Andrew Abdo on the NRL’s relationship with SL

[Worzel]

26 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Wembley doesn't do re-entry so, for Magic, you'd be stuck with whatever is the offer in your little bit of the stadium.

Maybe re-entry is within the "art of the possible" for a special event, surely that's all in the negotiations?

Regardless, personally I'd be taking it back to Cardiff as that's the ideal location. Roof for the rainy days, really good "event" city for the northern hordes who want a day or weekend away, right in the centre of town with loads of bars and restaurants, and surrounded by a rugby region where people have always been relatively open-minded about watching a bit of league. Including the Gloucester and Bristol catchments an easy train hop away. 

[gingerjon]

2 minutes ago, Worzel said:

Maybe re-entry is within the "art of the possible" for a special event, surely that's all in the negotiations?

If the FA can't get it for non league finals day, I can't see anyone else getting it!

But, if they do, I will doff my cap to RL Commercial.

Whilst telling them to go to Cardiff.

[17 stone giant]

5 hours ago, crashmon said:

its astonishing to see how much UK RL has retreated to a small enclave in the M62

Has it retreated, or is that just where it always was?

[17 stone giant]

When they do the re-entry/admittance thing for Magic at, say, Elland Road, do they do a proper security check each time you go in (e.g. bag check, pat down etc.), or is it fairly relaxed in that respect?

It's a shame that Wembley don't offer such a thing.

What other large stadiums do allow re-entry? St James Park? Principality?

[17 stone giant]

7 hours ago, EastLondonMike said:

I think the danger with the NRL playing a game in the UK is perhaps the knock off effect of how SL is perceived post game. If the NRL come over all waving flags and glitz etc etc, getting TV coverage and increased media coverage - how does that reflect on the UK game? Quite likely that the game over here is at a considerably lower level and cannot attract the same levels of interest - which its obviously is, and doesn't - though you wouldn't want that being openly portrayed.

To expand on what you've rightly said, I just don't see the point in British and Australian rugby league not working together. Why would you want NRL clubs to come here, play each other, and basically ignore British RL? That makes no sense to me.

Rugby league already struggles to attract fans, without risking alienating people and creating unnecessary conflict and rivalry between SL and the NRL. They should be helping each other, because that then strengthens the sport as a whole.

If NRL clubs are going to come here, I want to see them playing our teams. Likewise if our teams go to Australia.

Put together some sort of mini-competition if you like - 4 teams from each country or whatever. But do things in partnership.

[Gerrumonside ref]

5 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said:

To expand on what you've rightly said, I just don't see the point in British and Australian rugby league not working together. Why would you want NRL clubs to come here, play each other, and basically ignore British RL? That makes no sense to me.

Rugby league already struggles to attract fans, without risking alienating people and creating unnecessary conflict and rivalry between SL and the NRL. They should be helping each other, because that then strengthens the sport as a whole.

If NRL clubs are going to come here, I want to see them playing our teams. Likewise if our teams go to Australia.

Put together some sort of mini-competition if you like - 4 teams from each country or whatever. But do things in partnership.

I think that is the right path (an elite competition between the very best of both comps) but it might need the NRL to kickstart a commitment to it with an NRL On the Road first before a full blown tournament could take place.

[17 stone giant]

21 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

An outside the box suggestion (which I expect everyone on here to hate ) is to run a series promoting the Kangaroos as the “all conquering winners of 10 of the last 11 World Cups” challenging RU’s home nations and France at 13 a-side RU, followed by a best of European RU v Kangaroos in a game of RL and culminating with a test match against the English RL team to show how good English RL really is. Now that is something alternative I think would sell out major stadia in every capital city.

So, just to be clear.

Kangaroos vs England RU, Wales RU, Scotland RU, Wales RU, France RU, all at 13-a-side rugby union (whatever that is).

Then the best RU players from those teams play for a European RU v Kangaroos at rugby league.

Then Kangaroos v England RL, obviously at rugby league.

