r/MLRugby • u/cjreadit7991 Chicago Hounds • Aug 27 '26
Draft coverage quality
What are people’s thoughts on this format?
Pros: immediate player interviews
Cons: zero budget. They have a NY studio but instead went with this???
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u/MetalSpinalCord Aug 28 '26
Came across as low budget... whatever the situation was. Felt more like a fantasy football draft 20 years ago.
I did enjoy the immediate interview with those selected... that was great. Mix in a few highlights and we learn even more about these ruggers.
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u/lindani2008 Seattle Seawolves Aug 28 '26
They have a good template there with that. It’s just execution, polishing and some thought out ideas that will make it better
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u/Lmaris Houston Sabercats Aug 28 '26
It looks like low budget because the league is on its last legs. A lot of the players drafted in 2026 were without teams a couple of months later. This isn't the NFL after sll.
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u/MetalSpinalCord Aug 28 '26
I fear that your observation of "last legs" is true. With 5 teams they may have to imitate the NLL (lacrosse) and do the traveling circus... a different city for each round... festival style. A bit like Ascent Rugby in Europe.
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u/CrosseTheStick Aug 28 '26
Uh NLL doesnt do that. They have home teams and some incredible ones too. The bandits (buffalo) have a higher average attendence than the sabres of the NHL. You are talking about the PLL which is just a worse league all around except for maybe their social media knowledge and private equity funding (fucking hate that) so they are kind of more present. But its like 300 k vs 1 million attendees per year. NLL is still king.
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u/vockes Aug 28 '26
Goff CRUSHED it. Was it top-tier production? Of course not. Was it short, sweet, and too the point? Yeah, kinda. I honestly loved the raw, unscripted, but also insightful nature of this. Fanfare might have seemed higher-level but, in my opinion, this was exactly what we needed.
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u/lindani2008 Seattle Seawolves Aug 28 '26
It’s too bad we didn’t get what would’ve been his and Hooley’s back and forward during the draft. It would’ve given a bit more depth than just hearing one persons opinion. But I agree we need more of Goff involved in MLR
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u/Polamora Aug 28 '26
They should stop doing the draft.
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u/Liamnacuac Seattle Seawolves Aug 28 '26
Please explain.
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u/Polamora Aug 28 '26
Why limit where a 21/22 year old guy is going to make his 16k/yr salary playing rugby? Let the players decide where they'll have the best opportunity to play, or where makes sense for them since they'll likely need to get another job.
The media event of one commentator in his office reading out draft picks (that almost certainly aren't live) and interviewing two players over a 30 minute YouTube stream isn't doing anything for the league or it's fans.
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u/8KJS New England Free Jacks Aug 29 '26
They don’t, if you go undrafted you’re immediately eligible to be signed as a free agent. You have to declare to avoid a mandatory one year standdown
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u/Polamora Aug 29 '26
I'm talking about the ones who get drafted.
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u/8KJS New England Free Jacks Aug 29 '26
Then why wouldn’t you run a draft to avoid talent concentration? Letting clubs sign the best young players is how you end up with huge disparities.
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u/Polamora Aug 30 '26
How many of Chicago's key players were drafted by them? 1? Someone who would've likely chosen Chicago anyways due to proximity.
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u/8KJS New England Free Jacks Aug 27 '26
Sounded like Hooley was supposed to MC but was kept out late, presumably while trying to get set. Decent scramble, but yeah it looked like an episode of GRR