This year opened the door for scrutiny over various aspects of the competition, including player welfare, maintaining interest, expansion and development.
Without being another expansion synopsis (there are plenty from Roarers recently), let’s see how it can influence the game now.
For instance, how big can the competition get? An ideal competition would have between eight and 12 teams as a bare minimum and 16 or 20 as a workable maximum, although I did hear that the NRL and network agreement is for at least 16 teams.
Moving past Sydney, where expansion won’t be involved except possible relocation, there are seven one-city teams, which means that realistically there’s only room for up to four or five more.
We need competition flexibility to handle many objectives and this is how we can manage the lot, so split the whole competition up into smaller components.
First, pre-expansion, we need to split the comp into two groups and as there are 16 teams. This would be two groups of eight. There’s been numerous suggestions about how to do this but the best option is one group of Sydney teams and the other group made up of the one-city teams.
This keeps the Sydney tribalism strong as well as enhancing the one-city supporter dynamics. Of course one of the Sydney teams needs to cross over, but we can deal with that later.
With two groups comes two initial competitions. This answers questions of fairness, because all teams play each other, home-and-away, with no dodgy or questionable draws.
Also, in this initial competition, the premier is first past the post. There is no room for semi-finals. This means that all teams are going for it, with no holding back and no second string run-on teams and the premiers have deserved their spot.
Call these two initial competitions Sydney competition (SC) and City competition (CC).
One of the Sydney teams joins the CC until expansion to keep the numbers even. There will be a debate about which team, but my vote would be Manly as they are the perennial pariah, they could spread to include the Central Coast and play some games out of there, effectively becoming one of the expansion teams, and they don’t want to cross the Spit Bridge anyway.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Both the SC and CC start in mid-March and run for 14 weeks, each team playing home-and-away so it is fair.
Also with 14 weeks pre-expansion, it’s a short competition. It is almost the ideal length to maintain standard and not overwork players and there isn’t the need for byes. Both competitions run for three and a half months and if the group numbers expand you can start earlier and have byes. Both competitions finish at the end of June and recognise the top of the ladder as premiers, or minor premiers, with no finals needed.
July is rep month and ladies month so they can have their season stand alone. While some diehards might miss their team, there will be enough games in rep round and NRLW to enjoy and it means they can look forward to the second half of the season with enthusiasm, plus the premiers can have time to enjoy their status.
It gives a month for recovery for many non-rep players. As we’ve seen this year, by Week 14 there will be many tired and sore players. Rugby league is one of the world’s toughest sports. It could also be utilised as a window for transfers.
Unfortunately for this idea in 2021 there is the Olympics, which could affect the standard of the NRLW with some team members involved in Olympic sevens at the same time.
I’m thrilled with the development of the island nations in league and this should be supported and developed. I applaud the stand of players who put representing their nation above Origin.
In rep month, let’s play three Origins, three tier-two internationals and three tier-one internationals, plus the NRLW comp.
Each week or weekend there would be four or five games with Tests, Origin and NRLW, which is enough to keep the fans happy.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
In August a joint NRL competition commences (with players involved in rep round having a mandatory two-week break). This part of the competition can be easily adapted in the future when there is expansion.
For 16 teams, this part would be an eight-game or two-month competition with all teams playing cross over. CS group plays SC group, four of your games are away, and four at home, with semi-finals and the grand final in October.
As a continuation of the earlier competitions you could carry over points from the first part or start anew (as a new competition) with the premiers of first comps (SC and CC) securing a seeding to semi-finals along with the best other four teams into a six-team finals. It is a knock-out with the top one and two teams getting the first-round bye in the finals.
When expansion hits, for up to 20 teams, use a World Cup football group setting format with four groups of up to five, with the premiers and runners-up from early comps (SC and CC) seeded. Again, this results in about six or eight games before finals and the grand final. These groups could be drawn out of a hat during each week of rep round.
This brilliant structure achieves the following things.
• A team committed to excellence each week (not holding back to peak at finals time) is rewarded with the initial premiership and seeding for later.
• A fairer competition without questionable draws where some teams get repeat games with weaker clubs. All teams face each other.
• Recognition of the traditional Sydney tribal dynamic and the newer city competitiveness to kick off each year.
• Great recognition of representative matches.
• A designated time for the NRLW out of the club-round shadow.
• Ample opportunity for mid-season recovery. It looks after players.
• A slot for mid-year transfers if needed or wanted.
• Variety in format to maintain interest through the year.
• Potential of renewed interest if your team flunked out initially as they have a chance to make an impact in the second half of the year.
• It recognises other different dynamics of Sydney and one-team-city teams, plus the financial and support base.
