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An idea has been floating around my head for the last week or so now – relegation. That’s right, relegation.
Every year we have a team that performed well below the standard set by the rest of the NRL.
Last year two teams had the same amount of points at the bottom of the table, the Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers, yet neither was punished for lowering the lofty standard set by grand finalists the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys.
Only recently have I started to pay attention to the Super League, I never thought the quality was good enough. However, the quality has been slowly improving and this may be because of their promotion-relegation system.
The system is quite harsh and will upset fans of the relegated team(s), but the Super League is living proof that it gives teams an extra kick up the bum to play harder. Surely teams playing harder has to be better for the entertainment and quality of the game?
There are several pros and cons to the system but the Super League is proof that it does work in the long term. Several of the arguments against are simply that it is too harsh on fans to have a constantly changing landscape in the NRL every year, as well as no long-term security, which may lead to coaching dismissals and loss of sponsorship.
However, I will propose a system and argue its benefits.
Every year there are two great competitions that help grow rugby league around Australia and engage local fans, the Queensland Cup and the NSW Cup.
I would have the tournaments run as usual and then the two premiers in their respective competitions would battle it out for an NRL promotion spot. Then the two teams at the bottom of the table, for example the Tigers and Knights, would play a game dubbed the ‘Wooden Spoon Cup’. The loser is relegated.
It is a brutal world isn’t it?
One team’s loss is another’s gain, every year it would give the youngsters in both competitions the extra push to realise their dream of making it into the NRL. This in turn would most likely push more young Aussies to give rugby league a go with the chance of playing at the highest level.
This improved following by our younger generation would boost TV ratings, and thus boost sponsorship money and improve the financial security and profitability of our game.
What do you reckon, Roarers?
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