Can’t remember where I saw it posted about two conferences.
figured I’d give it a crack.
note
I vehemently oppose a Sydney and not Sydney conference system.
I’ve tried to evenly split Sydney, regional, Qld, interstate and NZ teams.
20 team comp, with potential for 22 team comp (I added Adelaide, NZ 2 and Brisbane 3).
Churchill Conference
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Parramatta Eels
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Brisbane Dolphins
Nth Qld Cowboys
Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm
Christchurch Kea
PNG Taipans
Potential : Adelaide Rams
Messenger Conference
Sydney Roosters
Penrith Panthers
Wests Tigers
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
St George Illawarra Dragons
Brisbane Broncos
Gold Coast Titans
Newcastle Knights
Auckland Warriors
Perth Bears
Potential : West Brisbane Jagera Jets or Brisbane Tigers bid
Agreed, it can't be Sydney and not Sydney. Gotta even out that travel somehow.
The big question for mine is: how would divisons/conferences impact the structure of the draw? the NFL has nailed it with their formula. If we did 2x 10 teams and applied the NFL approach that would be 18 games + another 10 for 28, which would be too long a season.
Instead, could the NRL go with four divisions? Play your own division twice (home and away) = 8 games and each of the other divisions once = 15 games, for a total of 23 games. Much more manageable and in line with the current season structure somewhat. Finals could be the top of each division and the next 4 best teams based on wins etc.
The hard bit would be breaking the comp up into groups of five. There's no ideal, but something like this?
North: Brisbane, Redcliffe, Gold Coast, North Queensland, PNG
East: Auckland, Christchurch, Manly, Newcastle, Canberra
South: Sydney, South Sydney, St George, Cronulla, Melbourne
West: Parramatta, Canterbury, Balmain, Penrith, Perth
