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No matter what the NRL does, they can’t please everyone.
The draw has been released for the first week of the 2018 NRL finals series and, as usual, the whining and moaning has begun.
The main point of contention has been the decision to schedule the match between the Melbourne Storm and the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night, with a missed opportunity for a Saturday doubleheader.
But if you look at the draw closely and consider short turnarounds, traffic concerns and booked stadiums, the reasoning becomes a bit clearer.
Friday, September 7 – 7:40pm (AEST)
In a perfect world, the NRL would have loved to have avoided scheduling this game for Friday night, with the Melbourne and Geelong AFL clash kicking off at the exact same time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Unfortunately for them, the Penrith Panthers spoiled their plans when they upset the Storm 22-16.
And when the Sydney Roosters crushed the Parramatta Eels by 34 points to leapfrog Melbourne into top spot, the NRL had little choice but to move the game to Friday night as the Tricolours couldn’t host the Sharks on a five-day turnaround.
Justin Olam of the Storm (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Saturday, September 8 – 5:30pm (AEST)
Many have questioned why the NRL could not move the Panthers and Warriors game to Friday night. And on the surface, it certainly makes sense, given that the All Blacks will be running around at the same time on Saturday against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
It’s not so simple though. If you have ever lived or travelled to New Zealand to tune into any game of rugby league, you would notice that the games kick off two hours later than scheduled here in Australia.
So, if the NRL was to schedule this one for Friday night, the match would start at approximately 9:50pm across the ditch.
For some people this may be no issue, but it would certainly detract some families from tuning into the coverage, given that it would wrap up past 11pm.
Others were disappointed that the game wasn’t made a double-header with the Sharks and Roosters clash at Allianz Stadium, given there will be at least 60,000 empty seats at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
And I see their point. After all, as a Penrith supporter myself, I would have certainly stayed afterwards.
(AAP Image/David Rowland)
But this would have been a logistical nightmare with Swans and Giants game being played at 4:20pm next door at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The NRL will already have to deal with the congestion given that the AFL final wraps up just as people will be arriving for the night’s other main event.
Having an additional 20,000 people from the Panthers and Warriors clash would only add to the chaos.
The only other alternative would be to have had a double-header at ANZ Stadium as the Roosters aren’t entitled to a home final despite finishing in first place.
Rather, like all other Sydney clubs, they too could play at Homebush if directed to do so by the NRL.
Saturday, September 8 – 7:40pm (AEST)
While almost everything has been covered, suggestions the Sharks and Roosters game should have been played on Friday night are simply absurd.
Having defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 30-18 on Sunday afternoon, there is no way the NRL would have subjected Shane Flanagan’s men to a five-day turnaround.
Sunday, September 9 – 4:10pm (AEST)
And the same goes for the Broncos. They smashed the lowly Sea Eagles 48-16 and would have also been facing a five-day rest if they suited up on Friday.
A Saturday night fixture was also out of the question with the Australia and South Africa clash already booked in to be played at Suncorp Stadium at 8pm.
That left Sunday afternoon as the only option left for Wayne Bennett’s men.
You may still be left unsatisfied with the upcoming week’s draw and that’s fine. But in reality, not everyone is going to get what they want.
This year’s finals series shapes as one of the closest in recent history and each game this week is as intriguing as the next.
Whinging about the scheduling won’t help your team progress any deeper into September.
Getting out there and going to the games will.
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