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The current structure of the NRL is far from perfect. Many issues with the structure have been addressed widely by rugby league journalists and fellow Roarers.
I have put together a new format which resolves the issues in the current structure of the National Rugby League.
NRL FINALS FORMAT EXPLAINED: HOW DO THE NRL FINALS WORK?
Unfairness in the draw
There are two sides to the unfairness coin. On one side of the coin is the opponents against which a club is drawn. Under the current structure, each team plays each other once and then plays a second game against nine other clubs.
Some clubs may be drawn against all of the top-eight clubs from the previous season twice whereas another club may be drawn the worst performers of the previous season twice.
On the other side of the coin is the State of Origin period. Under the current structure, the State of Origin series is played in the middle of the season with teams receiving two bye round. However, some teams with many State of Origin stars such as Brisbane and Melbourne may be forced to back-up their players after Origin due to the placement of their bye rounds.
Player burnout
It has been known that some players are pushed too hard by their clubs and representative teams. State of Origin takes a huge toll on players as they are expected to back-up for their club just days after playing in the gruelling representative fixture.
Under the current structure, many of these players play from early February through to late November often with a seven day turn-around in between matches, meaning they only receive a two-month break to recover from the previous season before the next year begins.
Country Venues
In the past couple of seasons, NRL games have rarely been taken away from traditional homes. Clubs have taken some games away to other areas such as the Central Coast, Perth, Wellington, Darwin and Cairns, however no games – with the exception of Bathurst – are taken to country regions.
NRL in the future
Each team plays each other once over 15 rounds
Season to kick-off on Anzac Day
Stand-alone State of Origin period
City versus Country Origin is replaced by Country Week to be played at neutral Country venues
Anzac Test moved to post-season
All Stars moved to week before NRL grand final
Holden Cup replaced with youth competitions feeding to NSW Cup and Queensland Cup teams
Changes to International rugby league
Transfer Period and NRL Rookie Draft Added
Thursday and Monday Night Football has been removed
Proposed Draw for 2018 NRL Season
NRL Auckland Nines – 23/02-25/02
Trials Week 1 – 09/03-10/03
Trials Week 2 – 16/03-17/03
Trials Week 3 – 23/03-24/03
World Club Series – 06/04-08/04Round 1 – 25/04; 27/04-29/04
Round 2 – 04/05-06/05
Round 3 – 11/05-13/05
Round 4 – 18/05-20/05
Round 5 – 25/05-27/05
Round 6 – 01/06-03/06
Round 7 – 08/06-10/06
State of Origin I – Wednesday, 20th June @ ANZ Stadium
State of Origin II – Wednesday, 27th June @ Melbourne Cricket Ground
State of Origin III – Wednesday, fourth July @ Suncorp Stadium
Round 8 – 13/07-15/07
Round 9 – 20/07-22/07
Round 10 – 27/07-29/07
Round 11 – 03/08-05/08
Round 12 – 10/08-12/08
Round 13 – 17/08-19/08
Round 14 – 24/08-26/08
Round 15 – 31/08-02/09Finals Week 1 – 07/09-09/09
Finals Week 2 – 14/09-15/09
Finals Week 3 – 21/09-22/09
All Stars – Saturday, 29th September @ Robina Stadium
NRL grand final – Sunday, seventh October @ ANZ StadiumAnzac Test – Saturday, 20th October @ Suncorp Stadium
Australia versus England – Saturday, third November @ AAMI Park
England versus New Zealand – Saturday, 10th November @ Old Trafford
New Zealand versus Australia – Saturday, 17th November @ Eden ParkOther Dates
NRL Mid-Season Transfer Period – 11/06-18/06
NRL Transfer Period – 08/10-29/10
NRL Rookie Draft – 13/10International rugby league
International rugby league will run on a four-year cycle. The cycle begins with the first year holding the Rugby League World Cup which will feature a new 16-team format.
The European Cup will include France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and the winner of the European Shield while the Pacific Cup will include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands.
An expanded rugby league Five Nations tournament will include the top three countries as well as the winners of the European and Pacific Cups. The European Shield will be contested between Italy, Serbia and Russia.
In the fourth year of the cycle, all World Cup qualifying countries must play at least three matches. Countries participating in the Pacific and European Cups are unable to play friendlies against other countries in their respective tournaments.
I have included an example of my proposed international calendar below.
Year 1 – Rugby League World Cup
Year 2 – European Cup, Pacific Cup, International Friendly Series featuring Australia, New Zealand and England.
Year 3 – rugby league World Cup Qualiftying, Rugby League Five Nations
Year 4 – International Friendlies, Prime Minister’s XIII versus Papua New Guinea
Roarers, is it time for change to the current NRL structure?
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