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The spreading of the talent means the NRL’s McIntyre system is here to stay, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. From the Friday to Sunday we had four high quality games which had fans, even of teams no longer in the finals, standing out of their seat or glued to the television screen.
The NRL’s McIntyre system has been criticised basically since day one of its inception in 1999. With anyone who is anyone in the NRL saying it’s unfair; that eighth must play first in week one and teams three and four could be knocked out if lower teams win their games.
Over the years, though, we have seen seventh defeat second, sixth has caused a lot of upsets by defeating third and the Warriors broke the trend when they defeated the Storm in one of the great finals with an 18-15 victory in 2008, which the Eels continued in 2009 with a big win over the Dragons.
The fact is the competition is as even as it’s ever been. If it weren’t for suspensions and injuries, the Eagles would have put in a better showing on Sunday.
The NRL’s McIntyre system has every team playing for something; seventh and eighth know they must win to keep themselves alive; fifth and sixth know they aren’t safe if they slip up; and third and fourth, even with a home final, can’t afford to be complacent, because if they lose and seventh and eight win, they will start Mad Monday much earlier.
Even first and second know if they lose they have to travel the next week, so they don’t have the luxury of another home final the following week.
Perhaps it’s been 10 years in the making, but this is what the NRL has wanted; an even competition with every fan feeling confident their team, no matter who they play can win their next match.
The crowds have been good, the TV ratings excellent and the football breathtaking – and that is just week one of the finals!
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