We see arguments on this website everyday with complaints about how either the City Country game is a joke or how the Anzac test should be scrapped well here is a solution. Killing two birds with one stone I believe the following also provides a turnkey stepping stone solution to rep honours.
I want to see RL have purpose, climax and reasons for acheiving certain levels of representation.
If the new franchise is accepted an Rugby League becomes a 16 team comp over 22 weeks I would like to see the following:
Jan - World 7's
Feb - World Club Challenge - 4 team tournament (Penrith/Roosters/Bradfors/St Helens) Round robin format 1 NRL V 2 ESL & 1 ESL V 2 NRL winnerss to final.
March 5/7 NRL Season Kicks off
Apr 3/5 Grand Final Replay
Apr 23/25 Anzac Day - Dragons V Roosters
May 14/16 Mothers Day weekend - Promotion
May 21/23 Half way Hiatus - All teams have weekend off except Melbourne (with all other clubs conducting coaching clinics in Victoria) (Sunday afternoon) + Friday night match Aboriginal Dream Team V Dally Messenger Select (Best players in respective positions as per Dally M points table Round 11)
June 26 - Round 17 NRL - Heritage Day - play Pioneer games betwwen clubs where possible in original strips (Penrith V St George illawarra etc)
Aug 13/15 - Round 22 NRL
Aug 20/22 - NRL Final Series top 8 (National development clinics for bottom 8 teams)
Aug 27/29 - NRL Final Series Week 2 (NDC for bottom 8 + 2 finalsists out)
Sept 3/5 - NRL Finals Series Week 3 (NDC for bottom 8 + 4 finalists out)
Sept 12 - NRL Grand Final
Sept 13 - Top 40 NSW & QLD Players selected for representative season. Large contingent of players sent to the Pacific Islands for clinics and fundraising.
Sept 18 - NSW - City V Country + QLD City V Country
Sept 20 - State of Origin teams announced - O/S Players return to resume Development Clinics in Victoria
September - 25 - State of Origin I - Telstradome, Melbourne
Development Clincs in South Australia
October 2 - State of Origin II - Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Development Clinics - Western Australia
October 9 - State of Origin III - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
October 11 - Holidays for all non-rep players
October 16 - International Calender begins for rep players (Tri Nations, Paciifc Cup)
November 8 - Pre season for non-rep players
Nov 29 - Representative season ends
Nov - 30 - Holidays for representative players
Dec 22 - Pre season for non-rep players ends for Xmas break.
Jan 2 - All players reconvene for 2005 pre-season training
The point to being made here is we shouldn't dilute or prop our domestic season with rep footy. They should be percieved to be strong enough to command there own market.
The AFL do not have any sort of Rep calender and have forgone reintroducing their State of Origin as it will either be deemed a joke or will detract from their showpeice..the race for the premiership flag.
RL should do the same, put the premiership on a pedestal, then City V Country in both states, the State of Origin, then International footy.
The continuity adds credibility to everything because you are playing games for a reason, there is a result to be acheived.
Play well at the start of the year and you will be selected in the Dally M team (half way) play well all year and you will be in the finals with a great chance of appearing in the rep teams as you are playing at the right end of the season.
Your top line players are playing 31 games + test matches at the moment. In this model they will be playing 28 + test matches, with a break.
I am not saying this must happen but the sooner something like this eventuates the better.
TV Ratings I hear you say?
With the above model the broadcasting channel will have the highest quality RL on their channel from Week 1 of the Finals - August 22 through to State of Origin III - October 9 that is 10 weeks of premium RL prior the international calender. It also places State of Origin right in the face of the AFL Final Series.
Comments?
I want to see RL have purpose, climax and reasons for acheiving certain levels of representation.
If the new franchise is accepted an Rugby League becomes a 16 team comp over 22 weeks I would like to see the following:
Jan - World 7's
Feb - World Club Challenge - 4 team tournament (Penrith/Roosters/Bradfors/St Helens) Round robin format 1 NRL V 2 ESL & 1 ESL V 2 NRL winnerss to final.
March 5/7 NRL Season Kicks off
Apr 3/5 Grand Final Replay
Apr 23/25 Anzac Day - Dragons V Roosters
May 14/16 Mothers Day weekend - Promotion
May 21/23 Half way Hiatus - All teams have weekend off except Melbourne (with all other clubs conducting coaching clinics in Victoria) (Sunday afternoon) + Friday night match Aboriginal Dream Team V Dally Messenger Select (Best players in respective positions as per Dally M points table Round 11)
June 26 - Round 17 NRL - Heritage Day - play Pioneer games betwwen clubs where possible in original strips (Penrith V St George illawarra etc)
Aug 13/15 - Round 22 NRL
Aug 20/22 - NRL Final Series top 8 (National development clinics for bottom 8 teams)
Aug 27/29 - NRL Final Series Week 2 (NDC for bottom 8 + 2 finalsists out)
Sept 3/5 - NRL Finals Series Week 3 (NDC for bottom 8 + 4 finalists out)
Sept 12 - NRL Grand Final
Sept 13 - Top 40 NSW & QLD Players selected for representative season. Large contingent of players sent to the Pacific Islands for clinics and fundraising.
Sept 18 - NSW - City V Country + QLD City V Country
Sept 20 - State of Origin teams announced - O/S Players return to resume Development Clinics in Victoria
September - 25 - State of Origin I - Telstradome, Melbourne
Development Clincs in South Australia
October 2 - State of Origin II - Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Development Clinics - Western Australia
October 9 - State of Origin III - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
October 11 - Holidays for all non-rep players
October 16 - International Calender begins for rep players (Tri Nations, Paciifc Cup)
November 8 - Pre season for non-rep players
Nov 29 - Representative season ends
Nov - 30 - Holidays for representative players
Dec 22 - Pre season for non-rep players ends for Xmas break.
Jan 2 - All players reconvene for 2005 pre-season training
The point to being made here is we shouldn't dilute or prop our domestic season with rep footy. They should be percieved to be strong enough to command there own market.
The AFL do not have any sort of Rep calender and have forgone reintroducing their State of Origin as it will either be deemed a joke or will detract from their showpeice..the race for the premiership flag.
RL should do the same, put the premiership on a pedestal, then City V Country in both states, the State of Origin, then International footy.
The continuity adds credibility to everything because you are playing games for a reason, there is a result to be acheived.
Play well at the start of the year and you will be selected in the Dally M team (half way) play well all year and you will be in the finals with a great chance of appearing in the rep teams as you are playing at the right end of the season.
Your top line players are playing 31 games + test matches at the moment. In this model they will be playing 28 + test matches, with a break.
I am not saying this must happen but the sooner something like this eventuates the better.
TV Ratings I hear you say?
With the above model the broadcasting channel will have the highest quality RL on their channel from Week 1 of the Finals - August 22 through to State of Origin III - October 9 that is 10 weeks of premium RL prior the international calender. It also places State of Origin right in the face of the AFL Final Series.
Comments?