Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sat Jul 24, 2021 12:52 am  

I'm not sure what point you are making there, Egg Chasing. The NRL isn't better because 'English fans can't be arsed to watch SL', why should that have anything to do with it? As I said elsewhere, i watched Cas v Hudds, and quite enjoyed it. but the Canberra game I watched earlier, whist not reaching any great heights, was still a better quality contest, if it comes down to that mythical "if you had to invite a viewer who'd never seen rugby league before" argument.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:35 am  

moto748 wrote:

I'm not sure what point you are making there, Egg Chasing. The NRL isn't better because 'English fans can't be arsed to watch SL', why should that have anything to do with it? As I said elsewhere, i watched Cas v Hudds, and quite enjoyed it. but the Canberra game I watched earlier, whist not reaching any great heights, was still a better quality contest, if it comes down to that mythical "if you had to invite a viewer who'd never seen rugby league before" argument.

Of course the quality is better. My point is that how is the game supposed to grow over here when our own fans cba to watch it?

If people tuned in for games on tv and viewing figures were high we would get better tv deals and could demand better coverage. Instead we get games moved around at daft times or shoved on sky sports mix.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:38 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

And that is exactly why they are better, because our own fans CBA to watch us.

If the viewing figures for Cas v Hudds, as you suggest, were of a decent standard then we would get a better tv deal. The more people that watch, the more companies want to advertise, the more expensive it is to do so etc etc.

Nah sod it. Lets watch our own clubs and sod the rest. No wonder players get booed playing for England.

You must be an absolute masochist or something if that's your solution. You can't be being serious surely?

So we now all have to be little bum buddies and watch RL all the time? I bet you're the type of guy who buys those half and half flags. Is this a new level of fan btw? Someone that has a season ticket & all the merch, is no longer the top tier. They've now been usurped by someone who watches all RL games on sky (but not the NRL obvs).

I think I'll just stick to watching stuff that I enjoy

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:59 am  

When Australia and New Zealand can send teams to the Olympics and Rugby Union players to our country, it is simply proving that they do not want to take part in the event as they see it as a loss making venture in the present Covid19 situation of our country.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:29 am  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Of course the quality is better. My point is that how is the game supposed to grow over here when our own fans cba to watch it?

If people tuned in for games on tv and viewing figures were high we would get better tv deals and could demand better coverage. Instead we get games moved around at daft times or shoved on sky sports mix.

Fans will watch games they want to watch. Salford v (near enough anyone bar Wigan) on Sky doesn’t tickle my fancy. I can add HKR, Wakey, Leigh, Huddersfield into that too.

I’m a boxing, golf and cricket fan too. I don’t watch games there I don’t want to.

But by your reasoning we should all watch RL all the time as that will boost advertisements and money? You’re far off the money here.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:12 pm  

Watching sport should be a pleasure, not a duty.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sun Jul 25, 2021 10:41 am  

100% Warrior wrote:

Fans will watch games they want to watch. Salford v (near enough anyone bar Wigan) on Sky doesn’t tickle my fancy. I can add HKR, Wakey, Leigh, Huddersfield into that too.

I’m a boxing, golf and cricket fan too. I don’t watch games there I don’t want to.

But by your reasoning we should all watch RL all the time as that will boost advertisements and money? You’re far off the money here.

You’re spot on, and that’s exactly my position as a diehard RL fan.

Quite simply it’s not worth watching HKR, Salford, Huds, or Leigh vs anyone as it’s usually low quality fare in front of a trickle of a crowd, no spectacle atmosphere or event.

Sadly that’s what super (sic) league has become.
I love watching the game but I’m only interested if it’s the top SL teams playing each other. Otherwise it’s usually a non contest or pretty rubbish rugby....tbh games at the top of SL can be like that too, just less frequent and more often get a decent game.

Top of SL is just about watchable, bottom half is largely a waste of time. There’s only really 6/7 decent clubs, even then it’s miles off the quality of NRL

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sun Jul 25, 2021 11:16 am  

afootingmiracle21-12 wrote: You’re spot on, and that’s exactly my position as a diehard RL fan. Quite simply it’s not worth watching HKR, Salford, Huds, or Leigh vs anyone as it’s usually low quality fare in front of a trickle of a crowd, no spectacle atmosphere or event. Sadly that’s what super (sic) league has become. I love watching the game but I’m only interested if it’s the top SL teams playing each other. Otherwise it’s usually a non contest or pretty rubbish rugby....tbh games at the top of SL can be like that too, just less frequent and more often get a decent game. Top of SL is just about watchable, bottom half is largely a waste of time. There’s only really 6/7 decent clubs, even then it’s miles off the quality of NRL Easily, the best two games of last season were the two Wigan Vs Saints games. I'm saying that's as both a fan of Wigan and also a fan of what RL should be. If every game was at that level, then more people would watch it. It isn't and they don't. If you ever want to know what's wrong with British RL then read this article https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/proof-the-salary-cap-works-41335/. I'm not a fan of Saints, but why should they suffer because they've built a decent side? Why should players be asked to choose between being part of a winning side, or a big pay day? Why is it seen as a positive that, as I said above, a team that played a part in two of the best game have to become weaker? People question why fans like me don't like British RL. Well that article is all they need to read. The opening paragraph states that it was done prevent the team I support from being dominant. What more of a reason do you need? Fu to the rest of the clubs and British RL imo.

