NRL expert Phil Rothfield says NRL is side-stepping real issues in the game

THE NRL needs a lot more than just a new spin doctor but don't think league fans can be fooled that easily, writes Phil Rothfield.

THE NRL needs a lot more than just a new spin doctor.

Thursday's appointment of Sandy Olsen to replace veteran John Brady is a long overdue move to improve the code's image and perception.

But don't think rugby league fans can be fooled that easily.

This week's annual NRL chief executive's conference ignored the three biggest issues confronting the game and the major concerns of the their fans.

A) The fact there is still only one live game each week on free-to-air television. (Every AFL game is live on free to air or Fox)

B) A hopelessly lopsided draw that ensures some teams get millions of dollars of exposure and revenue more than others.

C) And the fact we still have a State of Origin series that rips the heart out of the premiership for nine weeks of the year, or a third of the season.

All these problems could easily have been solved.

News_Rich_Media: The 2014 NRL draw has delivered a greater increase in afternoon matches and a change to the State of Origin series which is yet to be revealed.

A) Channel Nine boss David Gyngell would love to show live rugby league on Sunday afternoons.

It would mean a 4pm kick-off once the 2.00pm Fox Sports game has been completed.

Nine would also need time to fit enough advertisements into live football.

Unlike Fox Sports who pay for their broadcasting rights through subscriptions, the free-to-air network relies on revenue from their sponsors and ads.

There has been talk for years about creating rugby league product more like AFL or NFL to offer more for the broadcasters.

An immediate solution would be to introduce one-minute drink/interchange break after 20 minutes and 60 minutes. (We do it on hot days early in the season anyway.)

This would not only allow Channel Nine advertising space but also enhance player welfare.

None of these options were even discussed during the off-season.

So we now have to put up with 4pm replays, full of advertisements, when most of us are too impatient and have already looked up the score.

Plus a replayed Friday night game when most have already gone to bed, knowing the score.

News_Image_File: Brisbane Broncos celebrate.

B) The Brisbane Broncos get 18 Friday night games every season.

It allows them to have the advantage of a full seven-day break between matches while other clubs are regularly forced to back up after five days.

It also allows the Broncos sales department to sell sponsorship at a much higher rate than rival clubs because of the fact they automatically get prime-time exposure, even when the club is struggling.

They already have the advantage of having the city of Brisbane and all the corporates to themselves.

A club like the Cronulla Sharks is still looking for a sponsor, obviously because of the ASADA scandal.

It hasn't helped their cause that they don't get a Friday night game until Round 16 and, you guessed it, they're playing the Broncos that weekend.

Again, this is another issue that was not even raised during the off-season.

We're hell-bent on finding a solution for the salary keep to maintain a level playing field yet the 26-round schedule does the exact opposite.

News_Image_File: Josh Papalii gets whacked during State of Origin II.

C) When Todd Greenberg first started at the NRL, he vowed to fix the State of Origin schedule debacle.

"Origin is the greatest thing we've got but we don't want it to influence the season as much as it did this year," Greenberg said.

"We always have a great start to the year and then Origin hits and there's no doubt it affects the actual competition.

"For a lot of people, this year's series seemed to drag on a bit."

So what happened? Again, nothing.

We're left with a nine-week period without the best 34 players in the competition.

News_Rich_Media: Round one of the 2014 NRL season promises to deliver a number of tense encounters, with Rabbitohs v Roosters and Sea Eagles v Storm the pick of the bunch.

Some teams fielding understrength sides, some untouched, low crowds, bad television ratings and poor quality games.

This week the NRL spin doctors put out their usual statement after the CEO's conference.

They could have cut and pasted last year's or from the season before.

It started out: "The first day of the NRL CEOs Conference of NRL Clubs, NSW and Queensland CEO's demonstrated the significant progress being made across a number of key areas.

"NRL Chief Executive, Mr Dave Smith, opened the conference highlighting the game's focus on widening participation, developing stronger financial security for clubs and the game, brand and reputation, fans and members."

Nothing about Origin on stand alone weekend, nothing about live TV on free-to-air and nothing about the draw.

The real issues in the game remain unaddressed.