With the end of the NRL season fast approaching, rugby league fans are dreading the arduous wait for 2018 kick-off over the summer break.
Sure there’s tennis, cricket, NFL and the A-League but those who couldn’t care for anything except the 13-man code are left in the dark for months on end.
What if there was something to whet the appetite of rugby league fans over the summer? Could an NRL Summer League work?
Imagine this: eight teams representing rugby league starved cities go head-to-head over a nine-week period, giving burgeoning rugby league stars an opportunity to trial for an NRL contract.
But no one wants to watch in the 40 degree heat? A Sunday afternoon is nice in July but in January, no thank you.
To combat the harsh Australian sun, every game will be played under lights with kick-off at 8pm local four nights a week. Each match will be split into four 15-minute quarters.
Yes, all the NRL stars like Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Shaun Johnson will be on much deserved breaks but rugby league fans will be introduced to the next batch of stars coming up through the lower grades.
To make this concept as exciting as possible, the game will be nine-a-side to encourage fast, expansive, attacking football. Essentially it will be a glorified version of the Auckland Nines.
Where is the talent going to come from and what will the teams look like?
Brisbane are currently only represented by one team in the NRL and with a population of over two million in a die-hard rugby league town, they deserve more rugby league. For this example we will use the working title of Brisbane Bombers (please don’t slaughter me). The Bombers will draw talent from the Ipswich Jets, Norths Devils, Souths Logan Magpies and Wynnum Manly Seagulls playing home games at Suncorp Stadium.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
How about this for a line-up: 1. Jamayne Isaako (Souths Logan Magpies), 2. Michael Purcell (Ipswich Jets), 3. Matiu Love-Henry (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), 4. Jaydn Su’A (Souths Logan Magpies), 5. Marion Seve (Ipswich Jets), 6. Shaun Nona (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), 7. Travis Waddell (Souths Logan Magpies), 8. Nathaniel Neale (Ipswich Jets), 9. Mitchell Dodds (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
Reserves: Stephen Coombe (Norths Devils), Mitchell Frei (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Delouise Hoeter (Norths Devils), Sam Lavea (Souths Logan Magpies), Todd Murphy (Norths Devils), Daniel Ogden (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Richard Pandia (Ipswich Jets), Sebastian Pandia (Ipswich Jets), Sam Scarlett (Souths Logan Magpies)
Also from the sunshine state are the Rockhampton Bulls comprised the CQ Capras, Mackay Cutters and Papua New Guinea Hunters. They will play all games out of Browne Park giving the rugby league heartland of Central Queensland someone other than the abysmal Capras to cheer for.
1. Stargroth Amean (Papua New Guinea Hunters), 2. Ken Tofilau (CQ Capras), 3. Luke George (CQ Capras), 4. Nixon Putt (Papua New Guinea Hunters), 5. Adex Wera (Papua New Guinea Hunters), 6. Ase Boas (Papua New Guinea Hunters), 7. Wartovo Puara (Papua New Guinea Hunters), 8. Braden Uele (Mackay Cutters), 9. Jack Kavanagh (CQ Capras)
Reserves: Bland Abavu (Papua New Guinea Hunters), Wellington Albert (Papua New Guinea Hunters), Yamba Bowie (Mackay Cutters), Nicho Hynes (Mackay Cutters), Krys Freeman (CQ Capras), Enoch Maki (Papua New Guinea Hunters), Willie Minoga (Papua New Guinea Hunters), Setaimata Sa (Mackay Cutters), Tony Tumusa (CQ Capras)
Joining them will be the Sunshine Coast Dolphins, playing out of Sunshine Coast Stadium. With representatives from the Easts Tigers, Redcliffe Dolphins and Sunshine Coast Falcons they will field a strong team.
