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The NRL has just kicked off and many a fan would be relieved that footy is back on our TV screens.
The above statement though, is one that I feel is killing the game and allowing AFL to take over audiences and markets that were once held by the NRL.
Whether you accept it or not, the NRL has largely become a ‘TV sport’ meaning a sport many will only really watch through a hole in their wall, and not make the effort to ever attend at their local stadium.
I could delve into a whole list of reasons why this is, but that isn’t the point of this article.
The point to this article is to raise the question, would an NFL-style structure benefit the NRL?
What I mean by this is, would a divisional system work in the NRL to boost popularity and improve crowd attendances?
Now I know when most read about ‘divisions in the NRL’, the tendency is to roll your eyes, then proceed to hit ‘back’ on your computer screen as you don’t want a bar of what I’m trying to sell. But hear me out.
The four divisions I imagine would look like this:
North Division West Division East Division South Division Broncos Bulldogs Manly Roosters Titans Panthers Storm Rabbitohs Cowboys Tigers Warriors Sharks Knights Eels Raiders Dragons
I’m not about to tell you that this is a flawless system and that the teams must be in these divisions to work. I myself was in two minds about swapping the Roosters and Raiders.
Teams would verse every other team in the NRL once, but would then play teams their division twice. This would make for a 18-round competition, providing much less strain on the players, which has been strongly called for in recent seasons.
The top team in each division after 18 Rounds would make up the top four, while the teams with the next highest points, regardless of division, make up 5th-8th.
But how would it create higher crowd numbers you ask? Well for starters, less games means less workload on the players, meaning less injuries and fatigue, meaning that crowds get to see their sides best XIII every time they go to watch.
It also means fans will be more inclined to attend, as instead of 12 guaranteed home games, there is only nine, making it more important to attend every one you can.
As well, with a divisional system comes rivalry, something that’s been missing in the NRL for a while now and that strives in the NFL and AFL. If your team is battling a divisional rival, fans will be more inclined to attend to spur on their team in order to have a hope of winning the division, which guarantees a finals spot.
But I can hear many of you probably yelling “Equality Quentin! Where’s the equality?!” due to the fact that a team with less points can finish higher than a team with more points.
My answer to that is, that is the beauty of it.
Because of this reason it makes it so great and compelling. This will liven up the divisional rival matches, sparking local derbies and greater fan interest and thus, attendance.
The other benefit from this is also that State of Origin has time to take place on consecutive stand alone weeks (not weekends, the match should still be held on a Wednesday night to continue tradition) either in the middle of the season, or, preferably for me, at the end, where all attention can be given to it without taking any away from the regular season.
Many of you will still probably be shaking your head and rolling your eyes, but I truly believe that this will improve excitement in an increasingly stale NRL, and help to improve much needed fan support.
What do we think Roarers? Am I crazy? Or do you think this will work? Please comment different divisional structures if you believe this wouldn’t work.
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