As I sat down to write this piece, it occurred to me that I’ve rarely been less engaged in a round of NRL than I was on the weekend.
I watched the last 10 minutes of Friday night’s western derby between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels, along with parts of the second half of Sunday afternoon’s game featuring the Manly Sea Eagles versus Brisbane Broncos.
That’s it.
Sure, I ended up watching some highlights, reading game reviews and looking at a few stats, but if I’m honest it was out of need rather than want.
At first I thought it was an emotional comedown from Wednesday’s brutal Origin encounter. Then I figured perhaps I was slightly uninterested because my Bulldogs weren’t playing. I eventually put it down to just being busy, and simply not having time to watch a lot of NRL on the weekend.
The only issue with that excuse is that I still managed to squeeze in two full games from the dramatic NBA playoffs, the Waratahs versus Chiefs game in Super Rugby and a healthy sprinkling of AFL action.
It then dawned on me that the real reason I watched very little rugby league on the weekend was because if, at this time of year, the NRL isn’t going to take the NRL seriously, why should I?
There were only five games of rugby league over the weekend, and a large number of the competition’s best players weren’t playing. Both of these facts helped to render the round of NRL football underwhelming.
Let’s face it, State of Origin eclipses the NRL from late May to early June. It’s not exactly news that it adversely affects the NRL.
With all the focus on the interstate battle, the NRL sadly becomes an afterthought. That’s especially apparent this year, when you consider the drama and excitement generated by the close competition this season.
However, it’s not just the spectacle of Origin that overshadows the NRL, it’s the player drain.
Any player selected for Origin is ruled out of their club’s game the weekend before, while a number of players understandably fail to back up the weekend after. The flow-on effect is that many fans, and even the media, suspend their interest in the NRL during this period.
It’s less than ideal, and though there is no perfect solution, allow me to offer an alternative.
Over four weekends – not necessarily consecutively – we’ll have three State of Origin games, and then the Test Match between Australia and New Zealand, with all NRL clubs having a bye on those weekends.
On the first weekend, we’ll have a NSW A versus Queensland A State of Origin match on the Friday night, before the main Origin game on Sunday. This will give selectors from both states a chance to look at some younger or fringe players, and help those players adjust to the difference between NRL and Origin football.
On the second weekend, the Origin game will again be played on Sunday night, while the 9s Tournament, involving all NRL teams, will take place over Friday, Saturday, and leading into the big game on Sunday.
On the third weekend, Origin will again be played on Sunday, but the NRL All Stars will play the New Zealand national team. Though Origin and the Kiwi team will obviously put a drain on the All Stars team, there would remain plenty of exciting talent to choose from. This year’s team could still choose from the Burgess brothers, Luke Brooks, Gareth Widdop, Ben Barba, Anthony Milford, Todd Carney, Josh Dugan and James Graham.
On the fourth weekend, Australia – with a team picked on Origin form, making the series even more important for the players – will play New Zealand, who will have finally been given a proper warm-up game, having competed against the All Stars a couple of weeks earlier.
The other matches played that weekend will be City versus Country on the Friday night, ensuring rural NSW is not forgotten in the representative period. Then perhaps the Indigenous All Stars taking on a combined Samoa and Fiji team on Saturday. If that’s not going to work, then we keep it simple and have the Samoa versus Fiji Test Match.
Now, I’m sure this proposal is far from the panacea that rugby league requires, and already I can see a few issues with my plan.
Firstly, there is usually a long casualty list following an Origin match due to the intensity and speed of the games. Realistically, there is no way around this. If Origin injuries affect the NRL, then the only solution is to hold the series at the end of the season, and that’s just not going to happen.
Secondly, despite my best attempts to have as much football played in that four-week span as possible, there will still be a limited number of games on most of the weekends. However, I’m wagering on the scale and importance of those games being enough to satisfy the fans’ thirst for footy.
