HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Yep. Obviously a fantastic spine but they'll struggle if their pack gets dominated.
Official 2024 NRL General Discussion
- Thread starter Mr Ryan
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Sevshark
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I think Bellamy is going to end up using Blore at lock or off the bench at prop for this reason. He just needs the size
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
This is going to be a very long road.
The NRL’s ambition to crack the American market will be a long one after the spectacular Las Vegas double-header created only a ripple in the television market.
Ratings from United States cable network Fox Sports 1 showed an average audience of just 61,000 tuned in to watch the season opener between the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs, with a reduction to 44,000 for the Roosters-Broncos clash at Allegiant Stadium, according to US SportsMedia website.
figures represent a sobering start for the game’s wish to enhance their audience in the United States, increase subscriptions to the Watch NRL app and tap into America’s legalised gambling market.
The NRL has consistently said it’s a long-term plan for the game to grow in one of the world’s most competitive sporting markets, with a five-year deal to take matches to Las Vegas.
More than 40,000 fans went to the Super Bowl venue to watch the NRL’s double-header, but Australian Rugby League Commission boss Peter V’landys was keen to see how the event was received on American television.
An overtime contest in a college basketball match forced the NRL to be delayed on Fox Sports 1, missing the first 17 minutes of Manly’s upset win over South Sydney. The match between Xavier and Georgetown recorded ratings of 162,000.
The NRL ratings were still almost three times larger than any NRL game ever shown on a Saturday night American time on Fox Sports 1, and the coverage on Fox Sports 2 was five times higher than any other Australian rugby league match.
Australia’s Fox League reported record local audiences for the Las Vegas double-header.
“The Las Vegas matches were watched by a huge number of people around the world, including a record Australian audience,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“We had a 61,000 average viewership on Fox Sports 1 for the first game, which was more than one third of the marquee college basketball clash between Xavier and Georgetown which preceded our games. That figure also compares to some US Major League Soccer games on Fox Sports 1.
“The second game attracted an average audience of 44,000. These are the two most watched NRL matches in the US on record.
“The audience of the first game was three times higher than the most watched NRL games on Fox Sports in the past three seasons and over 280 per cent higher than the most recent Saturday games on Fox Sports 1.
“We are proud of what we achieved this year in Las Vegas and have been blown away by how positively Americans have responded to rugby league.
“The exposure the game received and the reviews of the matches by US fans and media will be a massive boost for year two and beyond. We are very focused on the long-term opportunity this presents for the game.”
Meantime, multiple local gambling sources who were not authorised to speak publicly said turnover across the first two games was on par with usual trading.
Much of the $700 million in revenue generated by the NRL last year was propelled by the cut it gets from local wagering businesses whenever a punter bets on one of its games.
The code is yet to sign a similar product fee arrangement with any US bookmaker which means it is not yet able to make money in the rapidly growing market.
But V’landys has said he expects the Las Vegas venture to generate about $200 million in broadcast and wagering revenue over the next five years.
US bookmakers such as Fanduel do not currently pay product fees to US sports including the NFL and NBA.
NRL focus on future growth of American TV market after Las Vegas launch
Despite the spectacular success of the season-opening double-header, the NRL has a long way to go to penetrate the United States television market.www.smh.com.au
SF
Mako Shark
I saw that link earlier to Sports Media Watch:
www.sportsmediawatch.com
You look at that ratings table for Saturday, and you can see why it would struggle to crack the market:
Saturday (3/2) sports ratings: NBA, college hoops, golf, racing and more
A Western Conference Finals rematch featuring another milestone for LeBron James delivered the top sports audience of Saturday, March 3.
You look at that ratings table for Saturday, and you can see why it would struggle to crack the market:
Capital_Shark
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I think we keep it 2 games to kickoff the season and see how it grow over the 5yrs for now. Obviously lessons will be learnt from that 1st go - this worked well, that not so much, see opportunity where we didn't before etc. - all part of the experience.
Ideas like taking a whole round there is way too much, way too soon.
