NRL News Report
Bring back the NRL post try celebration
There is nothing more exciting than seeing your NRL team score a try. A few years ago, this wasn't always the case.
When the Footy Show introduced a post try celebration theme and encouraged NRL players to celebrate their try, suddenly 'try time' became 'party time' - and NRL fans simply couldn't get enough of watching their favourite players celebrate a try with quick thinking humourous routines.
What started out as a small comedy segment on the Footy Show became a massive headline grabber for the NRL competition. Not only were NRL fans eagerly anticipating post try celebrations, but the try celebration routines were so entertaining they began to receive massive exsposure on TV news bulletins and print media. Even rival codes were going green with envy at the new element added to the NRL game.
Overnight the NRL had something that most Australian rival codes could only dream about. They had a massive marketing component added to their game - that had previously only been enjoyed by large scale US based sports such as NFL Football and Major League Baseball.
Such a simple idea from the Footy Show, yet creative players took it to the next level and brought us routines such as: The Lawn Mower, The Cowboy Rider, Ten Pin Bowling and the Grenade.
Now the NRL had a feature that was even attracting interest from traditionally non-NRL fans such as: female audiences, Rugby Union audiences and the the younger community - everyone was facinated by this new addition.
It was every business marketers dream. As routines grew more creative and the celebration reached fever pitch - the unthinkable happened. A particular minority group was unhappy with this carnival atmosphere and began moving in to kill off the new trend. What is believed to be a core group of traditionalist supporters began thumbing their noses at the new trend, a trend that was supposedly "taking the focus away from the game".
Now lets think about that. More exposure? More fans? and more excitement for existing fans? I just don't see a downside to the trend here. What is even more frustrating about this negative view, is that the NRL bowed down to pressure from the minority group and took a dim view upon the post try celebration.
Here was the NRL turning their backs on the possibly the biggest ever marketing gift that was dropped on their laps.
Today, with impressive sponsorship deals signed by the NRL involving companies such as Telstra, Fosters, Coca-Cola, Bundaberg and TAB Sports Bet - the NRL competition is really moving forward and 2007 is going to be such a big year. Wouldn't even more sponsors be lining up if we still had the post try celebration?
Why not go back to the future and bring back one of the most exciting components of the game - for free? The post try celebration.
Adam Sutcliffe - NRL News
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