Though you could argue that this plan doesn’t address the media vacuum that Origin generates, it at least attempts to limit the amount of club games that the competition’s best players currently miss, which can only help address the media issue.
What do you think Roarers? A plan worth considering? Absolute madness? More holes than Swiss cheese? Is the existing calendar simply the best we’ve got? Or even better, do you have your own suggestion?
Margaret M
Guest
Is their an answer ?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Fair enough. I never said my proposal was perfect, it was merely meany to act as a thought-starter for other suggestions, for which you've supplied in your last post. I'd like to see some further discussion and ideas on the topic, because I do think it's an issue; one worth discussing solutions for.
Jimmy S
Guest
1. There's nothing bad enough about the current schedule to warrant cancelling the NRL for three weekends. City v Country, Aust v NZ, Pacific Islands (Fiji v Samoa) were on the stand-alone weekend. I'd have liked a PNG v Tonga as well to further bolster the Pacific Islands, or bin the City v Country, move Aust v NZ to midweek, and let Pacific Islands play at the end of the year. The system of byes doesn't provide 100% parity with Origin rest, but provides some respite while keeping games on TV and the coffers filled. 3. My objection is against cancelling the NRL for three weekends. The correct question about Sunday Origin is will there be more viewers for The Voice + Wednesday Origin or Sunday Origin + When Love Comes to Town, or whatever nufty show Channel Nine schedules. 2. The current situation keeps Rugby League on TV. I think if you're going to force a change, the best result for NRL would be to have Origin on the Sunday evening in amongst a normal round. In addition to whether Nine/Fox would accept it for the ratings reason above, the NRL needs to consider whether fans will attend the rest of the weekend's games, and the potential for the AFL to schedule a game. End of the day, Wednesday Origin is laying golden eggs for the NRL. Maybe there's more inside... maybe not...
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
At least we're getting somewhere now. Let's try to wrap this up so we can both move on. Please answer me 3 questions: 1. Do you think there is a problem with the current scheduling? 2. If so, Is the current situation simply the best we've got? 3. Your opinion (on my proposal) is based upon the belief that there will be less TV viewers on a Sunday night. Is that an assumption, based on any data, or just 'common sense'?
Jimmy S
Guest
You started on fan apathy, touched on players missing club games, threw in a furphy about a 'media vacuum', then went to player burn-out, and now players get injured playing origin, as per Debbie Spillane. Most of the linked articles are behind News Ltd pay-walls. Fan apathy i've disproved with TV numbers. Players will still miss playing club games on the stand alone Origin weekends. You haven't explained what a media vacuum is. Players miss the game before Origin, then only some have to play a few days later. While playing twice in a short spell isn't ideal, they're still only playing two games in two weeks, unless they have the bye after Origin. The solution here and in Spillane's column won't stop players getting injured and missing club games. Your proposal will likely lead to less TV viewers. This will cost the NRL money. It doesn't solve anything well enough that I can see is important enough to start taking money out of the NRL. Any proposal that costs money without providing benefit is stupid.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/06/05/origin-evolution-2/
Griffo
Guest
I can tell you that it was a dreary, rainy day in Townsville on Saturday and although it cleared up at night for the game, that may have contributed to keep people away
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Yep, there is no issue at all. No problem. Nothing to see here. Move along everyone. Seriously, could your head be in the sand anymore? Here is an article of the NRL's OWN website, by Andrew Voss, who states that Craig Bellamy and Phil Gould (two people whose rugby league opinion I’ll take over yours, if its OK with you?) want standalone Origin weekends. http://www.nrl.com/is-stand-alone-origin-the-right-fit/tabid/10874/newsid/79072/default.aspx Voss then goes on to suggest his own proposal. Again, that would indicate that there is a scheduling problem, would it not? Here is a piece that further goes into Bellamy’s thoughts: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-craig-bellamy-says-stand-alone-origin-weekends-are-now-vital/story-fni3gpfg-1226941861814 Here is the Australian, Queensland and Melbourne captain, Cam Smith asking for the NRL comp to be suspened for three weeks while Origin is played: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/cameron-smith-put-nrl-comp-on-hold-for-state-of-origin/story-fnca0von-1226940740239#mm-premium Here is another piece about the effect Origin has on the NRL: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/survivor-rounds-state-of-origin-takes-toll-on-nrl-premiership-pace-setters/story-fni3fbgz-1226941302246 That’s just a sample of the coverage, and the influential rugby league personalities, saying changes need to be made to the scheduling of the season. And you think there is no problem? Regardless of the reason, be it player burn-out, ratings, media coverage, elite-level player drain, etc, etc, you must be completely stupid - to borrow your word - if you think there isn't a problem. Keep standing for your ovation, mate. You deserve it.
