Promo cards for 2012 Champs arrived for me today. Don't think I've read any comments on the design for the card backs - but I'd have to say this is Select's best effort to date.
Certainly not much was required for improvement, but it's great to see the addition of a photo (albeit the same one that's on the front) and an attractive design. Now we just need the stats! I reckon no true sports trading card should be without them.
I'd love to see the card backs feature a stat grid similar to American sports cards, showing the number of games, tries, assists, goals, linebreaks, hit-ups, offloads etc. for each year of the player's career. If this is too much to ask, one simple line of stats for the previous season would do. Like some of the American sets, league leaders in different categories (top pointscorer, most offloads etc) could be denoted.
Given the rise in recent years of stat-orientated online fantasy football competitions and a greater focus of stats in the game - nobody referred to "try assists" 10 years ago - I reckon there could be a lot of interest amongst fans/collectors.
But I could be wrong. I'd be keen to know whether other collectors give two hoots what's on the back of cards. I guess card values aren't going to be effected and for a lot of people, it's all about the chase (cards). But I would happily pay an extra $30-$40 a box to have base cards with interesting, comprehensive player info on the back instead of the same old woffle.
For all of Dynamic's shortcomings, they included season stats, and I loved the inclusion of career stats on the 2004 Gold, Supporter Choice inserts, and Try Machine and 10 Year Career subsets.
In 12 years the only format change I've noticed on Select card backs has been the removal of date of birth. Has it been raised/answered before why Select doesn't bother with stats at all? Too much data entry? Would they have to pay the NRL extra for it?
Some members will likely respond that Select don't care what we want, will put in minimum efffort, and I should stop dreaming. But the inclusion of stat-focused cards in the upcoming release (300 games, top try scorers - which have 2011 try totals) has given me a whiff of hope.
Also, if another card company was to enter the market, this is one area where Select could really lift its game.
Certainly not much was required for improvement, but it's great to see the addition of a photo (albeit the same one that's on the front) and an attractive design. Now we just need the stats! I reckon no true sports trading card should be without them.
I'd love to see the card backs feature a stat grid similar to American sports cards, showing the number of games, tries, assists, goals, linebreaks, hit-ups, offloads etc. for each year of the player's career. If this is too much to ask, one simple line of stats for the previous season would do. Like some of the American sets, league leaders in different categories (top pointscorer, most offloads etc) could be denoted.
Given the rise in recent years of stat-orientated online fantasy football competitions and a greater focus of stats in the game - nobody referred to "try assists" 10 years ago - I reckon there could be a lot of interest amongst fans/collectors.
But I could be wrong. I'd be keen to know whether other collectors give two hoots what's on the back of cards. I guess card values aren't going to be effected and for a lot of people, it's all about the chase (cards). But I would happily pay an extra $30-$40 a box to have base cards with interesting, comprehensive player info on the back instead of the same old woffle.
For all of Dynamic's shortcomings, they included season stats, and I loved the inclusion of career stats on the 2004 Gold, Supporter Choice inserts, and Try Machine and 10 Year Career subsets.
In 12 years the only format change I've noticed on Select card backs has been the removal of date of birth. Has it been raised/answered before why Select doesn't bother with stats at all? Too much data entry? Would they have to pay the NRL extra for it?
Some members will likely respond that Select don't care what we want, will put in minimum efffort, and I should stop dreaming. But the inclusion of stat-focused cards in the upcoming release (300 games, top try scorers - which have 2011 try totals) has given me a whiff of hope.
Also, if another card company was to enter the market, this is one area where Select could really lift its game.
(even though its the same photo as on the front). These commons will be great to get signed by the players due to the clear design on the front. Pretty much i cant fault this common set. I was expecting foil on the rookie standouts and try machine cards though.
