Is this the greatest NRL season ever and possibly best season in 30-35 years?

[unapologetic pedant]

On 25/09/2023 at 18:33, Dunbar said:

The only thing wrong with this NRL season is the fact that Penrith are apparently going for a 'three-peat'.

If you repeat something, you do that thing multiple times.  So surely if you repeat something three times then you have done the thing 4 times, the first time and the subsequent three repeats.

This is far more important than the Grand Final in my eyes.

Headline from NRL.com - 

"One-peat on Turuva's mind with maiden decider in sight"

[Pulga]

Looks like the NRL has broken basically every record they can this year. It finally feels like the game has recovered from the Super League war.

 

https://www.footyindustry.com/2023/10/03/state-of-the-game-2023-nrl-nrlw-tv-ratings-attendances-social-media-and-memberships/

[BladeHearts]

5 hours ago, Pulga said:

Looks like the NRL has broken basically every record they can this year. It finally feels like the game has recovered from the Super League war.

 

https://www.footyindustry.com/2023/10/03/state-of-the-game-2023-nrl-nrlw-tv-ratings-attendances-social-media-and-memberships/

I dream of the day when the NRL becomes financially powerful enough to take over the game in the Northern Hemisphere and create NRL Europe.

[The Rocket]

Code	Club	Fox Ave	BVOD est	Fox Total Ave
NRL	Brisbane	288000	291744	579744
NRL	Sth Sydney	270000	273510	543510
NRL	Melbourne	267000	270471	537471
NRL	Nth Queensland	259000	262367	521367
NRL	Penrith	257000	260341	517341
NRL	Parramatta	256000	259328	515328
AFL	Collingwood	222000	279720	501720
NRL	Dolphins	248000	251224	499224
NRL	Manly	242000	245146	487146
NRL	Canberra	242000	245146	487146
NRL	Sydney	234000	237042	471042
NRL	Cronulla	231000	234003	465003
NRL	Wests Tigers	226000	228938	454938
NRL	St George	224000	226912	450912
NRL	Canterbury	220000	222860	442860
AFL	Carlton	194000	244440	438440
NRL	Newcastle	216000	218808	434808
AFL	Geelong	189000	238140	427140
NRL	Gold Coast	211000	213743	424743
AFL	Richmond	185000	233100	418100
NRL	Warriors	204000	206652	410652
AFL	Essendon	175000	220500	395500
AFL	Melbourne	175000	220500	395500
AFL	Brisbane	174000	219240	393240
AFL	Western Bulldogs	168000	211680	379680
AFL	Port Adelaide	167000	210420	377420
AFL	Sydney	154000	194040	348040
AFL	GWS	153000	192780	345780
AFL	St Kilda	152000	191520	343520
AFL	Hawthorn	142000	178920	320920
AFL	Adelaide	139000	175140	314140
AFL	Nth Melbourne	135000	170100	305100
AFL	West Coast	130000	163800	293800
AFL	Fremantle	128000	161280	289280
AFL	Gold Coast	110000	138600	248600

 

 LikeQuoteReply

 

Top fumbleball team came in at 7th, second at 18th, that`s obviously after every other NRL team. Foxtel better get the cheque book out if they want to keep League at the next broadcast deal.

Edited October 4, 2023 by The Rocket

[unapologetic pedant]

8 hours ago, The Rocket said:

 

Top fumbleball team came in at 7th, second at 18th, that`s obviously after every other NRL team. Foxtel better get the cheque book out if they want to keep League at the next broadcast deal.

The relative NRL/AFL Fox STB ratings have been similar all the previous years I've been following them. Hasn't yet translated into broadcast revenue. The next NRL deal, particularly the Fox component (assuming there is one), will be the defining moment of PVL's tenure.

Fumble fans will say that many of their games overlap, hence lower ratings doesn't necessarily equate to lower subscriptions. Will Fox make that argument? Will PVL buy it?

The Fox STB/BVOD percentage ratios are questionable. Calculated from end-of-season samples, extrapolated across the whole year. Just a Carlton fan's best guess, in the absence of comprehensive data. Look at how the BVOD figures allow Carlton to leapfrog Knights, Titans, Warriors. Without streaming estimates, Collingwood are the only fumblers above any NRL clubs.

