Player Burnout = Bollocks (2010)

International Rugby League has lost its identity. Players today still say that it’s the greatest achievement, but we know they’re lying. The fact they have to keep reiterating this sentiment every year is justifiable proof.

And rightfully so, Origin has been elevated to greater heights over the last 15 years, every year gaining more and more elevation, most of the time unnecessary, while the hype over international football remains non-existent.

Let’s face it; Origin hasn’t been all that great for quite some time, nothing like the way it was played in the first 15 years. Yet the media continues to overhype it to the point that it is now deemed the toughest battle in world rugby league.

It’s time to get International Rugby League back to being the ultimate. We need a return to International tours and increased media interest in the International game.

Now before anyone starts banging on about player burnout, seriously, that’s a tired and excessively pathetic excuse. The first tour to England comprised of 45 games. The third tour, in 1921-22 contained players who served in the Great War, one was even playing with a bullet lodged in his lung.

This was also a time when the players had full time jobs outside of Rugby League, yet still managed to find time to train and play games at all levels. They also participated in tournaments in country NSW every year. They also had pre-season, post-season and mid-season competitions. They went on tours with their state team and sometimes, with their club. The English competition for many decades contained over 40 club games per season, as well as more than one other competition running adjacent to the major league.

What was that about player burnout?

Today’s players are nothing but whinging sooks scared of doing the right thing by the game, the very game that gave them all their riches and fame. Ungrateful bastards the lot of them.

Modern players have medical staff, assistants, managers, hairdressers and minders at their every beck and call. Players are paid more than ever before and have fewer games to play than all their predecessors. Yet still they complain. In comparison they are ten times fitter and stronger and are playing half as many games.

If the players want to get paid more, then maybe they should do more to earn a better wage.

We need to reinstate international tours. A four year cycle of tours which takes the game to more countries, more often, to help strengthen the game internationally.

Year 1

*Australia tours England, Wales, Scotland and France – 3 tests against England, 2 against France and 1 each against Wales and Scotland. At least 10 other tour games should also be played.

*New Zealand tours Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga – 2 tests against Papua New Guinea and 1 each against Fiji and Tonga. At least 5 other tour games.

Year 2

*New Zealand tours England, Wales, Scotland and France – 3 tests against England, 2 against France and 1 each against Wales and Scotland. At least 10 other tour games should also be played.

*Australia tours Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga – 2 tests against Papua New Guinea and 1 each against Fiji and Tonga. At least 5 other tour games.

*England and France to play 4 tests in 2 separate series. 2 tests in France and 2 tests in England.

Year 3

*England tours Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga – 3 tests against Australia and New Zealand, 2 tests against Papua New Guinea and 1 each against Tonga and Fiji. At least 10 other tour games should also be played.

Year 4

*France tours Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga – 3 tests against Australia and New Zealand, 2 tests against Papua New Guinea and 1 each against Tonga and Fiji. At least 10 other tour games should also be played.

Back to Year 1

*Occasionally, tours should include other nations such as Lebanon, America and possibly brief tours by Scotland, Wales, Fiji and Tonga and other nations.

This is the only way to improve the quality of players and competitions in all countries. It will also lead to more sponsors, which will provide the game with more money which can justifiably be spent on the players.

Otherwise, we run the risk of the game being dictated by greedy ungrateful players who care only for their bank balance, not the game.