2012 ESP NRL Card Review

Muzza · Sep 5, 2012

I don't like the overall feel of this set and I'm not going to buy. Not really sold on the rep concept and while they look pretty good, the insert ratios are a joke. The jersey sigs need work and the highest end card is a football.

MILD · Sep 5, 2012

Well after diving into a box I have to say I'm a little disappointed. The set just lacks the WOW factor of Dynasty. Don't get me wrong the card design is good- I'd guess on par with Dynasty- but considering the cost I want more. A couple of lower end inserts would definitely have added to my personal excitment. I think in hindsight I would have preferred to simply buy the Jamal sig, Titans player parallels and a base set which probably wouldn't have worked out to too much more than the $145 the delivered box cost.

I'd imagine a great set for case buyers because the available sigs are of high profile players and there is a better chance of a game ball. For single box buyers- not recommended.

I hope that doesn't come off as sour grapes after a bit of a disappointing box break- I do think it's a fair appraisal of the set. With all things of course, your mileage may vary.

thenamesgould · Sep 8, 2012

Saw a box for sale and couldn't resist ... well I wish I had ... ALL BASE!!!

WORST RELEASE EVER!!!

Dr Grange · Sep 8, 2012

bought 2 base sets for my PC every card has drag marks & deep grooves on the back of them other than that OK

ooneil · Sep 8, 2012

thenamesgould said:
Saw a box for sale and couldn't resist ... well I wish I had ... ALL BASE!!!

WORST RELEASE EVER!!!

Welcome to oz!!!

Muzza · Sep 8, 2012

I'm seeing quite a few newsagents selling these and so far I have resisted the urge to buy a pack. At $8 a pop it hasn't been too hard. I know if I buy one I'll keep buying and I'll waste a lot of cash. I might just buy a base set for the collection.

BLADE · Sep 8, 2012

They really needed to add a few low end inserts to make it worth while. As it is now its all or nothing and I don't like nothing for 59 packs out of 60

Dr Grange · Sep 8, 2012

Muzza said:
I'm seeing quite a few newsagents selling these and so far I have resisted the urge to buy a pack. At $8 a pop it hasn't been too hard. I know if I buy one I'll keep buying and I'll waste a lot of cash. I might just buy a base set for the collection.

Cheapest option base sets on Ebay $19.00 - $20.. with free delivery(72 cards ) 3ptks =$24.00 & only 24 cards hard to justify.
Next you will see cheap boxes on Ebay as dealers search cases as 5 boxes per case have only commons & 6 parrallel cards in them.
All cases are packed the same so once dealers work out which 5 boxes contain the 6 signature cards they just pull them out of the case & sell the rest.

thenamesgould · Sep 8, 2012

ooneil said:
Welcome to oz!!!

I won't be returning.

thenamesgould · Sep 8, 2012

Was it just the one case card, in the end?

Wonder why it's numbered 2 if it's the only one?

1967Sharks · Sep 8, 2012

To have any value they needed alot more combinations for the CCs

thenamesgould · Sep 8, 2012

I expected at least a pair from each game ...

Dr Grange · Sep 8, 2012

I heard yesterday that there is 1 case card & 2 different folder cards but only 1 per folder so you have to buy 2 folders.

ooneil · Sep 8, 2012

Well no surprises there. It's still unknown the exact print run of the jersey and sig cards as well.

MILD · Sep 8, 2012

Dr Grange said:
I heard yesterday that there is 1 case card & 2 different folder cards but only 1 per folder so you have to buy 2 folders.

First I have heard of that. Crazy move. I think there is potential here with ESP but definitely some kinks to be worked out prior to their first real release.

Dr Grange · Sep 8, 2012

I don't think the card was meant to be a case card but more a promotional card as it is LE-2 (limited Edition).
I bet you the 2 album cards will be LE-1 & LE-3.

Dr Grange · Sep 8, 2012

I ran Ikon yesterday & spoke to the guy in charge of the new release & he hasn't got a clue about rugby league & he didn't know who Select was & Nothing about their releases or product. He was to busy boosting about how well the ESP cards are selling.

tak35bne · Sep 8, 2012

I think I had mentioned in another thread that the positives of this release far outweigh the negatives. Wasn't this set marketed as a preview set or something like that so if that was the case and we look at it like that then we are indeed going to be well serviced by ESP. They have demonstrated, in my opinion, a wish to service the needs of the NRL card collecting community by giving us Origin and Test cards, we know they can manufacture Jersey Cards, and they have given us Test and SOO Captain Signatures in a preview set.

They have shown us they have the capability and desire to cater to the communities desires, yes, the product in some members opinions needs tweeking, we are only saying that because we are so used to many many levels of inserts with Select and numbered cards etc. Would it be so bad if we never see a return to numbered cards? it may affect resale prices of individual cards but as we have found with this release it is better suited to multi-box or case buyers.

I think the future of NRL trading cards is in great hands and I am excited to see where the sets will go from here.............

Dr Grange · Sep 8, 2012

tak35bne said:
I think I had mentioned in another thread that the positives of this release far outweigh the negatives. Wasn't this set marketed as a preview set or something like that so if that was the case and we look at it like that then we are indeed going to be well serviced by ESP. They have demonstrated, in my opinion, a wish to service the needs of the NRL card collecting community by giving us Origin and Test cards, we know they can manufacture Jersey Cards, and they have given us Test and SOO Captain Signatures in a preview set.

They have shown us they have the capability and desire to cater to the communities desires, yes, the product in some members opinions needs tweeking, we are only saying that because we are so used to many many levels of inserts with Select and numbered cards etc. Would it be so bad if we never see a return to numbered cards? it may affect resale prices of individual cards but as we have found with this release it is better suited to multi-box or case buyers.

I think the future of NRL trading cards is in great hands and I am excited to see where the sets will go from here.............

I hope your right but don't forget they could only do the Test teams/Origin & Indigenous sets this year because Select still have the contract Till end Oct/Nov. Lets hope they do lift the bar & give us collectors what we want & improve on quality as well.
What I was tring to say the guy at Ikon knew nothing about the ESP cards & their make-up. You would think he would take sometime to study the product & not just be interested in the $$$.

tak35bne · Sep 8, 2012

Dr Grange said:
I hope your right but don't forget they could only do the Test teams/Origin & Indigenous sets this year because Select still have the contract Till end Oct/Nov. Lets hope they do lift the bar & give us collectors what we want & improve on quality as well.
What I was tring to say the guy at Ikon knew nothing about the ESP cards & their make-up. You would think he would take sometime to study the product & not just be interested in the $$$.

It makes good business sense for these guys to be very familar with this brand and customer base, I think that will improve with time and George a very good point about team cards due to Select still having the contract to Oct/Nov..........I still think that with what they have shown us the future looks good.

2012 ESP NRL Card Review

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