NRL Finals System Changed

[Phil McGrawhan]

http://www.nrl.com/nrl-finals-system-change/tabid/10874/newsid/65960/default.aspx

The Australian Rugby League Commission has announced a change to the 2012 Telstra Premiership Finals Series at today’s NRL Chief Executives’ meeting in Sydney.
On the day of the official season launch, the Commission informed clubs that it had accepted a recommendation to move away from the McIntyre system which had been a part of the Telstra Premiership since 1999.
For the first time since 1996, the competition will split the top four and the bottom four finalists into separate pools in week one of the Telstra Premiership Finals Series (The Australian Rugby League used such a model in both 1995 and 1996).
Whereas the McIntyre system ‘seeded’ the eight finalists so that the top four played the bottom four, the 2012 system will see the top four teams and bottom four teams split into separate pools in the first week.
“As the competition has become closer and the impact of ‘home and away’ finals matches even more significant, the system has become a source of increasing debate,” ARLC Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.
“The allocation of ‘home venues’ in the second week of the McIntyre system has been a particular concern.
“After going through a thorough process we are confident that this is the right time for this change.”
The recommendation to the Commission follows an extensive review process conducted by ARLC General Manager of Football Operations, Mr Nathan McGuirk.
“Over the past few months we have been conducting a review with clubs and with the recently formed Competition Committee,” Mr McGuirk said.
“An overwhelming majority of clubs have shifted their support away from the McIntyre system and to one where the top four teams play each other in week one.
“It offers greater protection for the top four teams and the possibility of even closer matches.
“Each of the top four teams needs only to win two finals matches to reach the Grand Final, while the bottom four ranked teams must win three.
“The Minor Premiers and Team 2 are each guaranteed two home games.”
The Telstra Premiership finals system will continue to be played on the basis of ‘home city’ venues in week one and two and ‘home region’ venues in week three.

 

[Usain Bolt]

So they've just copied the AFL system then?

 

[betcats]

There goes the the annual finals debate. I never really liked the Mcintyre system so good news.

 

[gronkathon]

source: http://www.nrl.com/nrl-finals-system-ch ... fault.aspx

The Australian Rugby League Commission has announced a change to the 2012 Telstra Premiership Finals Series at today’s NRL Chief Executives’ meeting in Sydney.

On the day of the official season launch, the Commission informed clubs that it had accepted a recommendation to move away from the McIntyre system which had been a part of the Telstra Premiership since 1999.

For the first time since 1996, the competition will split the top four and the bottom four finalists into separate pools in week one of the Telstra Premiership Finals Series (The Australian Rugby League used such a model in both 1995 and 1996).

Whereas the McIntyre system ‘seeded’ the eight finalists so that the top four played the bottom four, the 2012 system will see the top four teams and bottom four teams split into separate pools in the first week.

“As the competition has become closer and the impact of ‘home and away’ finals matches even more significant, the system has become a source of increasing debate,” ARLC Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.

“The allocation of ‘home venues’ in the second week of the McIntyre system has been a particular concern.

“After going through a thorough process we are confident that this is the right time for this change.”

The recommendation to the Commission follows an extensive review process conducted by ARLC General Manager of Football Operations, Mr Nathan McGuirk.

“Over the past few months we have been conducting a review with clubs and with the recently formed Competition Committee,” Mr McGuirk said.

“An overwhelming majority of clubs have shifted their support away from the McIntyre system and to one where the top four teams play each other in week one.

“It offers greater protection for the top four teams and the possibility of even closer matches.

“Each of the top four teams needs only to win two finals matches to reach the Grand Final, while the bottom four ranked teams must win three.

“The Minor Premiers and Team 2 are each guaranteed two home games.”

The Telstra Premiership finals system will continue to be played on the basis of ‘home city’ venues in week one and two and ‘home region’ venues in week three.

 

[morri (cWo)]

good call

 

[gronkathon]

Apologies. Another thread started about the same time. Please merge

 

[malleekid]

Reverted to the ARL finals system which the AFL copied is the correct way to put it.

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

So they've just copied the AFL system then?

Did you read it ..The ARL used this system in 95 & 96.
Go backto RU you tard.

 

[gUt]

Bad idea. McIntyre system worked but was too complicated for most commentators to understand.

 

[muzby]

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Long overdue. While I don't think any system is perfect, this one is a hell of a lot better than the McIntyre one.

It rewards the top four teams and hence rewards consistent performance over the whole year.

 

[ByRd]

Great move.

 

[RABK]

Excellent - i and many others on here have been calling for a return to this format for years.