1. Jahrome Hughes (Sunshine Coast Falcons), 2. Matthew Soper-Lawler (Sunshine Coast Falcons), 3. Joe Stimson (Sunshine Coast Falcons), 4. Aaron Whitchurch (Redcliffe Dolphins), 5. Justin Olam (Sunshine Coast Falcons), 6. Billy Walters (Easts Tigers), 7. Tom Butterfield (Easts Tigers), 8. Tui Kamikamica (Sunshine Coast Falcons), 9. Mark Nicholls (Easts Tigers)
Reserves: Jack Ahearn (Redcliffe Dolphins), Sam Anderson (Redcliffe Dolphins), Jake Foster (Easts Tigers), Charlie Galo (Easts Tigers), Guy Hamilton (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Matthew Lodge (Redcliffe Dolphins), Jarrod McInally (Easts Tigers), Brandon Smith (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Thompson Teteh (Redcliffe Dolphins)
For those lying south of the Tweed, the perfect storm will emerge with the return of the Bears giving Central Coast rugby league fans something to watch through the Central Coast Bears. Their line-up consists of Newcastle Knights, North Sydney Bears and Wyong Roos players. The Bears will out of Central Coast Stadium taking a fourth home game to Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
1. Luke Sharpe (Wyong Roos), 2. Tom Hughes (Newcastle Knights), 3. Matt Ikuvalu (Wyong Roos), 4. Nat Butcher (Wyong Roos), 5. Abbas Miski (North Sydney Bears), 6. Mitch Cornish (Wyong Roos), 7. Mitch Williams (Wyong Roos), 8. Eloni Vunakece (Wyong Roos), 9. Clayton Williams (North Sydney Bears)
Reserves: Adam Doueihi (North Sydney Bears), Fred Mauala (North Sydney Bears), Nick Meaney (Newcastle Knights), Sitiveni Moceidreke (North Sydney Bears), Piki Rogers (North Sydney Bears), Toby Rudolf (North Sydney Bears), Tom Starling (Newcastle Knights), Justin Toomey-White (Wyong Roos), Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck (Wyong Roos)
Up next are the Northern Territory Rangers formed of the Northern Pride, Townsville Blackhawks, Tweed Heads Seagulls and Wentworthville Magpies. Matches will be played out of Anzac Oval in Alice Springs as TIO Stadium and TIO Traeger Oval are unavailable due to the cricket season.
1. Scott Schulte (Wentworthville Magpies), 2. Gideon Gela-Mosby (Northern Pride), 3. Jack Morris (Wentworthville Magpies), 4. Blake Leary (Townsville Blackhawks), 5. Jonathon Reuben (Townsville Blackhawks), 6. Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks), 7. Kierran Moseley (Townsville Blackhawks), 8. Ben Nakubuwai (Tweed Heads Seagulls), 9. Francis Molo (Townsville Blackhawks)
Reserves: Carlin Anderson (Townsville Blackhawks), Jordan Biondi-Odo (Northern Pride), Carne Doyle-Manga (Tweed Heads Seagulls), John Folau (Wentworthville Magpies), Marcus Jensen (Northern Pride), Lamar Liolevave (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Lindon McGrady (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Cody Nelson (Wentworthville Magpies), Sheldon Powe-Hobbs (Northern Pride)
New Zealand will receive two teams. The first of which being the South Island Scorpions represented by the Burleigh Bears, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles. The Scorpions are based out of AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
1. Brad Abbey (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 2. Reimis Smith (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 3. Rhyse Martin (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 4. Renouf To’omaga (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 5. Peter Schuster (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), 6. Josh Cleeland (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 7. Zac Woolford (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 8. Andy Saunders (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), 9. Luke Page (Burleigh Bears)
Reserves: Tom Amone (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Connor Broadhurst (Burleigh Bears), Jamal Fogarty (Burleigh Bears), Rod Griffin (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Jackson Hastings (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Richard Kennar (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Kurtis Rowe (Burleigh Bears), Hayden Schwass (Burleigh Bears), Matt White (Burleigh Bears)
They will have a rival in the Wellington Orcas made up of the Mt Pritchard Mounties, Newtown Jets and the Warriors. Home games will be held at Westpac Stadium although if unavailable due to cricket, the franchise may have to be relocated to New Plymouth in Taranaki. A rivalry match between the Scorpions and Orcas will be played in Dunedin each year.
