The NRL needs a new Knockout Cup

"24 rounds over 26 weeks plus all the rep games and many weeks of playoffs…waaay too much." Um... that's what we have now... Actually that said I've had a thought about this and come up with a better format: 12 teams qualify from the pre-season qualifiers: Origin Week 1 - 5v12, 6v11, 7v10, 8v9 - winners ranked A,B,C,D (no points for winning in this round) Origin Week 2 - 1 v D, 2 v C, 3 v B, 4 v A - winner ranked AA,BB,CC,DD (1 pt for a win) Origin Week 3 - AA v DD, BB v CC (1 pt for a win) International Week 4 - Cup Final (1 pt for a win) By eliminating 8 teams from week 1 of the cup format, that's 8 teams playing 1 less game a season than what I originally suggested. These 11 games effectively replace the current 19 played during this period.

Whether or not it's played over 4 consecutive weeks or with breaks isn't really the issue. I'm sure clubs would actually prefer such a tournament to be spaced out more (i.e. as per when the Origin rounds currently are) and there's no reason why it can't be - as this is how the Knockout Cups in England are actually structured over the course of an entire season. There's no mandate that such a cup has to be played within a confined consecutive period. The reason why they spread out Origin as such is that they want to gain maximum media exposure - however this is why we're even having this discussion - because that Origin exposure takes away from the NRL games played during that time. Stand alone origin matches on weekends with no other games are a mistake. It's just opening the gates for other sports and the suggestion of pacific island internationals as a substitute simply won't attract the Australian public's interest in the same numbers that the NRL does. Therefore a version of the NRL competition needs to continue during this time - but it needs some additional attraction so it's not completely overshadowed by State of Origin. Hence the knockout cup format. But if it has no bearing on the overall ladder, clubs won't put in genuine efforts and will field second string teams - regardless of the prize money - hence why it should be played for partial points (not full points though because of all the teams that don't qualify). As every game is do-or-die there is every incentive for fans to show up. Under this system there are no points for having a bye - you only get points if you win games, so staying alive is everything. A team that's struggling on the overall ladder but can make it through the knockout system can help rebuild their season. It could even be that only the cup finalists get points - but there needs to be something to tie it back into the overall NRL competition so it's not just seen as a sideshow and for both all the clubs and all the fans to take it seriously. I can see that winning the Knockout Cup, the Minor Premiership and the Grand Final as being the big 3 crowns for all teams to aim for. As for fancy teams (i.e. teams qualifying from outside the NRL) - well if they make it past the pre-season qualifiers, they would have already proven that they have what it takes to match it with the NRL teams, so I see no reason why not to include them. They were included in the majority of previous NSWRL cup competitions. And if they don't make the cut, then it's non issue anyhow.

Well I think it might become difficult to stage a competition where every single team in the country plays a match even if you have a fully seeded tournament with the NRL teams only entering just before the finals - simply due to our country's expanse and the cost involved. That said think about it this way - with 8 to 12 non NRL teams involved you could have: * PNG top club * Fiji top club * New Zealand top region * QRL top club * NSWRL top club * Top country/regional teams * Affiliated States top club etc By winning last year's respective tournaments, you immediately have the best teams of each comp qualifying already. The previous year's competitions becomes that filtering process. For example seeing the Warriors take on the NZ's best regional team every pre-season would have a lot of value to it.

I agree - the NRL needs to negotiate their TV rights and broadcast spread alot better. However if you look closely at this concept the intent is to take the 4 weeks of club games that are currently played and totally overshadowed by origin (look at last weekend) - and replace them with a Knock-Out comp that engages fans better. Think of this way: the only teams that would be playing during Origin are teams that are winning (because of the knock-out format). That automatically boosts fan interest.

If you read above you will see that this format actually means less games for the majority of players in the competition. At most only 4 teams would play 1 extra game and only 2 would play 2 extra games - but these games would be with non-rep players with an expanded club roster of 30 players. As for the NRL Under 20's, as the club comp is technically suspended under this format, there's no reason why they couldn't do the same thing. That said I believe State of Origin should be played on a Sunday afternoon/twilight match. Before the game as a prelude there is potential for other Origin formats to be played, such as an Under 20's Origin etc to make it an event for the whole afternoon.

It's not actually a midweek cup. The current format of teams playing 3 trial games in February would be slightly modified so that 16 teams qualify for games. Then the knockout games are played on the same weekend as origin, replacing the NRL club games for those 4 weeks, whether over one month or spread out. In this manner however as every game is do-or-die, the club games don't take as big a backseat to Origin as they have a great importance than they do now. Teams that are eliminated get byes (but no points for byes). Teams that progress get points and cash. All the games have a bigger meaning. In essence it's like having a finals competition in June/July.

I can see it working as a showcase for 2nd tier talent in both the NRL and in lower grades. Remember: Origin players wouldn't be playing in these matches though.

Indeed there would need to be prize money involved, hence part of the incentive for teams to perform rather than what we saw last weekend. As for the impact on players, think of it this way. The top tier of players due to backing up from 4 rep games would play 25 games + finals + trials. Under this system the top tier of players would only play 23 games (as there would only be a 7 day Origin camp, therefore they only miss that weekend's round but also don't have to back up for any games until the next Friday as per usual). So the impact on the biggest stars are reduced by 2 games a season. The lower tier of non-rep players would play in this knockout comp, not all of whom currently play the 24 home and away games each season. Say in the worst case 16 NRL clubs qualified for the finals. The majority of teams play 23 games a season (1 less than current) - but get 4 byes At most 8 teams play 24 games a season (same as current) - but get 3 byes At most 4 teams play 25 games a season (1 more than current) - but get 2 byes At most 2 teams play 26 games a season (2 more than current) That's at most 6 teams (if that) playing more than now and the majority of teams playing the same or less. As these knockout games don't include the major rep stars any additional burden carried by those extra 2 games would be carried by lower tier players rather than the elite group. With teams potentially expanding to 30 man rosters

The reason for awarding premiership points is to encourage teams to put their best available players on the field. An NRL team that's struggling before the rep season may suddenly find themselves reenergized by the do-or-die formula of a knockout cup. Note however that points awarded aren't full game points. The winner of the tournament (having won 4 games) if they are an NRL team would receive only 4 points - which only puts them 2 games ahead. At most: 4 teams could get 1 point 2 teams could get 2 points 1 team could get 3 points The winner could get 4 points At the end of the day that rewards teams who put in a strong performance during the middle of the rep season.