2018 Finals Scheduling

[Brutus]

Never should have a double head game ever in finals

Fully agree.

Just cheapens the product.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I've had a bit of time to try and work out why the NRL scheduled the games the way they did.

Firstly, with the Broncos earning a home final I could always see that being scheduled for the Sunday. With the Wallabies having a match scheduled for Saturday, and the Broncos having played last Sunday, to put it on a Friday night would have meant a 5 day turn around for them whilst the dragons would have had a 6 day turn around.

Secondly, with the Sharks having played on Sunday, and having to face the Roosters, that ruled that game out of the Friday night slot also. It would have meant the Sharks had a 5 day turn around whilst the Roosters got 6. Hence with the Broncs game having to be on Sunday, this meant this match had to be a Saturday.

Thus if you look at how the draw for Week 1 of the finals has panned out, it means all teams have at least a 6 day turn around from when they last played, with the Rabbitohs and Warriors getting 8 days. From a competitive view point this is fair. From an attendance point of view at AAMI on Friday night or Allianz on Saturday night it creates issues, but what is more important?

 

[greenBV4]

I know we all hate breaks and Thursday nights, but I think the AFL had done the lead up to finals right.
The week break means all teams are fresh for finals and no team gets an advantage with turnarounds, and you don't have the 5 day turnaround problem that limits scheduling.

The Thursday game and no Sunday game means no one gets too big an advantage with turnarounds for week 2 either

Could probably be done without the Thursday as personally Sunday games are much better, but we should have that week break between the regular season and finals

 

[Captain Apollo]

Seating plan (courtesy of Ticketek website) for the Roosters v Sharks game is attached.

 

[Timmah]

The only mistake, IMO was Panthers v Warriors being Sat and Storm v Souths Fri... but I can see why they've done it. The NRL Women's Premiership kicks off this weekend and a Saturday 1:45pm kickoff is far more accessible for viewers and attendees than say Friday 5pm.

 

[Valheru]

The NRL got it half right which is a good result for them I suppose.

They had no choice with the Brisbane game and they couldn't have sharks on Friday so that slot makes sense as well as Swans will be done by then and you might get a couple thousand going to both.

The other 2 games should have been swapped so that Storm don't kick off at the exact same time an AFL team plays their first semi final in over 10 years. Any cross over there is between those 2 supporter bases won't be at AAMI park on Friday night. On the other side, it would also have ensures that the warriors don't play the exact same time as the All Blacks and Penrith could have played at the ground they wanted to play at (SFS).

 

[greenBV4]

The other 2 games should have been swapped so that Storm don't kick off at the exact same time an AFL team plays their first semi final in over 10 years. Any cross over there is between those 2 supporter bases won't be at AAMI park on Friday night

Doesn't help either that the AFL game has been on sale for a week already, and a lot of people down here assumed the game would be Saturday

I've already seen a few comments on social media from people saying that they would of went, but had already bought tickets to the demons game
MCG are estimating 85000 so parking spots will be non-existent and trains and trams will be bursting at the seams
We should still get low 20,000's though

 

[Captain Apollo]

I think they must have changed it after much controversy, it definitely was the case that they would have to play in Sydney under the regional finals venue system (I can't find this on Google at the moment)

This is the announcement they made when they changed the finals format for the 2012 season - https://www.nrl.com/news/2012/02/22/nrl-finals-system-changed/

This is a link to someone who saved the pdf from the NRL's website which on the last two pag4es has all about the scheduling and venues for the 3 weeks of the finals - http://www.rugbyleague.com.au/GamedayEDM/NRL-FINALS-SERIES-FAQ

 

[Timmah]

Doesn't help either that the AFL game has been on sale for a week already, and a lot of people down here assumed the game would be Saturday

I've already seen a few comments on social media from people saying that they would of went, but had already bought tickets to the demons game
MCG are estimating 85000 so parking spots will be non-existent and trains and trams will be bursting at the seams
We should still get low 20,000's though

I think that's the thing - Even allowing for the massive AFL game next door the Storm will still pull a plus-20k crowd, particularly against a team as well-followed as Souths.