Jimmy S
Guest
I'd ask what do you mean by "the media vacuum that Origin generates" but I'm afraid the answer will be more of you projecting your own ideas onto NRL fans en masse. I have no idea what this is and why it's an issue. I think it's something you've made-up to back-up your own poorly reasoned points. It doesn't resonate as an issue that would be solved by moving Origin to stand-alone weekends. The "amount of club games that the competition’s best players currently miss" as an issue is debatable because they don't miss that many games. It's just an issue for you because they're all missing at once. But let's not let this overshadow your idea: Move Origin & stop the NRL just to bring in a bunch of representative games that mean nothing... ***standing ovation***
Stuart
Guest
I whole heartedly agree. Ive been saying the same thing for 2 years. Why not include PNG, Somoa, Fiji, NZ and All stars. What about QLD city and country. What about north Isalnd NZ Vs South???? As it stands the bye system is a complete rort, and totally screws the clubs and the fans.
code 13
Roar Guru
As you said regardless of when it is played, it will always top the ratings. There is no other sporting competition at 7:30pm on a Sunday Night and it allows the round after to be unaffected. It's the best low risk low impact option.
code 13
Roar Guru
Again what I'm talking about is compromise.
code 13
Roar Guru
The coaches complained that they only had 7 day camps. By the time Origin 3 rolls around the teams have been together for almost 2 months. By conceding to the coaches on this one they've allowed 3 more rounds of the competition to suffer.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Absolutely. Faster pace, plus more intensity, equals more injuries.
Spikhaza
Guest
Origin should be like the Lions test series - over 3 weeks with nothing else on. The tension becomes palpable. The intensity of Origin makes the NRL look like Sunday arvo footy after a big night out on the piss, it's the definition of apathy. Combine that with the delicious offering of sport that was on (the Waratahs Chiefs game was a beauty) and you get disinterested viewers
Ernesto Smitherson
Guest
I think the reason is the caliber of players competing in SOO is higher. Every player in SOO is a top noche player, so the skill level is inherently higher and risk of injuries greater.
marco
Guest
Club football will remain in origins shadow. As origin gets stronger, clubs get weaker. Some people aren't happy about this but many want a stronger origin series more. That's just the way it is. Its not about to change anytime soon.
marco
Guest
AFL crowds are also a bit down. They got 75000 on Saturday night at the G which some commentators said were a bit lower than normal.Although the teams playing were in the bottom half of the ladder. Some other games were a bit down as well so I don't think it is just league that is seeing lower numbers. Origin does dwarf the NRL comp. Players are out injured and this makes it hard to have fair competition. If you are are storm fan, you would be well and truly pissed off that the best players are carrying injuries due to origin. But being the huge money maker that it is I can't see them changing the origin formula.
Daniel
Guest
The reason that the NRL won't fix this is that the SOO series makes the NRL in the vicinity of $200M over the 5 years of the television deal. To put it into context that means that SOO brings 1/5 of TV revenue to the sport. This is why SOO will stay on Wednesday night and will never be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night ever again.
BB
Guest
Why can't origin be played three weeks in a row? Are we saying the effort by SOO players is less during regular season NRL? If so, why?