The reason most would believe the NFL figures is because of the attendances at the games - virtually every NFL game is close to or a sell out - add to that attendances for college football and logic suggests a high level of interest.

In the UK soccer especially the EPL is no. 1 its attendances show it and they would struggle to get 3m viewers for a game in a country with >3 times the population of Australia

That is not the case with the NRL - there is such a disparity between attendances and alleged viewing figures - 3m seems a huge figure given spectator interest and population demographic. Sydney 4m and Brisbane 2m - you saying 50% of the population including women and children are watching the game? Logic suggests that is not possible - is there something in the dynamic to explain?

Then again viewing figures for Spanish football are huge, yet outside the top few teams the grounds are empty.

Our friends from the SH have really got to ya, ay Sal

Sal. lol

The amount of rubbish (almost all from AFL types) written around this subject is quite funny.

Folau is playing warm-up games so discussion of his "AFL career" is a tad premature.

As for Hunt, he has been picked for every game so far and has been far from the worst player in the AFL without any previous knowledge of the game whatsoever.

All this shows is the marvellous capacity of rugby league players to adapt to other sports as our history clearly reveals. Consider the likes of Bill Shankland, Ray Lindwall, Anthony Mundine, SBW et al as rugby league athletes who have excelled in other sports. (A google fest for some I am sure...)

What rugby league needs to understand is the occasional player going to other sports does nothing to damage rugby league but continues to perpetuate the understanding of our players as fantastic athletes.

Big win in the big picture view.

Totally agree.

Totally agree.

Just to clarify...

Shankland played for the Kangaroos; then played every British Open golf tournament between 1937 - 1955, including a second and a number of thirds.

Lindwall is regarded still as one of the best fast bowlers EVER in cricket history; played for St George with his brother in two Grand Finals for St George pre- retiring to focus on cricket.

Mundine wins in multiple world boxing weight divisions.

SBW - really struggling in union. lol

More available on request...

Why are we going to be screwed? And how? That perception would be based on whatever expectation you yourself had of our new deal wouldn't it?

Also Why did you never mention a conflict of interest in the past when you and Dally were going on about how we would get over $1b etc. etc. Is it because you saw what another sport got in their deal and now think we will get shafted? Did you believe that RL would get more than AFL? If so, why?




I think we'll be fine, we always will. In this country RL is very significant on any sporting radar. Even if we get less than AFL. So what, we'll still grow and teams will get a few more quid.

Sorry to answer for another poster but...

The game rates more than AFL.
Ergo it should get paid more.
It probably won't because of the conflict (even with the IC).
Even so, it should still get close to $1 billion because there is almost no reason why it should not get more than the AFL based on the FACTS of ratings.

At the end of the day, that is true.

But it doesn't change the fact if AFL gets more it will still be inequitable.

People throwing around crowd figures for the AFL in this context lack a clue.

Hint for the likes of Sal...

There are:
1. Crowds; and
2. TV ratings.

When we discuss TV ratings, number one is IRRELEVANT to the discussion. This seems to be a very common error on this forum.

Yeah it is baffling at times when you look at subscription and FTA TV viewing figures. I for one find them inaccurate, but it is however a level playing field and is inaccurate for all sports. It does though, and without question, show that RL IS THE MOST VIEWED sport on telly full stop.

The deals are clearly not just based on these figures. It doesn't help that RL isn't shown all over the shop live as the figures would be even more impressive.

I guess the TV monies doesn't bother me as much as it does others. Some have seemed to almost take it personally, when they shouldn't.

I certainly take the continued abuse of the great game by News Limited personally and to be honest fail to see how any true rugby league fan, with the game's best interests at heart, could feel otherwise.

No offence to you personally.