The real concern crowd wise IMO will be Penrith v Warriors but even that should crack 20k.

 

[Mr Angry]

Anybody get it right?

 

[Captain Apollo]

As I said up thread, the way the scheduling has been set for Week 1, all teams get a minimum of 6 days turn around. From an administration view point that looks like the most likely reason.

Only other thing I do wonder is how much in put did the TV networks have? Whilst the NRL are solely responsible, we know they often listen to what the networks want.

(Edited to correct a factual error.)

 

[meltiger]

Doesn't help either that the AFL game has been on sale for a week already, and a lot of people down here assumed the game would be Saturday

I've already seen a few comments on social media from people saying that they would of went, but had already bought tickets to the demons game
MCG are estimating 85000 so parking spots will be non-existent and trains and trams will be bursting at the seams
We should still get low 20,000's though

I wonder how many are actually telling the truth though?

Admittedly if as a neutral you wanted to go to a final and aren’t a AFL member you’d go to this one as Richmond/Hawthorn on Thursday is basically members only BUT it’s not as if the Demons are a massive team. On the other side of the fence .... Geelong. Not a Melbourne team.

Tickets are also far more expensive than the league game (which neutrals/families would factor in)

I just can’t see that game canabalising too much of the Storms crowd.

Not sure what the forecast for Friday is but they had 20k against Penrith (I was suprised I thought it felt a few k higher), on what wasn’t one of the most pleasant days weather wise.

I can’t see them drawing less than last weeks crowd.

Penrith also didn’t bring a lot of fans. Souths surely will have more turn up in the away team bay.

 

[Valheru]

As I said up thread, the way the scheduling has been set for Week 1, all teams get a minimum of 7 days turn around. From an administration view point that looks like the most likely reason.

Only other thing I do wonder is how much in put did the TV networks have? Whilst the NRL are solely responsible, we know they often listen to what the networks want.

Sharks only get 6

 

[Captain Apollo]

Sharks only get 6

Oops. You are correct my bad. Better go and fix that post then.

 

[taxidriver]

table from games within the top 8 sides

Penrith with the saloon passage into the finals this year

 

[meltiger]

I
The week break means all teams are fresh for finals and no team gets an advantage with turnarounds, and you don't have the 5 day turnaround problem that limits scheduling.

It’s not why they do it. They still have a floating schedule fir the final round to try avoid scheduling/short turnaround issues.

They did it because coaches (1 in particular) were taking the piss and sending reserve grade sides out in the final round.

Whilst admittedly, every team had something to play for this year in the final round, I can’t remember anyone bulk resting half their squad in previous seasons. Maybe an early shower etc

Nothing to do with player welfare and everything to do with the betting outlets cracking the shits at them

 

[big hit!]

penrith v warriors or penrith v dragons will be friday night

all these suggestions of elimination finals as the firday night game.

i'm actually happy we've got the current mongs in charge of the NRL for a change.

souths and melbourne was always the first game, irrespective of what was going on in the AFL. you can't schedule your matches based on what another competition is doing (unless they're using the same patch of grass like the wallabies), and sacrifice the fairness of the comp you're actually f**king meant to be administrating!

the NRL had to organise the schedule based on rd 25 matches and turnaround, and then ensure the qualifying final losers have at least an equal or greater days break than the elimination winners going into week 2.

 

[Card Shark]

Other sports do need to be considered.

People will not go if the effort of getting there & getting home is made heaps harder.

 

[big hit!]

Agree.

Someone at the NRL needs to explain why Roosters v Sharks can't be Friday night and Storm v Bunnies Sat night.

The NRL is truly f**ked.

perhaps because cronulla played their rd 25 match on sunday and it would be a short week?

 

[Timmah]

Other sports do need to be considered.

People will not go if the effort of getting there & getting home is made heaps harder.

"heaps harder" is not really what I'd call a scientific measure.

I think the times have been staggered well for the SYD-CRO match, allows egress from the Swans game and for anyone hoping to go both to comfortably do so.