In a positive step forward, the NRL’s Integrity Unit is looking into the way teams selections are announced each week. I have been suggesting for decades there should be a better system.
I know some of you will be muttering about my own conduct when it came to switching player positions within my teams, or even springing the occasional player from nowhere to play despite not being listed.
To read more Brian Smith, outside The Roar, check out his website SmithySpeaks.
I was simply using the rules to gain an advantage, something many others were doing a long time before I joined the circus.
Indeed, Wayne Bennett and Newcastle did it last weekend.
Abandoning the Tuesday 4pm publication of all team selections is long overdue. Its single purpose was to provide the NRL a small revenue stream by newsagents selling the official Big League magazine, which is also exclusively sold at all grounds on match day.
But how close to accurate is it? Rarely I would suggest.
Requiring coaches to name their available list on Thursday or Friday each weekend would give greater accuracy, with no player allowed to take the field if he is not on that list.
the number of players on that list might be the sticking point, but if it’s 20 or 21 players, that would let punters know who is not playing.
But if this is all being done for punting purposes I am disappointed. If it’s good enough for the FIFA World Cup coaches to nominate their final teams an hour before kickoff, with all the money that would have been punted on those games, it should be ok for NRL clubs too.
How that effects individual players and the Integrity Unit’s requirements I am not sure. Can we seriously expect, for instance, that a rookie player who knows he is making his debut this weekend not to tell his family and friends? Would he be in danger of disciplinary action for divulging information?
If the punters want to risk their money they should either take the risk or wait until the coach feels it is appropriate to his team’s best chance of winning to announce his team – but no later than an hour before kick-off.
If the Integrity Unit is going to discipline coaches or players over not revealing what position they are going to play, starting or coming off the bench, they are barking up the wrong tree.
Super League messed up the position versus player numbering system, which has otherwise been the same antiquated system since 1908. Can someone tell me what position #14 plays when he enters the field? And watch any scrum this weekend – tell me if the numbers packing down are the same as the positions we traditionally associate them with.
It happens every week in almost very match.
Stop the folly NRL – give each player a number 1 through 25 when each club sends in their salary cap top 25, and ask them to sort out 1-13 as close to traditional positions as possible.
Anyone outside the top 25 who ends up playing should then be assigned the next number available – 26, 27 and so on.
Chop
Roar Guru
The naming of the teams on Tuesday is just to keep Rugby League in the news stream. I don't think anyone really takes it to seriously. Personally I don't think they should be made to name a team until 60 minutes before kickoff. On Tuesday they can give an assessment of availability like the NFL do - Possible/Probable/In/Out on Tuesday's for the entire 25 in the NRL squad. As for the numbering, I don't mind the players being given a number at the start of the season and playing in it. It makes it easier to identify players at the games and they could probably seek a return on the amount of their jumpers they've sold. I think it's only Rugby League and Rugby Union that actually have set position numbers anymore.
Roger
Guest
The set squad numbers would open up a new revenue stream as well. This would allow player names on the jerseys at the start of the season - surely a massive marketing opportunity for jersey sales and merchandise
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Bugs, Mate they only play 13 at the same time so surely any coach can produce a team from 20-21 players. Everyone knew that Johnson was a chance of not playing and that is why Tuimoala Lolohea and Thomas Leuluai were also named. The same with the Rabbitohs. No problem naming Sutton and Sam but as Keary is also named there is no surprises. The market ALWAYS had Sutton out and Sam in and it has not changed. It's not rocket science. Any coach that tries to be "tricky" confuses his own team more than anyone.
Bugs
Guest
Scott - it sounds good in theory until you look at Johnson for the Warriors last weekend. I heard he hurt himself at a Saturday training session, for the Sunday game. No way would the Warriors pick a back-up 7 in their squad on a Tuesday for a just-in-case. And if they're limited to a 20-ish man squad, then they're penalised for a late injury. And if you put in provisions to overcome that, you already know that will be abused by the teams / coaches. The system needs to be better - no one trusts the Tuesday team announcement. Look at the Rabbitohs team named on Tuesday, containing both Sutton & Sam Burgess, even though they were both 0% chance of playing, and everyone knew it. That needs to improve, but teams need the flexibility to change line-ups for late training and warm-up injuries.
Jay C
Guest
Although I do like that point. Why not give it to the footy show. Thursday night. Give people a reason to watch it. Would benefit the games largest sponsor, channel nine and they can name. Realistically maybe 21. Although I guess you could argue what if there is an accident on the way to the game and 5 players are injured. What then? Or even a spate of the poopsy daisies. I do like the earlier idea of the team playing 1-17 though. If JT gets injured in the warm up and is replaced, then his replacement is the halfback and should wear 7.
Jay C
Guest
You forgot to say how much you love Brian Smith.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Brian Smith has openly declared that he tried to gain an advantage by never naming his run on team and who can blame him. Let me share something with Brian and every other coach that it is almost impossible to name a "shock" selection these days. Most professionals have links to the clubs which is why the markets that come out on Tuesdays are very accurate. The main reason why they will change is due to an injury that most people know about and that id factored in. It is in my best interests for the system to not change, but the mums and dad's who put hours into fantasy games etc deserve better. It is easily fixed. The coaches must name say 20 players on the Tues. and they MUST play ONLY 17 from that 20. That will eliminate Freddy Fittler from running out next week for the Roosters, give the coach some flexibility but still give everyone a real list.
