More evidence that NZ2 needs to be team #18

[John bird]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/nrl/nrls-aggressive-recruitment-from-new-zealand-schools-sparks-debate/RFCHJJYXINFLNKGLKRZIOUB6QI/

[John bird]

18. NZ2

19. Perth

20. Brisbane3

sets the NRL up beautifully for the next couple of decades and truly becomes a national competition.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

"In 1996, some 28 years ago, the NRL’s total broadcast revenue was A$10 million compared to Super Rugby’s $85m. The NRL broadcast deal is now a $400m annual behemoth while Super Rugby garners around $120m.

As revenue continues to soar, the 17 NRL clubs each receive close to $19m every year before opening their doors."

 

7 minutes ago, John bird said:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/nrl/nrls-aggressive-recruitment-from-new-zealand-schools-sparks-debate/RFCHJJYXINFLNKGLKRZIOUB6QI/

 

[Phil]

Yawnion whinges because the boot’s on the other foot. Shame

[John bird]

24 minutes ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

"In 1996, some 28 years ago, the NRL’s total broadcast revenue was A$10 million compared to Super Rugby’s $85m. The NRL broadcast deal is now a $400m annual behemoth while Super Rugby garners around $120m.

As revenue continues to soar, the 17 NRL clubs each receive close to $19m every year before opening their doors."

 

 

Kills me to think of the damage and self inflicted wounds the super league war caused the game in Australia in the mid to late 90’s.

RL could have not only been top dog in Australia and the pacific but maybe even New Zealand.

[John bird]

6 minutes ago, Phil said:

Yawnion whinges because the boot’s on the other foot. Shame

And then some!!!

seriously though when you look at the state the game RU is in both on the pitch and financially in Australia and now New Zealand you can’t imagine it ever turning around again especially with the NRL going from strength to strength and growing each year in terms of increasing TV viewing numbers, increased TV money, increased sponsorship, increasing crowds and increasing salary cap etc.

[Damien]

Typical RU patronising quote shocker:

“We are a sport that wouldn’t do some of the tactics we’re seeing from rugby league,” Hore said. “We’re a sport that has traditionally been known for nurturing young people – and done a good job of it.

[Sports Prophet]

35 minutes ago, John bird said:

And then some!!!

seriously though when you look at the state the game RU is in both on the pitch and financially in Australia and now New Zealand you can’t imagine it ever turning around again especially with the NRL going from strength to strength and growing each year in terms of increasing TV viewing numbers, increased TV money, increased sponsorship, increasing crowds and increasing salary cap etc.

Careful. If you think that about Aus and NZ RU, then there would be even less hope for Euro RL wouldn’t you think?

[unapologetic pedant]

Former Kiwi Fern Krystal Rota has expressed frustration at the obsessive pursuit of Union players by NRL clubs. Journalists and TRL posters habitually overlook the sense of betrayal among the NZ League community. 

Newcastle Knights have just signed another couple of NZ Union sevens players for their NRLW squad. Neither has ever played League.

The NRL message to the youth of NZ could not be clearer - if you want respect, play Union. If you want to get noticed, play Union. If you want an NRL or NRLW contract, play Union.

[Sports Prophet]

3 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Former Kiwi Fern Krystal Rota has expressed frustration at the obsessive pursuit of Union players by NRL clubs. Journalists and TRL posters habitually overlook the sense of betrayal among the NZ League community. 

Newcastle Knights have just signed another couple of NZ Union sevens players for their NRLW squad. Neither has ever played League.

The NRL message to the youth of NZ could not be clearer - if you want respect, play Union. If you want to get noticed, play Union. If you want an NRL or NRLW contract, play Union.

Women’s RL and pathway is still too green to go it alone I would have thought. In any case, I feel the best would be contracted and if a RL woman can do the job, she’ll get the job.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Former Kiwi Fern Krystal Rota has expressed frustration at the obsessive pursuit of Union players by NRL clubs. Journalists and TRL posters habitually overlook the sense of betrayal among the NZ League community. 

