Problems & Solutions - Part One

About the only thing growing in RL is female participation

All aspects of life are constantly changing and only those prepared to adapt have any hope of survival. Sport is no different. Rugby league has always been a code that innovates. It can and has to for the same reason, it's a small sport.

The changes that have been implemented were to enhance the two professional competitions (NRL & SL). They provide the income and run the game so it's basically all about them. A few expansionists have dreams of taking a great product further, but the conflict of interest between looking after the NRL and SL as opposed to funding the game's international growth has always had the latter underfunded. Any increase in revenue the pro comps receive is given to the clubs to spend on player wages.

This operational model has been badly exposed by the coronavirus. With no financial cushion to cover it, the sport almost immediately went with cap in hand to the government for assistance. Unless RL changes how it operates, I'd call it throwing good money after bad. In other words, the whole sport of RL is irresponsibly run.

The only solution to this is player wages have to be less than the current percentage of earnings so that some of the money generated is set aside for a rainy day, plus some pumped into the international game to expand it. In the long run, this will create more income for the sport but the shortsighted attitude that now exists ultimately limits what the game could become and therefore earn. Self-centred policy coming home to roost.

Unless those controlling the purse strings wish to change, the sport will meander along, at best surviving as it is and at worst shrinking to even lesser relevance than now.

Part two will look at rule changes.