• A variety of marketing opportunities for the NRL coffers.
• A simply awesome concept full of great ideas.
I can dream.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I see that. Well thought out. :thumbup:
Hairy
Roar Rookie
Definitely a valid concern. I thought about that as well. If you think about which games get the most viewership, it is the high quality games and the close games. Fans will switch off if scores blow out, but they will always watch their team play. How many games are actually close and between similar quality teams? If you weigh them up, the two tier system (theoretically of course) will provide more close games and more quality games than our current system. This would then (theoretically) provide greater viewership and be of greater value to broadcasters. I think it would also boost game attendance and bring games back to the suburbs. I do think this is long odds to get an administration bold enough to do that, even considering the current one. But we do need to keep thinking about quality and closeness of games rather than just pure expansion.
Greg
Roar Pro
Yeah, my only issue with the draw currently is that often traditional rivals or local Derby's only meet once. And often when they do it is a terrible timeslot. In my opinion they need to maximize these games that you know will be sellouts.
Greg
Roar Pro
Rivalry/geography, the two typically go together. Ultimately just trying to create the groups that would attract the biggest crowds. The 4 western Sydney teams was the easiest grouping. Geographically it works plus there are a few old rivals there. Then 3 Qld teams and Since Melbourne typically always draw a crowd in Qld I've put them in the Qld group. Then it came down to a few pairs. Dragons/Sharks, Roosters/Souths, Manly/Knights. Leaving Raiders/Warriors needing to be paired as to not break up another pair. From there figured geographically Manly/Knights pair better with the city teams and Canberra with the more Southern teams. Plus there is/was a bit of history between Manly and Souths.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'd like a World Cup system of groups as well as conference style, break up the year and add interest along with the element of chance.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I don't mind that idea, always open to alternative views. I'd be interested to know the thought behind the particular groups you ended up with. Rivalry? Common interests? Seems to be a bit of geography there.
Hairy
Roar Rookie
This actually ends up looking pretty similar to current draw to me, only they switch it up a bit more and try to even draw with better teams playing more better teams. Perhaps this could be a world cup style group system. Play each team and the top ranked teams go to a new pool. Bottom ranked teams go to a separate pool. Cumulative points, but rankings reset each time. Would be hard to schedule but would be exciting. Would work better with two conferences.
Greg
Roar Pro
I agree that top 8 is probably to many but it does two things. The most obvious and important is revenue. The 2nd is it overcomes the uneven draw. Sharks this year made it but probably didn't deserve to. They notched up some wins against lesser teams. But what about the team that comes 7th but had to play all the top teams twice. When 5th and 6th had the top teams once and bottom teams twice. If a team in the finals doesn't deserve their place, they wont go far in the finals.
Greg
Roar Pro
Firstly, I think we need to stop thinking there needs to be a fair/even draw. I don't think it is possible. Even if it were a 30 round full home and away season the draw would not actually truly be fair as some teams would face a typically strong team when they are full strength, whilst others would face that same team but when struggling with injuries. The argument would be well that is the luck of the draw. In a competition where half the teams make finals, I don't think an even draw is needed. A team that is not truly worthy (e.g. Sharks 2020 (sorry sharks fans)) would be found out week 1 of the finals anyway. So therefore I think maximising derbys is most important in a draw. I don't like the 2 conference system. The travel for the non-Sydney conference and the need to move a Sydney team into the non-Sydney conference are too big a hurdle for me. Additionally, there is no need to for a system where 2 distant parts of Sydney eg Penrith and Cronulla are considered a local derby, because it just isn't. Ive suggested before however 4 (unofficial) conferences. For mine the best way to organise the 4 are: 1. Wests, Parra, Penrith Canterbury 2. Manly, Newcastle, Roosters, Souths 3. Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cowboys, Melbourne 4. St George, Cronulla, Canberra, New Zealand * I wanted a way to pair Melbourne with Warriors but couldn't find one I liked. And you would then lose out on the whole Storm in Qld thing. * ive also considered swapping Roosters and Souths with Canberra and New Zealand, but wanted to try to avoid any 2 planes trips and having Canberra and Newcastle together. This would then result in a 22 round draw. Teams would be play every team once round 1-15. (host team would swap each year). Play your own conference again rounds 16-18. Play one other conference again rounds 19-22 (this other conference would change each year so if 1 played 2 twice in 2021, 1 would then play 3 twice in 2022). I think if the NRL expanded to 18 teams you could similarly make conferences of 6. Play every team once (17) and your conference twice (5), still get 22 rounds. I do like how you have broken the draw up with Womens and rep games. Im not fussed if this were to happen in a rep month or 3 different stand alone weekends, but I prefer my draw.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
It's all possible Hairy, my concern would be the broadcaster attitude towards a bottom tier group. Thus I suggest a different split, and it's only for the first half of the year. It would actually enhance days like ANZAC day, as we now have both the Dragon v Rooster match and Storm v Warriors is gaining momentum as a second. So you'd have a special event each group. You could also up the broadcaster $$ with Fox having one group, Nine the other.
