Coach Robinson advocates 20game season

[Timbo]

Play a knockout during the rep period. This would bring the amount of content during this period up to what TV expects. Play these games in the bush.

So, bring back the Amco Cup? How do you think the clubs will respond to that?

It also defeats the purpose the clubs have for wanting less matches.

Having 'undesirable' home games that are worth so little that <10,000 showing up in a country town is preferable isn't exactly an ideal situation to be in

Most of the country grounds are bursting at the seams when there are 10,000 in the ground anyway. When they're played in regional centres they become events. A nothing game in a country centre still means something to the venue, as opposed to when its in a capital city.

 

[Meapro Ham]

I understand that - but with only 10 home games there are suddenly fewer 'undesirable' home games. Also clubs home stadiums would offer better deals to keep the content.

I really don't think it would have much of an impact on the number of NRL games available to be taken away. It would still be attractive for clubs to do it.

Anyway, the proposal is that the reduction in NRL games would be offset by an increase in rep games. So there would be more rep games available for country and interstate venues. You'd probably end up with more games being played at those venues than there are now.

 

[DC_fan]

18 Teams
11 Rounds
3 week Rep period
11 Rounds
Finals month

18 teams way way too many

 

[TheFrog]

So, bring back the Amco Cup? How do you think the clubs will respond to that?

The Amco Cup was played midweek over 2/3 of the season while the premiership continued. A bit different to suspending the premiership and playing a knockout in the vacant weekends thus created. Half the teams would only play 1 game and that could even be a premiership round as well.

If the clubs want to play fewer games, they will also have to be prepared to receive a smaller grant from the reduced TV income. Players will have to be prepared to receive less as well.

 

[Timbo]

The Amco Cup was played midweek over 2/3 of the season while the premiership continued. A bit different to suspending the premiership and playing a knockout in the vacant weekends thus created. Half the teams would only play 1 game and that could even be a premiership round as well.

If the clubs want to play fewer games, they will also have to be prepared to receive a smaller grant from the reduced TV income. Players will have to be prepared to receive less as well.

Half the coaches don't like trials. A lot of them opposed the All-Stars game and 9s.

If you ask them to play a nothing match mid-season because it's during a rep break, watch how fast every side's top 10 paid players come down with niggling injuries. It'll be NSW Cup sides, at which point why even bother?

 

[adamkungl]

Most of the country grounds are bursting at the seams when there are 10,000 in the ground anyway. When they're played in regional centres they become events. A nothing game in a country centre still means something to the venue, as opposed to when its in a capital city.

Sure, but lets not pretend clubs aren't doing this for the financial incentive because a game vs certain teams is basically worthless in Sydney.
If Parra v Cowboys was a 20k draw in Sydney there's no way they take it or any game up to Darwin.
If Roosters were averaging 20k you could wave goodbye to Gosford.

If the NRL cuts the season by 1-2 home games they can take other measures to bring professional footy to country towns.
-An expanded 2nd tier that is less Sydney based.
-Some kind of rep fixture with a Country focus that might feature up-and-coming Origin hopefuls and older former rep players.. if only there was some kind of catchy name for it...
-Encourage all NRL clubs to take their trial games out of the big cities.

 

[adamkungl]

Half the coaches don't like trials. A lot of them opposed the All-Stars game and 9s.

The entire premise of this idea is to give non-premiership fixtures more significance in the calendar, of course the coaches/clubs aren't gonna like it.
They have way too much power here and it's to the game's detriment.

 

[typicalfan]

It’ll mean the game gets spread around even less.

Clubs will become protective of their 10 home games - say goodbye to country matches, Perth, Wellington, etc.

Say hello to taking women’s matches, Internationals and state games. Maybe we can even have Ashes tours again.

 

[Frailty]

This is all well and good, but given the game has only just started the new TV deal that runs to 2022 it will never happen. The ARLC would need to find someway to renegotiate the deal which would end up with less money, and I am doubtful the NRL players would be willing to accept stagnant wages or a drop in wage - which means even less investment from the game.

I like the idea of a reduced season, and think it would open up a lot of opportunities for representative fixtures, or even a youth 9s tournament, etc. But the earliest it could be achieved would be 2023 unless significant moves are made. I don't think the ARLC and clubs would accept short term losses for long-term health of the game.

 

[typicalfan]

Does the current broadcast deal include international rights?

 

[Frailty]

Does the current broadcast deal include international rights?

I could be wrong, but I believe they are negotiated separately.

 

[Pommy]

Does the current broadcast deal include international rights?

I think the rights bormally belong to the hosts/organisers.
4 nations was on 9
WC was on 7.

 

[Timbo]

The broadcasters like the length of the season and the matches played.