Newcastle Knights have just signed another couple of NZ Union sevens players for their NRLW squad. Neither has ever played League.

The NRL message to the youth of NZ could not be clearer - if you want respect, play Union. If you want to get noticed, play Union. If you want an NRL or NRLW contract, play Union.

Maybe it's just the fact that a lot of kids have to play Union and get little/no choice at many schools. The RU schools competition is very serious and pretty professional in outlook so obviously it's going to be a key source of Rugby talent.

[Sports Prophet]

The talent acquisition for junior sport will only intensify. 

In 2023, a squad of teenagers drafted from various competitions in NSW/ACT, Qld, NT and Tas’ went on to beat Vic Metro, Vic Country, SA and WA to become 2024 national champions. A remarkable and unprecedented result and one which simply would have been impossible without the pathway opportunities that juniors in non-traditional areas are smothered with by the AFL these days. The same championships start this weekend for the 2024 edition.

This RL opportunity for 15/16 yo Pacific Islanders is potentially life changing. What the article neglects to mention os of the ones that don’t make the grade, how many families remain in Australia for a better standard of living, contributing to society and the economy and remain engaged in RL?

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, John bird said:

Kills me to think of the damage and self inflicted wounds the super league war caused the game in Australia in the mid to late 90’s.

RL could have not only been top dog in Australia and the pacific but maybe even New Zealand.

Primary culprit was Rupert Murdoch. He would never have risked inflicting similar damage on AFL.

The ongoing alliance with, and fear of, News Corp is why NRL TV deals are still below market value.

[unapologetic pedant]

19 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Women’s RL and pathway is still too green to go it alone I would have thought. In any case, I feel the best would be contracted and if a RL woman can do the job, she’ll get the job.

Australian RL female pathways are producing abundant talent. More than enough.

Pertinent question is, should NRL clubs incentivize young people in NZ to play League or Union?

[Sports Prophet]

5 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Primary culprit was Rupert Murdoch. He would never have risked inflicting similar damage on AFL.

The ongoing alliance with, and fear of, News Corp is why NRL TV deals are still below market value.

How do we conclude NRL TV deals are below market value?

1 hour ago, John bird said:

Kills me to think of the damage and self inflicted wounds the super league war caused the game in Australia in the mid to late 90’s.

RL could have not only been top dog in Australia and the pacific but maybe even New Zealand.

Maybe. The ARL was still markedly behind AFL before the SL war though. 

There is no doubt SL caused damage to the fabric of RL, but I don’t think the damage was irreparable, certainly not when you see how the sport is flying high at the moment.

However, I am not even certain RL gets to the position it is now without the SL war. What the war did bring is a commercial mindset which despite some great momentum building in the late 80s and early 90s, may not have forced its way into RL without the war.

[Sports Prophet]

Just now, unapologetic pedant said:

Australian RL female pathways are producing abundant talent. More than enough.

Pertinent question is, should NRL clubs incentivize young people in NZ to play League or Union?

If they are producing enough talent, they would be hoovering up all the NRLW contracts wouldn’t they?

Yes is the answer to your question.

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

How do we conclude NRL TV deals are below market value?

That's a long story. 

Suffice it to say, even the BigFumbler at sportsindustry concedes the NRL deal is below market value vis-a-vis AFL.

Foxtel don't have a business without NRL and AFL. The Fumblers are able to fully leverage that position of strength since they know the Murdochs, and other media execs, have a personal preference for AFL.

By contrast, NRL know from painful experience News Corp only want to make money out of RL. And if thwarted, they are quite prepared to inflict huge damage on the game until they get their way.

The next TV deal is the acid test for PVL. Is he truly independent or a Murdoch stooge?

Edited May 24 by unapologetic pedant
spelling

[unapologetic pedant]

42 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

If they are producing enough talent, they would be hoovering up all the NRLW contracts wouldn’t they?

Non sequitur.

Bottom line is - RL clubs should prioritize RL players for opportunities and rewards.

NZ League families feel aggrieved when they see people who choose to play a rival sport preferred over them.

