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Final Whistle: Where is rugby league going wrong in its branding?


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League Express editor MARTYN SADLER considers the limited branding success of rugby league.  IN THE modern commercial world, having a vibrant brand identity is often...

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4 hours ago, Rugby League World said:

League Express editor MARTYN SADLER considers the limited branding success of rugby league.  IN THE modern commercial world, having a vibrant brand identity is often...

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I think the biggest demonstration of ignorance to marketing was the introduction of a club into the professional pyramid called “Wolfpack” whilst there already is a long established professional club called the “Wolves”. Furthermore, I don’t remember hearing anything about Warrington kicking up a fuss which if true is even worse, where a club is not interested in protecting it’s identity.

Imagine if an NRL expansion bid wanted a team and pitched it as the Great Whites. There is no way the NRL would allow that, because it would impinge on the brand of one of its existing members.

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I'm not too sure what point is being made in this tbh. 

I'd like to see consistency on the video pitch branding thingy, but I don't really see too much of an issue, aside from personal tastes tbh.

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9 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I'm not too sure what point is being made in this tbh. 

I'd like to see consistency on the video pitch branding thingy, but I don't really see too much of an issue, aside from personal tastes tbh.

They are doing some of this, all clubs are being told to have the 40m and 20m lines painted red for example.

The TV graphic production stuff, as I understand it, does still largely rest with Sky Sports. Whether they have the inclination to do this sort of stuff I'm not sure.

I don't think any of this is particularly game changing though, and perhaps risks looking a bit dated if not done well?

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7 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

They are doing some of this, all clubs are being told to have the 40m and 20m lines painted red for example.

The TV graphic production stuff, as I understand it, does still largely rest with Sky Sports. Whether they have the inclination to do this sort of stuff I'm not sure.

I don't think any of this is particularly game changing though, and perhaps risks looking a bit dated if not done well?

The Aussie stuff looks good and it's looked good in the playoffs, but then I'm sure some people will hate the gambling (and alcohol in Oz) advertising so prominent.

I think it looks decent in SL, the logo is generally pretty prominent in tv broadcasts, which is for every game now.

Like I say. I didn't really get the point -away kits consisting of random colours are used by somenof the biggest sports in the world now.

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11 hours ago, Dave T said:

Like I say. I didn't really get the point -away kits consisting of random colours are used by somenof the biggest sports in the world now.

Yes they do but many, (I'd argue most) football fans hate the random, non traditional kits that clubs change every year. 

In the early days of SL, Odsal used to look spectacular with the crowds and the pitch markings. 

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32 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said:

Yes they do but many, (I'd argue most) football fans hate the random, non traditional kits that clubs change every year. 

In the early days of SL, Odsal used to look spectacular with the crowds and the pitch markings. 

I'm not saying people have to like random away kits, but they've been part of the game for decades now, it's a strange thing to focus on for the weekly IMG-bashing article.

When saying you watch a game and you wouldn't recognise it as an SL game - i just don't get it. It's how sport is presented in this country. It's almost identical to Premier League football and Premiership Union.

I could understand if there was a point about suggesting we should go big kn branding, but to present it as an area where we are going wrong is weird.

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12 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I'm not saying people have to like random away kits, but they've been part of the game for decades now, it's a strange thing to focus on for the weekly IMG-bashing article.

When saying you watch a game and you wouldn't recognise it as an SL game - i just don't get it. It's how sport is presented in this country. It's almost identical to Premier League football and Premiership Union.

I could understand if there was a point about suggesting we should go big kn branding, but to present it as an area where we are going wrong is weird.

Yes I essentially agree. My point was just because something is done by a big sport like football, doesn't mean it's liked by the fans. 

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On 12/10/2024 at 11:56, Sports Prophet said:

I think the biggest demonstration of ignorance to marketing was the introduction of a club into the professional pyramid called “Wolfpack” whilst there already is a long established professional club called the “Wolves”. Furthermore, I don’t remember hearing anything about Warrington kicking up a fuss which if true is even worse, where a club is not interested in protecting it’s identity.

Imagine if an NRL expansion bid wanted a team and pitched it as the Great Whites. There is no way the NRL would allow that, because it would impinge on the brand of one of its existing members.

Yeah ... I don't think impinging on an existing brand is the real issue with that name.

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