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Sepp Blater will be out of a job soon.
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I knew Smith was going once Mmurdochs man for all seasons Richardson got appointed. I don't buy the fact that News Ltd is no longer a partner of the NRL. Smith the Rothchilds banker was strategically positioned on behalf of Murdoch. Some posted here that the recent GF was free of News Limited yet the two teams owned by Murdoch. The recent tv deal and how fox missed out is just a complete smother. It won't be long until Gyngell Packer Murdoch own the game as partners along with Crown Casino Inc. being the major sponsorComment
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Originally posted by bondi paul View Post
If you think Smith was Murdoch's man I suggest you read the Telegraph's reporting since that TV deal was done and especially in the last couple of days.
You couldn't be further from the truth.
And now the Tele will be going hard to get another Gallop-style puppet. Bourbon Becky is already pushing for her pal the SL Head Ref Annesley. Wouldn't that be fun.
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Where did our game go?
I began following the Rooster's and watching football in the 1970's and it was a very different time in many ways. There wasn't anything remotely like social media or an appetite for personalities in the game, nor were there the complications in the game that we have today. There was also little money in the game.
Television coverage was limited even for the times and radio was the lifeblood of the game. The 'footy' was sport and it received coverage in keeping with other sports. I can remember being mesmorised as a kid hearing the roar of the crowd as a backdrop to the dulcit tones of Frank Hyde on 2SM during the call. Frank Hyde was an out an out rugby league man, a celebrator of the game who orchestrated a fan base via a single studio microphone. He would play the winning teams victory song and suppliment the euphoria at the end of each match with highlights and a recap of the game.
As Roosters fans during this era we were indeed very fortunate. We had good reason to crow and we had the confidence to strut regardless of the scoreline and who our opponents were. Come fulltime we'd be in front. Chalk up another win for the mighty Roosters. The era also marked a period of change for the game and the Roosters led the way naturally. Sponsorships added to the tribal glorification that was already established, eventually steering the sport toward the role of the semi-professional athlete. The late '70's saw the first of the controversial player movements dividing supporters of game and club alike. Despite the often heard cries of 'ring-ins' and 'traitor' coming from the stands it too was good for the overall game.
So where did it all go wrong, or did it?
One thing that immediately comes to mind is that growing up I was a footy fan and I followed the Roosters. It was that simple. I expect any resentment that I hold toward the game today stems from this simple notion: the show was the game and the star, in my case was the Roosters. Win, lose or draw the Roosters were front and centre. I hope and trust that fans of other clubs saw it this way as well. But I do admit that I never gave much thought to balance sheets and operating costs at the time… why would I? I had 3 grades of footy to watch on game day and the chance to put it over our opposition in all 3 and I looked forward to seeing my heros splashed across the back pages of The Telegraph the next day albeit in black & white.
At the time the administration body was the NSWRL. Again I never gave their role too much thought and still to this day I'm not sure exactly how they operated. Did they collect revenue? Distribute funds to clubs? I'm almost certain they were responsible for the competition, the draw, referees and venues, but how much else where they involved with?
I'd like someone to explain how a game, which in my mind was in the hands of the clubs and in the hands of the fans, ends up in the state it is today. How clubs that were in control of their own destinies, and as a group in control of shaping their future and the future of the competition, today need to go to the NRL cap in hand for funding. And why they are subservant to the NRL generally.
Mascord wrote that sport is and always was “folly” and suggested it is a plaything of those beholden much like a court jester was to a king. Are Fox, Ch 9 and the media generally modern day kings? Nothing infuriates me more than the idea that sport is or has become entertainment. According to Mascord the only true sport is amatuer sport. Matt Elliott is another proponent that the NRL is a show but IMO that does not make it right, especially coming from a rugbt league man. Shame on you!
Is money in RL really the problem? Are the issues facing the game currently a result of poor governence and weak leadership? Is the model broken?
If the answer to all of these problems is not a returning of the power in the game back to the clubs, then more fool me. I shudder to think of what the likes of Parramatta or the West-Tigers might do with full control of their destinies, but let it be on their own head. I believe if we had a collective agreement on minimum compliance of clubs participating in the league then let nature take it's course. Otherwise if John Grant and the NRL think they have the game heading in the right direction then just hand over the $137 million to the clubs immediately. Mind you I cannot fathom how our product as good as it is needs propping up to this extent if all is well in the game.
"The only time you start at the top is when you are digging a hole."
- Jack GibsonComment
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I have always thought that there is more to the TV deal than the dollar amount. This was confirmed when I heard Michael Maguire speak and said the most important thing about the next TV is to get control of the game back from the media.Originally posted by Kingsgrove-Loiner View Post
Part of the problem with the game is that they sold their soul for the money and reliquished control. Even though News had their fingers in the pie during the Gallop years, that had nothing to do with him and he was smart enough to see that he could not give control of the game to Ch9.
No one can possibly explain to me how the rights to broadcast RL (as great a game that it is) is worth anywhere near $1 billion dollars given the size of the market. Without having a detrimental impact on the fans of the game.The Internet is a place for posting silly things
Try and be serious and you will look stupid
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Destroyed the game eh?Originally posted by fletch View Post
Where have you been for the last 20 years?
Chook.Comment
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The NRL clubs, their powerbrokers and players do far more to try to destroy this game than Smith or any CEO have done. Many clubs are an absolute basket case and its all self inflicted.
Its all about self interest and nothing else matters. It never about the good of the game generally.
Dave Smith did a good job in difficult circumstances. Probably far superior to the fall guy who will replace him.Supporting the RW&B, through good times and bad times.Comment
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Quale was better than all of them put together.Comment
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JT - you may have overlooked the word smother in my post. Yes I agree with you as Smith was a Murdoch man just like Richardson who I called a Murdoch man in my original post. Regardless of any of this the game is no longer the same but just more nepoti$m than ever before just like society which is ruled by the eliteOriginally posted by Johnny Tobin View PostComment
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You're off your chump. You need to up the medication talking paranoid shit like that.Originally posted by bondi paul View PostSUPER DRAGON!Comment
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so johnny - smith is gone and as above i said it a smother the fox tv deal. low and behold murdoch now partners with nrl via 2 billion deal tv rights whilst gyngell is being headed up as a boss of the nrl.Comment
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If the $2B deal being reported by Sky News is correct, then that's a good deal, and is way above what the 'experts' were forecasting.
I reckon Smith out maneuvered uncle rupie while he was too busy focusing on how to get Jerry Hall's pants off.Comment
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Originally posted by Kingsgrove-Loiner View Post
Optus screwed the scrooge deluxe by securing the EPL rights which FOX has held for a long time. Rupie had no choice but to play ball with the NRL otherwise he would have potentially risked losing millions through subscriptions etc.......
Thank you Optus!Comment
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dont believe the hype re smith and murdoch. they work in with each other regardless what the dimwits in the media write.Originally posted by Kingsgrove-Loiner View PostComment
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