An Open Letter to Fans and Critics of the National Rugby Championship

[wamberal]

Good to hear, Jamie. Now all we need is another, oh, 50,000 fans like you.

 

[Jamie]

Good to hear, Jamie. Now all we need is another, oh, 50,000 fans like you.

In my opinion what this comp needs is to start building a fan base by doing things right, again I don't claim to have all the answer but correct me if I'm wrong, the comp wants to attract new fans and build rugby's fan base in general. This is not a comp for the diehard fans. Passive fans want to attend games however they are likely to follow a trend/hype. We go to every Tahs game and the build leading into the finals was fantastic, I dragged my die hard league fans to the semis and final, they love it! I even dragged my soccer mad brother to the brumbies a game, my point is if NSW Country played in the same place year and year out to start with you will start building hype around the team, not just the one game.

Sorry about the rant (Must be my Latin blood), I guess the pure fact that I am posting my comments means that I really dig the comp and I want it to do well. I used to be a diehard soccer fan who is now a 100% converted rugby fan

 

[terry j]

the biggest suggestion I want to make for next year (and I hope Fox reads forums like this) is get rid of maloney.

For gods sake, can we have an adult commentating? When your role was a five minute gag segment at the end of a TV show, for sure, play the fool. No real harm done.

Put up with it for an eighty minute game? It's bloody nauseating. Not to mention demeaning.

Learn your role. Heck, even on the start of the rugby club he is listed as the 'joker', well as I said that is fine for the gag segment. When you are the commentator you are NOT the focus of interest, it is not YOU that is supposed to be entertaining, it is the game that is the entertainment.

Heck, if you want this childish commentary then at least save money and let me do it for free (which might help the competition stay around longer). After all, I am pretty damned certain I can commentate in the COR BLIMEY style too.

 

[Braveheart81]

Each to their own I guess.

I like Maloney's enthusiasm and reckon he's been an excellent edition to the Foxsports rugby team.

I enjoy his Super Rugby commentary.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

It seems to me that Maloney is a bit like that Jed Thian (Alternate Rugby Commentary) bloke from NZ.

OK in small doses but the repertoire is a little limited and wears a bit thin after a while.

I think he is better being a colours man more than a lead caller.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Maloney is a fair sight better than that bloke who commentates NRL on fox sports. "FIIIIFIIIIITTTTAAAAAA". Does my head in.

 

[Highlander35]

And Marto. Don't forget Marto.

 

[It is what it is]

The ARC was culled because the ARU decided it couldn't afford to continue funding it.
The NRC is different.
How long before the NRC clubs decide that they can't afford to continue funding it?

 

[Jagman]

The ARC was culled because the ARU decided it couldn't afford to continue funding it.
The NRC is different.
How long before the NRC clubs decide that they can't afford to continue funding it?

According to Growden 5 of the clubs are considering pulling out. Believe what you want about what he reports though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ Some on these forums have a rather low opinion of Greg Growden.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/growden-still-a-fat-idiot.3667/

 

[Highlander35]

Is Growden ever right, or is he Rugby's version of Damien Barrett, Throw as much shit as you can, and every once in a while something sticks?

 

[USARugger]

I would add "in as many directions as possible" to the second half of your statement but from my experiences reading his "work", yes.

I think he has been right, or close to the mark a handful of times in the past - but, broken clocks and all.

 

[Omar Comin']

Season 2 will be the real test. This season was rushed together, and Andrew Fagan leaving to the Adelaide Crows surely didn't help.

They should be able to do a much better job with a year of planning and a dozen little improvements based on learnings from this first season.

 

[Lee Grant]

You're right OC - this competition has to mature - and it will be even better five years on than it will be next year.

As a spectator I went to all the Rays home games and by the end I was a real fan again. I trust that I will pick that up next year from the "get-go" and that other fans around the country will too, though it will be difficult for the fans of teams who take their games to different regional centres.

On Maloney: he's an affable fellow and good guy, but Foxsports needs a real second main commentator to sub for Clarkie in the NRC games and even during the Super season because they have sent Maloney out west to do a few Force gigs. The NRC should be an excellent vehicle to blood somebody.

Incidentally, although not an expert analyst Gerard Middleton is doing a fine job as the NRC sideline eye.

Not to the point of this thread but Morgan Turinui has been doing a brilliant job of analysis assisting Robbie Nock in Top14 games - and apart from over-doing the "definitely" word, David Lyons is surprisingly good.

