Putting aside its current cocaine woes, the NRL has launched its new campaign for season 2015. The ad features Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You and was created by creative agency MJW.

In what is arguably a more relaxed and simple offering than years passed, this year’s campaign focus on fans and how they react with the players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUsa95lY6F0

The campaign was officially launched in Sydney by NRL chief executive Dave Smith and players from all the NRL clubs.

The 2015 ad features more than 50 NRL club members and fans in a range of scenarios that include a rendition of the “Haka” by fans on the way to a game and a focus on  Greg Inglis’ trademark post try “Goanna” celebration.

Head of marketing Lewis Pullen said the television commercial will premiere across Australia and New Zealand.

“This campaign celebrates the captivating nature of the Telstra Premiership and the different ways our fans are included in the experience,” Mr Pullen said.

“As the campaign highlights, the Telstra Premiership brings people together like few other sporting competitions in the world, from barefoot touch football right through to the elite level.

“With more themed rounds, blockbuster fixtures and our ANZAC Day tribute, the stage is set for one of the biggest Telstra Premiership seasons on record.”

Chief executive Smith clearly didn’t want to dwell on the pre-season shenanigans that magically seem to grip the NRL each year, preferring to focus on how competitive the 16 team competition is.

“Last year we had 17 matches decided by just one point, and we did not know the makeup of the Finals until the very last game of the Premiership,” Mr Smith said. “That’s how close our competition is.

“We’ve had the best pre-season on record – more than 100,000 fans have already attended the Nines, the All Stars and the World Club Series.

“The clubs have already signed 192,000 members for 2015 – nearly 10 per cent more than at the same time last year – and there is clearly an appetite for the entertaining product that our players produce every week.

“That puts us in a strong position heading into the Premiership. We have an amazing competition, and it is only going to get better in 2015.”