Splitting the NRL competition into two conferences would be unfair for some teams, according to former Kangaroos star Gorden Tallis.
A radical proposal to isolate two ‘bubbles’ of teams, in NSW and Queensland, for a 14-week regular season is believed to be gathering steam at league central.
One conference would include eight Sydney-based teams, while the remaining eight sides would be quarantined in the sunshine state.
There are suggestions points earned from the two rounds of games completed before the coronavirus-enforced shutdown could be scrapped.
St George Illawarra, based one hour south of Sydney in Wollongong, could be asked to cross the border along with Newcastle Knights.
Each team would face each other twice before a four-week finals series, taking the entire season to 18 weeks, not including State of Origin.
The idea is understood to be one of a handful of scenarios the innovation committee will consider when it meets on Thursday.
Only two of the six teams who won their opening two games of the season come out of Sydney: Parramatta and Penrith.
The other four are Newcastle, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne, all four of whom would be allocated to the non-Sydney conference.
Tallis, who played 16 Tests for Australia, is not convinced by the two-conference plan.
“I don’t believe in two conferences. I really don’t,” he said on Fox League Live.
“If you’re a Queenslander, and you’re going to go to Sydney and play in front of an empty stadium, then you’ve got to go.
“Everybody’s got to play each other once, but there can’t be two conferences.
“I don’t think it’s fair on some teams that would be in the conferences, because one conference will be weaker than the other. There’s no doubt about that.”
Tallis also dismissed the notion of resuming the season with State of Origin, saying that after a long lay-off it would dilute the standard of the rivalry.
“What makes Origin so special is the standard that it’s played at, what the players put their body through,” he said.
“And it’s the best product that we can get on our television set. So you don’t want to dilute that by not having everybody fit, fighting and raring to go.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That's what I was thinking. So what if you split it? If half the comp is at risks its all over anyway.
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
Big deal. It's not a perfect world. Has G.Tallis not noticed?
Nico
Roar Rookie
One aspect that hasn't really been written about is what happens if restrictions are relaxed, the NRL restarts and then we have a second wave of infections and restrictions that are worse than the first wave? I could imagine getting through to round 15 and then had to shut down again. I think for this reason if the NRL restarts the season they should try and get through it as fast as possible, including midweek games if at all possible. I think they also need to maximise the profits they can make from their product while a playing window is open, and that probably means restarting the season with state of origin, even if that does mean a somewhat diluted product
Rob
Guest
Brisbane, Melbourne and the Cowboys have played against each other more than any other clubs since 1995. They do more kilometres than any Sydney teams year in year out. The Officials are Sydney heavy and the GF is played in Sydney. The Cowboys play plenty of 5-6 day turn arounds games while clocking up frequent flyer points. It cost a North Queenslander support more than $1500 a ticket to attend a Grand final but it might cost a Sydney club supporter $200. Cry me a river. The N in NRL is still very much NSW.
The Nemesis
Guest
How is it going to work if one camp gets a coronavirus outbreak?....that's the season over. There's a long way to go with getting this coronavirus under control before we start thinking of desperate measures to watch some footy.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
If the 2 rounds are "scrapped", will players' games & points scored also be wiped from the records? However more importantly I have made a good start in my tipping comp. Will that count or will I be penalised & everybody go back to zero?
Davico
Roar Pro
Most unfair to Melbourne?? Have you seen how many Queenslanders they have in their squad? Surely it is most unfair to the Warriors by a MILE!! Even if they get this off the ground are they: a) Going to be let in the country if they are not citizens or PR's b) Have to stay locked in a hotel for 14 days alone, so no training etc. And I am not even a fan of the Warriors!
Davico
Roar Pro
My thoughts exactly. It is hilarious how much Queenslanders still play the downtrodden oppressed, even when they get everything go in their favour. It is not just the Broncos who get the same turnaround every week, the Cowboys pretty much play every game in the Saturday 5:30 or 7:30 time slots!
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm also wondering why commentators refer to players as being from another Club, often a few seasons after they've actually moved? That might have meant something decades ago when most played their careers for one team, but means nothing these days - just look at James Maloney!
Paul
Roar Guru
most unfair on Melbourne? My Dragons and the Knights would have to travel north and moving one state these days is the same as moving across two. I'd also suggest this has little to do with fairness but a desire to get something out of a wrecked season. I for one don't give a toss what my blokes have to do to get back on the paddock ( and I'm pretty sure neither do they), we both want the same thing - to play & see some footy.
mushi
Roar Guru
They're all Ch#$ting Runts according to Gordie
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Tallis seems to be unaware of the risks of people jumping on planes and travelling about the country , it's what they're trying to avoid to allow the comp to restart.
Paul
Roar Guru
So right now, this is a rumour-about-an-idea-that-is-being-considered-by-a-sub-committee-as-part of-a-series-of-ideas-that-may-or-may-not-be-sent-back-to-the-Clubs-and-the-NRL-for-consideration And Gordie doesn't like it. If Gordie was a rugby player, it might be suggested he stuck his head in too any scrums. Maybe that's the same as working for Fox League.
Big Daddy
Guest
I'm waiting for James Bracey to say when East's meet Canberra , the much awaited "grand final" replay. That's the one that makes no sense at all.
Walter White
Guest
I don't like the conference idea, never have but these are strange times. One thing is for certain, this is most unfair on Melbourne. Melbourne would lose 2 wins Melbourne would have to move 2 states so nothing near home ditto the Warriors though they will probably lose out no matter what you do. I am keen for the season to restart -safely, but whatever ideas we come up with, it has to be fair for everyone, not just fair for Sydney.
Nat
Roar Guru
Well, this is rare. I actually agree with every part of that. I can see the benefits of split conferences and that diversification may help if one camp had a virus breakout. I understand the idea of launching the season with SOO as a spectacle but 100% it will dilute the quality. We want our best players match fit and in form, ideally in front of 50k punters. Make SOO the game/s that opens the gates to the public again.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Gordon was a good player. his commentary not so much
Greg
Guest
It's not fair, but neither is the current draw. Some teams get to play the weaker teams twice while others only get to play them once. Some teams have more 5 day turnarounds than others, some teams (like Gordon's old team) get to play in the same timeslot every week.