MJ
Guest
The most ridiculous thing about naming teams so early in the week is that a team who plays on Monday Night has less than 24 hours to name a team for the next game. How could their team ever be finalized when they have such a short time frame to assess form, injury and players who may be suited to playing the opposition when the only chance to impress outside of the previous night is at a recovery session?
Tom Groggin
Roar Rookie
When I place a bet (which is often) I know that the teams being provisional is just one of many risks you have to consider. If you don't like it, place your bets immediately prior to kickoff, or don't bet at all. Having said that, it would be great if teams could just have the player wearing a number that corresponds to his position at kickoff. Union teams run out with 1 to 15 on their backs no matter how many personnel changes have taken place in the past week. There should never be a player on the field who doesn't have a number between 1 and 17 on his back.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Brian, Love reading your stuff and this particular subject is close to me, but why are you running down the "blind side" mate? Every newspaper and every sports bulletin has something about Wests Tigers and it seems your paper that you presented to the Wests Tigers CEO has been instrumental in fast tracking all this "PotterGate" circus. It would have been appropriate for you to offer your view to the Roar.
MAX
Guest
Price without the prize is the pathway to penury. I have learned that betting as late as you possibly can is more profitable. e.g I did not intend to bet on Warriors game until learning of Johnson's withdrawal. I quadrupled what would be my normal bet with pleasing results. Smithy's numbering suggestion 1-25 is common sense and should be introduced. Specific player bets should be mandatory refunds upon withdrawal. Surely the Corporates don't/can't keep your stake.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Aside from betting it creates problems for Fantasy comps which are played by tens of thousands of people who follow the NRL more closely because of the fantasy involvement . team list tuesday has little meaning at the moment and coaches stay coy the rest of hte week with rumours and innuendo dominating
Rod
Guest
I would like to see players line up 1-17 no matter if there is a late change , surely you can place bets on a specific player and if the player is withdrawn the bet is null and void.
Jay C
Guest
I genuinely dislike the number system you have suggested. I can't be bothered but it would be interesting to see if it had been adopted, what numbers would be running around at the moment for a team like the Tigers or Gold Coast. Positional numbers is one of the best things the NRL has going for it.
Gazzatron
Guest
Nordburg, it's those types of things that get annoying as a punter. It's like hearing that Gallen might make a comeback from injury even though he wasn't named. It might only be one player but an influential player like Gallen or Cronk or Johnson can be the difference between the team winning or losing and punters putting their hard earned on a game deserve to know all the variables before placing their bet.
Nordburg
Guest
Gazzatron you are spot on.Last year Manly named Symonds on the wing,which was obviously a decoy to allow Gutherson to make his debut.Everything has to be above board once betting agencies are involved.And 50-50 is not a good strike rate with correct teams being named -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Gazzatron
Guest
As a punter I like to get in all my bets early so I would like to know the exact teams as early as possible. As a rule I don't put money on the Warriors but I did last week and Johnson pulls out an hour before kickoff. I knew my multi was over on hearing that news but I can accept it because it was because of injury. Mind games and the other tactics used by coaches should be outlawed. Punting is big business and the money that gets pumped into the game because of it is huge. If the NRL can happily take the money from gambling companies then they should make it as fair on the punter as possible by naming teams on a Thursday. Until the NRL disassociates itself with the likes of the TAB and sportsbet etc then it should really do right by the punter. For the record Punting for me is just a bit of fun and I never really stand to win much money but I'd like to think that my chance of winning my measly $5 buck multi isn't thrown out the window because a coach is playing silly mind games with the opposition. Thats just my view on it anyway so if anyone has a counter view I'm always prepared to listen
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
Agree on the numbering idea but personally I love the team announcements on Tuesday. I look forward to it every a tuesday, especially after a loss. I don't think it's accurate to say the final teams are 'rarely' the same as the announced team, I'd say it's more like 50-50 and it's actually rare that there are wholesale changes. Even where there are late changes that just adds to the theatre of the game
Nordburg
Guest
The big announcements media makes up teams on Tuesdays is a waste of time.Rarely is a team unchanged from the one published.The AFL name there's Thursday and all teams have a couple of emergencies and if they stray from those players they are fined.What i cant understand is that the NRL has gambling companies as sponsors to encourage people to have a bet,yet fans are not keen to punt if they dont know sides line up.The whole betting agency spinsorship is a mess -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Mike from Tari
Guest
I agree with the numbering, I had a double 5 for home side & 6 for visitors, number 18 played 5/8 & was first scorer, so I thought I had a winner but it was announced that 5 & 5 were the numbers, when I queried the result I was told number 18 had replaced no.5, I said no. 18 played in the no.6 position but that was to no avail. This is the second time I have been stuffed by position changes & numbering, so I don't buy them anymore.