Have you perhaps been smoking "something alternative"?

[JohnM]

NRL should/could be working on , first off (and least likely?) -regular, annual and meaningfully International competition with jeopardy and edge - something to fight for -  in the nation's capital city.  Not SOO but COO -Country of Origin? 

Failing that, a big game that punches through the curtain of general ignorance to something where the sports fan says, " Now THIS I must see. "  At Wembley, the WCC or the three-game Rugby League World Series. ( Club or country?

If not that, then maybe an opening round festival, SL, NRL, Championship opening round at Wembley

Maybe financed by Lord Alli?

That'll teach me to eat too much cheese before bedtime....always gives me weird dreams...

Edited October 8 by JohnM
Miskeying. Replace County with Country.

[Sports Prophet]

39 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said:

So, just to be clear.

Kangaroos vs England RU, Wales RU, Scotland RU, Wales RU, France RU, all at 13-a-side rugby union (whatever that is).

Then the best RU players from those teams play for a European RU v Kangaroos at rugby league.

Then Kangaroos v England RL, obviously at rugby league.

Have you perhaps been smoking "something alternative"?

It’s certainly out there  13 a-side RU shouldn’t take that much imagination.

I reckon it would be a big deal and I’d back the Kangaroos, RL, NRL and maybe SL to come out of it looking pretty good.

[crashmon]

11 hours ago, 17 stone giant said:

To expand on what you've rightly said, I just don't see the point in British and Australian rugby league not working together. Why would you want NRL clubs to come here, play each other, and basically ignore British RL? That makes no sense to me.

Rugby league already struggles to attract fans, without risking alienating people and creating unnecessary conflict and rivalry between SL and the NRL. They should be helping each other, because that then strengthens the sport as a whole.

If NRL clubs are going to come here, I want to see them playing our teams. Likewise if our teams go to Australia.

Put together some sort of mini-competition if you like - 4 teams from each country or whatever. But do things in partnership.

I fully agree with you in principle but

When the Wendyball teams like United, City, Real Madrid etc go and tour in singapore \ china etc, how many local teams to they play.  What do they do to boost the local clubs and get people to go and watch local teams.

I was at a cricket game in South Afroca a few years ago (SA vs England),  I was chatting to a bunch of SA fans who where huge fans of the Premier League, kept in touch with everything happening etc.  When I asked them which local team they supported (eg sundowns, Pirates etc), just a blank look   Why would they ever want to go see a local team.

Again, it all comes down to what is the purpose of the NRL here. What is the end goal of the NRL.  If its to grow interest in the NRL and NRL teams, why would they link themselves to a league which is tiny when you look at it  from a commercial standpoint.  A league which cannot even afford to have the national team play in the capital.   Commerically why would you ever want to link yourselves to that?

Are the NRL looking to grow interest in the NRL, or in Rugby League.  As those two things are not the same

[Dunbar]

19 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

It’s certainly out there  13 a-side RU shouldn’t take that much imagination.

I reckon it would be a big deal and I’d back the Kangaroos, RL, NRL and maybe SL to come out of it looking pretty good.

A couple of points.

The Kangaroos will not beat an international Rugby Union side at Rugby Union (13 or 15 a side).

Australia haven't played England here since 2016 and your plan is for them to come here and play Union.

Edited October 8 by Dunbar

[EggFace]

13 hours ago, 17 stone giant said:

So, just to be clear.

Kangaroos vs England RU, Wales RU, Scotland RU, Wales RU, France RU, all at 13-a-side rugby union (whatever that is).

Then the best RU players from those teams play for a European RU v Kangaroos at rugby league.

Then Kangaroos v England RL, obviously at rugby league.

Have you perhaps been smoking "something alternative"?

I'm up for that.

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, Dunbar said:

A couple of points.

The Kangaroos will beat an international Rugby Union side at Rugby Union (13 or 15 a side).

