Innovative or just plain crazy - ESL's new top-8 play-off format

[Spitty]

I wonder where the profits of these 2nd week semis go?

I imagine if it was to the clubs then a part of the decision might be based on revenue, rather than tactics.

For example - Penrith might pick Parramatta or St George v Cronulla even though a team further away such as Melbourne or Canberra might theoretically be an easier team to beat. But the local derby would bring a bigger crowd and more revenue.

 

[Quidgybo]

I wonder where the profits of these 2nd week semis go?

I imagine if it was to the clubs then a part of the decision might be based on revenue, rather than tactics.

For example - Penrith might pick Parramatta or St George v Cronulla even though a team further away such as Melbourne or Canberra might theoretically be an easier team to beat. But the local derby would bring a bigger crowd and more revenue.

I'm guessing you mean week 3, not 2.

It's an interesting thought but as it stands now I believe the profits would go into the general NRL pot because finals are NRL run events with the NRL hiring a venue that just happens to be the home ground (or in the home region or whatever) of one of the teams. For gate revenue to be a consideration for a team to choose a local derby opponent (or even deny the other week 3 home team a local derby) there'd have to be at least some reasonably significant revenue share of the gate go directly to the competing teams.

Leigh.

 

[westie]

I think the SL teams get the gate. It was one of the first things brought up by the pommy fans. Most were negative, but a few thought, as I do, that it just adds to the drama.

 

[Nerd]

I like it.

 

[Hanscholo]

Nothing wrong with letting nature decide who is the best, rather than giving teams a second chance. Failing, in september should never be an option nor should it be rewarded no matter how well your season went. NRL is about getting to the semis, then obliterating your competition, tip toeing around hoping for easy sides and results makes me hate semi finals the way they are. Its simple, you win, you win, you lose, you lose.

Melbourne losing at home to the Warriors, seemed strange didnt it, would it be so unfair for them to have left the finals at that point? Hey, it may have saved us from the most one sided GF in history, nature was right to want to remove the Storm at that point, we shouldnt mess with it.

Id Prefer. 1v8, 2v7, 3v6,4v5. Knockout, rankings from top to bottom to decide the next round, and so on. 3 Weeks of winner take all footy, no f**king around. Your rewarded for your season performance, but losing isnt an option. The only thing i dont like about it is its less games, but better contests id rate. Giving teams a chance is how we get crappy GF's instead of great team vs form team as it should be.

 

[gatesheadthunder]

First thought was, this is stupid, but now i think it will add extra excitment and plenty of talking points to the play-off's, should be interesting.

 

[Rovelli]

Don't really like it.

Won't have made any changes to the preliminary finals anways. Assuming Manly got first choice, they would've have chosen the Warriors instead of the Storm.

 

[T to the T]

Altho' it is irrational, I must say I like this idea (I am open minded about most things, still think that the 3x30 isn't that bad an idea).

But the hype/pressure around the event would be pretty good, would you opt for the 'easiest' side or attempt to get rid of your biggest rival in your own backyard first. So many talking points, grudges.

Can't have a go at SL or even RL in general for thinking outside the box. Though it may not seem a great idea to most people, and it may indeed fall on it's arse, RL is a pioneering sport and we should be proud of it. Most the ideas maybe ludicrous and may be seen as more focused on entertainment rather than the sport side but that is what we are dealing with today. RL/sport is entertainment whether we like it or not. Suspense which could be created from this concept will add to the product.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

I like it, but it should be in the first round IMO.

Top 4 sides in the 8 get to choose their opponent from the bottom 4. How often do you see a team just strike some form at the end of the season, scrape into the 8 then do some real damage to the top 4. Reward the teams who have been consistent all season, let the top seed pick their opponent first, and keep going in the top 4 until there is no one left.

Then round 2 is decided based on highest ranked winners and losers. Bottom 2 drop off like normal.

 

[Bulldog Force]

After the Warriors success this year, I doubt the nrl will get rid of the McIntyre system.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

Completely insane.

Only the British could come up with this.

Only Aussies could come up with two bleedin refs on the pitch next year! :roll:

 

[*Paul*]

Innovative or just plain crazy? Other than it being the modified AFL system, not much difference IMO.

I've said it before, I'm with Hanscholo - if you're going throw away the 26 rounds of results, do it properly and make it all sudden death. Maybe with choosing as well.