1. Zac Santo (Warriors), 2. Leigh Higgins (Newtown Jets), 3. Scott Sorensen (Mounties), 4. Jack Murchie (Mounties), 5. Edrick Lee (Newtown Jets), 6. Mason Lino (Warriors), 7. Erin Clark (Mounties), 8. Makahesi Makatoa (Mounties), 9. Charlie Gubb (Warriors)
Reserves: Kurt Dillon (Newtown Jets), Sam Duggan (Mounties), Royce Hunt (Mounties), Jaimin Jolliffe (Newtown Jets), Alofi Mataele (Mounties), Junior Pauga (Warriors), Reubenn Rennie (Newtown Jets), Jason Schirnack (Newtown Jets), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors)
Finally, the golden west will be represented through the West Coast Pirates. Home games are at nib Stadium with players drawn from Illawarra, Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers as well as representatives from the WARL.
1. Jai Field (Illawarra), 2. Maika Sivo (Penrith Panthers), 3. Josh Kerr (Illawarra), 4. Jake Marketo (Illawarra), 5. Patrick Herbert (Illawarra), 6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers), 7. Mitch Rein (Penrith Panthers), 8. Oliver Clark (Penrith Panthers), 9. Junior Tatola (Wests Tigers)
Reserves: Mason Cerruto (Penrith Panthers), Delane Edwards (Fremantle Roosters), JJ Felise (Wests Tigers), Siliva Havili (Illawarra), Watson Heleta (Wests Tigers), Jordan Jacob (South Perth Lions), Luciano Leilua (Illawarra), Darren Nicholls (Penrith Panthers), Jarrod Thompson (Fremantle Roosters)
Potential expansion could come in the future with areas such as Adelaide, Cairns, Papua New Guinea and Tasmania all deserving NRL representation while cities such as Melbourne, Newcastle, Western Sydney and Wollongong could also receive a summer franchise.
(AAP/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
The NRL Summer League will be a broadcasters dream. Cricket’s Big Bash League has become a behemoth both in terms of TV ratings and attendance. Fox League and Nine Network would jump at the chance to broadcast live rugby league during the summer period and the Summer League could add another dimension to broadcasts of the NRL.
With seven regular season rounds, the top four will compete in the semi-finals before the grand final is to be held at Suncorp Stadium on Australia Day.
There are opportunities for big games to be scheduled on holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s or if the competition was extended into February, possibly Waitangi Day.
An NRL Summer League is a new way to grow the game of rugby league and increase it’s footprint and commercial value. Is it such a bad idea?
Beergardener
Roar Pro
I like the idea. Another idea would be to play it as more of a knockout competition like the Challenge Cup or FA Cup. Could even start it during the NRL finals which would reduce the overall length of the NRL year and appease some of the doubters. E.g. teams from Queensland and NSW Cup and teams from NRL that did not make the finals could begin playing the knockout rounds now, with teams from the finals in those respective competitions joining them after round 1 after having won or been knocked out of their finals. Would add a fairytale element of an old team like a Souths Magpies or Norths Bears beating some higher grade teams, or we could see if Canberra could beat Melbourne (after the grand final) after having not had a chance to play finals I like ideas like a summer league as it would be an easy way to showcase and expand to new areas and try new rules and timeslots.
Andrew
Guest
Where exactly are all of these NRL fans who are going to be left begging for NRL over Summer? They don't even turn up in the Winter? And if they don't turn up in the Winter to watch the best of the best, they are not going to turn up to watch no names. I was at the NSW CUp semi finals at Kogarah two weeks ago - there was literally less than 30 people watching. Friends and family don't even come to watch them sometimes! And that was a Semi Final! And if I am Jerome Hughes (for example), a young exciting player with heaps of potential, why am i wasting time and risking injury, instead of resting my body, or getting it ready for next season. I'm only damaging my chances of playing NRL and making good money. And it isn't like all of these players are sitting around all summer. Clubs do train you know...
