Could a knockout cup reinvigorate rugby league?

In the 1974 Amco Cup, Western Division – a team of part-timers from the heart of country New South Wales – overcame a number of premiership clubs to take out the competition.

The Amco Cup (which was also known by a variety of other sponsor’s names) was a made-for-TV, knockout competition played midweek.

I was only a year old when the cup was last played and know very little about it. But when reading the winners list, there are a lot of familiar names.

Clubs like Souths, Manly, Parramatta and even Cronulla are all there. However one name stands out. Western Division’s victory in ’74 has recently been publicised in the book ‘The night the music died: How a bunch of Bushies forged rugby league’s last great fairytale’, and it’s one of the great underdog stories of Australian sport.

This got me thinking about what role a knock-out competition could play in Australian rugby league today.

After all, the UK has had its Challenge Cup since 1896 and is considered a highly prestigious piece of silverware. This knockout competition sees semi-pro clubs from all over the UK and beyond compete for the chance to play in front of 70,000 at Wembley and perhaps knock-off a champion side.

Australia has recently seen the launch of the FFA Cup, which pits A-League franchises against some of the most well-known Australian football clubs in a knockout tournament.

Many see this tournament as a way to reconcile ‘new football’ with ‘old soccer’. That is, to finally link the future of Australian football with its past.

In some ways, doesn’t rugby league face a similar schism?

Think about some of the most recent events in rugby league’s history, like the merging of clubs, the banning of the biff, and the rationalisation of grounds. Many are embracing the way rugby league is heading, while others bemoan the loss of traditions.

Could a Challenge Cup-style tournament breathe new life into the code? If so, how would this competition work and what structure would it take?

The current Challenge Cup structure involves 44 amateur teams entering in Round 1. A Russian team joins the winners in Round 2. Round 3 sees the admission of 21 semi-pro teams, as well as three French sides, while the fourteen Super League sides join in Round 4. Including finals, the whole competition involves 8 rounds.

One of the great things about the Challenge Cup is that it is not exclusively for clubs. It also includes armed forces sides, a police side and university champions, among others.

I envisage an Australian knockout tournament could work in the following format, though I am keen to hear alternatives.

Round 1 could include senior sides from affiliated states (Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory) as well as armed forces, NSW and Queensland Police, NSW and Queensland Country representatives and university champions.

Joining the winners in Round 2 would be the winners of the Ron Massey Cup, FOGS Colts and Pacific Island senior teams.

Round 3 would see the entry of NSW Cup and Queensland Cup sides, as well as more highly ranked Pacific Island teams.

I am unsure as to whether the NRL sides could play a part in this competition. The most obvious issue is player burnout. If an NRL side made it to the final it would most likely be an additional four games to their season.

It’s also unlikely that NRL clubs would take the concept seriously, with the premiership still being the main prize. Perhaps only the eight sides who miss the playoffs could take part.

However even without the NRL sides, a competition like this could still offer a lot of benefits to the game. It could help nationalise the game, with clubs from all over Australia taking part. It’s also a great way to identify and develop local talent.

If done well, it could also draw some of the magic back to local league, with big games played in front of local crowds. There’s always the opportunity to add a bit of spice to the local derbies and a chance for a major upset.

Obviously I’m not suggesting this comp would sell out ANZ Stadium for its first season, or that TV networks would be rushing out to throw money at the concept. It certainly won’t rival the NRL premiership as the premier competition.

But it doesn’t need to. A tournament like this would be about capturing the imagination of league fans everywhere. It’s about hanging on to some of the traditions that the modern game is losing, like picnic rugs on the hill. It’s about reengaging fans at a local level and getting them out supporting the grass-roots.

It’s a great way to unify league across Australia at all levels and in all states. Sure there would be costs involved, but smart planning could help minimise this. If it is successful, sponsorship and TV money would follow.

So what do you think Roarers? Could a concept like this work for Australian rugby league? Can it work without the NRL superstars? Are there alternatives?