[AB90]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

How do we conclude NRL TV deals are below market value?

The new AFL deal signed for 2025 to 2031 is reported to be $643m annually which indicates that the NRL deal is below market value considering the NRL’s TV ratings are slightly better than the AFL’s.

The next TV deal will be very interesting for the game worldwide. 

 

[Sports Prophet]

2 minutes ago, AB90 said:

The new AFL deal signed for 2025 to 2031 is reported to be $643m annually which indicates that the NRL deal is below market value considering the NRL’s TV ratings are slightly better than the AFL’s.

The next TV deal will be very interesting for the game worldwide. 

 

Or maybe there is more to the viewing figures than just the digits. Maybe AFL had more individual viewers? Maybe AFL sells more subscriptions.

What I don’t buy into is that the Murdoch family are AFL loving, League despising individuals who would gift AFL hundreds of millions a year more than their business interests require them to over another.

[Sports Prophet]

5 hours ago, John bird said:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/nrl/nrls-aggressive-recruitment-from-new-zealand-schools-sparks-debate/RFCHJJYXINFLNKGLKRZIOUB6QI/

I think this is great news and reinforces my long held opinion that a second local pathway for New Zealand talent is vital to the growing immediate need for more playing talent.

Whilst it appears some NRL clubs are doing a great job and many families will be excited for a new life in Australia, there will still be many who will not make that move off the back of their 15/16 yo’s talents. A second NZ team competing in the junior rep grades keeps these players engaged in RL rather than more likely dropping out of the system.

[AB90]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Or maybe there is more to the viewing figures than just the digits. Maybe AFL had more individual viewers? Maybe AFL sells more subscriptions.

What I don’t buy into is that the Murdoch family are AFL loving, League despising individuals who would gift AFL hundreds of millions a year more than their business interests require them to over another.

Maybe, maybe not. I don’t think there’s much evidence to suggest the AFL brings 60% more value to TV/Pay TV/Streaming platforms than the NRL does. 

One of the main drivers for the increase in the 2025 AFL deal is because Channel 10 & Paramount (who own Channel 10) put an aggressive bid in for all of the AFL rights (literally everything) which significantly drove Fox & Channel 7’s price up. The NRL need that same leverage when negotiating their deals which expire in 2027.

 

Edited May 25 by AB90

[John bird]

Love to know what this article hidden behind a paywall says.

 

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fleaked-document-reveals-nrl-and-warriors-unprecedented-mission-to-take-on-rugby-union-in-nz%2Fnews-story%2F392dbd1f1dc2bac3ea2d4a3802dee066&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-2-SCORE

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, AB90 said:

Maybe, maybe not. I don’t think there’s much evidence to suggest the AFL brings 60% more value to TV/Pay TV/Streaming platforms than the NRL does. 

 

The only evidence that comes to mind for me is the hundreds of millions more the AFL earns from its television contracts.

Back to the NZ part of this thread, I would like to think that while not flush, a second NZ team should bring in much more broadcast revenue than a PNG team. I go back to what NZIIs best opportunity for the NRL is and that is a large, highly skilled nursery to help maintain standards where other expansion ventures like Perth will need assistance. 

If the NRL could direct a good portion of increased NZ broadcast income to maintain and improve on the RL pathways outlined in the OP article, then I think RL serves NZRU with a devastating blow.

[The 4 of Us]

7 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Non sequitur.

Bottom line is - RL clubs should prioritize RL players for opportunities and rewards.

NZ League families feel aggrieved when they see people who choose to play a rival sport preferred over them.

Is there any comment about this anywhere.

Just in the last 2 weeks we’ve seen plenty of comment around NZ Union schools trying to ban RL being played. Who’s to say these kids being recruited aren’t RL kids attending RU playing only schools? 
 

Typical RU comments as mentioned above about supposed moral superiority being completely at odds that the kids aren’t given a free choice to follow their chosen sport in the first place. 
 

That’s how RU has worked for 125 years. Restrict what can happen and howl when people say “er, NO!”