G'day Tim!

What an insightful - albeit late - sadly needed article on NRL. Good on you for having the honesty and guts to present a well rounded argument.

My brother (Russell Worth) played first grade (before NRL) with Artie, Tommy R, and Bob Fulton. I know what went on in those days. It was awful re ye old fashioned bashing etc (but I do not refer this to Artie and others I have mentioned).

Tim - the BEST people in promoting NRL are the radio 4BC 1116 Sports Team! They are truely professional!

Cheers Kay

Why would any parent allow their kid to play rugby league or union? Admittedly Tim's article focuses on the flaws of the former code, though both represent a troubled unfying theme - serious and permanent physical injury.

Young people can still learn team ethics, get healthy, and potentially, if they're outstanding, become a whole lot better off financially if they pursue other less 'kill-crush-destroy' type sports. You only need to look at the likes of other ball sports to realise this; e.g. tennis and soccer.

When I lived in Newtown I was a passionate South Sydney fan and disillusioned by the reorganisation of the code. I guess it had to follow but it didn't help my attitude to the code. So I may be as stuck in the past as 'the boneheads' who advocate violence. I have to accept that things change. I have doubts that rugby league can be disassociate itself from on field and off field violence. But I do hope change is possible.

Tim,

As Disraeli said there are lies, damned lies and statistics. If there is a ever another case of using statistics inappropriately to justify a ridiculous argument I am yet to see it.

You have used national ABS figures to claim low participation rates for Rugby League. Anyone with any knowledge of simple demographic attributes would now Rugby League is only played in QLD and NSW in any well organised manner (yes there are small pockets in other states but not at an organisational level to enable widespread participation). A more accurate argument would require the participation rates on a QLD and NSW basis. To blame the parody of Reg Regan and the other footy show hosts to be cause of these supposedly decline is ridiculous. Obviously the irony of the character Reg Regan is lost on you. Mathew Johns couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag, yet he is supposed to represent the "hard man" of Rugby League. The crowd levels this year show there is significant support for the game. Your arguments about the focus on the biff is naiive,you seem to forget it is a contact sport. It is not a sport where the participants go to the ham school of acting to learn how to do quadruple rolls, followed by a pike and double somersault whenever an opposition player comes near them to try and milk a free kick from a socialworker/referee taken in by such amateur dramatics.
It is a funny irony that the last time I had a debate about the merits of the footy show was with a former workmate of yours who I was on a road trip to Cairns with. Obviously this must have been the water cooler topic on Fridays at your workplace.

slasher

what's your email?

hello, i am your first niece...long time no speak