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The crowds for the first week of the 2013 NRL finals again show that the fans are cool-ish on the Top 8 system, particularly the non-elimination games.
Personally I am no fan of the Top 8 for many reasons, and the fans agree it would seem.
For 2009 onwards the total crowd attendance for non-elimination games where either the home team or both could not be eliminated is 178,381 (19,820/game). But for games where either team will be eliminated if they lose the figures are 272,140 (30,238/game).
In addition in Round 6 this season the Storm v Souths at ANZ attracted 32,000, and yet last Friday night the same match (finals version no less!) only attracted 21,000.
What the?! Admittedly Souths v Easts scored 59,000 fans the previous week, but this ties into one of my first point below.
So why don’t fans embrace the second-bite-of-the-cherry concept?
I believe there are a few reasons:
1. Hard to attend so many consecutive games. During the season teams average one home game per fortnight. After this its possible for a team to play four more games including the GF, eg Parra in 2009, in consecutive weeks. Can fans really attend so many more on consecutive weeks?!
2. Why not wait until its really on the line? Why should fans attend a game where they can’t be eliminated. Do both teams try 100%? I believe sometimes they don’t.
3. Quality trumps quantity. State of Origin has the perfect balance of high quality football crammed into just three games. Just three! So that proves beyond any doubt that quality utterly trumps quantity. The evidence in ratings, media buzz and money is completely conclusive.
4. What is the point of the second bite anyway? Two teams will make the grand final no matter what and one will win it. No matter what convoluted finals recipe anyone concocts the best two teams are likely to meet in the big show. Why delay?!
In light of the above we should move to sudden death just like in the NFL or Super Rugby.
It’s simply embarrassing to see NRL finals football played in front of mediocre crowds.
And I would drop the Top 8 in favour of the Top 7. Only the minor premier should enjoy the first week of the finals off.
Under the Top 8 second place enjoys the same home finals right as first place – no thanks.
First place must get a unique reward. So in a Top 7 system second would host seventh, third host sixth and fourth host fifth – all elimination games.
Two weeks later you have the big show. You could even throw in a week off before the big event to ensure fans have a chance to travel to Sydney.
Now before you disagree with me please re-read the crowd figures. Those are fans voting with their feet. The second bite of the cherry is a crowd killer.
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