Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[WorkingClassRugger]

We need to make sure if we do have a third tier comp that Melbourne, Perth and the ACT are represented

Even if we did incorporate club rugby, say the 4 strongest from Sydney and Brisbane then an ACT team a Melbourne team a Perth team and a team up in North Queensland

Another solution. Would be the Top 3 clubs from the Shute and Hospitals Cup plus a rep squad from Sydney and Brisbane filled with the best talent not in the three including returning Super Rugby players. Then the Vikings and Kookaburras from the ACT. Plus a Melbourne and Perth rep squad. Essentially a hybrid of a club and rep set up.

Below that you could then have the Aus. Rugby Shield with a second team from both Perth and Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle/Hunter, NSW Country, Qld Country, Nth Queensland, NT and Tas.

 

[RugbyReg]

Well it would as the best players would play in that comp and the clubs who didn’t make the national comp would compete at a lower level

So if Wests don't make the finals in QLD, then the likes of Vudago, the Gordon brothers et al don't get to play 3rd tier? How is that helping their development?

 

[hoggy]

a national club comp is not a third tier comp. Well it is third tier because there's nothing between it and Super Rugby, but it doesn't provide a development step up from club footy.

This is part of the dilemma of rugby's set up here, surely the Super clubs should fund a development set up below them, because they are the entities that benefit from it.
In football the reserve & youth teams are all funded by the clubs themselves, they become part of the business model.

Yet in rugby we have this so called semi socalist set up below the professional level, which of course lends itself to who pays the bills. or who pays to develop rugby players.

The problem is no amount of wish-full thinking will change the reality, any future NRC or ARC will always struggle unless the teams have any meaning. Which can only come through a divisional set up. Which in turn will allow them to survive at an economic level that the market will set.

The only alternative is for Super Rugby to start turning a decent profit that allows the clubs to fund a third tier, which currently is hard to see happening.

 

[PhilClinton]

That's assuming that all of the best talent is concentrated in those clubs. Which isn't necessarily the case.

Which I believe was a contributing factor the QRU having to run the two QLD based NRC teams.

There are a number of factors which contributed to it, but I know several clubs voiced their concern that if the NRC teams were going to be closely linked, or even branded the same as the clubs, it would draw players only to those teams. Thus widening the gap between the top sides and the bottom sides at QPR level.

 

[PhilClinton]

Another solution. Would be the Top 3 clubs from the Shute and Hospitals Cup plus a rep squad from Sydney and Brisbane filled with the best talent not in the three including returning Super Rugby players. Then the Vikings and Kookaburras from the ACT. Plus a Melbourne and Perth rep squad. Essentially a hybrid of a club and rep set up.

Below that you could then have the Aus. Rugby Shield with a second team from both Perth and Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle/Hunter, NSW Country, Qld Country, Nth Queensland, NT and Tas.

If the aim of the game is to create long lasting support for the teams, I don't think creating hybrid rep teams will work. There is no identifiable brand or story behind that, and for the SS and QLD blokes, it's pretty much just a bunch of guys from the crap teams banding together each year, and even those clubs involved will change year on year depending who gets through in the top 3.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Which I believe was a contributing factor the QRU having to run the two QLD based NRC teams.

There are a number of factors which contributed to it, but I know several clubs voiced their concern that if the NRC teams were going to be closely linked, or even branded the same as the clubs, it would draw players only to those teams. Thus widening the gap between the top sides and the bottom sides at QPR level.

It would likely depend on what the overall goals of the competition is. Personally it should be to establish a professional tier between club and Super Rugby. Anything less would be a waste of time. That may require some clubs to accept that they aren't set for a national competition. If you were to establish a national club/rep hybrid comp (which is the exact model both the NRL and AFL have used) that doesn't mean certain clubs would have to disappear from their local scenes. They could elevate their 2nds who if talent is gravitating toward these clubs will likely still be plenty competitive into the 1st Grade slot in the Shute/Hospitals and play full schedules there much like how it works in the state leagues of both the NRL and AFL. Soccer as well for that matter.

 

[Rebel man]

So if Wests don't make the finals in QLD, then the likes of Vudago, the Gordon brothers et al don't get to play 3rd tier? How is that helping their development?

It all depends on how the comp is set up, I agree if it’s a champions league style comp then no it doesn’t help but if it’s a true competition with the clubs that could manage it financially then it could act as a third tier

The issue you then create is what happens to the clubs in Sydney and Brisbane that don’t make the cut?

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

If the aim of the game is to create long lasting support for the teams, I don't think creating hybrid rep teams will work. There is no identifiable brand or story behind that, and for the SS and QLD blokes, it's pretty much just a bunch of guys from the crap teams banding together each year, and even those clubs involved will change year on year depending who gets through in the top 3.

Perhaps rep squad is the wrong terminology. How about franchises. Which looking at our two primary competitors do work.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

If the aim of the game is to create long lasting support for the teams, I don't think creating hybrid rep teams will work. There is no identifiable brand or story behind that, and for the SS and QLD blokes, it's pretty much just a bunch of guys from the crap teams banding together each year, and even those clubs involved will change year on year depending who gets through in the top 3.