It would be good to get Morgs back into the country for a career change at Fox Sports - he could also do some work covering the racing: he likes the gee-gees.
.

 

[Chris McCracken]

Hi Chris
I see your point, what I am hoping is that there will ventually be a team that reprents the East and another that represents NSW Country area. the ARU have accomplished a great deal with starting this comp, off course it is not without it's flaws and I do think that they missed the chance to really build a strong following this year, hoping for good things next year

That's a fair enough point. I speak from a purely country viewpoint, as that's my focus. I'm not sure how the plans are to work in the future, but I personally don't see the team as it is being sustainable past a few years. I sure appreciate having the Easts and Randwick guys there, though.

 

[Jagman]

Is Growden ever right, or is he Rugby's version of Damien Barrett, Throw as much shit as you can, and every once in a while something sticks?

Pretty sure he broke the "Grounds Keeper Fees" scandal and everyone seems to assume that was true.

Breaking down his claim that 5 teams are unhappy I would start by assuming that they are not the Rising or the Spirit who have so much to gain from this comp it's not funny as their local's finally get some exposure without having to move away and what's more they get to rehearse for Super rugby. The QRU teams I'd imagine are in a similar boat here.

So if there are 5 teams rumoured to pull out it might be the 5 that are run by local clubs rather than Super Rugby frachises.

Vikings aren't streaming games due to cost and there is divided support for them because of their colours. It would be very bad if they changed their colours as they're the only red team and we don't need anymore Brumbie yellow!

Rams supporters complain about Eastwood having too much representation in the club even though they have no financial risk involved.

Alternatively the Rays have had complaints about the team line-up looking like it needs to facilitate every aligned club.

Stars (Uni) have wanted to be in a comp like this for years but is it too expensive for them?

The Eagles were apparently not very impressed with their reception in Lismore and expressed that they would like a closer alliance with the Cockatoos, which I assume means that the actually Country rep team doesn't want anything to do with them. As well as that Randwick sent in their own bid already so how long before they try once more to go alone.

Perhaps it's just rumblings in order to get the ARU to make changes however. The ARU have asked the clubs to foot a large part of the bill for this comp yet it is interesting that the only NRC team which the ARU are financially responsible for is the Rising and they have almost double the points to their nearest competitor and are guaranteed one if not two home finals. That might make it easier on the books for them.

 

[Chris McCracken]

Breaking down his claim that 5 teams are unhappy I would start by assuming that they are not the Rising or the Spirit who have so much to gain from this comp it's not funny as their local's finally get some exposure without having to move away and what's more they get to rehearse for Super rugby. The QRU teams I'd imagine are in a similar boat here.

So if there are 5 teams rumoured to pull out it might be the 5 that are run by local clubs rather than Super Rugby frachises.

I actually took it to assume it would be 5 Shute Shield / local clubs, rather than NRC franchises. I get the impression that Growden works in that sphere much more than the NRC and I'm not sure he'd get goss like that from more than half the competition.

If that's the case, it may be that there are only 2 or 3 franchises affected. Which I could believe.

I will say that if I was in the office at Perth, I'd be doing some maths, though.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

So what this comes down to is the fact that the Sydney teams have had to be formed by club joint ventures. Perhaps the NSWRU/SRU should instead take control, keep the teams based in the same areas but have a less rigid pool of talent - then there will be less reliance on one club's roster (Stars, Rams), but without the perceived need to source players on an ersatz quota system (Rays).

Funnily enough, Sydney Uni's aussie rules club has been able to run a NEAFL team with significantly fewer resources than the rugby club.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

So what this comes down to is the fact that the Sydney teams have had to be formed by club joint ventures. Perhaps the NSWRU/SRU should instead take control, keep the teams based in the same areas but have a less rigid pool of talent - then there will be less reliance on one club's roster (Stars, Rams), but without the perceived need to source players on an ersatz quota system (Rays).

Funnily enough, Sydney Uni's aussie rules club has been able to run a NEAFL team with significantly fewer resources than the rugby club.

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Personally I think Growden is more full of the problems rather than offering the solutions....ie. a nob....

 

[Pfitzy]

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Personally I think Growden is more full of the problems rather than offering the solutions..ie. a nob..

Well, you're not the Lone Ranger there.