2018 Draw

[wain]

Better not be the f**king Storm game again.

yeah, unless there is a clash, Im sure it will. Storm are definitely the biggest drawing team here...weird because SA hates anything VIC

 

[Diesel]

And the NQ Bris derby in Tville is a Thursday night again....

f**k you NRL.

But the suits at NRL are all giving each other pats on the back for the Sunday games in Sydney.

If it doesn't affect Sydney it didn't happen

 

[Clifferd]

You guys do get to play us without origin players so the end of the streak may be nigh. That's if it doesn't end in round 1 which is a possibility.

If we can't beat your mob this year then we probably never fckin will. The nrl has basically set it up for us and said "don't f**k it up"

Round 1 is a complete lottery so anything can happen

And during origin period where we will have nobody in origin where as you guys will have like 6 out

 

[The_Shield]

So the NRL controls the draw now and nothing has changed. Broncos still get the majority of free-to-air games. Also don’t get how they can get the Storm and Tigers to face each other twice in 4 weeks

 

[Diesel]

What part of the Cyclone/Wet Season do these numpties not understand?

Obviously as it's not the wet season at NRLHQ, it's not a wet season anywhere

Merkins of the highest order

 

[Cherry_poppins]

So the NRL controls the draw now and nothing has changed. Broncos still get the majority of free-to-air games. Also don’t get how they can get the Storm and Tigers to face each other twice in 4 weeks

Mate our first 12 games, half of those are shared by 3 teams

 

[Diesel]

Is the draw inhouse (because these league people should know the Australian and sporting landscape) or is in some off shore company that thinks League is union?

 

[Mister M]

There is massive issues in this draw; the most disgusting thing is when they decided to do the Grand Final rematch.

It's the SAME Thursday night as the start of the AFL Season. So while the Melbourne Storm play the Cowboys at AAMI Park; across the train tracks there will be 95,000+ fans watching the first AFL game of the season when Richmond plays Carlton at the MCG (an AFL tradition).

How inferior does that make the NRL look when a side that typically draws well in Melbourne, is last years grand finalist and features one of the greatest players of the modern era (in Thurston) plays against the Storm in what will be a less than ideal crowd due to to the clash/people avoiding the area due to how big the AFL game will be.

 

[Timmah]

It's the SAME Thursday night as the start of the AFL Season. So while the Melbourne Storm play the Cowboys at AAMI Park; across the train tracks there will be 95,000+ fans watching the first AFL game of the season when Richmond plays Carlton at the MCG (an AFL tradition).

AFL draw isn't out yet tbh - given Richmond are premiers they may opt to shake it up and change the draw a little.

Looking back at their season opening weekends I can't see that it's by any means a "lock" - sometimes it gets moved to later in the round or even not played at all.

I agree it's not great scheduling should the AFL put Richmond-Carlton as the Thursday night opener but there's no guarantee just yet.

 

[thorson1987]

Wouldn't surprise me if it is. Same sort of timing as this year, currently scheduled for Round 16 at Allianz.

I can see it being the one earmarked as the one to go. The only other one that makes sense is Cowboys which is a Saturday night.

I'm hoping that with it being scheduled for a Friday night that it won't be the one to be moved. Would save me having to take a sickie though.

 

[The_Shield]

Mate our first 12 games, half of those are shared by 3 teams

It’s a weird draw. I was hoping things would be better when the NRL had control of it

 

[Brutus]

The NRL is f**ked for agreeing to Thurs night and Fri 6pm for virtually all of the season.

They will never increase crowds.

 

[Mister M]

AFL draw isn't out yet tbh - given Richmond are premiers they may opt to shake it up and change the draw a little.

Looking back at their season opening weekends I can't see that it's by any means a "lock" - sometimes it gets moved to later in the round or even not played at all.

I agree it's not great scheduling should the AFL put Richmond-Carlton as the Thursday night opener but there's no guarantee just yet.

Richmond V Carlton has played a Thursday night clash as soon as the MCG has been available to be used (either Opening Game, start of second week of Round 1 or Round 2) since 2008.

The AFL announced back in August that they would open the season on Thurs March 22nd back in August
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-03/put-it-in-your-diary-afl-reveals-round-one-2018-blast-off

Given Richmond are Premiers are even MORE reason to keep this consistency, the two clubs were able to maintain this 'Marquee' Fixture for the past decade, even during the early years when they were two of the worst teams in the competition, this clash is definitely seen as 'Marquee' by both clubs and the AFL.

I don't know how you can suggest that this clash is incredibly likely (basically a 'lock') because the AFL isn't going to be worried about Storm at AAMI Park as it doesn't negatively impact their game, but it does negatively impact the NRL and it's supporters (as evidenced by the Crowd Watch thread) because playing the Storm/Cowboys up against Richmond/Carlton will mean less supporters (both at the ground and on the TV) watching that game.

 

[BuffaloRules]

The NRL is f**ked for agreeing to Thurs night and Fri 6pm for virtually all of the season.

They will never increase crowds.

They have a contract for these time slots for another 5 years....did you honestly expect differently?

 

[Knightmare]

I'd rather the Knights have the heavy lifting to begin the season rather than the end. Post Origin, the only real 'danger' games look to be NQ and Sharks away- and that's provided they're in similar form to this seasons'.

From a team perspective if they can jag 3 or 4 wins in that opening 8 week period it'll give them a confidence boost for the remainder of the season which could be a positive. From a fan perspective though, those 6pm Friday kick-offs are tough for anybody that doesn't finish work before 5pm, and total bullshit for anybody who commutes to Sydney for work...

 

[Lambretta]

The NRL is f**ked for agreeing to Thurs night and Fri 6pm for virtually all of the season.

They will never increase crowds.

The NRL is up the NSW State Government to improve small suburban grounds because we have small crowds and it's "not a good look for television" and then they f**king put games on a Thursday, at 6pm on a Friday and 6 f**king 30 on a Sunday

Twats

 

[_Johnsy]

Seriously Thursday nights for the Broncs.
Brisbane might average under 30K in 18’.
.

Brisbane could get 5 straight years of Thursday night games & they'd have absolutely no right to whinge (but of course they would). They've been getting a leg up with the draw for years now. Good to see it starting to equal out.

Maybe the club asked for less Fri night home games, & the NRL called their bluff allocating them 4 for 2018.

They get 3 & 1/2 (one being Titans sunday arvo home game) Sunday afternoon home games, the clubs been asking for more of those I'd expect them to be happy the NRL is listening to their concerns.

 

[taipan]

Seriously, a Sharks V Dragons local derby on a Thursday night.That's a crowd drop of 7-8,000 for starters.
Surely the NRL dumbos could have made derbies at least preferences on decent times lots to maximise crowds.
If I had my way I'd be telling News/Slothfield and the 6pm Friday time slot to f*ck off well and truly.As useful as a tube of shaving cream ,in a hurricane.

 

[9701]

There is massive issues in this draw; the most disgusting thing is when they decided to do the Grand Final rematch.

It's the SAME Thursday night as the start of the AFL Season. So while the Melbourne Storm play the Cowboys at AAMI Park; across the train tracks there will be 95,000+ fans watching the first AFL game of the season when Richmond plays Carlton at the MCG (an AFL tradition).

How inferior does that make the NRL look when a side that typically draws well in Melbourne, is last years grand finalist and features one of the greatest players of the modern era (in Thurston) plays against the Storm in what will be a less than ideal crowd due to to the clash/people avoiding the area due to how big the AFL game will be.

I don't think that is a problem whatsoever, their testimonial match is much more important than an NRL round.

 

[Coparugby]

Seems to be an improvement for Canberra.