2012 ESP NRL Card Review

My first thought was that it cheapens the thing by using it as an ad for the next release, but on 2nd thoughts, meh! who cares. Also I think I'd rather have a folder card than a pack of nothing.

Apparently The folder card went to the dealers. I've heard there is only 200 of each card & 1200 folders. If thats the case then that means there is only 200 case cards - I wonder what they are going to use for a caser card once they run out.
 
So the folder card is the rarest card in this release. LOL

Sounds like it. But I find it funny they called LE2 a case card & the sellers started charging $65.00 for the Then they dropped to $35..00 each I wander what they will drop to now they are using LE1 & LE3 as folder cards which may be worth about $10.00each.
 
whats LE2?

ESP_Limited_Edition_Case_Card.jpg
 
Apparently The folder card went to the dealers. I've heard there is only 200 of each card & 1200 folders. If thats the case then that means there is only 200 case cards - I wonder what they are going to use for a caser card once they run out.

I was reading somewhere there's 500 I'll let you know if I see it again
 
Wait- so now I might even miss out on a folder card?!

I'm really hoping for good things from their 2013 release or I might quit this thing as quickly as I joined.
 
Not just the folder card, make sure you get a folder, 1200 doesn't sound many. How does that compare to other releases?

By the way, just got my base set delivered (thanks Michael, exceptional service) and they do look good. Just a pity that the inserts aren't up to the mark, not attracted to them aesthetically and also ratio wise. The more I see of the jersey sigs the less I like them - indistinguishable scrawls crammed into a small square of fabric. Better to have the card signed and have the jersey patch clean, me thinks.

Also lack of 'dogs players in the set - thereby pissing me off even more. :mad::mad::mad:
 
Did you hear back?

FYI, I heard back from ESP today about the positives and negatives I mentioned in my email from early last week. Ended up on the phone with the gent responsible for marketing (I think) and we had a great discussion about cards and where ESP want to take NRL card collecting.

I have emailed the gent back tonight to ask what I can disclose on the forum about our conversation so stay tuned for some news........I hope.

Dave
 
I actually really like the cards. For me, anything with Australia / Kangaroos on it has a timelessness to it (I remember the old foil Scanlens stickers as a little kid, and the Kangaroos subset in 1991 a bit later).

Just needed a checklist for mine.

If they can do at least ONE cracker set of 12-18 cards per team each season, I'm cool with that. [[ Chase Cards are neither here nor there for me. Nice to collect, but of indeterminate value to me.]]

Forgot to say...I like the blank insert card. I use them as missing card checklists for sets I'm building as they fit the boxes perfectly. If anyone is busting heaps of packs and doesn't want 'em, let me know.
 
FYI, I heard back from ESP today about the positives and negatives I mentioned in my email from early last week. Ended up on the phone with the gent responsible for marketing (I think) and we had a great discussion about cards and where ESP want to take NRL card collecting.

I have emailed the gent back tonight to ask what I can disclose on the forum about our conversation so stay tuned for some news........I hope.

Dave
Maybe he could actually discuss it himself. You should have tipped him off about this new thing called Facebook. Lol

In all seriousness at least you got through Dave. I know countless people (including Oct mods) that heard back zero after sending through emails.
 
Maybe he could actually discuss it himself. You should have tipped him off about this new thing called Facebook. Lol

In all seriousness at least you got through Dave. I know countless people (including Oct mods) that heard back zero after sending through emails.

Isn't that the truth. Put in a good word for us Dave ;)
 
FYI, I heard back from ESP today about the positives and negatives I mentioned in my email from early last week. Ended up on the phone with the gent responsible for marketing (I think) and we had a great discussion about cards and where ESP want to take NRL card collecting.

I have emailed the gent back tonight to ask what I can disclose on the forum about our conversation so stay tuned for some news........I hope.

Dave

Hi mate, please give him my details (happy to email them to you)

Really want to do good things with ESP but when they dont respond its hard!

Cheers
Matt
 
So in relation to my discussion with the ESP rep yesterday there were a couple of interesting things that came up:

1. First we discussed the Jersey Signatures and I was told that all the jersey signatures were hand made in AUS and all ESP cards were printed here also. The rep agreed that the on jersey signature was not the way to go for future jersey cards and would be better to have them signed on the card. The printed cards were then sent to China for boxing.

2. The first release for ESP is in Feb 2013 and will be the NRL Traders, no further details other than it will be an entry level release similar to what Select intended with the Champions. 36 packs to a box with packs priced at $3.99

3. The second release for ESP in Mar 2013 will be the NRL Powerplay CCG. These cards will be targeted at the 6-10yo age bracket. It will be modelled along the lines of Teamcoach and will be launched in conjunction with a website where our young collectors can keep a digital copy of their collection.

The rep indicated their research indicated that kids collected cards to a certain age then left the hobby with some returning in their 20's, ESP want to release product to encourage collectors of all age so as to ensure the future of the hobby. The ESP rep indicated that the recent release was 'them dipping their toe in the water' and they have learnt a lot from this release about the manufacturing, marketing etc of NRL cards.

I feel very positive about the future of NRL trading cards and I encourage all collectors young and old to write to ESP with their thoughts both positive and negative about their releases as I really think this company wants to take NRL cards to a whole new level.

Dave

EDIT: The ESP rep just commented on my post via email, I got one thing wrong folks, the Jersey Cards were hand made in AU, all others were done overseas, my apologies for the stuff up.
 
Good work Dave. Sounds pretty positive.

The one comment I would make is that an entry level product at the Champions level is way to expensive at $3.99 per pack.

They should be realizing by now that people are not too keen to spend big $$$ for packs of commons.
 
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