After enjoying the wonderful spectacle of the opening of the new stadium at Parramatta, I watched the post-match joint interview of coaches Brad Arthur and Michael Maguire, and it was refreshing to see two opposing coaches conduct respectful, humble interviews, especially Michael Maguire, whose side had just copped a hiding.
While they both spoke about improving each week and the potential of their respective teams, the question I wanted them to be asked is, “But do you honestly think that you can win the competition?”. The honest answer would surely have been ‘no’ given the strength of the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Storm. Perhaps Parramatta could be added to the list on their day, but the Tigers are a definite no at this point in time.
However, they had provided a finals-like atmosphere and, in the Eels case, a finals-like effort. What if they were in a competition that did not have the Roosters or the Storm or the Dragons (maybe the last one is my bias shining through)? What if they had the chance to showcase their talents in a big end-of-season game?
I believe it’s time to split the competition into two groups of ten, a premier division and a second division. The benefits are many.
Brad Arthur (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
Firstly, it gives the bottom half of our teams the chance to be competitive and actually win something. There is nothing better than seeing your team hold a trophy aloft having won a competition. It doesn’t matter who it was against; the fact you have won is exhilarating for fans.
Think back to the NSWRFL Midweek Cup. Think back to 1997 when there were two competitions and we all watched both, including two State of Origin tournaments and a World Cup Challenge. Wall to wall football and fewer teams to beat to qualify for your finals. Winning the second division would bring with it a big cash prize and then promotion to the premier division.
Secondly, it would allow the league to bring in the new teams that they need and ease them into the big time while attracting greater revenue for the game.
Thirdly, it would mean a return to a top five (in each division) for the finals, suitably rewarding the minor premiers and those in the top three. Finals could be spread out over more weekends, maximising revenue and ensuring teams are at full strength.
Equally important is that it would give us an 18-week competition with a full home-and-away fixture, time off for State of Origin stand-alone weekends – which means no more depleted teams playing in those weeks – and time to strengthen the international game with more fixtures. It would also allow those who construct the draw greater flexibility to avoid the five-day turnarounds.
Players would still be selected from either division for representative duties, so essentially nothing changes except that teams that currently can’t win the competition would be playing for something.
Benji Marshall of the Tigers (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
The arguments against this idea always centre on who would want to be in a second division. True, all supporters would want their team to be in the premier division and winning it. This is a good thing, and it should always be the goal of teams to be at the summit. Having two divisions embraces this challenge and gives the bottom ten teams not only the opportunity to win a competition but also the added incentive to move to the top league.
At present whether my team comes 11th or 12th is of no great relevance. In a two-division competition we would be competing for a trophy.
When I currently sit down to watch the Titans play the Bulldogs – sorry to those supporters, but we need to be realistic – I do so to watch a competitive and enjoyable game of rugby league. I know both sides cannot win the competition, but I still watch.
Maybe in a few years they will rebuild and rise to the top again, but at this point in time they are no hope, yet this doesn’t affect the enjoyment of watching them or, in the case of their supporters, going to the ground, cheering them on and celebrating victory. If I were one of their supporters, the game would have greater meaning if victory might get my team into the top five of the competition we play in rather than just move us away from the bottom of the ladder as is the case now.
Sponsors would still back sides as the advertising and coverage would not change – in fact they might like the idea of being linked with a winning second-division team that is heavily promoted throughout their finals series. Surely they would prefer to be associated with a winning team than one that goes around each week battling to move from 13th to tenth on the ladder.
There’d be more games on TV each week, more finals and greater exposure given the new sides would bring new markets from interstate to the tournament.
While some supporters may be initially reluctant to embrace this system, it is surely better than what we have now, and it means the long-term survival of all of our wonderful teams. I see only positives for fans, sponsors and clubs.
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