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The NRL needs a second comp

Roar Rookie
4th August, 2015
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The Nines starts tomorrow, which means the real fireworks are less than a month away! (Photo: www.photosport.co.nz)
Roar Rookie
4th August, 2015
25
1012 Reads

The NRL needs a second comp, like the Challenge Cup, in the middle of the season to help combat the State of Origin lull.

We currently see the competition reduced to four games the weekend before Origin, with teams fielding a squad missing many of their players.

Sure the NRL give some of the stronger teams byes during this time, but many teams are disadvantaged as some have no players on rep duty, while others have four or more.

The NRL should establish a mid-season comp with each team in one of four groups:

North – Brisbane, North Queensland, Gold Coast, Newcastle
South – Melbourne, Canberra, Cronulla, St George
West – Parramatta, Canterbury, Penrith, Wests Tigers
East – South Sydney, Manly, Sydney, Auckland

They could look at doing a draw each year to change the divisions up, but the rivalries each division present would be a major selling point to fans and broadcasters.

The weekend before each State of Origin match, there would be a round of eight group games. After three rounds, each division’s winner would advance to two semi-finals to be played midweek the week after the final Origin match, with the final played two weeks after that.

There are several advantages for this second comp.

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Increased revenue
With the rumoured $1.7 billion broadcast deal coming up, and an extra 27 games in a second comp (14 per cent of the current 192 NRL games), they could get $30 million per year from an additional broadcast deal, as well as additional sponsorship from naming rights etc.

A more competitive market
If the second comp was sold to say Channel Seven, they would want to promote it, and sell it as a great product. Hopefully this would see Channel Nine do the same, instead of the current boring commentary, and lack of promotion of the game they currently produce.

Coaches and players could get more creative. Without fear of the loss of two points, a coach could risk playing different halve combos, blood younger players, try different game plans etc.

Obviously there would be coaches who would not embrace the idea – *cough* Craig Bellamy *cough* – and rest players, but if there is enough incentive in financial returns to clubs and players, it could be a success.

More fan engagement
Currently crowds drop during this period due to lack of interest in depleted teams. Sure the teams would still be depleted, but with your club only having to compete against three rivals in each group, it would create intense match-ups, and with the prospect of your club lifting a trophy in July fans would get behind the idea.

Games could be taken to the bush, or we could have double/triple/quadruple headers in the larger stadiums. Instead of asking fans to spend money on tickets to player depleted games, reward them with more than one game in a day.

Other codes do this, and do it well. Football worldwide have clubs compete in several competitions. The UK Super League does it, and is very successful.

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Currently the NRL is losing a battle with fans, and not just during the Origin period. This option could go a long way to winning them back.

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