A midweek cup - is there a place in the modern game?

[fatshark]

Not to mention the fact that in the old days the players actually had full time jobs outside of football too.

Yeh but theyd only rock up to train twice a week in the arvo, have couple ks run, hit the bags, then drink a keg.
Maybe a pre-season cup would be good/

 

[Timbo]

Another thing that I thought of that could make it viable,

If NRL sides had byes through to the 6th or 7th round, which could co-incide with about round 10-12 of the NRL season, and NRL team whose fortunes were really flagging in the premiership and were looking no chance to win, would suddenly still have something to play for. Especially if the sides who were killing it in the premiership were resting their best players for the cup games so not to risk it. It'd also give fans whose teams had bad starts to the season something to cheer for.

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

Amidst all the recent moaning about the effect of Origin on club footy, I've been thinking that it may provide a window of opportunity for a Challenge Cup of some sort.

I haven't thought it through too hard, but if the weekend before every Origin (or on the Origin weekend if Origin moved to Sat night) had no NRL matches, then why couldn't there be 3 weekends of a Cup knock-out or a round-robin going on?

If Melbourne or Brisbane had to play their depleted line-ups against a combined regional team in a Cup game, wouldn't that be a better option than putting on NRL fixtures?

The question is always going to come down to money. It may be that this does away with byes, and I'm not sure if clubs would have less home games as a result....I haven't thought it through to be sure.

I think Timbo's question is worth asking.

What a great idea!

Play origin three weeks in a row and have the knockout run during these weeks. Interest increases during this period, as anyone could win it. Good for the game.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

have it in the SOO rounds, the NRL premiership stops in these rounds, and then maybe a 3 week knock out takes place.

If you make the prize money just as much if not more then wining a comp then yes players and clubs will take an interest, particulary with the whinging going on.

It can work, as long as it isn't a mid week thing.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Amidst all the recent moaning about the effect of Origin on club footy, I've been thinking that it may provide a window of opportunity for a Challenge Cup of some sort.

I haven't thought it through too hard, but if the weekend before every Origin (or on the Origin weekend if Origin moved to Sat night) had no NRL matches, then why couldn't there be 3 weekends of a Cup knock-out or a round-robin going on?

If Melbourne or Brisbane had to play their depleted line-ups against a combined regional team in a Cup game, wouldn't that be a better option than putting on NRL fixtures?

The question is always going to come down to money. It may be that this does away with byes, and I'm not sure if clubs would have less home games as a result....I haven't thought it through to be sure.

I think Timbo's question is worth asking.

I didn't realise you posted this:lol: but yep i totally agree with the idea and if you want to make it marketable make the prize money high.

 

[RL1908]

Sort of related article by Andrew Stevenson yesterday:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/chasm-between-haves-and-havenots-robs-league-of-the-oldschoolboilover/2008/06/13/1213321621420.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

[Azkatro]

In a lot of ways a cup competition would only work well now if it had a long history. I'm not so sure that England would like to start a cup competition like the Challenge Cup today, if one didn't already exist.

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

The idea of a knockout being held during origin is perfect.

It solves the issue of teams like Brisbane, Melbourne, suffering in the NRL without half their team.

Play Origin three weeks in a row (which would aid it's on going promotion, rather than it being broken up spread across several months). During origin, clubs participate in a knockout cup. For the likes of Melbourne, they're premiership chances aren't disadvantaged by origin and they can give young guys a run in the cup with nothing to lose. For the likes of Souths, they're back in with a chance. Disappointed fans have something to cheer about, with a fresh start (if only for a few weeks - or just one game).

For everyone, they can rest some stars if needed or give young up and coming blokes a go, try things out.

Run by the NRL but a seperate comp - even separate the TV rights! This could accomodate clubs financially if they were to lose an NRL home game for the year (if the season was shortened by a couple of rounds).

The big question... where would the games be played??? Just random home ground advantage? Or neutral venues - SFS, ANZ, country towns?

 

[eels_fan_01]

What about this.....

Origin on a stand alone weekend, Sunday Night.

All day Saturday a world sevens comp. I wouldn't care if it was mostly u/20's and a few fringe first graders id still watch it. Played at Aussie if the origin is in QLD and played at Suncorp if the origin is in NSW. This way we would have rugby league to go to atleast and fox could broadcast it.

Then on the final origin weekend the finals for the event are played.

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

What about this.....

Origin on a stand alone weekend, Sunday Night.

All day Saturday a world sevens comp. I wouldn't care if it was mostly u/20's and a few fringe first graders id still watch it. Played at Aussie if the origin is in QLD and played at Suncorp if the origin is in NSW. This way we would have rugby league to go to atleast and fox could broadcast it.

Then on the final origin weekend the finals for the event are played.

That's not too bad either!