they were in the 70s and 80s, my only issue with the sport currently is that, the excitement level during games is decreasing, mainly due to how teams play. Financially, any player who truly loves the sport would be content to earn nearly three times the average working class wage.
In every way. – Reputation of the game has been irreparably damaged by multiple expansion failures. – The majority of Super League clubs are skint. – The majority of Lower League clubs are skint. – The game itself has become stale and boring, and unattractive to investors. – Cost of admission is pricing a lot of people out of the game. – The games 2 governing bodies (SLE and The RFL) don’t have a clue what they’re doing. – International game is a non-existent joke. – Amateur game is dying because people don’t want to play Summer Rugby. And that’s just off the top of my head…
Yes, all that is true, but other than that everything is OK!
It really does need those running the game to have a long term vision of the game, which includes the game at all levels and not just SL; and to consider how best to use central funding for the benefit of the game as a whole and not just a few clubs.