Professional rugby league has a 110-year history in Australia, and in every year up to and including 2000 the grand final was played in the afternoon.
The first-ever night-time grand final was played in 2001, and that continued until 2007. From 2008 until 2012 the grand final was a twilight match, but from 2013 it was moved back to being a night game.
The reasoning behind the night-time shift is simply because of television networks and what they want. Channel 9 pay huge money for the NRL to schedule the grand final at night as they believe they can attract bigger ratings.
I don’t see the reasoning behind a difference in ratings between a grand final played in the afternoon or at night. It’s the biggest game of the year, of course people are going to watch it – no matter what time it’s on.
The AFL grand final has always started at 2:30pm. The AFL has been tempted to change it to a later start time, but they haven’t yet been convinced to pull the trigger.
If the grand final was on at 2 o’clock in the morning, I’m sure they’d still get millions of people watching it on TV in Australia. People just love footy and they’ll watch it whenever it’s on TV.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
So in 2018, for the sixth consecutive year and 18 years since the last day grand final, the 2018 NRL grand final will be a night time clash.
If it was a day game, families could gather round and have a barbecue to celebrate. Celebrations can last longer, from the evening until late into the night and throughout the week.
Usually there are three matches on grand final day, and this year is no exception – in 2018 there is the NRL Women’s premiership match followed by the state championship game and then the NRL grand final in the evening.
Why not play the Women’s grand final on the Friday Night? The state championship game should then be scrapped to have just the NRL grand final as the only match played on the main day.
So, Roarers, what are your thoughts? Do you agree with my idea to have the grand final kick off at 3pm or do you prefer the night-time game?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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