In addition to the sterling performance put up by the Maori team, a few spicy fracas between very willing participants and an engrossing battle between Andrew Fifita and Jordan Rapana that may well be settled elsewhere down the track, Saturday’s NRL All-Stars match also threw up an interesting proposition.
CommBank Stadium hosted what was a brilliant start to the new season and the Maori side were simply too good across the four quarters, with the rain doing little to take the gloss of one of the NRL’s showpiece events.
And it was those four quarters that piqued my interest on a night were we saw the best of Kodi Nikorima, Joseph Tapine and Patrick Herbert and a little less from a few of the much heralded Indigenous All-Stars.
With some of the biggest global sports using a four-quarter structure and the most famous of those looming on Monday morning Australian time in the form of the Super Bowl, perhaps there was never a more perfect moment to re-consider the time parameters that apply to a game of rugby league.
Sitting back and enjoying the first taste of the men’s game in Australia for 2022, it appeared clear that the NRL All-Stars match benefited from the four-quarter structure.
Of course, it is something far from foreign to rugby league, with cup competitions of the 20th century using the format consistently, mostly in consideration of players who backed up on a Wednesday night after a weekend fixture.
However, with the modern game predominantly played using two 40 minute halves, barring a drinks break in oppressive conditions, the four quarters played on Saturday night did come across as something quite different and interesting.
The game appeared to “re-set” at each interval, providing opportunities for coaches to alter tactics far more easily than relying on the irritating messenger service that sees trainers constantly on the field of play during the NRL competition. The three breaks in play potentially create space for rule changes that restrict the involvement of trainers, with hydration less of a compelling reason for them to be on the field.
Within a 20-minute quarter, perhaps a policy of no more than two sojourns onto the field to hydrate players and pass on instructions from the coaching box could be implemented, while still maintaining a safe working environment for the athletes.
Of course, medical staff would still be permitted to access injured players wherever required, yet the frequency of a 14th man lurking behind defensive lines could potentially be decreased thanks to targeted rules within a four quarter game.
After a concerted effort to eliminate dead-time during NRL matches, after many began extending to somewhere near two hours in duration just a few years ago, recent seasons have pleasingly featured less vacuous moments of trivial video analysis and inane discussions between officials.
The Maori side celebrate victory during the NRL All Stars match. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys and his board realised that the game had begun to drag and took steps to kill the dead air that often existed, as well as adopting a host of rule changes designed to add speed and excitement to the game.
There are some who believe that the recent adjustments have almost made the game too quick, frantic and potentially lacking an adequate defensive focus. The opportunity for two additional breaks in NRL matches presents itself as a possible solution to such concerns.
Whilst fatigue has been an integral part of the game since 1908, the combination of a four-quarter structure and a further lowering of the number of interchanges permitted, could effectively achieve the desired balance between the often insane speed and explosiveness featured in the modern game, player safety and an expected level of accrued fatigue.
The overall objective is, of course, the game day experience offered to the paying fan. With the days of reserve grade matches as part of a standard weekly undercard long gone and many fixtures now stand-alone, a four quarter structure with appropriately targeted fan engagement strategies during the breaks could be the way of the future; slightly lengthening the match yet also creating more of an “event” feel.
Such a structure works for many sports and is far from unrealistic when it comes to where rugby league entertainment could potentially end up.
On Saturday night, it appeared to fit the contest perfectly. Perhaps it should be high on the list of things to consider for the ARL Commission, as it decides exactly where the game should head in the near future.
Yakka
Roar Rookie
Championship doesn't have reserve teams from the premier league however in La Liga, there are plenty of reserves teams like the Barcelona B for example, only they're not allowed to promote to La Liga and the promotion goes to the next team in the respective league.
criag
Roar Rookie
Agree! We stopped having our coach on the field with us when we reached the Under 8s!
