Prime time favourites Brisbane may have again avoided a five-day turnaround but they expect a members backlash after missing out on a Sunday game when the NRL unveiled the draw’s final six rounds.
The Broncos benefited from their status as TV ratings winners when the NRL announced their final draw on Monday after input from broadcasters.
They are one of 10 teams who will avoid the dreaded five-day turnaround from round 21-26, playing all but one of their matches on either a Thursday or Friday night.
Brisbane will play a Saturday afternoon away game against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 22.
But Broncos boss Paul White expected plenty of heat from members after Brisbane missed out on a Sunday home game for another year.
“Am I disappointed we are under-represented in Sunday afternoon football? Yes I am,” White said.
“It just gives us a bit of diversity in our scheduling and gives families the chance to come to the game.
“Members are obviously going to be disappointed.
“I do want to let our members know that we fight very hard for diversity in the draw.”
Unlike Brisbane, Canberra (round 25), the Gold Coast (round 24), Melbourne (round 22), Parramatta (round 21), Penrith (round 21) and the Warriors (round 24) will each endure a five-day turnaround in the final six rounds.
It takes the season’s total of five-day turnarounds to 25, down from 43 last year, much to the delight of the Rugby League Players Association.
“The significant decrease in five-day turnarounds is a result of the RLPA and the NRL working together to achieve positive outcomes that will benefit both the welfare of players and the game as a whole,” RLPA general manager of player relations, Clint Newton said.
“This is a great example of what can be achieved if there is a united approach by the NRL, clubs and players to issues that arise in the game.
Brisbane will begin their final six game stretch at ANZ Stadium against a Parramatta side backing up five days after their round 20 clash with Wests Tigers.
The Broncos then have an eight day wait until their next match, the away clash to the Titans.
Their regular run of prime time games in the last six rounds ensures Brisbane will be fresh for an expected finals campaign.
Brisbane have been allocated Friday night games against Parramatta (round 21), defending premiers Cronulla (round 23) and St George Illawarra (round 24).
The Broncos’ run home is completed by Thursday night games against Parramatta (home) and rivals North Queensland in Townsville.
White said Brisbane realised they dominated prime time once again but insisted the NRL club had not requested it.
“Broadcasters largely have control over the draw,” he said.
“A lot is made about our over-representation of Thursday and Friday night time slots but I want to let our members know we are out there fighting for them and hopefully next year we will represent in Sunday afternoon and perhaps Saturday night football.
“My fellow CEOs understand we don’t want to take that time slot (Thursday, Friday nights) each and every week.”
The NRL’s schedule release also heralds the introduction of free-to-air television matches across all four days (Thursday-Sunday) of the final five rounds.
Highlights of the final six rounds include Cooper Cronk playing his last regular season game for Melbourne against Canberra in round 26.
Jara W
Guest
Yep. Held onto it for a few months, got the general publics hopes up, then onsold it to fox. Bit odd this didn't happen behind closed doors. Verges on profiteering. I remembering reading somewhere that they were only going to sell the first 20 rounds. But haven't seen anything on that since.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Yep. They travel on Saturday, go to the game, stay overnight, and travel home on Sunday. Day games are also absolutely awful in Townsville. Between the humidity and the year round heat it's a punishment. Can't wait to get up there :D
Stu
Guest
Broncos fans absolutely love Sunday afternoon games, and if the fans got to vote, the majority would go for Sunday. But who cares what the fans want.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Had a look and it was a touch over 37k not 40
Jara W
Guest
Take it over Friday night almost every time. Every time with the family at least. In a side note I think the NRL are missing a trick not having a game earlier on the Saturday as well.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Last Sunday at Suncorp I can remember they got 37k plus against the tigers. It was our only home Sunday match of the year and the members mail had it circled for about a month before hand. The game had a dress theme and everything. Unfortunately I was stuck in smelly old Dubbo at the time so couldn't make it. Game wasn't too pretty with the tigers getting a bit of a talking to but the atmosphere looked terrific.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I think the last Sunday arvo game we had was against the tigers, a traditiaonally low draw(low for Brisbane being 24-30k), and it got over 40k. i understand 9s reasoning behind wanting to maximise ratings after shelling out all that money but the NRL needs to realise having Brisbane with no home games on Sunday and way too many on Thursdays hurts the NRL average significantly. On another note I don't appreciate the tone this article took in singling out Brisbane for having no 5 day turnarounds when 9 other teams also have none. Especially the space allotted to a non issue given that it's about a legitimate issue.
Agent11
Guest
It's a nicer time too, more family oriented crowd. Grab some lunch before the game on caxton st or somewhere around paddington or milton.
Emcie
Roar Guru
whatever happened to the FTA saturday game they were promising? Did they sell it off to Fox?
Big Daddy
Guest
The NRL don't want any football on Saturdays,Sunday's. They are so greedy with getting TV money and channel 9 are running the rugby league draw. Nothing will change while they get broadcast dollars.
Agent11
Guest
Nine's ratings for NRL have been down this year (a few certain code warriors will attest to that) so hopefully it sends them and the NRL a message.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The Cows actually ask for Sat night games though, because it is what their fans want.
Matt H
Roar Guru
They have asked but get knocked back. Make no mistake they would get 45,000 on a Sunday afternoon against a decent team.
spruce moose
Guest
I think the most ridiculous aspect of the NRL scheduling was that the Cowboys game on Saturday afternoon was the FIRST afternoon game at Townsville for 7 years. Disgraceful.
Chris
Roar Pro
I wonder why the Broncos haven't just got Wayne Bennett on this. All he has to do is have a moan about it at a press conference and the NRL will fall over themselves to do it for him. But in saying that, the atmosphere at Suncorp at daytime is phenomenal, as a neutral fan it's awesome. The double headers each year are fantastic in the late afternoon, and the England vs Samoa four nations game a few years ago was amazing due to the daytime atmosphere.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Yep , like so many people , in charge of so many things , that mean so much to so many , their only concern is "the now" and not the future .
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
I agree with this. I think the Broncos are sincere in their wish for more Sunday games.
Rellum
Roar Guru
People complain that the Broncs have too many Friday night games. The Broncs themselves say they want less Friday games and more Sunday games so you some how try and conflate this issue to a new team in Brissy. If the Broncs got what they asked for and had a few Sunday games, that means more Friday games for everyone else. Ch9 is the issue here not the Broncos. The sooner the NRL takes full charge of the draw the better, with rules in place that all teams get at least two games on Friday and two in Sunday.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Secondly, I don’t think 9 , Fox and the NRL care if they play in an empty stadium if the TV dollars roll in . By the way - this is absolutely correct and it's absolutely the wrong attitude.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Thanks OB. We genuinely had an absolute ball. The kids don't care about the struggling Wallabies pack, or poor discipline, or misplaced passes. They just love being out there and taking it all in! And then at the end of the game we were all allowed onto the field for a run around. It was so much fun.