Honky Tonk Man
Guest
It wont get off the ground and summer is cricket in any case
Honky Tonk Man
Guest
Didn't have Jimmy Hart (Mouth of the South) spruiking it on his megaphone https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.GIcekt5ku1D5k8edoCXgaAEsDn&w=241&h=186&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7
Mushi
Guest
Every new game changing proposal needs to answer this question : how do I get the NRL teams to not quash this. Without that question answered it is pointless
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Such a concept would need to be demanded by Fox, but I doubt they'd pay anything to broadcast a bunch of 2nd rate players running around. Travel expenses would be huge and crowds would likely be poor so the comp would need funding from somewhere. Hard to see where.
BigJ
Roar Guru
all i can say over this one is that the States try it with the XFL or rather Vince McMahon and the WWE (F at the time) tried it and its was a complete failure. Its pretty much was the same idea, NFL rejects and college up and comers to get a shot at the big time. It failed miserably, Vince loss $100 million over it and he still cries over it at night. Learn for Vince's mistake and dont do this.
WilsonDeeWhy
Guest
I've read this before http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/06/13/how-about-an-nrl-summer-league/
McNaulty
Guest
I like it. One rule change I would make to the nines format is I would allow the 3 forwards (the guys that pack into the nines scrum) to defend anywhere behind the advantage line. Give them slightly different outfits to distinguish them and their eligibility to D anywhere. So in other words you can have 3 markers rather than 2 and they do not have to be square, they can line up anywhere. That would give the defence some flexibility, allow man marking of the big boys and would reduce the one out hit ups, dummy half forward passes and obsession with fast play the ball. It would also create a slightly staggered defensive line.
Justin Kearney
Guest
The origin period is particularly dire. Been some great footy this year though.
Justin Kearney
Guest
Go jonno go!
Your kidding
Guest
The season is too long already. It seems unless tickets are cheap or free, people won't turn up. This mentality is getting firmly entrenched now. Look at what happened last weekend. The NRL bombarded western Sydney with cheap and free ticket offers, it worked and they got a crowd. More than the Broncos ! Shorten the season and keep it tight to create a demand. It doesn't look like a premium sport these days.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's right. Riley's idea, or a variation of it, is great but I'd be pushing for a proper representative season each and every year.
rickie
Guest
I dont think it would work
Johnno
Guest
Can't hardly wait what the, the NRL is in decline at present all the KPI's point to this being one of the worst seasons ever. They had to give away loads of free tickets to origin and cheap tickets slashed even more in last few days before. Crowds are down to, and finals crowds ahem been rubbish it's been in decline this year. The NRL has had a forgetful season..
Sydneysider
Guest
If they were going to try this I would go with the following: 1. Play the games at the suburban venues in Sydney eg. Leichhardt, Kogarah, Brookvale, Belmore, Campbelltown. 2. Play the 9's version rather than the 13 a side version. 3. Play mostly NYC players with a couple of senior team players involved dependent on their workload from the NRL season just finished. The rugby league world cup is a non event for me but I'm sure the Queenslanders will get right into it as they are hosting a semi final and final match. There will also be strong support from the Islander communities in Australia eg. Tonga, Samoa, Fiji etc. Australia v NZ final for me.
Adrian
Guest
no one goes to the game in winter! why would anyone go in summer?
Glen
Guest
I find it sad that there wasn't a single mention of the Rugby League World Cup which will be taking place from October to December this year. The off season is the only real window we have for international footy.
Marshall
Guest
No club is going to agree to their stars getting injured playing for another club then missing the NRL
Craig
Guest
This season has felt long and the mid-section of the season was largely irrelevant. I don't think over exposure is going to help the game, we already have 6 rounds of sub-standard footy in the middle of the year.