afootingmiracle21-12 wrote: You’re spot on, and that’s exactly my position as a diehard RL fan. Quite simply it’s not worth watching HKR, Salford, Huds, or Leigh vs anyone as it’s usually low quality fare in front of a trickle of a crowd, no spectacle atmosphere or event. Sadly that’s what super (sic) league has become. I love watching the game but I’m only interested if it’s the top SL teams playing each other. Otherwise it’s usually a non contest or pretty rubbish rugby....tbh games at the top of SL can be like that too, just less frequent and more often get a decent game. Top of SL is just about watchable, bottom half is largely a waste of time. There’s only really 6/7 decent clubs, even then it’s miles off the quality of NRL Easily, the best two games of last season were the two Wigan Vs Saints games. I'm saying that's as both a fan of Wigan and also a fan of what RL should be. If every game was at that level, then more people would watch it. It isn't and they don't. If you ever want to know what's wrong with British RL then read this article https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/proof-the-salary-cap-works-41335/. I'm not a fan of Saints, but why should they suffer because they've built a decent side? Why should players be asked to choose between being part of a winning side, or a big pay day? Why is it seen as a positive that, as I said above, a team that played a part in two of the best game have to become weaker? People question why fans like me don't like British RL. Well that article is all they need to read. The opening paragraph states that it was done prevent the team I support from being dominant. What more of a reason do you need? Fu to the rest of the clubs and British RL imo.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:21 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote: Easily, the best two games of last season were the two Wigan Vs Saints games. I'm saying that's as both a fan of Wigan and also a fan of what RL should be. If every game was at that level, then more people would watch it. It isn't and they don't. If you ever want to know what's wrong with British RL then read this article https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/proof-the-salary-cap-works-41335/. I'm not a fan of Saints, but why should they suffer because they've built a decent side? Why should players be asked to choose between being part of a winning side, or a big pay day? Why is it seen as a positive that, as I said above, a team that played a part in two of the best game have to become weaker? People question why fans like me don't like British RL. Well that article is all they need to read. The opening paragraph states that it was done prevent the team I support from being dominant. What more of a reason do you need? Fu to the rest of the clubs and British RL imo. Couldn’t agree more with you, the article or afootingmiracle. I don’t know if you’ve seen it but occasionally sky play retro games. The last (to my knowledge) being Wales v Aus in the disastrous 2000 WC, the one before that Wigan v Saints for the last ever game at CP and some retro GB games. They’re brilliant to watch and bring back some good memories (or not so good on the 2000 WC but that’s beside the point). The point is is that these games were so much better then the current rugby being dished out. Better atmosphere, better styles and better all round players. The SL decline started when the RFL for some bizarre reason decided to bring the league down to Wakefield/Cas/Salford level instead of forcing those clubs up, or booting them out. Now we’re paying the price. I want to love British RL, even more so as I can’t stand the NRL, but I just can’t bring myself to watch the aforementioned teams if Wigan aren’t playing. I’ll gladly tune in to Warrington/Saints/Leeds and sometimes Catalans but even then I’m far from “can’t take my eyes off this”. The quality just isn’t there anymore, despite what Sky and any other podcast other than ‘Out of Your League’ would have you believe. That contributes to falling crowds, viewing figures and ultimately funding.

sergeant pepper wrote: Easily, the best two games of last season were the two Wigan Vs Saints games. I'm saying that's as both a fan of Wigan and also a fan of what RL should be. If every game was at that level, then more people would watch it. It isn't and they don't. If you ever want to know what's wrong with British RL then read this article https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/proof-the-salary-cap-works-41335/. I'm not a fan of Saints, but why should they suffer because they've built a decent side? Why should players be asked to choose between being part of a winning side, or a big pay day? Why is it seen as a positive that, as I said above, a team that played a part in two of the best game have to become weaker? People question why fans like me don't like British RL. Well that article is all they need to read. The opening paragraph states that it was done prevent the team I support from being dominant. What more of a reason do you need? Fu to the rest of the clubs and British RL imo. Couldn’t agree more with you, the article or afootingmiracle. I don’t know if you’ve seen it but occasionally sky play retro games. The last (to my knowledge) being Wales v Aus in the disastrous 2000 WC, the one before that Wigan v Saints for the last ever game at CP and some retro GB games. They’re brilliant to watch and bring back some good memories (or not so good on the 2000 WC but that’s beside the point). The point is is that these games were so much better then the current rugby being dished out. Better atmosphere, better styles and better all round players. The SL decline started when the RFL for some bizarre reason decided to bring the league down to Wakefield/Cas/Salford level instead of forcing those clubs up, or booting them out. Now we’re paying the price. I want to love British RL, even more so as I can’t stand the NRL, but I just can’t bring myself to watch the aforementioned teams if Wigan aren’t playing. I’ll gladly tune in to Warrington/Saints/Leeds and sometimes Catalans but even then I’m far from “can’t take my eyes off this”. The quality just isn’t there anymore, despite what Sky and any other podcast other than ‘Out of Your League’ would have you believe. That contributes to falling crowds, viewing figures and ultimately funding.

Re: Official - Australia & NZ pull out of World Cup : Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:38 pm  

Rads spoke about how much more entertaining the game was back in the early 2000’s during a recent podcast. Everything goes in cycles and since Maguire came here in 2010, the whole game in this country and changed and got in to that grind mentality of low error counts, low risk plays, strong carries from your outside backs in your own 30 metres and the defensive structures have improved. A team will go totally against the grain at some point and be a trend setter for playing a more open brand of rugby. Why can’t that be us? If Rads knows it’s turgid, why not do something about it? We couldn’t been making the change these last 3 seasons. We’ve won nothing anyway, so we could had a transitional period to go in a totally different direction. One where you say ‘you score 30 and we’ll score 40’ or at least try to do that.