They don't care about the NRLW or Pacific test matches because they know they don't generate the same viewers that the mens premiership does.

Unless the league wants to take a financial hit - which means in effect, unless the players are prepared to take a pay cut - the seasons length is the seasons length.

 

[carcharias]

Each team should play each other the exact amount of times during the normal season.

 

[siv]

Half the coaches don't like trials. A lot of them opposed the All-Stars game and 9s.

If you ask them to play a nothing match mid-season because it's during a rep break, watch how fast every side's top 10 paid players come down with niggling injuries. It'll be NSW Cup sides, at which point why even bother?

That the point all NRL clubs can give their lower tier players a run

Make it a 32 team knockout with Top 6 NSW Cup Top 6 QLD Cup Top 2 PNG and Top 2 NZ Cup

Let the draw be a lotto style process each week

You could run round 1 & 2 during the trials

 

[Perth Red]

This is all well and good, but given the game has only just started the new TV deal that runs to 2022 it will never happen. The ARLC would need to find someway to renegotiate the deal which would end up with less money, and I am doubtful the NRL players would be willing to accept stagnant wages or a drop in wage - which means even less investment from the game.

I like the idea of a reduced season, and think it would open up a lot of opportunities for representative fixtures, or even a youth 9s tournament, etc. But the earliest it could be achieved would be 2023 unless significant moves are made. I don't think the ARLC and clubs would accept short term losses for long-term health of the game.

TBF the NRL gets $400mill from tv, and another $200mill from other revenue. Of that players are "only" getting $160mill. The TV contract could drop by $50mill and there is no reason the players $160mill would need to drop, NRL would just have to cut its cloth accordingly. Then add in the increased payments from rep duties and if the NRL actually sold Origin for what its really worth and revenue drop would be negligible.

No reason the NRL could expand to 20 teams in 2020 and there is a heap load of content made up as well.

 

[Perth Red]

The broadcasters like the length of the season and the matches played.

They don't care about the NRLW or Pacific test matches because they know they don't generate the same viewers that the mens premiership does.

Unless the league wants to take a financial hit - which means in effect, unless the players are prepared to take a pay cut - the seasons length is the seasons length.

Broadcasters would also like games played at 8pm Mon-Fri and played in 4qtrs and a shed load more stoppages, but the NRL owns the content and should control it. The threat of bundling rep games including Origin separate from the NRL tv deal next time would be enough to make them tow the line. I'm sure 7 or 10 would love to buy RLWC, Origin and rep fixtures as a stand alone product.

The tests are not far off normal NRL round games viewer wise and still have time to grow with more attention and regularity.

 

[Timbo]

That the point all NRL clubs can give their lower tier players a run

Make it a 32 team knockout with Top 6 NSW Cup Top 6 QLD Cup Top 2 PNG and Top 2 NZ Cup

Let the draw be a lotto style process each week

You could run round 1 & 2 during the trials

OK, but if the idea is to give content to broadcasters, this devalues it massively.

If this is to bridge the missing five rounds, the broadcasters aren't going to look at sides full of kids and old men and give the same amount.

 

[adamkungl]

This is all well and good, but given the game has only just started the new TV deal that runs to 2022 it will never happen.

Or maybe it will happen in 2023?

The broadcasters like the length of the season and the matches played.

They don't care about the NRLW or Pacific test matches because they know they don't generate the same viewers that the mens premiership does.

Unless the league wants to take a financial hit - which means in effect, unless the players are prepared to take a pay cut - the seasons length is the seasons length.

Rep matches given proper attention and standing will generate more viewers than the usual NRL week to week.
It doesn't take much to swing the fence sitters, look at the attention Tonga has been getting since their massive WC. Womens SOO and the Pacific Test had decent ratings, not too far off a typical NRL game (if I heard correctly, can't find exact numbers right now) and can only improve given time.

The standard Rugby League thing to do is to forget about it within 12 months and go back to the same old. There is more potential now than ever before to buck the trend and take advantage.

 

[siv]

We are back at our basic season structure question

Today its
- 9s
- 2 weeks of trials
- 1 bye before the season proper
- 24 rounds
- 3 rep bye rounds
- 4 weekends of finals
- 1 week off
- 7 weekends in Oct/Nov

I prefer
- 9s to launch the season
- 2 Knockout Cup rounds / trials pre-season
- 18 teams / 25 rounds
- 4 in season regional rep weekends
- incl QF SF and F Knockout Cup rounds
- over 2 fortnights seperated by 3 club rounds
- 4 final weekends
- 1 week off
- post season WCC mid Oct in Europe
- 6 post season internationals where Oz and NZ and best other Pacific nation go to Europe