Bulldog’s Bite: NRL clubs using 77 different jerseys in 2024 as part of fan-forced cash grab
The NRL has seen 77 different jerseys across the board this season, often totally discarding club colours and identity in a cynical cash grab. It’s a circus and a disrespect to the game’s glorious past, writes DEAN RITCHIE.
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Money over tradition – a cynical cash grab over history.
NRL clubs have used – wait for it – 77 different jumpers this season, often totally discarding club colours, identity and yesteryear.
There have been 188 games in the NRL season – that’s equivalent to a new jersey for each club every five games.
Kaching … but enough is enough.
Rugby league has this dreadful ability to disrespect our glorious past.
FIVE ISN’T ENOUGH FOR SOUTHS
South Sydney appeared in their sixth different jersey of the season last weekend against Newcastle. Some wacky fashion statement produced under the guise of it being members’ appreciation round.
There didn’t appear much appreciation from members on social media.
It actually exceeded the NRL’s five-jumper cap it places on clubs each season, which includes a home and away strip, an allowance for an alternate, and additional jerseys for themed rounds — Anzac, Indigenous, Women in League, Heritage and now Member Appreciation.
The NRL granted Souths an exemption to use another alternate strip to play the Raiders in Canberra.
But there was always going to be a clash of colours with the Raiders’ home kit because Souths’ main two jerseys are almost identical — the only differences being the Rabbitohs and NRL logos, sleeve sponsorship and bands on the sleeves and neck are black on the home strip, and white on the away version.
$13,000 FOR THE SET
The Rabbitohs aren’t the only club trying to flog off different jumpers to footy parents in these difficult cost-of-living times.
Every club, other than Gold Coast, has played in four or five different jumpers this season. The Titans have worn three.
It’s about time the NRL intervened and ended this money-making charade. NRL jumpers retail for $170 each and who is being stung? The working-class footy fan.
If you wanted to buy one of each of the 77 jerseys teams wore this season, it would cost $13,000 for the set.
Do other sports treat their past and history with such disdain? Sometimes I turn on the television and don’t know who is even playing.
Green, purple, pink, blue, black, polka dots … it’s a circus.
Sure, the game celebrates Anzac Day, Women in League and Indigenous rounds.
While it’s wonderful that the NRL recognises these themed occasions, do we really need different jumpers for each round?
The game can still commemorate these rounds without having to introduce a whole new and expensive jumper.
To be fair, clubs do donate money through themed-round jumper sales back to charity and some jerseys are auctioned. But the money clubs make through merchandise is far more than the cash they donate.
Some jersey designs are weird and wild and fans see straight through it.
I can live with a traditional home strip and an alternate away jumper but pushing out four or five different designs each season is scandalous.
FASHION FAUX PAS
Who can forget the Manly rainbow jumper fiasco? That was a PC cash grab which ended in total disaster for a club who missed the finals and ultimately sacked their coach.
Remember Cronulla playing in an ugly fluoro yellow jumper back in 2015, a strip described at the time as “questionable”? The Sharks claimed it was to recognise workplace safety.
Do you recall Newcastle players wearing bright orange high-vis jerseys in 2016, part of NSW Mining’s Voice for Mining Family Day?
And who could forget Wests Tigers’ Anzac Day jersey design gaffe last year. The Tigers later apologised for mistakenly depicting the US troops rather than an Australian and New Zealander.
Stop mucking around with our club’s famous guernseys.
English Premier League clubs and US-based NFL franchises make subtle changes to their playing strips during a season but nothing like the profit-driven NRL.
I’d hate to be a parent of NRL-loving kids these days. Imagine outlaying top dollar for a jumper only for their child to want a new jersey just weeks later.
All parents know how hard it is to say no when their kids want the latest jumper. Some clubs are even altering their bloody socks these days.
No wonder club merchandise sales have skyrocketed in recent times.
Clubs should go make a buck elsewhere and leave our history, and the wallets of parents, alone.
DOG TREATS
Watch for Leeds Rhinos and former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur to make a play for Canberra winger Jordan Rapana.
While no offer has been lodged, Leeds would want Rapana on their books from next season.
Canberra has made Rapana a one-year offer for 2025 but he may be trying to secure a longer deal.
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We can reveal St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has met Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard face-to-face.
The pair finally caught up last Friday week for a discussion which was essentially informal.
With the Cowboys now pulling back on Campbell-Gillard, we expect Saints to lodge an offer in coming days.
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David Warner’s decision to play another two seasons with the Sydney Thunder in the BBL means he will play alongside Cameron Bancroft.
The pair were front and centre during sandpaper gate in 2018.
Warner retired from international cricket in July.
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We keep hearing there could be a celebration to commemorate the great Ron Coote when Souths play the Sydney Roosters on Friday week at Accor Stadium.
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The Family of League western Sydney luncheon last week at Smithfield RSL provided punters with a rare gathering of legends.
Terry Lamb, Paul Langmack and Geoff Gerard – the first three rugby league players to play 300 first grade games – got together for this special selfie.
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Will Sydney’s east pull off a rare sporting trifecta this year?
The Sydney Roosters are among the NRL favourites, the Sydney Swans are AFL minor premiers and the Easts Beasties are in Saturday’s Shute Shield final at Leichhardt Oval.
Remarkably, Easts rugby play grand finals in first grade, seconds, third and fourths.
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Eels legend Brett Kenny showed plenty of grace after missing out on Immortal status last week.
Kenny posted: “Was great to see Ron Coote be honoured as an Immortal. Was a great player with great achievements in the game and is one of the game’s gentlemen.”
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Former Balmain, Parramatta, Souths and Wests forward John Bilbija has died after battling dementia and the onset of Parkinson’s disease.
Bilbija played 49 first grade games between 1980 and 1988.
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