NPC 2023
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@Kiwiwomble said in NPC 2023:
@SouthernMann said in NPC 2023:
It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
The continuing downgrade of NPC rugby is why I've been pushing for more SR teams. There should be a better geographic spread of the pro game. Also the pro teams should reflect where the population bases are so more players can represent where they are really from
Some fans are dead against this for NPC nostalgia reasons. I don't think they realise they'll get the worst of both worlds.. the NPC will continue to die and pro rugby will be concentrated in 5 bases
this ^^^
people answering these kinds of suggestions with "i like things how they are" just ignores the trajectory we're on where we risk both comps failing
Are they failing though? The SR audience has grown. There is more interest in the competition than there has been for a long time. More people are watching it. Just not from the stands, but from their homes. I've yet to see the proof that the competitions are failing.
I think people who are negative about SR and NPC, especially on the Fern, are too much influenced by the negativity that the media are spewing, or - the other way around - the journos who write that negative crap are reading the GOM comments on the Fern too much and are influenced by it, and then write that garbage.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2023:
It leaves NPC as a semi professional development competition. It would remove players leaving and playing the MLS though. NPC probably being played as Super Rugby curtain raisers.
The continuing downgrade of NPC rugby is why I've been pushing for more SR teams. There should be a better geographic spread of the pro game. Also the pro teams should reflect where the population bases are so more players can represent where they are really from
Some fans are dead against this for NPC nostalgia reasons. I don't think they realise they'll get the worst of both worlds.. the NPC will continue to die and pro rugby will be concentrated in 5 bases
TBH, I think that the fans who are pro ending the NPC are the ones who are being influenced by nostalgia, those who wish it was the NPC of old when it had all the ABs (just in the top 4 teams) and big crowds.
But, the current NPC is a different beast, it either develops players or allows players to gain gametime. That's it's role, it's no longer the premier comp in the country. It seems to be well thought of in the provinces and less well thought of in the old dominant big city unions (as @Stargazer notes).
Is there actually any evidence the NPC is dying? In the last few years we've finally seen the majority of teams live within their means and I assume Sky is happy with the content they get to broadcast. And as much as posters are making out players don't come through it this is plainly untrue. It works hand in hand with the academies and the spread of Super players throughout the teams is probably better now that ever.
If the new Super comp had a team based in HB I'd be stoked (but not if they wear fucking orange jerseys), but would I rather that than an NPC? Nah (and here you could probably label it for nostalgia reasons, but I've already given my thoughts on why I think the NPC is valuable above). We don't have to be like the NRL and mirror their yearlong comp - as I've said in other thread I'm sick of the continuing reference and comparison with the NRL in the media/forums etc. It's making dislike league and I've always been a bigger fan of the state house version of rugby than most around here.
Ok, rant over.
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I dont think, in my experience, the NPC is thought poorly of in the major centers, i think its just a split of people attentions, we ask fans to chose what merch to buy, what season tickets to buy, if i have to choose i would say i prefer the NPC, love the history and the inherent connection to the community,thats why my preference is something the elevates the unions
but if there are enough people that are happy with things how they are, small crowds, short seasons etc, then change is not likely
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@taniwharugby said in NPC 2023:
@SouthernMann guess that would even the NPC playing field even further than it has recently by removing the main super players, leaving probably WTG and normal NPC squads.
It wouldn't level the playing field as the player pool in the franchise's main centres is much bigger, and with that also their depth. If they'd take all the SR players out of the smaller NPC provinces, the quality drop would probably be bigger than in the larger provinces.
What are "normal" NPC squads? In my view, normal NPC squads include the SR players from the province.
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and broken might be a wrong word, personally i just want more, more people in the grounds, more merch, more games, more tension, more passion, more upsets....if you're happy with how it is then of course its not broken
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@Stargazer said in NPC 2023:
What are "normal" NPC squads? In my view, normal NPC squads include the SR players from the province.
I'm sure you know what I meant to say
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@mariner4life said in NPC 2023:
If NPC is played alongside super, then local club footy will suffer.
be different yes, suffer no
How will it not suffer?
Clubs will no longer have the services of their best players…
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Correct. And nor will their opponents.
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It does mean if the SR is moved to May to September the NPC will start straight after SR ,
It is going to take some jumbling to get it all right.Or maybe, the NPC is played prior to, allowing the All Blacks a greater shot at it... Could be played in a Feb-April window.
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@mariner4life meaning lower standards and lower player numbers.
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Look, if Cairns can run a 12 club rugby league comp with 3 grades
And support a q-cup team
And feed the Cowboys
With 150,000 peopleThrn it's not the drama people make out
Cairns kangaroos aren't suffering because Hammer is playing Origin (they're leading thr comp)
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Counties keeping it local for coaching.
Wheeler confirmed as Steelers assistant - Counties Sports Hub
McNamara Cup-winning coach Paul Wheeler has been confirmed as an assistant coach for the PIC Steelers for the upcoming Bunnings Warehouse NPC season. Wheeler was one of the key architects of Bombay’s five McNamara Cup titles in six seasons from 2014-19 and is renowned for possessing an exceptional...
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