[Damien]

Some more great stats:

 

[Dunbar]

If we are going to resurrect this thread, can we edit the title as it is going to make my head explode.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

If we are going to resurrect this thread, can we edit the title as it is going to make my head explode.

Yet another brain injury caused by recklessness in rugby league.

[Dunbar]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Yet another brain injury caused by recklessness in rugby league.

I may have to sue Total Rugby League for negligence they have shown in this issue.  They must surely have been aware of the dangers of allowing a logically incoherent thread title to be published.

[StandOffHalf]

I think I understand what the OP is about.

The NRL is 25 years old and the poster is postulating that 2023 may have been the best season going back a further 10 years to 1988.

[stookie]

On 09/12/2023 at 08:33, StandOffHalf said:

I think I understand what the OP is about.

The NRL is 25 years old and the poster is postulating that 2023 may have been the best season going back a further 10 years to 1988.

1988 technically cannot be beaten as the greatest RL season of all time, culminating with pure-as-the-driven-snow Terry Lamb delivering the premiership by brushing aside the famously glass jawed Ellery Hanley.

Pure RL perfection and I'll not hear otherwise.

[Damien]

10 minutes ago, stookie said:

1988 technically cannot be beaten as the greatest RL season of all time, culminating with pure-as-the-driven-snow Terry Lamb delivering the premiership by brushing aside the famously glass jawed Ellery Hanley.

Pure RL perfection and I'll not hear otherwise.

Why can it technically not be beaten? How does 1988 compare with more tangible metrics like viewing figures and attendances? 

[EggFace]

17 minutes ago, Damien said:

Why can it technically not be beaten? How does 1988 compare with more tangible metrics like viewing figures and attendances? 

1988 had some bad ones for attendances as the new SFS opened and had poor crowds for both the GB Lions tour and the SOO....even the grand final didn't sell out but then Tina Turner came in and thdings changed for the better.

[StandOffHalf]

Viewing figures are important without doubt but what happens on the pitch is more important as a judge of a season, as far as I'm concerned.

The 2023 GF was a remarkable game (one of the most enthralling games I have watched), but I wouldn't rate 2023 overall as the best season I have followed.

[stookie]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Why can it technically not be beaten? How does 1988 compare with more tangible metrics like viewing figures and attendances? 

On the most important of metrics, 1988 had one instance of Terry Lamb thumping Ellery Hanley in the head to win the grand final, and to the best of my knowledge all other seasons have had zero instances.

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Why can it technically not be beaten? How does 1988 compare with more tangible metrics like viewing figures and attendances? 

Because Bulldogs fans are technically the fairest and technically the sweetest and technically the most lovable and trustworthy in the comp.

One tangible metric -

In a RL magazine poll, fans were asked "Which ground are you most likely to get killed at". Belmore won by a mile.

[bobbruce]

35 minutes ago, stookie said:

On the most important of metrics, 1988 had one instance of Terry Lamb thumping Ellery Hanley in the head to win the grand final, and to the best of my knowledge all other seasons have had zero instances.

It’s a good joke but I can’t believe it’s took you 35 years to put it together. 

[unapologetic pedant]

30 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

It’s a good joke but I can’t believe it’s took you 35 years to put it together. 

taken

[Dunbar]

3 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

taken

Apologise this instant.

[unapologetic pedant]

57 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Apologise this instant.

Couple of weeks back, you were too clever by three quarters. Then said you felt like "a knob". I took that as an apology.

[The Rocket]

The season keeps on getting better (and better).

There`s so much good news in there I don`t know where to start.

Super Rugby clubs in financial strife ask Rugby Australia for $9m | The Australian

Rugby Australia is facing deeper financial pain with a group of Super Rugby clubs set to double down on a $9 million demand in funding, adding to fears the head office is on ‘the financial brink’

But there are concerns about RA’s financial situation worsening as demands for more funding for many of the five Super Rugby franchises and cost blowouts put pressure on an already struggling balance sheet. RA recently secured a $80m credit facility with private equity group Pacific Equity Partners. 

