As an American, the NFL trumps all other sports. That being said, Australia’s National Rugby League continues to grow on me. It’s exciting, violent and really easy to get into. It is probably less complicated for newbies to understand than American football if we are being honest.
However, NRL is not perfect by any means. I’ll never comprehend why referees can’t accurately judge forwards passes despite this being one of the game’s fundamental rules. At least pass interference is a judgment call. What’s the excuse for not being able to determine if a pass went forward or not?
In spite of its shortcomings, there are a number of things the NRL does better than the NFL. And while I’m not saying pro football should, or even could, implement everything its Aussie footy cousin does well, it is at least worth understanding.
Related: Ranking Aussie sports from a US perspective
Here’s what the NRL does better than the NFL
Instant replay decision reveals on scoring plays
Look, it’s kind of corny and now exists as a means to generate advertising revenue, but the try/no try instant replay decision reveal that happens after reviewed scoring plays in the NRL is entertaining. Prior to the video version, it was actually done through scoreboard lights. Either way, it is certainly better than an awkward NFL referee stumbling over their words trying to get an announcement out.
However, this isn’t the only benefit. It also allows gives fans in the stands are more exciting experience, especially ones in the upper deck or facing towards the hard cam. Then you are simply looking at the back of some person talking. Sure, you can watch the referee issue a decision on the video board but that’s lame. Give me a reveal any day of the week.
Kickers do more than kick
There was an episode of the Atlanta Falcons edition of Hard Knocks where the coaches showed a shirtless photo of kicker Matt Bryant. It only confirmed the fact kickers don’t have to be athletes. Now some are, but they never get a chance to show it. In the NRL, kickers are tasked with doing a lot more than trotting on the field a handful of times a game.
Valentine Holmes is one of the best examples of this. Seriously, the guy can go on insane runs like this. Not to mention he proved to not be totally out of his element in the NFL. However, that’s just the half of it. Holmes is a great kicker. Here he is casually nailing a game-winning field goal for the Cowboys from 43 yards. This doesn’t even factor in his goal kicking, the NRL equivalent to the PAT only much more difficult, which is also good.
Then you have Matt Burton who could already be better than some punters plying their trade stateside. His kick bombs are epic. But then he’s carrying the ball and busting tackles in a manner no punter could duplicate bar maybe Michael Dickson who just happens to be Australian.
Give me more guys like Holmes who can kick and play than Bryant who would struggle to beat my dad in a foot race.
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The playoff format
The NRL Finals format is something the NFL should seriously consider as it eliminates some of the issues the plague the current playoff structure. Firstly, let’s look at how things work over in Australia.
The top-four clubs face off in seeded contests (i.e., 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd). The bottom four sides do the same. The winners of the higher-seeded games advance to the semifinals essentially earning a bye in the process. The loser host quarterfinal matchups the next week where they will face the winners from the lower-seeded bracket.
What this does is help ensure the teams who performed best during the regular season have an advantage. Byes are also distributed based on merit in this format as well. Most importantly, the team that earns a bye for the NFL playoffs commonly finds itself doing nothing for multiple weeks as their final regular season contest is usually meaningless.
This format does necessitate an extra week of playoffs, although this could come at the expense of the 17th game which is still stupid.
Still trying to score during blowouts
There is nothing worse than an NFL game where one team has a 20+ point lead in the fourth quarter. The side that’s up doesn’t really attempt to do much of anything. And if they do try to score, the losing side gets all butthurt about it. This is dumb.
In the NRL, teams keep going for it regardless of the second-half score. And the opponent doesn’t bitch about running up the score if it happens. Sure, sometimes they can get salty about the winning side going hook-and-ladder with one second left and a massive lead. That is more general frustration than anything else though. One thing to note, point differential is a tiebreaker, so there is an incentive to put up points.
Big man runs
The reason people watch sports like the NFL and NRL is due to a certain level of violence involved. This is why touch football has never taken off. However, the NFL does not have action quite like a rugby league forward taking the ball and running full speed into the line. We’re talking about a bunch of big hosses just trying to impose their will onto one another. There is nothing flashy or skilled about this. This is pure, raw violence, and it’s mesmerizing to watch.
Andrew Voss
NRL play-by-play man Andrew “Vossy” Voss is one of the best at his craft. And not just in Australia. He’s among the top sports announcers in the world. The closet American comparison to him would be Ian Eagle who is unfortunately relegated to CBS’ third choice NFL matchup most Sundays in addition to doing Brooklyn Nets games and a host of other things.
Anyway, what makes Voss so awesome is that he balances knowledge with fun. He loves what he does and makes each broadcast fun to watch without making things silly. Also, Vossy will drop some great NFL references that show he knows American football too. It’s much better than when an NFL play-by-play person uses the cliché “rugby scrum” term anytime a bunch of players bunch up.
Related: The Australian Olympic teams trashing an airplane is the most Australian thing ever
