NRL 2009

[arh21980]

Yesterdays game between Manly and the Sharks was a fucking disgrace. I as a Manly supporter am embrassed by not only our perfomance but that of the referees which more and less gave us that game by sending Douglas off.

On a positive note this does give support for what Des Hasler said after the Titans game "the players are professional but the referee's are not"

[sportsmad]

i didnt actually see the game as i was at the other one across town but i heard they were terrible. they refused to sing the team song!

NRl crowds have been quite impressive this round:

fri- nth qld v brisbane: 24,332
fri- parramatta v penrith: 20,237
sat- souths v dragons- 19,980
sat- melbourne v roosters- 13, 332
sat- gold coast v tigers- 20,102
sun- bulldogs v NZ 41, 835
sun- manly v cronulla- 15, 844

total- 155,662 (with one game still to play)
average-22,237

thats really healthy figures considering there wasnt even a brisbane home game this week.

[Druzik]

Aug 31, 2009 14:35:07 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

Yesterdays game between Manly and the Sharks was a fucking disgrace. I as a Manly supporter am embrassed by not only our perfomance but that of the referees which more and less gave us that game by sending Douglas off.

On a positive note this does give support for what Des Hasler said after the Titans game "the players are professional but the referee's are not"

Agree anthony... there is no denying that the tackle was high, but I dot think there was any mallice in it, and a reporting would have been sufficient... the ending off basically had a massive impact on the outcome of the game. Not to say that, Manly would not have won, or Cronulla won... but the outcome certainly in one way would have been different.... people now are worried about this and it seems that the decisions of the finals may be not down to the quality of the play but the pedanicity of the refs... we are now in the same situation the Union refs are in I think... they have too much control on the game.

[arh21980]

Aug 31, 2009 15:01:50 GMT 10 sportsmad said:

i didnt actually see the game as i was at the other one across town but i heard they were terrible. they refused to sing the team song!

NRl crowds have been quite impressive this round:

fri- nth qld v brisbane: 24,332
fri- parramatta v penrith: 20,237
sat- souths v dragons- 19,980
sat- melbourne v roosters- 13, 332
sat- gold coast v tigers- 20,102
sun- bulldogs v NZ 41, 835
sun- manly v cronulla- 15, 844

total- 155,662 (with one game still to play)
average-22,237

thats really healthy figures considering there wasnt even a brisbane home game this week.

Heard that the Manly crowd might not be completely correct. Many guys at the game felt it was more like 18,000

[Druzik]

Actually I would go with you on that anthony, from what I saw Brooky was almost packed to the rafters, it was defo more than 15k!

[arh21980]

Sept 1, 2009 9:00:02 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Actually I would go with you on that anthony, from what I saw Brooky was almost packed to the rafters, it was defo more than 15k!

People have said that the ticket scanners were broken at some part of the grounds (1st time this year) and some of the members scanners were broken (been this way all year). The ground staff were just waving people through
Watching the U20s on tv it seemed that they had atleast 10,000 watching them in the second half.
Well they can't say we talk our crowds up then, if anything we talk our crowds down.

[Druzik]

Sept 1, 2009 9:47:40 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

Sept 1, 2009 9:00:02 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Actually I would go with you on that anthony, from what I saw Brooky was almost packed to the rafters, it was defo more than 15k!

People have said that the ticket scanners were broken at some part of the grounds (1st time this year) and some of the members scanners were broken (been this way all year). The ground staff were just waving people through
Watching the U20s on tv it seemed that they had atleast 10,000 watching them in the second half.
Well they can't say we talk our crowds up then, if anything we talk our crowds down.

Did you go see the "Sludge Cup"?

[arh21980]

Nah at home (Qld) watching it on television. I can tell you the remote almost went through the tv a couple of times

[Druzik]

Ahhh yes I know the feeling well this year.

[sportsmad]

Tainted NRL needs rebrand: Harragon
AN A-LEAGUE style revamp of the game is under consideration amid claims that the NRL brand has become so tarnished a change of name is needed.

With the push for an independent commission to run the game gaining momentum, there have been calls for the new body to ditch the NRL title - and some believe the scandals that have dominated headlines this season have necessitated such a change.

''We have had consecutive years of turmoil in our game, and it is having a residual effect that sponsors and other people who directly affect the game's financial wellbeing are not sure they want to get involved,'' Knights director and former Kangaroos captain Paul Harragon told Rugby League Week. ''There is a feeling that the NRL brand has been tarnished.

''The smartest thing that the game's administration can do is reinvent themselves and do it fast. We need a new name, a new structure and a sign that we want to be a truly national code if we are to take on the other codes.''

The NRL has been conducting a brand audit since last October, and chief executive David Gallop admitted a change of name was a possibility. ''If there is a restructure of the game, the competition's name and brand would also be reviewed,'' Gallop said.

A number of key figures are working behind the scenes on a proposal to have a new body - comprising six to eight independent commissioners - run the current NRL competition and the representative program, and assume responsibility for development.

As part of such a move, News Ltd would exit the game. It is believed the media organisation is only willing to do that if the ARL also relinquishes its 50 per cent stake in the NRL. The Herald reported last December that a compromise could be for the new competition to be named the ARL but not run by the existing Australian Rugby League, which would adopt more of a development role.

''This isn't just a new name or a new administrative structure, it's a massive paradigm shift,'' Harragon said. ''I applaud anyone in the game's administration who is willing to step aside and let this proceed unhindered.''

Meanwhile, Gallop indicated that the Roosters are unlikely to face a further fine after Setaimata Sa was charged with assault, malicious damage, failure to leave a licensed premises and resisting arrest. The Roosters have stood down Sa over the incident at the Coogee Bay Hotel last Sunday night.

''I don't think we need to get involved again,'' Gallop said.

AN A-LEAGUE style revamp

next thing you know we'll be the
R-League"