One source said RA could easily burn through $30m or more of its loan in 2024, and potentially more, meaning it could have more well north of $50m debt on its balance sheet in 12 months time – as well as the additional burden of paying interest on the loan.

.It follows a video conference on Monday last week where the state CEOs were told by Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh they would not be receiving $1.7m in funding.

That response from Waugh has angered some of the state chiefs, who are now preparing a letter and invoices. All Super Rugby franchises are understood to be making a loss and are forecasting a loss for next year.

There are also concerns debt owned by the NSW Waratahs and an emerging difficult financial situation at the Melbourne Rebels – who has well-documented financial strains – could put a further strain on RA’s financial situation should it have to step in to financially support rugby in both states.

The Waratahs are understood to have made further financial losses of several million dollars, and forecast a similar result in 2024, and the Western Force relies on funding from billionaire benefactor Andrew Forrest to keep it in a stable position.

One source said RA could easily burn through $30m or more of its loan in 2024, and potentially more, meaning it could have more well north of $50m debt on its balance sheet in 12 months time – as well as the additional burden of paying interest on the loan.

“I can’t see it not turning into a massive shitfight,” said one club boss when contacted by The Weekend Australian.

Don`t you love a double negative, yes, we have no bananas.

 

 

 

[The Rocket]

I know this belongs on the cross-code, but I`m banned from there (and couldn`t care less) but this does have some effect on League if union in Oz is really in this much trouble.

Just a heads-up, this is from the same bloke who twenty years ago was braying about the imminent demise of Rugby League and the author of the famous Oz rugby union "war-chest " quote.

Former rugby boss calls for NRL teams and Super Rugby clubs to form an alliance to revive the game | The Australian

Former rugby boss John O’Neill said.  O’Neill has urged Rugby Australia to revisit the ownership model for its Super Rugby franchises and has boldly tossed up the concept that battling rugby clubs should form an alliance with booming NRL teams. 

O’Neill said. “Today, the financial precipice that confronts the whole of the game demands that all options be on the table for consideration.”

“Let’s conceptualise for a moment: what about the Roosters and the Tahs entering into some form of ‘partnership’?” O’Neill said. “Initially, it could be based on the economic benefit to both franchises in that both teams’ home ground is the SFS, so the potential consolidation of home games could enhance the overarching hiring agreement, plus season packages, joint memberships, merchandise, etc. It could be attractive and maybe lead to something bigger?

It gets funnier.

“Again, on a conceptual basis and thinking of radical ways and means to make Super Rugby viable, perhaps Western Force could relocate from Perth to Western Sydney based at Parramatta, maybe in partnership with the Eels?”

“Melbourne Rebels stay in Melbourne and form a partnership with the Storm. The Reds similarly with the Broncos. The Brumbies probably with the Raiders. These conceptual suggestions are designed to get people thinking about solutions.”

I got to say, I laughed and I laughed and I laughed. Bizarro world gone mad. Uning believable, makes you wonder what planet these big heads are on.

And a comment from the comments section:

"Last time a Union Club hooked up with a League club was Parramatta 2 blues and Parramatta Leagues club. Leagues club was going to help make the Union Club profitable. Leagues club ended up owning the club and land and shut it down. Didn't work out very well."

I`d say worked out perfectly.

 

 

 

 

[Damien]

A third hotel bought by the NRL:

[The Rocket]

On 28/01/2024 at 08:27, Damien said:

A third hotel bought by the NRL:

We`ve had the world rugby union bosses in Oz the last few days for the union sevens in Perth and trying to drum up some excitement over which city they will choose to host their WC final in 2027, they`ve also been making noise about saving Oz rugby union.

I wonder how much the timing of this NRL announcement is a not-so-subtle dig of what they are up against over here, $65m in assets, $200m plus in the bank. Do they really want to throw good money after bad.

[Dunbar]

Have to say, I do quite like the idea of all the Lions fans and Union World Cup fans staying in hotels owned by the NRL.