NRl playoffs top 10 being looked at

[Big Marn]

Tuesday, March 05, 2019

4 March, 2019
The NRL has proposed a huge shake-up for NRL finals with a wildcard to be introduced.

The finals format would be a top 10 with the top six to get the first weekend of finals off.

Then seven would play 10, and eight would host nine for a chance to make the main draw of the finals.

Last year, the Raiders would have made the finals from 10th with a 10 win, 14 loss season, as well as the 12-12 Tigers.

The Dragons would have played the Raiders and Warriors against the Tigers with the top six getting a week off.

Speaking on NRL360, host Paul Kent and The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield — who broke the news — had a heated discussion about the move.

"I really like it. The idea is to stop having so many dead rubber games," Rothfield said.

"This year there were 36 matches where there with nothing hanging on the result for some of the sides. What they're trying to do is to get more people to the games, get more interest to the back end of the season."

"What I like is the fact it's a huge advantage for the top six clubs. They get the first week off, they get to rest, rehab and get ready fro the finals like they do in the AFL. We're putting on two more games for the teams finishing seventh to 10th."

For Kent, he rallied against the idea, calling it a "gimmick".

"I intensely dislike it. It just rewards mediocrity," he said.

"Why should the Raiders who finished 10th on 22 points get a shot at the Dragons who finished seventh on 32 points to make the playoffs? I just don't think they deserve it.

"I think we already have we have too many teams in a top eight in a sixteen team competition make the playoffs, to now extend it to 10, so more than 50 per cent get a chance at the finals. The Raiders who had 10 wins an a bye, they just don't deserve to be there.

Fellow host Ben Ikin added that there have been instances in the past where the teams seven through 10 have been separated by points differential.

Kent hit back, saying "That's true, that's happened once in 21 years".

The one time it happened was the 2014 season where the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta Eels all finished on 28 points with the Broncos in eighth and the Eels tenth on differential.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=12209441

 

[Fufu Andronez]

I hope not. I'm also of the belief that it will reward mediocrity.

If you finish 10th in a 16 team competition you quite rightly as per current rules should be nowhere near finals footy

 

[Izz]

Terrible idea... which means it'll probably be implemented immediately.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Generally I’m against it for the same reasons Kent states. I’d be ok with a playoff if teams were tied for 8th, but not if they were on different numbers of competition points.

 

[JJ]

Jesus, with 8 in the playoff the mediocre are already getting a shot... 10 is just a joke

I heard Buzz say they wanted to reduce the # of 'dead games' - solution for that is simple, teams need to play better to keep themselves in the race - the teams that missed the 8 last year were just terrible

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Jesus, with 8 in the playoff the mediocre are already getting a shot... 10 is just a joke

I heard Buzz say they wanted to reduce the # of 'dead games' - solution for that is simple, teams need to play better to keep themselves in the race - the teams that missed the 8 last year were just terrible

Spot in. The precise reason there were a lot of dead games last year was that there was a big gap between 8 and 9. In a season where there’s a log jam from 6th-10th you’d have far far less.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Why are they even reviewing the current comp? It's good as it is. I like union too but the NRL is far better than Super Rugby.

Its probably cos peeps moan about the current comp.

 

[WellsNZ]

I really doubt they will go ahead with this. It's beyond f**king horrible and the feedback so far seems very loud and clear about it.

When I first read about it I thought surely I was missing something.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

I like it...on the backend of expansion to Perth and Brisbane 2. 18 teams with a wildcard round works for mine.

 

[JJ]

Just have a top 16 play-off, then everyone is included, lovely

 

[TheDMC]

I'm not totally against it although easy to be disparaging.

The NRL is already rewarding mediocrity by having 7th and 8th qualify for the finals. But it is pretty token reward, as almost impossible to win the comp from there. Add a couple more teams and it is really a 'wild card' because for any one of those four teams (7-10) to make the GF, they would have to go on a bloody impressive run. So it does keep a small flicker of (false) hope for supporters, which will definitely boost supporter interest for latter rounds for mediocre teams and of course the 2 additional finals matches. Doesn't really impact at all on the top 6, and especially not the top four, one of whom will 90% of the time win the comp. Makes it harder for 7 and 8th, but f**k em, they don't deserve much of a chance anyway finishing there.

 

[Mighty Ape Man]

Terrible idea. Graham Annesley needs to shut up his stoopid ideas already.

If/when there is expansion then reconsider finals format.

But yeah just like golden point (what's wrong with a draw?) they'll "do it for the fans" (ie. TV deals / advertising dollars)

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Is Greenberg a plant from another sport sent to destroy rugby league ?

 

[Rich102]

I think the nipple on the back of his head gives him away as an alien.

 

[MKEB...]

Is Greenberg a plant from another sport sent to destroy rugby league ?

In all fairness, the Bulldogs have to have a chance somehow.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Terrible idea. Graham Annesley needs to shut up his stoopid ideas already.

If/when there is expansion then reconsider finals format.

But yeah just like golden point (what's wrong with a draw?) they'll "do it for the fans" (ie. TV deals / advertising dollars)

It's all about the rating/advertising dollars, let's not get confused.
Ratings dropped off towards end of last year with so many games that meant nothing to the chances of playing finals.

 

[Big Marn]

It's all about the rating/advertising dollars, let's not get confused.
Ratings dropped off towards end of last year with so many games that meant nothing to the chances of playing finals.

yes and we also dont have promotion/relegation which keeps interest going in a lot of competitions right to the end of the season. eg EPL. Still, i am struggling to think of any other comps in the world that have a 10 team playoff system for a 16 team competition.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

It's all about the rating/advertising dollars, let's not get confused.
Ratings dropped off towards end of last year with so many games that meant nothing to the chances of playing finals.

Last year was an aberration though because there was a big gap between 8th and 9th so the 8 was settled weeks out. If there were gaps between 6-7 and 9-10 you’d get the same issue.