 

[IanG]

not!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BunniesMan]

Thank god. I've been passionate about this for a long time. I'm now officially a supporter of the new omission. Their first major decision is a home run.

The system we used until now just didn't reward consistent high achievers enough. It made the 26 weeks about little more than "close enough is good enough".

The critics will say it makes it too hard to get to the GF from the bottom 4. Well guess what, it's supposed to be hard. It should take a truly special September from a bottom 4 team to get to the GF to make up for their less than spectacular year.

I've been for this change for a long time. Now the top 2 have a big advantage over 3rd and 4th. And the top 4 have a big advantage over the bottom 4.

Another bonus is in the last week or two of the home and away season when some fixtures get boring will now be more likely to be important. If your 6th you'll be desperate to get 5th. Same as 5th-4th and 3rd-2nd.

Also, now there is real value to coming top 4 when until now you could be eliminated in the 1st week from 3rd. Especially with home finals being moved around more often these days, there needed to be a bigger carrot to push teams to compete for the top 4.

I wholeheartedly applaud the commission.

 

[woodyk2]

Hopefully Manly gets a home game this year not like last years shite.

 

[aussies1st]

Interesting, this system does seem fairer in particular for the home ground advantage and lives.

 

[Danish]

If people think this is going to end the finals debate they are kidding themselves.

I predict 1st and 2nd will play off in the prelim this year, leading to the same idiots who hated the McIntyre system to decide that this system is also unfair and needs changing.

:edit:

Also, I don't see how this system is any fairer in terms of providing home ground advantage to the top 4. The McIntyre system guaranteed 1 home final for each top 4 side. So does this system. home ground advantage has also proven to be very overrated come finals time considering how many week 1 upsets we've seen over the last 3-4 seasons.

 

[El Diablo]

what about golden point?

this was from last year

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...e-system-likely-to-linger-20111130-1o75u.html

Extra-time rule gets boot, but McIntyre system likely to linger
Greg Prichard
December 1, 2011

THE National Rugby League is set to change the extra-time rules for finals games next season, but it is still up in the air whether the McIntyre finals system will be retained or dumped in favour of a return to the system the AFL uses.

The league announced at the end of its annual conference yesterday it had formed a competition committee to review next year's finals series structure, extra time in finals games, player safety issues arising from new playing trends - including the controversial ''cannonball'' tackle - and any other suggestions related to match rules that are put forward by clubs.

The NRL asked the clubs for feedback on these issues two weeks ahead of the conference, and the committee is designed to discuss whatever matters the clubs consider to be priorities and make recommendations to the league. The NRL's independent commission will also have a say when it is finally in place, most likely by mid-December.

The Herald has learnt there is solid backing from the clubs for a change to the extra-time rules for the finals, largely as a result of the finals game between Brisbane and St George Illawarra last season, when Darren Lockyer kicked a field goal in the second minute of golden-point extra time to give the Broncos a thrilling 13-12 win.

It is felt finals games are too important to be decided so simply, and that teams should battle over a longer period before a golden-point extra time period comes into play - if there is not already a result.

The likelihood is that extra time in finals will begin with a guaranteed period, possibly five minutes each way, before the situation reverts to golden-point extra time if the scoring is still deadlocked.

There is almost annual debate over whether the McIntyre system should be replaced by the system that splits the top four teams from the bottom four in the first week of the finals. It has always survived, despite calls for it to be abandoned, but this time the push is likely to be stronger than ever.

The Herald understands that while some clubs would like to see the McIntyre system scrapped, there are others that are not fussed either way. It is known that the independent commission believes it is worth discussing.

The competition committee will comprise State of Origin coaches Ricky Stuart and Mal Meninga, former NRL coaches Daniel Anderson and John Lang, former NRL players Andrew Ryan and Trent Barrett, and the NRL director of football operations, Nathan McGuirk. Two current NRL coaches will also be appointed to the committee, and the NRL referees' coaches Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper will advise on rules.

It is possible decisions on the finals system and extra time could be made this month, but since nothing would be final until the independent commission is in place decisions could be delayed until January.

''The process has begun with the clubs providing direct feedback,'' McGuirk said yesterday. ''The competition committee will be finalised shortly and will get together for the first time in the next seven to 10 days, when the feedback from the clubs will be considered.''

NRL chief executive David Gallop said one of the game's greatest strengths was its capacity to evolve, adding: ''There is little doubt that we are seeing the closest and the most skillful competitions in the game's history and we want to ensure that we are constantly monitoring and evaluating the way the game is played.''

 

[no name]

It really shits me that they (media) keep calling it the 'AFL System'.
Rugby League had it first and I'm pretty sure AFL had the MacIntyre System first.