The 2015 NRL Draw has been released today, and there are plenty of things to discuss, dissect and get angry about.
Hopefully not too much of the latter.
So with the draw announced, here are the five biggest issues we’ve picked out from what we’ve seen of the 2015 NRL season so far.
Thursday Night football to start things off
Always controversial, the 2015 NRL season will kick off in the same manner it did last year, with a blockbuster on a Thursday night.
Next year it will feature the Broncos, who will be minus Darius Boyd, Ben Barba and Josh Hoffman but plus Wayne Bennett taking on premiers South Sydney. It will be a cracking game, but Thursday night football does divide fans.
It will be played at Suncorp and broadcast live on Channel Nine, but how many fans do you think will be showing up to that one?
Live Sunday football on Channel Nine
Speaking of live football on Channel Nine, Sunday Football will retain its 4:00pm timeslot, but will now be shown live on television.
For as long as rugby league fans can remember, Sunday footy has been a mainstay at 4pm, complete with huge ad breaks every 10 minutes of the match.
In the age of social media and live coverage, many Roarers have argued that it simply can’t be shown on delay anymore, despite whatever excuses about the sanctity of the 6pm news Phil Gould chooses to offer up.
So this is a big win for footy fans, and a step forward for the game. Any arguments here?
Anzac Day football. 10 hours of it
This one might divide a few more people, with 10 hours of football to be played on Anzac Day.
It will start in New Zealand at 2pm local time, midday Australian time, with New Zealand taking on the Gold Coast. This spells a change from the Storm-Warriors match that had been played for the last two years on Anzac Day.
We will then see the Cowboys play Newcastle, the Rabbitohs play the Dragons, Manly play Melbourne and the Eels face Brisbane.
The NRL have called it an ‘extravaganza’ and ‘smorgasbord’, but what would you call it?
The promise of better Monday night football
One of the curious parts about the announcement of the draw was an accompanying statement about Monday Night Football.
“A revitalised schedule for Monday night football on Fox Sports featuring stronger games.”
This is interesting, as it raises the question of whether weaker matches were scheduled for Monday last year, and the year before. A curious announcement, and perhaps the figured for Monday nights haven’t quite been up to expectations.
Tackling the Origin burden
Every year, a major talking point in the NRL and rugby league circles is the burnout of players. In particular, representative players.
During this year’s Four Nations, some of Australia’s most potent players were ruled out of playing for the Kangaroos due to injury that didn’t prevent them playing at the end of the NRL season.
For 2015, the NRL has attempted to reduce player burnout by scheduling only four matches in three rounds around the Origin period.
“Rounds 11, 14 and 17 will each feature just four games rather than five – one each on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – with a view to easing the burden on clubs in pre-Origin rounds,” goes the official NRL release.
NRL Head of Commercial Peter Kind says this was an important step for the league.
“We deliberately targeted trying to minimise the number of what you call ‘blockbuster’ games in that Origin period,” Kind said.
“It’s inevitable there are going to be some and you’re looking at Friday night football on Channel Nine throughout that period, so it’s inevitable there are some games still there but we’ve tried to minimise those.
“There has been a focus on that. Having said that, State of Origin remains in its traditional Wednesday night slot where we think it belongs and where it’s so dominant and where it’s such a big part of our season.”
Will the reduction to four games help?
What do you think Roarers? What are the big issues that stick out to you with the 2015 NRL Draw?
Muzz
Guest
Onya Birdy, thats the spirit mate. In regarde to the draw - The Rothfields and Kents already have their articles ready to go and they aren't too different to the year before.They just pick the team who they consider is copping the sausage and insert their name.That's a days work and pay for them while they wait for the next opportunity to rubbish the game.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Go Glebe?
Birdy
Guest
Hey roarers , don't get depressed about the draw , I'm a balmain supporter and their not there ! The closest thing to them are no longer in gold but in a very sparkling orange, my loyalty is waning but never fear Muzz has issued a challenge, toughen up birdy. So I've taken up the challenge , 30 or more is past the post but bloody hell a game of golf and 10 I've failed again.
Jay C
Guest
Mate, come on. The dogs have played in what, 2 or 3 of the last 4 grand finals. If you were going to seed the teams they would be at or very close to the top of the queue. And the only reason 'they are the only team that plays the top 4 twice' is because top 4 teams can't exactly play themselves. Don't stress it, you will be thereabouts come September, you made the GF and added Brett Morris to the roster...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Recent history says you can with the top 4 2014 Roosters, souths, manly, Penrith 2013 Roosters, souths, manly, storm 2012 Bulldogs, souths, manly, storm 2011 Storm, manly, broncos, tigers That's pretty consistent. The only objective way to seed teams is based on where they finish the season before.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Kiwihaydn, I think the kickoff for Rabbits V Warriors is 3 30 Perth time. Is that really 11 30 NZ time ?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Souths and Penrith play the other top 4 teams twice. So they have 6 games against the top 4. The dogs were the only team in 2014 who played the top 4 eight times.
Harry
Guest
Has Paul Kent lost it - he's supposed to write about NRL yet somehow he acknowledges the NRL draw is unfair but we shouldn't complain because we are still alive?? - has he turned philosopher and turned in his NRL writers badge or has the NRL given the Tele a favour in return for soft coverage...He said Souths has an unfair draw yet won the GF. He doesn't explain how Souths had an unfair draw last year or that it was one year out of 100 which hardly is good analysis http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/paul-kent-nrl-draw-wasnt-fair-this-year-and-the-best-team-won-the-grand-final-anyway/story-fnp0lyn3-1227158583555?nk=400ff687b5d7b1671ebf48796376cff8
Harry
Guest
So there are 26 rounds with 24 games and 15 opponents so you should play over half the teams twice yet Bulldogs are only ones to play top 4 twice - something smells if that is correct
Harry
Guest
Plenty of Kiwis in the mines and building for an eventual Perth team. Played rugby in perth one year and a few Aussie accents but lots of Kiwi ones
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Also you can't really predict who the top teams will be each year. For all we know the Titans will end up being a top 4 team. Not the Raiders though. They suck.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
There has been another Brisbane team. They sucked and were out of money with nothing to keep them in the game after the super league war. It's was a poorly thought out glass franchise.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Warriors have a good following in Perth I believe. It's a good fit for the time zones though I guess channel 9 and fox don't get NZ ratings?
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Swings and roundabouts. Some are contractual like Souths. We do get to play other teams like the Eels twice a year as well.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bulldogs are the only team to play last seasons top 4 twice each for the second season running. I know it's impossible to get a draw 100% equitable but this is a simple matter of seeding. How does the team that finished 7th end up as the only team to play all of the top 4 twice? The dogs play 33% of their games against last years top 4. Others play the top 4 as little as 20% of their games. That's a big difference.
pat malone
Guest
Well the Broncos are the reason that they have Brisbane to themselves. they have made sure through their owner and former owner of the NRL that they get Brisbane to themselves
kiwihaydn
Guest
And six months out, with a 11:30pm kick off (NZ time), I'd be willing to bet on Souths for a big win. Why is it the Warriors that have to travel to Perth each year, and why are the games on so late???
kiwihaydn
Guest
Pretty sure Warriors play the Bulldogs at Waikato Stadium...
kiwihaydn
Guest
Can't understand why the Warriors continue to be given games in Perth. This year it's against Souths, with kick off scheduled for 11:30pm NZ time. How on earth are they expected to win that match?
Bulldog
Guest
Cowboys and Melbourne have 6 Monday night games. How is that evening things out?