Quote: bramleyrhino "The problem is that the stories that the clubs / the RFL want to generate aren't the stories that print press are interested in.
The national press aren't interested in "xxx signs one year contract" or "Fringe player opens village fete". They are however interested when a player is arrested following a nightclub brawl, caught drink-driving or in some other scandal - something that no club is going to try and promote. That's not a rugby league problem, that's a problem for any sport. Just today, for example, Joe Cole is on the BBC News front page because of a driving offence - it's probably the first and last time that he'll be found anywhere other than the sports pages. Likewise with John Terry / Peter Crouch.
It's very easy to say that the clubs should be producing the PR (and some, undoubtedly, could do more) but the what the clubs want to say and what the press wants to hear are two very different things.
In order to get the coverage that the sport craves, it has to be mass appeal. That means attracting a greater demographic of fan, establishing a strong international scene and getting the sport on the national conscience. When enough people, who don't have access to the YEP, HDM or Wigan Evening Post, want to hear about rugby league, the advertisers and the press will meet that demand. Unfortunately, there is huge fan opposition along the M62 to expanding the game to do just that. The RFL is dammed if it does and dammed if it doesn't.'"
agreed to all of that - and to a certain extent its no fault of the clubs, who are trying to appeal to their own market with 'XXX signs new contract' and 'YYY opens village fete' type stories.
however, the RFL needs to take a lead in identifying and producing the stories that might have a mass appeal. if they send out well written PR stories that sports editors can just rip off, it wont matter that they dont have specific RL journalists trying to dig things up.
Look at the RFL website latest news - its all either negative (players being banned) or pointless (Eorl Crabtree's testimonial dinner). Not one thing that would be of interest to a national sports editor.
couple of examples of stories that might have a wider appeal off the top of my head - Jonny Lomax battling back from a life threatening injury as a kid to Saints superstar, or Ryan Bailey's redemption from jailbird to Leeds Cup Final hero. i.e. personal stories, heartwarming tales of triumph and battling through adversity.
Force the clubs to make the players available to the media more. Get some players in London every week doing the media rounds.
How much national press does the Steve Prescott story get? The fact that he is guest of honour at the cup final doesn't even warrant a mention on the RFL site. Has anyone from the RFL attempted to highlight his charitable efforts, his fight against cancer, and his OBE. Blitzing the media with that story the week before the Cup Final would be fantastic for the game - and for Steve's charity.
The game cant sit back and do nothign, then complain that the media and sponsors are not battling the way to Red Hall.
