2026 NRL General Discussion Thread

Also interesting there's no clear author, whoever it is knows the ramifications for writing anything negative about the PVL touch-union hybrid sport its become.
 
Big Pete said:
RIP Chris Phelan

Phelan was before my time, but from what I understand he was a hard-working forward who could play on an edge or through the middle. He was the type of player who did all the tough stuff and all the good coaches wanted him in their team. He was a part of Gibson's Eels during their run in the 80s and Bennett brought him to Souths to help topple the Wally Lewis led Seagulls who were the competition heavyweights.

Of all the players Bennett's coached, I don't think I've seen him give a bigger rap than the one he gave Chris in his second book.
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Tough player as was his brother who drowned in the Brisbane River a long time ago.
 
Foordy said:
This may be the 4 scotches talking, but:

Vlandys claims that everything he has done because of record high TV ratings. now I have no idea if the TV ratings are at record highs or not ... but one thing we can be sure of is the TV ratings aren't coming from die hard rugby league fans. they are coming from bandwagoners and neutrals.

and alienating your core customers / audience to pander to bandwagoners / neutrals is not a smart way to run a business. you may get a short term gain, but eventually the bandwagoners / neutrals drop off and that will lead to an inevitable crash because you've pushed away your core base.
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Do TV ratings take population growth into account? On a basic level a quick Google search tells me that the greater Sydney population has increased around 8% in the last 5 years. So would an 8% increase in viewers mean you're only actually on a par with where you were 5 years ago?
 
scobie said:
Do TV ratings take population growth into account? On a basic level a quick Google search tells me that the greater Sydney population has increased around 8% in the last 5 years. So would an 8% increase in viewers mean you're only actually on a par with where you were 5 years ago?
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of course not - it wouldn't fit the narrative they try and spin

Just like adding an extra team has by virtue raised the amount of total viewers, but they won't admit to that having a factor
 
I feel sorry for whoever is the CEO after Vlandys reign of terror is over because the will cop the blame for all of it. The media will give him a week and then talk about how he has ruined the game and it is in such a worse spot based on the same stats.
 
scobie said:
Do TV ratings take population growth into account? On a basic level a quick Google search tells me that the greater Sydney population has increased around 8% in the last 5 years. So would an 8% increase in viewers mean you're only actually on a par with where you were 5 years ago?
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My thoughts exactly. If population is growing faster than viewers, you're going backwards.

And as someone else posted recently about a rumour of record numbers of people switching off, that's another key metric. No good getting more people watching the start of games if 50% of people turn if off part way through. With record numbers of 20+ margins this year I'd suspect fans of the sides getting belted aren't making it to full time. I've struggled on a couple of occasions this year.

And of the other games I do tune into, if it's a blowout I quickly lose interest. As a neutral, a flogging is just not a good watch. I've got better things to do. A grinding strategic close game though, hook it to my veins even if I don't have a dog in the fight.
 
LittleDavey said:
With record numbers of 20+ margins this year I'd suspect fans of the sides getting belted aren't making it to full time. I've struggled on a couple of occasions this year.
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I was ready to turn the broncos off after the first set when it went 4th tackle 6 again, 4th tackle six again, penalty, try.

Only reason I didnt is I was watching with other people and had to sit through that whole shitshow.

I watched Thursday last week... nothing else on so may as well have it on in the background

Friday second game

Saturday 2nd game and broncos game (was ready to switch off after 5mins though)

None of the Sunday games
 
BroncsFan said:
I was ready to turn the broncos off after the first set when it went 4th tackle 6 again, 4th tackle six again, penalty, try.

Only reason I didnt is I was watching with other people and had to sit through that whole shitshow
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ESPN had a great short article from a neutral who hates both teams and turned it off after that debacle, despite loving the game and in part earning journalistic $$ from it. When people like that are turning it off you know there's a massive problem. Old mate had the same complaints as many of us with the current state of the 6again game - too subjective, has changed the fabric of the game, etc etc.
 
I actually think someone like me is a good metric, and I know I’m not alone. I’m not saying my opinion is worth anything but at a high level of someone like me has switched off mostly it should be a problem for the NRL. I have been a season member attending basically every home game for as long as I can remember, my team literally just won the premiership, I religiously play SuperCoach and several other Fantasy sports games which usually has you watching at least casually every game to follow your scores. I have gone from watching every single game each week to watching The Broncos game and close to nothing else, maybe 15 minutes or so of another game each week if it’s an interesting matchup but that’s about it. I am sure there is many more like me and if the NRL were serious that would be a concern, but they just manipulate their stats and when it is all ****ed Vlandys will leave and be praised for it.
 
broncos4life said:
I have gone from watching every single game each week to watching The Broncos game and close to nothing else, maybe 15 minutes or so of another game each week if it’s an interesting matchup but that’s about it. I am sure there is many more like me and if the NRL were serious that would be a concern, but they just manipulate their stats and when it is all ****ed Vlandys will leave and be praised for it.
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This is about where I am. I'm always keen for the Thursday and Friday games because it's a good way to unwind after work. The rest of the weekend though, assuming we aren't playing, only gets a brief look and if it's shit, I'm not wasting my time.
 
I've obviously gone further - I just don't watch anything league related except when we play and I used to love it. I've transitioned to being an AFL and ESL fan. I actively tell people interested whom I meet to not even try it, you might as well watch WWE. I've basically become an NRL hater.

Vlandal and his puppet are to the NRL what Henjak and Cullen were to the Broncos.
 
broncos4life said:
I actually think someone like me is a good metric, and I know I’m not alone. I’m not saying my opinion is worth anything but at a high level of someone like me has switched off mostly it should be a problem for the NRL. I have been a season member attending basically every home game for as long as I can remember, my team literally just won the premiership, I religiously play SuperCoach and several other Fantasy sports games which usually has you watching at least casually every game to follow your scores. I have gone from watching every single game each week to watching The Broncos game and close to nothing else, maybe 15 minutes or so of another game each week if it’s an interesting matchup but that’s about it. I am sure there is many more like me and if the NRL were serious that would be a concern, but they just manipulate their stats and when it is all ****ed Vlandys will leave and be praised for it.
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You can add me to the list of people that now fall into this category.

As I said earlier, Vlandys is catering to the neutral and bandwagon fans while alienating the die hards and traditionalists ... And that could potentially lead to a big crash, because bandwagon fans by definition aren't invested in the sport, so once they inevitably drop off you've got no one left watching the game.
 
The real question is how much footy is @Big Pete still watching 🤔🤔... if NRL is losing him then it's all over for them
 
Screw the Tigers after what they did to Haas, but you can only laugh.

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