I'd be willing to bet we'd see 3 teams from both emerge pretty quickly as regular presences. There's always another means to get it done. Open it to bids. Set up a criteria for entry and get clubs and groups to submit bids to enter.

 

[Dctarget]

very smart for Stan to chip in a bit to improve the fields. The rugby is quality, if the rest looks professional people will watch. Nothing reminds you more that you're watching park footy than the park.

 

[Adam84]

I'd be willing to bet we'd see 3 teams from both emerge pretty quickly as regular presences. There's always another means to get it done. Open it to bids. Set up a criteria for entry and get clubs and groups to submit bids to enter.

Issue is that this destroys the integrity of the competition that these teams exist within now. If these 3 club teams became the primary destination of the best players/resources/coaches, then the disparity between them and other club teams in the QPR/SS will grow, destroying those competitions.

 

[Rebel man]

Issue is that this destroys the integrity of the competition that these teams exist within now. If these 3 club teams became the primary destination of the best players/resources/coaches, then the disparity between them and other club teams in the QPR/SS will grow, destroying those competitions.

People said that would happen with the Crows and then Power joining the AFL yet the SANFL is as strong as ever

 

[Adam84]

People said that would happen with the Crows and then Power joining the AFL yet the SANFL is as strong as ever

That’s not really the same comparison, the Crows and Power teams which play in the SANFL are the reserve grade teams , there is crossover but for the most part they run a seperate squad for those teams as they run concurrent to the AFL season.

the suggestion of a rugby club championship would be the same squad, and the tournaments run consecutively

 

[Rebel man]

That’s not really the same comparison, the Crows and Power teams which play in the SANFL are the reserve grade teams , there is crossover but for the most part they run a seperate squad for those teams as they run concurrent to the AFL season.

the suggestion of a rugby club championship would be the same squad, and the tournaments run consecutively

I thought when reading about bids in the post you quoted they were talking about bidding for a spot in a national club comp and leaving the state comp behind

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I thought when reading about bids in the post you quoted they were talking about bidding for a spot in a national club comp and leaving the state comp behind

Not necessarily. If a club successfully bids for a spot they could run their reserves in the Shute Shield. I understand many people look at this topic as an add on to club rugby but in all honesty if we go down that path were going to see a growing tide of players from these clubs headed overseas. And as today SMH article highlights not just Europe. The growth of professional Rugby has been rather impressive in non-traditional markets in the last 3-5 years and demand for talent is only growing. And those going are getting younger and younger. We need to develop a compelling reason for them to stay in Australia.

 

[Adam84]

Issue with selecting/promoting club teams is that they represent only a small portion of the rugby support base in that region.

That’s the biggest issue they haven’t been able to solve, because it will undermine support for a new tournament by those clubs and fans who feel they aren’t represented. You can’t gloss over that issue either, especially in QLD and NSW.

 

[Adam84]

I’d like to see a National University competition introduced somehow, I think it offers an opportunity over other codes who don’t have access into Uni Sports, and is a great way to leverage University funding and resources.

In concept it would be similar to College sport in the US, most major Australia universities already have a representation in the club rugby competitions Australian, it would be just bringing it together for a National competition.

They already have a version of it as part of the University Games, but I think it could grow even further.

 

[Adam84]

Not union, but related. Nine have secured NRL for another 5 years until 2027, main points:

• ⁠Nine will pay $115 million cash per year. Additionally, they'll provide $15 million of contra/other non-cash services
• ⁠Nine will retain exclusive rights to both State of Origin (all three games will be played on Wednesday's from 2023) and the NRL Grand Final
• ⁠As part of the new deal, Nine will air three additional games during the season
• ⁠9Now will offer more than 100 hours of Nine-produced digital content.
• ⁠Nine will provide expanded coverage and reporting of the NRLW competition
• ⁠This rights deal also encompasses radio and audio streaming rights for 2GB and 4BC. As part of this, both stations will have the exclusive rights to Sunday 4pm games. Additionally, all Broncos v Dolphins games will be available to stream in Brisbane

 

[Rebel man]

Not union, but related. Nine have secured NRL for another 5 years until 2027, main points:

• ⁠Nine will pay $115 million cash per year. Additionally, they'll provide $15 million of contra/other non-cash services
• ⁠Nine will retain exclusive rights to both State of Origin (all three games will be played on Wednesday's from 2023) and the NRL Grand Final
• ⁠As part of the new deal, Nine will air three additional games during the season
• ⁠9Now will offer more than 100 hours of Nine-produced digital content.
• ⁠Nine will provide expanded coverage and reporting of the NRLW competition
• ⁠This rights deal also encompasses radio and audio streaming rights for 2GB and 4BC. As part of this, both stations will have the exclusive rights to Sunday 4pm games. Additionally, all Broncos v Dolphins games will be available to stream in Brisbane

Can see them bidding for the pay TV rights when they come up

 

[Adam84]

Foxtel already renegotiated until 2027, was part of the covid renegotiations