Hairy
Roar Rookie
I believe the problem with such a large competition is the available pool of quality players and an overall drop in standard of play. It would also widen the gap between the best and the worst which we saw exacerbated this year perhaps more than ever. It's not fun to watch a team get flogged and it may affect the broadcast deal. I am not a fan of locking Sydney away from the rest of the competition either - what about ANZAC day games, or the battle of Brookvale etc. However, expansion should still be on the cards, as should making the Sydney clubs more financially viable. The way to do this could be a two-tiered system with promotional and relegation rather than a two-conference system. Could still have 20 teams with 2 no. 10 team tiers and similar representative periods as discussed above. This is only 18 rounds but the season could be increased with bye rounds and rep games such as Origin, a Pacific Island cup, a longer NRLW season, City vs Country and All-star games. The 2nd tier teams would have reduced operating costs by having a salary cap 60% of the tier 1 teams. This would allow expansion teams to be more viable initially and allow the financially weaker of the Sydney clubs to survive. This split is possible to do on the current budget until a better broadcast deal could be arranged. The main benefit of this would be the best players in the game spread across less teams creating more top quality teams and a higher standard of rugby league. There are usually 4 standout teams in the comp and when they play each other it is outstanding, finals quality footy. Take the best players from the bottom 6 teams and put them into the top 10 teams and there could be 6-8 teams of that standard with the worst team being a current top 8 contender quality. Similarly, when the bottom 4 teams play each-other, the standard of footy is lower but it is usually still exciting because the games are close and each team and its fans have some hope of winning. So the games in the Tier 2 competition could be just as enthralling and give fans of some of the struggling clubs more reason to turn on the TV and go to games. The tribalism and history of clubs and their links to and participation in the community should still ensure Tier 2 teams are well supported. There will also be 2 finals series as a result and the closer competitions will ensure fans are still invested later on in the season. Players will get additional chances for silverware as well. Marquee player allowances in the Tier 2 competition would encourage investors to propel a team into the Tier 1 comp, would bring more money into the game and give Tier 2 clubs of hope of promotion. Promotion/relegation play-off games every two years could create new intrigue and ensure that any team gets a second chance before being relegated. Promoted teams would be able to sign speak to and sign any player, regardless of contract situation. Squad sizes could be reduced by establishing feeder links between the Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams so players could be swapped as needed to cover injury or gain experience. Current NSW/QLD comps would remain. A player draft could also be looked at again with Tier 2 teams getting first choice to help push them up into Tier 1 contention. This would be difficult to implement though and may not be accepted by all clubs or the players association initially. It would more readily allow expansion while increasing the quality and closeness of the competition. It could even allow expansion beyond 20 teams with two 12 team comps a possibility heading into the future with new foreign teams from the Pacific Islands, Japan, Europe or America a possibility, bringing even further revenue.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
My first grand final was 1964 so I saw the last St.George treble of 64-66. It will be a new century for the St.George part of the joint venture who are due for a period of dominance that only Parramatta has had since Saints did it. Souths did it in 53-55 but the 1955 win was the dogiest premiership in history.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
easy draw with two games against the Dragons .. gee, thanks Tim. Enjoy that while it lasts 'coz we are coming back!!
Paul
Roar Guru
yep, that old Tigers jumper was pretty special I reckon.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I like the 20 teams playing each other once so no one gets the easy draw with two games against the Dragons and/or Broncos. Add Perth representing Western Australia, Adelaide representing Central Australia, The Central Coast Bears and The Brisbane All Golds playing in Yellow and Black. This makes up for the loss of the best uniform of all, The Balmain Tigers in Orange and Black.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I did say almost everybody.. :laughing: :thumbup:
Paul
Roar Guru
Everything you've said here makes a tonne of sense. Now all we have to do is convince V'landys and co to do it.
Paul
Roar Guru
Maybe you haven't but there are more than a few games that are played when it's that hot https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/21/raiders-handle-heat-to-beat-travelling-warriors/
Nat
Roar Rookie
I'd let you borrow the spoon for all that salt max but you have plenty of your own.
max power
Guest
you and your bronco mates can just keep brisbane for yourselves. which wa one of the main reasons you started super league - to get rid of the crushers . enjoy your spoon - biggest club in the land with every advantage and you come last