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Leicester City continue to let the champagne flow, but the dust is finally settling on another Premier League season.
The success of the English Premier League around the world is amazing. Nearly anyone and everyone that loves the sport of football keeps up with the EPL, and we need more of that in the NRL.
The two sports and leagues are very different in a variety of ways, and to even think about comparing the two codes could be seen as somewhat preposterous.
But if rugby league wants to think about engaging the fans and really shaking things up, then look no further than the EPL, or football in general.
Now it goes without saying that what you’re about to read could be seen as drastic. I am fully aware that these changes will almost never take place in the NRL. But wouldn’t it be interesting if they were.
A second division
The Newcastle Knights are setting themselves up for another disappointing season at the bottom of the table. The Wests Tigers are hovering around that area again, and clubs like the Sea Eagles and Roosters are having a new experience being down with the cellar dwellers.
I don’t think the fans would mind being relegated at the end of the season, for finishing in the bottom two, and having a better campaign the next season against less fancied opponents.
On the flip side, there are plenty of clubs in the ISP and ISC competitions that could make the step up to first grade and challenge the big teams.
It also ends the ridiculous notion of receiving a wooden spoon for coming last. Being relegated should motivate teams to fight for survival, instead of accepting that their only consequence is an imaginary piece of cutlery.
Players on loan
I’m a big fan of players being able to go on loan to other clubs, because they aren’t getting game time at their current club, but wish to remain with them in the future.
We saw an example of this through the signing of Ryan Morgan by the Melbourne Storm. At the end of his contract with the Storm, he will go back to play with the Parramatta Eels.
It would work most effectively with young stars stuck behind club stars. If not for constant injuries to Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, I’m sure Melbourne would have utilised loaning Cameron Munster so he can develop as a player without leaving for another club.
Other players like Mania Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Sam Williams (Canberra Raiders), Lachlan Maranta (Brisbane Broncos), and Joe Burgess (Sydney Roosters) could really benefit and further their careers through being loaned.
Also clubs like Newcastle could utilise the talent in other clubs reserve grades to try and fire up their season.
International break (Origin break)
During the EPL season, whenever there is a host of international games to be played, they take two weeks off. If they are able to knock two weeks off for a few international friendlies, then why can’t we have stand alone weekends for Origin?
Now this topic could be an article on its own. Stand alone weekends have been debated over for a few years now, as match quality slowly decreases the round before origin.
Clubs like Brisbane and North Queensland are heavily disadvantaged during the Origin period, both clubs were beaten by bottom-eight teams before Origin one.
The weekend after Origin also brings issues, with players either being rested, or required to back up only two or three days later.
I can not agree with everything the EPL does, and I will always back the idea of having a salary cap in the NRL. The Premier League table looks nearly the same every season, with the big teams rarely being beaten by the teams in a relegation fight.
There is plenty already to like about the NRL, and if there wasn’t then we wouldn’t all be here on this page. But there is so much more that could be done to improve it.
Rugby league is a great game, the greatest game of all, and we need to keep innovating and updating it so it can continue to grow.
Do you think these changes would benefit or ruin the NRL?
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