Ideas like taking a whole round there is way too much, way too soon.
Need a half hour entertainment package before game to teach the Americans what they are watching
But to pad out so college basketball doesn’t run over and mean the first 17 mins are missed.
Unlikely perhaps but really not what the NRL wanted
But to pad out so college basketball doesn’t run over and mean the first 17 mins are missed.
Unlikely perhaps but really not what the NRL wanted
Capital_Shark
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Rusty did a pretty damn good 5-10min explainer.
Sell the spectacle first. People don't need a deep understanding to know if like what they're seeing or not. If they're interested knowledge is more accessible than ever. But no one wants homework or a lecture to begin with. I bet all of us started out liking what we saw & it took some time to become the highly regarded experts we are today.
I agree, it’s more to avoid it being over run by something going overtime. If kickoff time is known those who want to skip an intro can, the (presumably much) smaller amount of people who would like to do some learning/highlight watching can do so
Capital_Shark
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Apparently that college BB game was not a "marquee". It was a late season cripple fight & the result meant ****all. Like a Tigers vs Titans in r25 affair. I heard 1 yank say they reckon it should've been the game bumped to FS2.
Western Sharkie
Jaws
Shows us where our game sits with the yanks doesn’t it
CrazyMatt
Jaws
They’ll find a way, they always ****ing do.
Sparkles
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Can't see why we couldn't just stop the game for a few minutes at certain moments in the game that could be used as learning moments...
"(whistle blows) Just wait a sec before you play the ball Cheese, cheers. As you can see here, there are five attackers including the halfback, our quarterback, to three defenders on the left side. Watching Chad Townsend or Blayke Brailey play may lead you to believe you should take the ball to the right side of the field or turn the ball back inside in this instance. Rugby League fundamentals would actually dictate...."
Six Again
Grey Nurse
And with around 300 NRL players on the loose in Vagas , that certainly wouldn't be a consideration
Sparkles
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Weirdly, the only issues happened under the blazing spotlight of the actual games.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
How does get ****ed sound?
Manly owner Scott Penn wants the NRL to abandon plans to have all 17 clubs get the chance to play in Las Vegas, insisting the Sea Eagles and Roosters should return next year after holding talks with an NFL heavyweight about potential investment in the club.
As NRL clubs clamour to be included on next year’s trip to Las Vegas - Australian Rugby League Commission boss Peter V’landys has previously flagged all clubs will be given a chance - Penn has made his most vocal comments on scrapping that proposal.
Manly think they deserve to go back to Las Vegas. Will the NRL let them?
Scott Penn has joined Nick Politis in suggesting the two teams who won in Las Vegas should be back next year after he held talks with the president of the San Francisco 49ers about investing in the NRL.www.smh.com.au
Sparkles
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A good sign for the NRL if these clubs are clamouring to be a part of it again.
I'd love a classic Sharks no rumours, no leaks partnership suddenly announced with the 49ers...
Oh, and yes - get ****ed Manly.
SF
Mako Shark
‘I am sincerely sorry’: Leniu admits Mam slur, enters early guilty plea
The Roosters forward admitted he called Broncos star Ezra Mam a “monkey” during a heated exchange in Las Vegas, but says he “didn’t mean it in a racist way”.
Good on him for pleading guilty at least. I think he will get respect back quickly that way.
Sparkles
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I'd like to think so mate, but it feels a lot like the PR dept has outlined how everyone needs to behave through this.‘I am sincerely sorry’: Leniu admits Mam slur, enters early guilty plea
The Roosters forward admitted he called Broncos star Ezra Mam a “monkey” during a heated exchange in Las Vegas, but says he “didn’t mean it in a racist way”.www.smh.com.au
Good on him for pleading guilty at least. I think he will get respect back quickly that way.
SF
Mako Shark
Yes that's true, there's probably an agreed deal already.
However, he still could have wiggled out of it by saying he was misheard etc, and there was no proof otherwise.
Similar to the Gallen/Paea case: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/25/cronulla-paul-gallen-dragons-paea