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?
baldie
Guest
Imagine if the storm came last. Would set NRL back in this country by 30 years.
Red Dog
Guest
Good reply, I like it ?
Patrick Sills
Roar Guru
Keeping in mind I won't be sending this to Todd Greenberg and it's an article written to hear people's thoughts, I think you'll find what i'm smoking is fairly boring, and not worth the price of petrol to come smoke it
Baracuda
Guest
Tom of Brisbane Population density England - 406.9 per km2 (that's more than India, itself having 23 times the population of England) Australia - 2.8 per km2
Baracuda
Guest
Manchester City's squad is roughly worth every NRL squad 4 times over!
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
NRL compared to Premier League. Apple to apple??????
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
The soccer types keep banging on about this, but I can't see how pro/rel would work in Australia in any sport. Distances too big, population too small
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Roger, what exactly do u mean by a fair draw for all teams?! I suggest to you that its impossible to achieve a truly fair draw and that the goal shouldnt be for fairness per se, it should be to maximise crowds.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Regarding an NRL 2nd division - what current problem does this proposal actually solve?! I cant see it Patrick, what am I missing?
Dimethoate
Roar Rookie
The sport needs integrity which can be obtained by the following changes 1)Full disclosure for all player payments. 2)Fair and equitable draw for all teams. I)Full home/away draw or lottery or bidding process to determine opposing team and time of game. II)International/origin break for ALL teams. 3)Review the draw for the finals as the current top 8 schedule rewards mediocrity and results in the games during the regular season taking leas importance. 4)Full disclosure of all players injuries. 5)Full disclosure of all team changes after the naming of teams on Tuesday. I)Final team to be named before midday on game day. II)Expand playing team squad to 18 with a substitute available during matches to replace injured players.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Sorry but Origin has been played over the full week. In the 80s it was played on a Tuesday night. We've had Sunday Origin and a Monday Origin, I think.Wednesday isn't what suits the teams, players and fans, it is what the broadcaster wants.
duecer
Guest
That's quite true, but not all the fans stay with them and that is the problem with this system in Australia. Football is dominant in England, so there is always another team not too far away to support, but if the likes of Melbourne Storm went down, it will be a disaster - they aren't really getting big crowds now. The other problem is the loss of revenue is teams go down, most teams, as is typical worldwide, struggle to make money - what would happen to the teams that are struggling if they go down, how would they make up the money?
Baracuda
Guest
Dinosaur The trouble is, relegation puts pressure on referees. There are powerful teams in the Premier League & media have to deal with relegation at any cost.
KnightsFan
Roar Pro
As a Knights fan I would care greatly if we were relegated. However I agree with you about having an International break. I would have 3 rep rounds where we can play state of origin and Internationals.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Those businessman would end up sponsoring the other Brisbane teams as well. The NRL could have double headers at Suncorp, with The Broncs playing in the game prior to the big match!
Red Dog
Guest
A lot a QLD businessmen would have to go broke before that happens .
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Ken - if the Broncs ever finished in the bottom 2, then the rest of the comp would need to be ridiculously talented. There would still be RL in Brisbane on Friday nights - the Broncs would be playing a second division team, and the rest of the country would be spared from having to watch a mediocre outfit perform. Thinking logically (if there was a second division) then there would not be just the one Brisbane team. You would probably end up with three.
Last Straw
Guest
What happens if Manchester United gets relegated, which they have in the past..........and they come back and win championships and their supporters stay with them. Don't be so shortsighted! Strength comes from working through tough challenges not being guaranteed security. Promotion and relegation is the foundation of a competition that grows in quality and depth.
Ken
Guest
What happens when the Broncos get relegated? No RL in Brisbane in Brisbane (or on Friday nights) until they get back. Doesn't seem feasible in our setup.
Last Straw
Guest
A second division would be a great way to bring new clubs into the NRL, instead of directly into the first division. An NRL2 league with 10 clubs could readily be established just based on the regions and clubs already expressing interest in joint the NRL. In doing this I would give notice now to the clubs that the next media rights deal will be based on a 12 team NRL and a 12 team NRL2 league with the bottom 4 clubs being related to NRL2 at the end of the last year of the current rights deal and eight new clubs joining NRL2. Breach of salary cap in the interim will be automatic relegation. With proper marketing and promotion, a fairer 22 round draw where all teams play each other home and away, and room for stand alone state of origin and international weekends due to the shorter NRL season, plus the added excitement that promotion and relegation struggles would bring to the season, I think it's a no brainer. They just need the foresight, planning and courage to do it. It would provide the NRL with a key point of differentiation in elite Australian sport that just might lift rugby league to a new level.