mosto
I have a well known member
Given the inequalities highlighted in the current draw, I'm going to throw up an alternative. It certainly won't appeal to everyone, but here it goes:
Current draw is 192 games, stretching 27 weeks, including rep weekend, plus finals (my math may be out, but I think that's correct). So we need to get somewhere near that to satisfy TV etc.
Each team plays each other once. Obviously, there's a disadvantage in some playing teams away and others playing them at home, but you reverse the draw each year to balance that out as much as possible.
This means 15 rounds of 8 games = 120 games.
Then, I'd like to see an FA Cup style knockout comp incorporating regional teams. There's 10 representative regions in NSW and 3 in Qld. Add say a Vic rep team, WA rep team and a NZ residents team, there's 16 teams plus the 16 NRL clubs. First round would see each NRL team matched against a regional team, over two legs, home and away (so more League Cup style than FA Cup for those familiar with European football). This means total number of knockout comp games would be as follows:
Rd 1 = 16x2 = 32
Rd 2 = 8x2 = 16
QF = 4x2 = 8
SF = 2x2 = 4
Final = 1 (One off game played at neutral venue)
Total games = 61
The main comp would have a week off to play each round so we have a total of 181 games played over 24 weeks. Add in stand alone weeks for Aus v NZ / City v Country and 3 origins, playing a Pacific Islands 4 Nations series on these weekends (PNG/Fiji/Tonga/Samoa) with two games in each of the first three rep weeks and the final on the fourth week. This adds an additional 7 games taking it to 188 games plus the main rep games which are currently played already, over a total of 28 weeks, plus finals.
I think this addresses a few issues. Firstly, the main comp is fairer in teams play each other an equal amount of times. Secondly, as teams are knocked out of the Cup comp, players are rested, relieving player burnout. Thirdly, the spotlight is briefly turned to regional areas, where the game is suffering, and also on the island nations which produce a number of NRL players.
Anyway, that's my thoughts on making a fairer and more interesting season.
Current draw is 192 games, stretching 27 weeks, including rep weekend, plus finals (my math may be out, but I think that's correct). So we need to get somewhere near that to satisfy TV etc.
Each team plays each other once. Obviously, there's a disadvantage in some playing teams away and others playing them at home, but you reverse the draw each year to balance that out as much as possible.
This means 15 rounds of 8 games = 120 games.
Then, I'd like to see an FA Cup style knockout comp incorporating regional teams. There's 10 representative regions in NSW and 3 in Qld. Add say a Vic rep team, WA rep team and a NZ residents team, there's 16 teams plus the 16 NRL clubs. First round would see each NRL team matched against a regional team, over two legs, home and away (so more League Cup style than FA Cup for those familiar with European football). This means total number of knockout comp games would be as follows:
Rd 1 = 16x2 = 32
Rd 2 = 8x2 = 16
QF = 4x2 = 8
SF = 2x2 = 4
Final = 1 (One off game played at neutral venue)
Total games = 61
The main comp would have a week off to play each round so we have a total of 181 games played over 24 weeks. Add in stand alone weeks for Aus v NZ / City v Country and 3 origins, playing a Pacific Islands 4 Nations series on these weekends (PNG/Fiji/Tonga/Samoa) with two games in each of the first three rep weeks and the final on the fourth week. This adds an additional 7 games taking it to 188 games plus the main rep games which are currently played already, over a total of 28 weeks, plus finals.
I think this addresses a few issues. Firstly, the main comp is fairer in teams play each other an equal amount of times. Secondly, as teams are knocked out of the Cup comp, players are rested, relieving player burnout. Thirdly, the spotlight is briefly turned to regional areas, where the game is suffering, and also on the island nations which produce a number of NRL players.
Anyway, that's my thoughts on making a fairer and more interesting season.
