Identifying the main patterns shown in the survey results
Three quarters of the Internet survey respondents were 13-25 years old. This is most likely because of they are more technologically literate than older age groups and more apt in finding their way from page to page. Since the Internet was the only data collection method which could be graphed it was always likely to be biased. But it is not a particularly negative thing as when the competition finally is settled in 2000, the younger population will take over from the older population with a new tradition.
Where do you live?
It is significant that 43 % of survey respondents were from outside Sydney, remembering that only seventeen years ago or so there were no teams in the competition from outside Sydney. With interest in the game expanding over the years as expansion clubs have been launched, South Australians and Victorians are displaying their interest. One major issue that is far from resolved is the rationalisation of the game and whether some of these expansion clubs should be kept. These results are proof that the game has raised interest in areas outside the traditional home of Rugby League (NSW and QLD) and there is no reason why New Zealanders and Victorians cannot follow the game too.
Is rugby league your favourite (winter) sport?
The vast majority of survey respondents selected rugby league as their favourite winter sport. Not many people filled out this survey who weren’t interested in the game and its future. In comparing the two categories for this graph, it would appear that a participant answering yes is far more likely still follow the game in the event of his/her team being cut or merged than a participant answering no.
The few survey respondents that did not select rugby league as their favourite winter sport have predominantly selected other football codes. Soccer and Rugby Union’s popularity however is centred much more around the international scene and the domestic competitions are well behind league. That leaves AFL as the biggest competitor to the NRL, with the rise of the Swans greatly increasing the game's popularity in Sydney. The Swans total membership increased 111 % from 10,600 in 1996 to 22,400 in 1997.
What other sports do you like?
Cricket was easily the most popular other sport, highlighting the fact that most of the survey respondents preferred league as their favourite winter sport, and showing that few league fans also like AFL. Looking at the results of the 115 surveyed respondents, AFL would seem to not be such a strong competitor to league as it is only the sixth popular other sport. But if the Sydney Swans continue to do well and if the NRL upsets its fans with undesirable mergers, AFL may attract ex-league fans.
How long have you followed rugby league?
What is your favourite team?
The Parramatta Eels, a traditional club are the most popular team according to the survey respondents. Other traditional clubs Balmain (13), Manly and St.George (10) are also quite popular. Brisbane (11) are the most popular expansion club by far. On the whole traditional clubs are more popular than expansion clubs with the respondents, because of the large number of Sydneysiders who participated and also possibly because the questions in the survey about e.g. merging are more relevant to them.
Why do you follow your favourite team?
Most survey respondents had strong reasons for supporting their team with Other and Good the most popular reasons. Less strong reasons i.e.: Family Don’t and Friends were unpopular and this seems to reflect the seriousness of the respondents who all feel as if the issues are highly relevant to them.
How often do you go to rugby league games?
This is a further reflection of the surveyed respondents. Without doubt many of them are diehard football fans as 41 respondents attending games weekly clearly shows. But there are still over 10 % of respondents who attend games very rarely. Crowds have been down over the past few seasons, which is one of the reasons why rationalisation must occur.
Which game would you prefer to see?
The survey respondents leaned towards the traditional confrontation by a meagre 1 %. Due to the fact 98 % of the respondents were under 40 years of age, this shows that younger respondents are rather evenly split between a traditional confrontation and a "Superleague" style game as their preference.
Would you bother go to a game if you had Pay TV and you could watch it at home?
The majority of respondents could be bothered to go to a game if they had Pay TV. The blame can partly be placed on Pay TV for the drop in crowds since the ARL/Superleague war, but this is not to say Pay TV is bad for the game. This graph also reflects the loyalty of many of the fans, who would still go to the game even if they could watch it on TV.
How much rugby league do you watch on TV; Pay TV and Free to Air?
39 supporters only watch the Channel Nine games which is closely followed by favourite team and some others with 37. A number of rugby league fans have no access to Pay T.V. There are the footy fanatics whom have said they watch every game (15) available, which obviously means they have Pay TV. Those respondents who selected 'don’t watch it' or selected 'the team that’s playing Manly' are clearly not serious supporters of the game and are far more likely to lose interest in the game than the fanatics.
Do you have Foxtel or Optus Vision?
Nearly two thirds of respondents have Foxtel or Optus Vision. This percentage would have been far lower a couple of years ago during the off field bickering, and highlights the influence that Pay TV has had on the broadcasting of the game in a short space of time. The 36 % who do not have access to Pay TV may be disadvantaged in keeping in touch with the game and may be less likely to follow the game if their team were to fold or merge.
Was the main reason you got pay TV so that you could watch Rugby League on it?
The main reason why the majority of respondents bought Pay TV was to watch rugby league. This shows the effect that Pay TV has had on the sport and many supporters have been persuaded to buy Pay TV simply to watch more of the game they love.
Do you think that Sydney clubs should have to be sacrificed in 2000, instead of e.g.. Adelaide or Gold Coast?
On what basis do you think teams should be included and excluded from the 14 team competition?
What is your ideal 14 team competition for 2000?
Refer to Appendix B for samples of comments on mergers
If your team did not stand alone or at all would you still follow the game?
43 respondents replied "yes I would" and 32 respondents replied "probably would". By comparing this to 16 replying "definitely not" and 8 "probably not", it is proven that most respondents will still follow the game if their team did not stand alone or at all. This may prove the hypothesis except it does not show who replied Yes or No. For example it does not show the age of those who said "yes I would" or how many traditional supporters said "definitely not". See conclusion graphs.
Where do you stand on the idea of Superleague? Not the way it was in 1997 but its vision of taking the game to the world through Pay TV. Comments.
Did your interest in the game deteriorate in ‘97 while there were two competitions?
The interest of over half of the respondents did deteriorate in some way when there were two competitions in 1997, although "Didn’t Deteriorate" resulted in a higher percentage than the other two alternatives. Does this mean that the game will lose more interest in 1999 and 2000 if it cannot settle on a consistent format (meaning the number of teams in the competition not continually altering).
How do you get your Rugby League news?
The newspaper is the most popular source of information for NRL news among the respondents, closely followed by TV, which emphasises the role in which the media play in the sport. The media play an essential part in any sport, as a sport has no profile not covered by the media.
Do you buy a Rugby League magazine?
More than half of the respondents buys a Rugby League Magazine. It seems like those fans who buy a magazine could be a more eager fan and therefore less likely to deter to another sport if they’re team did not stand alone or at all.
Have you played Rugby League?
Most of the respondents are young and half of the respondents have not played. This may have something to do with the fact that they do not come from a rugby league playing background, perhaps a considerable percentage are female and are not fortunate enough to know a female rugby league team. It may mean that rugby league isn’t as popular with youngsters as far as playing is concerned as it used to be. This cannot be good for the game as junior development is essential for the future.
If so when in your life and for how long. Has your playing of Rugby League caused you to be a loyal and unconditional supporter?
The range of answers for the latter part of this question were well spread between 'Yes', 'No' and 'I would've been one anyway'. There was no real trend between the length of time played and the loyalty stated.
It’s not surprising that most of the surveyed respondents are 13-25 years old therefore many respondents have followed the game from between 6-10 years. It is not easy to match all age groups with tradition or expansion. Those who have followed the game from between 36-40 or even 56-60 years can be accepted as supporters of tradition and few for expansion. But the younger age group is more complex, as those following for between 6-10 years could be supporters of tradition or expansion.