Australia haven't played England here since 2016 and your plan is for them to come here and play Union.

It’s hardly a plan nor am I suggesting we replace the Ashes Tour with it. It’s a random idea which I think would gather a great deal of coverage with sellout crowds at the biggest rugby stadiums in Europe and should the Kangaroos win, I think it would go some way to elevate the Kangaroos to one of the supreme sports brands in world rugby which is what many people think the brand is capable of. 

I think that could do wonders for the profile of RL and it’s not like England RL were excluded from the idea either.

As an idea, it has everything going against it, but… it would be groundbreaking and i think it would see RL get its greatest media coverage in Europe for sometime.

Also, I am not as confident as you are that the Kangaroos would necessarily beat an international union side at union.

But don’t waste too much time panning the idea, I did say it was out there and I don’t think you need to justify why you don’t like it, most wouldn’t.

[Sports Prophet]

2 hours ago, EggFace said:

I'm up for that.

The Kangaroos idea or smoking something alternative  

[17 stone giant]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Also, I am not as confident as you are that the Kangaroos would necessarily beat an international union side at union.

I'm sure Dunbar meant to say that the Kangaroos won't beat an international RU side (at either 13 or 15 man rugby union).

Certainly not England, France, Ireland, Wales or Scotland anyway. They might beat 30th ranked Belgium.

[RugbyLeagueGeek]

16 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

It’s certainly out there  13 a-side RU shouldn’t take that much imagination.

I reckon it would be a big deal and I’d back the Kangaroos, RL, NRL and maybe SL to come out of it looking pretty good.

I'm afraid this is up there with your 20 team World Cup prelims idea...

[StandOffHalf]

2 hours ago, 17 stone giant said:

I'm sure Dunbar meant to say that the Kangaroos won't beat an international RU side (at either 13 or 15 man rugby union).

Certainly not England, France, Ireland, Wales or Scotland anyway. They might beat 30th ranked Belgium.

They might beat Wales or Scotland, LOL

[Dunbar]

3 hours ago, 17 stone giant said:

I'm sure Dunbar meant to say that the Kangaroos won't beat an international RU side (at either 13 or 15 man rugby union).

Certainly not England, France, Ireland, Wales or Scotland anyway. They might beat 30th ranked Belgium.

Correct. I meant to type 'will not beat'.

Guess I shouldn't post when I am supposed to be working. 

[Sports Prophet]

4 hours ago, RugbyLeagueGeek said:

I'm afraid this is up there with your 20 team World Cup prelims idea...

No, no, no, that was pure genius like never witnessed in this forum before. It was so smart, it was borderline autistic!

Edited October 8 by Sports Prophet

[Click]

14 hours ago, Dunbar said:

Correct. I meant to type 'will not beat'.

Guess I shouldn't post when I am supposed to be working. 

But then when would you ever post?

[Dunbar]

5 minutes ago, Click said:

But then when would you ever post?

You are right of course; my work ethic is a thing of legend.

[Click]

4 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

You are right of course; my work ethic is a thing of legend.

You're not alone - Barring match threads, this forum is definitely busier during the hours of 9 - 5 (UK timezone)

I of course will not make any personal comment.

[Dave T]

2 minutes ago, Click said:

You're not alone - Barring match threads, this forum is definitely busier during the hours of 9 - 5 (UK timezone)

I of course will not make any personal comment.

why would we spend time here free of charge? We're not idiots.

[Dunbar]

3 minutes ago, Click said:

You're not alone - Barring match threads, this forum is definitely busier during the hours of 9 - 5 (UK timezone)

I of course will not make any personal comment.

 

1 minute ago, Dave T said:

why would we spend time here free of charge? We're not idiots.

I put my contribution on here on the self assessment form for my annual appraisal.

I didn’t get the rise I wanted.

[Dave T]

7 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

 

I put my contribution on here on the self assessment form for my annual appraisal.

I didn’t get the rise I wanted.

They must have read your posts.