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Due to my extreme passion for rugby league and the NRL, I can’t help but feel frustration with the way that the league is managed.
I have written article after article, and worry about sounding like a broken record, but I feel as though discussing expansion and the format and scheduling of the league is essential in developing the code.
For starters, expansion. Many will argue that expansion is not yet viable due to the fact that there are current clubs that are dependent on the NRL’s management.
But in the NRL is currently reaching a point in time where the decisions they make will ultimately affect how popular and how much interest they can create in Australia for years to come.
I’m going to be plain about this, the NRL have to expand in order to strengthen the code. It’s just a given. People who live in areas such as Perth, Central Coast, Adelaide and Wellington will soon be completely lost to other sports if the NRL doesn’t act.
The next two teams that need to be introduced, probably in 2018 when the TV rights deal is up for negotiation, are the West Coast Pirates bid and the Brisbane Bombers bid (although that team name really needs to be changed). This move will consolidate Brisbane and create a strong derby and rivalry in Brisbane and help bring in new fans.
The move to Perth is also essential as a city like Perth is more than deserving of a team. AFL-city or not, a city the size of Perth needs a team. The NRL can’t expect to increase exposure and increase fans and members of it doesn’t introduce teams into places where they’re aren’t currently.
The next expansion, which will probably be around 2022 or so, needs to be in either Central Coast or Wellington, but one that is definitely need is Adelaide. Many will argue that Adelaide is an AFL-city and will never support a rugby league team but the fact is if the NRL ever wants to become a ‘national sport’ and increase numbers in popularity and grassroots juniors nation-wide, it needs to move into areas that have a relatively big population.
Adelaide has proven that they are sports-mad and have the ability to strongly support a team. The NRL needs them. Wellington and Central Coast should also be considered as they will also help to increase numbers in popularity.
The second issue I feel the NRL needs to address is the format in which the NRL is ran and scheduled. Firstly, 26 rounds, plus a completely packed pre-season and Origin period, as well as the international matches at the end of the season, is way too much for players. The amount of injuries seen this year already is too high and takes excitement and star power away from matches.
Before I have proposed a divisional-system, with four divisions made up four teams in a 16-team competition.
If the NRL were to increase to an 18-team competition however, perhaps three divisions of six teams could be viable.
Division 1
Broncos, Bombers, Cowboys, Titans, Knights and Manly
Division 2
Roosters, Souths, Dragons, Sharks, Warriors and Storm
Division 3
Eels, Bulldogs, Panthers, Tigers, Raiders and Pirates
This would obviously follow the system that you play each team in your division/conference twice (2×5=10 games) and the every other team once (1×12=12 games), making a 22-round competition which I feel the players would much prefer. This also allows for stand-alone Origin and representative weekends.
The NRL could go as far into the divisions as allowing the top two in each progress to the finals to make the top six, with the two final spots being wildcard spots. If not, they can just do the top team in each group to make the top three and the next five positions being the next highest teams.
This would create tribalism, and actual rivalries in the NRL, something that is lacking so much nowadays. Knowing your team is coming up against another in the division and potentially vying off for that much needed second spot will generate higher crowds as people feel they need to attend the game and get behind their team. The fact that most teams in each divisions are close to another geographically helps this.
What happens when we move to 20 teams you ask? Well that’s another issue for another day.
But these changes need to be implemented in the NRL before the game loses potential fans and juniors to other sports.
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