I love those Hindy and Fletcher skits. :d

Being a parra supporter you'd expect that ;)
Fletch has his better moments but Hindy is hopeless and gets owned countless times.

What happened to Ross during the arm wrestle ?

Snapped his arm wrestling the Big Dell.

Calls for NRL to take Monday night footy to the bush to counter dwindling crowds
June 13, 2015 9:25am
PHIL ROTHFIELD SPORTS EDITOR-AT-LARGEThe Sunday Telegraph

If a Rooster scores at an empty stadium and no one is there to watch it, does it still count?
A PUSH is underway to turn the NRL’s Monday night games into a bush football television extravaganza in country towns across the state.

Wagga, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Mudgee, Cessnock and Bathurst are among those in line to host several NRL matches from next year.

Broadcaster Fox Sports is leading the push to create better atmosphere rather than having tens of thousands of empty seats as the backdrop at Sydney’s big stadiums.

Fox Sports would send their stars Matty Johns, Nathan Hindmarsh, Bryan Fletcher and Gorden Tallis to the towns beforehand to do skits for their show.

KENT: A blueprint to save bush footy



Monday night crowds have become depressingly familiar for NRL fans.
The atmosphere would be fantastic at packed country venues and it’s something we support.

- Fox Sports boss Patrick Delaney

The NRL clubs and their star players would arrive in town on Saturday mornings to attend local junior league events, fundraiser dinners and coaching clinics in a huge promotional blitz.

Fox Sports chief executive Patrick Delany says his network could cope with the extra costs to improve the TV experience for stay-at-home fans.

“We have already spoken to the NRL about our preferred venues for Monday night football,” Delany said.

“The atmosphere would be fantastic at packed country venues and it’s definitely something we support.”

The concept has the backing of most of the 16 clubs, including the Penrith Panthers, whose boss Warren Wilson says all teams should play at least one game every year in regional centres.

Importantly, ANZ Stadium has agreed in principal to release clubs from contracted games.


A full house to watch the Panthers take on the Sharks at Carrington Park, Bathurst.





The average Monday night crowd at Allianz Stadium in the last two years is less than 8500. The Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm game this year got only 8265, an embarrassment for two of the highest profile teams in the competition.

Had that game been played in Albury it would have filled the 15,000 capacity stadium.

At ANZ Stadium the average Monday night crowd is a slightly better 12,549 in the last two years. Still, that leaves more than 70,000 empty seats each game.

ANZ Stadium Managing Director Daryl Kerry said there was flexibility in existing agreements with his home clubs to allow a small number of games to be played elsewhere.

“We are generally supportive of any initiative that is designed to grow the game,” Kerry said.


The NRL should be taking the game to regional towns that love it.
“Taking a small number of games away — whether they are to the bush or interstate — makes perfect sense, and we are always happy to work with our home clubs and the code.

“The bush is an important part of rugby league, and it’s just as important to take footy to the bush as it is to make it inviting for country people to come to the city to see the major events in the big stadiums.”

The NRL’s Head of Football Todd Greenberg said the NRL was always willing to engage with clubs and broadcasters on playing games in regional areas.

“We have a strong appetite for playing games in rural and regional areas,” he said.

“So where we can find additional opportunities to take games to regional areas we will work with our broadcast partners and clubs to try to take games to those areas.”


The Sykes family: mum Danielle, Seb (9), dad Nick, Billy (six months) and Indigo (3). Pic: Lisa Minner
The Country Rugby League says they have more than 10 venues facilities and lighting capable of hosting games — Dubbo, Mudgee, Bathurst, Tamworth, Wagga, Albury, West Wyalong and Cessnock.

Already four country clubs have folded this year due to lack of funding.

Queensland would also host matches at venues in Cairns, Rockhampton or Mackay.

League fan and father-of-three Nick Sykes said the Monday night move would be “huge” for fans in country and regional areas.

“There is such a large fan base and lots of people like the footie,” the 33-year-old from Dubbo said. “NRL in these parts has always been traditionally popular and it’d be good to reward the diehard fans out in the bush by bringing the action closer to us.

“We need some recognition as fans and don’t get much opportunity to experience the game live.

“A few fans go up to the cities on a rare occasion to watch the games, but really it’s only for the slim few that can afford to get to those venues.

“I think bringing NRL games out to regional areas will not only boost enthusiasm and love for the game, but tourism for our local communities and inspire children without a doubt to be like their heroes on the field.”

God that fucking terrible commentary.

I had to mute that game because of whoever that twat was constantly screaming into the mic.

-PB

Still though, I do love me some Ray Warren.

When Ray Warren retires, has a stroke or dies RL imo will suffer big time.

Yeah I'm pretty sure that bloke was doing the state rep leagues before he got a gig doing the NRL. Truly the NRL's Brenton Speed.

Which dickheads appoint commentators in Australia? I swear they all belong to some shady organisation that actually hates sport. This bloke, Slater, Speed, James Brayshaw, Shane Warne, and I'm sure the AFL has numerous to boot like that dropkick on the AFL Footy Show.

Still though, I do love me some Ray Warren.

Yeah, nah.

So Paul Gallen went full retard today. :lol:

Saw on news.com.au that there seems to be bitching about the maroons constantly being offside...... Got this makes me despise NSW even more. They lack class as an organization. This is an attempt by them to gain the upper hand which in effect is cheating itself.

Don't take that up with the players then lol, take it up with the refs not calling it.

All NRL players do it all the time.

-PB

being a NSW supporter i wouldnt mind seeing them lose just to shut Paul Gallen up.

and also to ensure that Mitchell Pearce has played his last origin game

They're putting pressure on the ref's to make these calls. I see it backfiring. NSW are guilty of the same encroachment. They're just angry because they're shite :lol:

and also to ensure that Mitchell Pearce has played his last origin game

Yea I'm over the bitching and whinging, I just hope the refs call what they see and haven't been guilt-tripped by NSW or the media.

Nothing will shut Gallen up, the things he's done would put him up there with Hopoate in terms of being one of the scummiest players to ever play the game. Yet he has the audacity to call others grubs.

100%. All name.

You guys realise Meninga has had meetings with the refs to personally persuade them himself

If NSW fans don't appreciate him then we'll happily keep him all season at the Roosters. A premiership halfback that will win at least another premiership, probably 2, before his career is over. Johns, Lockyer, Walters, Sterling and Gould all rate him as one of the best in the game. I'll take their opinion over armchair critics

Maybe Blues fans should look at a forward pack that's gone backwards and a back 5 that doesn't work hard enough before they blame the 5/8.

Eh, I played for the Rabbits and junior NSW & Aus before I sustained an injury and couldn't play anymore. I wouldn't call myself an armchair critic. I'm not saying he's not a good player, he's just not great when it comes to the blue jersey. I wish he was, don't get me wrong, I just think there are better options.