*Official* NRL 2011 Season thread

[Ausage]

Big shout out to Nathan Hindmarsh who plays his 300th game in the NRL this week. One of my favourite players, and not just because he's Blue and Gold either.

I understand Penrith are putting together a bit of a tribute for him at their home game, which is a great gesture to a visiting player.

Yeah Hindy's the one player you knew would get a tribute wherever he played his 300th. Bloke's pretty universally loved so there's not going to be many people in the crowd begrudging him his moment. Glad it's at Penrith tbh, if for no other reason than the crowd will be even better than usual. The Parra game is far and away the best game of the year at Panther Park. So excited

 

[howardj]

I've had it whispered in my shell-like that Gaz is to pull the pin at season's end.

 

[Ausage]

So what does everyone think about the Brisbane Bombers?

 

[Ausage]

Wow. Just wow. I'm speechless, but I couldnt say a word anyway. My voice is shredded. Incredible game. **** yeah!!!

 

[BoyBrumby]

So what does everyone think about the Brisbane Bombers?

Well I'm sure they've managed to piss off both Essendon and the Broncos just with their name, so encouraging signs.

 

[benchmark00]

Surely could've came up with something more original. Pretty ghey, but it's not like they'll exist in 10 years time so meh.

 

[Burgey]

Wow. Just wow. I'm speechless, but I couldnt say a word anyway. My voice is shredded. Incredible game. **** yeah!!!

Dire.

 

[howardj]

RE Bombers...

I think the key question with trademark questions like this is not, as one lawyer said, whether people would confuse Brisbane Bombers for Essendon Bombers, but whether you're trying to piggyback, trying to exploit, the other party's brand.

In my view, given how well established, how iconic, how unique, the Bombers brand is, I think there could be a breach here and that they'll have to change their name.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Surprised they're gone with "Brisbane" too. Anyone with even a passing interest in league knows Brisbane = Broncos.

 

[Spikey]

as a bombers man i don't care that they're using our name...but I don't get why they would. i mean we started getting called the bombers in the 40's cause of the near by airport. it's an understandable name for us. but brisbane? what's a 'bomber' got to do with brisbane, in this day and age? just absurd really. trying to piggyback off our brand is the only thing that makes sense. And at the end of the day, river city kookaburras is a better name anyway

i guess it doesn't really matter. i mean there's no way they'll actually get in right? sure another profitable team in the heartland is great but it would require the nrl to then get rid of one of the deadwood sydney teams and we all know that won't happen. another thing i thought of is that perhaps the bombers name is just a publicity stunt, you know, make people aware about their bid and maybe strengthen their bid and then change the name later anyway. you'd also think the NRL itself wouldn't be too pleased with their name, just like how the AFL wouldn't be too pleased if the GC decided to call themselves the Broncos

 

[Ausage]

i guess it doesn't really matter. i mean there's no way they'll actually get in right? sure another profitable team in the heartland is great but it would require the nrl to then get rid of one of the deadwood sydney teams and we all know that won't happen. another thing i thought of is that perhaps the bombers name is just a publicity stunt, you know, make people aware about their bid and maybe strengthen their bid and then change the name later anyway. you'd also think the NRL itself wouldn't be too pleased with their name, just like how the AFL wouldn't be too pleased if the GC decided to call themselves the Broncos

I think theres a very realistic chance that there will be another team from SE Qld in the future. The argument for it is that Brisbane is interested enough and populated enough for 2 teams. It would be easier to schedule games for Qld audiences which would be a plus for our tv deal. There's also the fact that the best league ground in the country is only used once a fortnight. Personally though I think if the NRL really wants another Brisbane team it should be a bid that manages to reconnect with the disenfranchised fans who hate the Broncos for ripping the heart out of the Qld cup in the 80s. Another club built on an identical model to the Broncos is just covering over the same ground a second time.

But yeah I think the idea could be to go for something that will cause a fuss, then change it later after going through a loud battle with the AFL/Essendon. It will be interesting.

 

[Ausage]

Just on the legality of the name. Why would the name Bombers be sacrosanct and the Bears be ok for the Brisbane AFL team in the 80s? North Sydney were a RL foundation club, so the circumstances are pretty much identical.

 

[howardj]

Storm v Broncs on Friday

An absolute barn-burner!

 

[Son Of Coco]

Not sure who to support...will probably go for the Broncos for once in my life as I don't like Slater or Smith much. Would like to see Lockyer go out on a bit of a high too.

On another note, did anyone read Mal's letter in The Sunday Mail last weekend? **** me dead! It was like reading an 11 year old schoolgirl's letter to a friend trying to garner support after there'd been a fallout from a bitching session at school.

Just get on with it for christ's sake, enough of the "QLDer this, QLDer that, I know we all have hearts and souls because we're QLDers" horse****...maybe I should just stop reading the Courier Mail.

 

[howardj]

Serious?

As part of the next TV-league deal, Channel Nine want games to have contrived stoppages, or prolonged natural stoppages (i.e. increase the time it takes to drop out or feed a scrum) so they can jam more commercial in during live broadcasts. Jesus christ, man.

 

[Mister Wright]

Here's hoping Channel 9 don't get the new rights.

 

[Ausage]

Eh, as long as we're compensated fairly for it, and were talking one ad per scrum and 2 per drop out I'm not that phased actually. They're not really things that can be sped up (occasionally drop outs can be I guess), and as long as it doesnt go overboard time wise then the fans at the ground will barely notice. Only issue would be if we have a dropathon, maybe limit it to one mandatory stoppage per 5 minutes.

Relative certainty over advertising space is one area of competitive advantage that the AFL has over us due to the nature of the sport. This would bring League closer in alot of ways.

 

[Ausage]

Petero Civoniceva Signs With Brisbane Broncos For 2012 Season

Farewell big guy. Now I can go back to hating ALL Queenslanders at Origin time.

 

[howardj]

Read somewhere this morning that the Brisbane Bombers are likely to win the new licence (if a new team is added) as they have most value from a TV deal standpoint.

 

[Ausage]

Read somewhere this morning that the Brisbane Bombers are likely to win the new licence (if a new team is added) as they have most value from a TV deal standpoint.

You're likely right about a new Brisbane team. May well be the Jets bid though which is based around Ipswich. Bombers would just be a Broncos mk2 and there could be something to be said about a community based bid being able to rope in those that think things were better in the QLD cup days, as well as the entire west of the city if it's marketed correctly.

Can't help feeling a bit sad for the Bears if it does happen though. They really look like they have a pretty solid business model, and have been shafted so many times by the NRL in the last 10 years. Personally I'd have them in over another Brisbane team. The Titans could use some more time to get established IMO.