There are always a multitude of factors that affect how the draw for an NRL season is put together. Inevitably there are always compromises, especially when shoehorning a behemoth like State of Origin into the middle of it all.
At the end of the day, it is the star players that the fans come to watch to perform feats that most of us could only dream of. It is important the NRL looks after its players, as much as is possible in a contact sport.
There are two major milestones in the NRL season where I believe a few changes could make a great difference.
The success of State of Origin is a double edged sword for the NRL. It brings in enormous revenue and ratings and is rightly considered one of the showpieces of the game.
However, it also takes up a large period of time over the season, kills the momentum of the regular season, denies clubs access to their players for a considerable amount of matches and players often return a bit flat after an emotionally and physically exhausting series.
Reuben Cotter is tackled by Stephen Crichton. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
There has been talk from some at putting it at the end of the year, but that is probably not a good fit. There is also talk about stopping the NRL season and having it run over 3 weeks. Although this reduces the impact on the clubs, it would be difficult for players to maintain State of Origin intensity over such a short period. There would also be a lack of other NRL content. I would propose the following schedule:
Rounds 1 to 11: Normal NRL draw
Round 12: Half teams with byes (selected Origin squad cannot play) and NRLW Origin 1
Wednesday between Round 12 and Round 13: NRL Origin 1
Round 13: Half teams with byes (Origin players excluded)
Round 14: NRL Origin 2, NRLW Origin 2, Pacific and Junior Representative matches
Round 15: Half teams with byes (Origin players excluded)
Wednesday between Round 15 and 16: NRL Origin 3
Round 16: Half teams with byes (Origin players excluded), NRLW Origin 3
Round 17-27: Normal NRL draw resumes
At the most, clubs would only lose star players for only 2 matches, because the other 2 matches would be byes. The Origin period is shorter (3 matches over 4 weeks) with only 4 actual rounds affected. Origin players would have 10 to 11 day breaks before and after each Origin and be prevented from backing up at club level only a few days after an Origin match, maybe with an exception for the 18th man if they don’t play.
The weekend rep round would provide a mid-season break for a lot of players, as well as a better opportunity to promote an Origin match outside Queensland and NSW (for example NZ). Fans could actually make a weekend away of it. Maybe make it the trade window period as well. I know the weekend round has been trialled before, but it was still as part of a very spread out Origin period.
Kalyn Ponga celebrates a try. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
This concept allows a sharper focus to be maintained throughout the Origin period. The proposal also works well with the NRLW Origin series. Any slight reduction in the TV ratings from the moving of one Wednesday game would be worth it for the other benefits.
Following the Origin period, we then have an uninterrupted 11 rounds to the finals, with hopefully most players being still relatively fresh. I think there may be a need for greater flexibility with TV scheduling at this point. Maybe after round 11, the times for rounds 16 to 27 can be locked in.
You may want to work out what days matches are on and where for these rounds before the season starts, but have the ability to work out what time the match is on (e.g. be able to swap the 6pm Friday game for the 8pm Friday game). Fans and clubs will still have certainty over the days well in advance to plan trips and stadium bookings but the NRL and TV networks can maximise the ratings over this period.
I would also complement this with a greater number of FTA matches on Saturday nights.
There has been some discussion about having a bye weekend at the start of the finals series. Although you get the occasional match where players are rested, this at the most is about 2 matches. Maybe if the reward for being minor premiers was greater, this may occur less.
Olivia Kernick is tackled. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Also, this week is great for the NRL where there are no AFL matches on. I actually propose that the bye weekend be the week before the grand final. I would do this for several reasons. It allows both teams to come into the biggest game of the year refreshed as much as possible. Often a team comes into the grand final very flat due to a bruising preliminary final the week before, especially if they haven’t had a bye.
There is also a very real possibility a star player may get a concussion the week before the grand final and be ruled out due to mandatory 11 day stand down, despite feeling good to play. A 2 week break would allow a possible return if they have recovered. It would also allow the NRL to really promote the game over those weeks. I think if teams also knew they could get a bye before the grand final, they may also be less likely to rest too many players in the final round.
It wouldn’t just be a bye week, however, it would be an opportunity to make the weekend before the NRL grand final, the NRLW grand final weekend and give it maximum promotion. You could also move the NSW and QLD Cup grand finals to better times on that weekend – have NSW Cup Friday night, QLD Cup Saturday night, NRLW Grand Final Sunday night and the Dally M on Monday night.
Jessica Sergis. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
The NRLW is a great product and deserves to be in the spotlight for its biggest match of the season. It would be great at a more boutique stadium initially with some decent Australian bands as entertainment and fireworks. I believe AFL will eventually look at having a bye before the grand final because of the concussion issue, but the NRL has the ability to offer other quality contests on that weekend that the AFL cannot do.
The NRL is in the entertainment industry and we want our stars on the field and close, well fought and skilful contests as much as possible.
On that basis I have a couple of final controversial suggestions which will no doubt upset the purists:
1. If a player receive a one-week ban that falls on grand final day or a ban where the last week of it is the grand final (e.g. week 3 of a 3 week ban), they should be allowed to play the grand final and serve a 2 week ban in its place at the start of the following season.
2. At the end of each half, the team with possession can continue to play after the siren until there is a change over. A change over will not occur where there is a penalty conceded, a mistake made by the defending team, a charge down is not regathered or a goal line drop-off is forced.
This will prevent sides winding down the clock unreasonably or engaging in cynical play and allow attacking teams the opportunity to try and construct a match winning play. This should apply throughout the season.
I know this seems a bit like rugby but to be honest, it is one of the few things in rugby I actually find exciting.
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