DAVID Gallop was removed as NRL chief executive nearly three years ago and one of the first criticisms levelled at him came from Commissioner John Grant.

Grant said Gallop was “reactive, not proactive”, an opinion supported by many.

What would some give for Gallop’s brand of administration now?

What’s putting you off going to the footy? Blog with Buzz from 12.30pm AEDT

Blog with Buzz

Two rounds ago Tigers chairwoman Marina Go, a woman with little clue of rugby league, looked out from the luxury of her corporate box at the thousands of fans stuck outside at kick-off because she failed to put on enough gate attendants and Tweeted: “Game has started. Still queues to get into the game — for miles. Love our fans.”

Not sure if they feel the same way, Marina.

Go, who should be gone, later accused Phil Rothfield of “bullying” her because he revealed her incompetence and demanded answers.

BUZZ: NRL crowds slumping

NRL SNAPSHOT:Blunders dominate headlines

Game has started. Still queues to get into the game - for miles. Love our fans. #NRLTigersDragons — Marina Go (@marinasgo) March 16, 2015

The NRL has little clue who its fans are or what they want.

When Rothfield said on Wednesday that crowds are at a 12-year low the NRL’s immediate reaction was to call Fox Sports, with angry tones, for providing the stats. The NRL is more interested in spin-doctoring than addressing the problems.

It has been caught before trying to spin that crowd totals were up while not revealing they were actually including games not previously tallied in figures.

They were going to do the same with television figures last season, secretly including Origin figures, until their deception was called.

media_camera The figures that show the NRL’s shrinking crowd numbers.

The AFL kicks off its season in a week and, like the NRL, is aware of the need to strategically grow its game.

Unlike the NRL it has identified its fan.

There are millions of passive fans, the kind that observe the game but aren’t kicking stones if their team loses as well as the armchair fan who are unlikely to attend games.

There is always the diehard fan who go to most home games but it’s the pragmatic fan and casual fan who will attend a few games a season that the AFL is interested in.

The AFL is targeting the casual and pragmatic fans and asking for just one favour: to attend one more game.

The AFL, in return, did its part by negotiating with stadium caterers to lower food and drink prices while other games, such as Sunday Funday, will see children admitted for free.

It is playing the long game, aware that habits created now are life-changing. The hope is the children of casual and pragmatic fans will grow up to be patrons and fanatics.

The most vital fans are the casual and pragmatic. Those prepared to give the game a chance, to spend, but who do not feel obligated.

And it’s their dollar most affected by refereeing blunders, overly structured play, poor facilities, expensive condiments, overpriced tickets, poorly behaved players and same mistakes being made over and over again.

These are the people the NRL is losing.