Yakka
Roar Rookie
Promotion relegation creates more hype and gives us more games to watch. They should do it with the state cups to start with and eventually in decades to come apply to the NRL. Spitball. The existing state cups might be sufficient but might need restructure. Each state have 2 maybe even 3 or 4 divisions, keep the PNG, WA teams, make NZ run their own format, call it Elite league 1/2/3/4 or just NSW league, QLD league, NZ league, give it it’s own prestige rather than being referred to as reserve grade. Fill but not overfill to leave room for growth each league with relatable clubs, existing country clubs, create local rivalries or derbies if possible. 12 teams round robin which is very reasonable, plan the schedule simple but smart for the teams that need to travel long distances. Each state league winner joins into a finals tournament, and holds a grand final separate from the NRL GF to generate their own audience and tv money. These leagues will able to negotiate more tv contracts with other media outlets or channels and sponsorship, some games need to be free to the public otherwise no one will know of it, use the English system as a model, their EFL Championship is the 6th most valuable league in Europe! Leave the junior system as is but senior teams have their professional (Elite 1) and semi professional leagues(Elite 2,3,4 etc). I’d definitely want to watch e.g Guildford Leagues v Cessnock Goannas or Orange Barbarians RLFC or a Perth based club! It’ll tap into more populations, create a bigger economy of rugby league- tv money, sponsorship, player managers, coaches, statistics, betting money. To qualify a club needs to meet certain criteria like a club must have a grandstand, field, medical and transport access, club membership figures met, KPI’s for constant community interactions, open books ready to be scrutinised!
Yakka
Roar Rookie
6pm is too early! I'm barely at home from work, let alone able to attend a game that time.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
No it wasn’t, because when two teams were evenly matched the scores were close. At worst it illustrated the talent imbalance.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
No, it was due to the worst rule in RL ever. The 6 again.
Nick Grant
Roar Rookie
I think the observation about atmosphere is possibly the most valid reason for the change (aside from commercial benefits to the NRL). As a fan of basketball and NRL, I can say that the quarters do a better job of building atmosphere and a sense of urgency as there is always an impending break. I'm happy with the halves but can see the benefits.
John Keers
Guest
Considering what the players earn these days I reckon it'll be a great idea. 1/ it speeds the game up even more ( might as well be touch football) 2/ The players need a rest especially those big ar$e forwards who dawdle to the scrum and dawdle to a dropkick restart and get s breather every 10 or so minutes. 3/ Wny not an offensive side and a defensive side, oh and helmets. Need to get rid of foxstel and stop the degradation of a once great game.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It was preseason, of course they were tired, that does not mean we change the whole game to four quarters. That is a bizarre proposition.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Yeah there are mate…..Anasta, Parker, Cronk but I can live with those guys Lolol.
Bludger
Guest
It's becoming like a golf tournament where you get caddies, match referees, mistresses, old school chums, a debt collector, you name it following a group around the course right behind the play. It doesn't show up on the tele, but when you are there in person it is insane the entourage en tow to a group. Now NRL is following that. AFL has been doing it for decades.
Golden Army
Guest
Gonna admit Stuart that saying "many" sports play 4qtrs was an overreach and poorly researched, or continue to ignore it? It's a bit rude. Just accept you got it wrong, and walk it back mate. Happens to the best of us.
Tony
Roar Guru
I think I'll steal that as a book title
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I’m not into it. The ones in charge would say it will make a better game, it for player safety. But it’d be money. Two new giant ad breaks, sell more ad time, NRL to ask for more cash from broadcaster. It won’t be an opportunity for a ‘halftime break analysis’ type thing (we don’t get a decent one now), though they may say it will. We’ll get a ‘guru’ fast talking for 30 seconds about something then a stack of ads and station promo.
Mike Rotch
Guest
In fairness if you've watched a few Wests Tigers games over the last 10 years you'd be a believer in that
Tony
Roar Guru
I thought that all the forwards I played with or against were on the fringe actually, and some of them were very loos as well
Adam
Roar Guru
Holmes' manager could sell sand to the middle east (although they do import a lot of it!)
Nat
Roar Guru
"In my day... " (sry :stoked: ) fringe players wore #18. Edge forwards were backrowers and loose forwards played the other code.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
My point exactly Dorf! :thumbup: :thumbup:
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
come one mate - the US of A is the version of democracy that ALL other countries should strive to be like - just ask them