NRL split into divisions

[joshreading]

you missed the key word, "equality". Sydney teams would travel far far less over the season which would tell come play off time.

Also non Sydney teams opportunities to be on FTA would be minimal and have an impact on their ability to attract sponsorship, raise profile etc.

Sydney teams ALREADY travel far less. Yes it might have 'some' impact but that is what you get when you don't live right next to another NRL side. What it might do is help the finances of Sydney sides (and by default expenses of the NRL as they pay for travel - which can be put towards non Sydney sides)

It is true that Sydney 'might' see less Non Sydney sides for the first portion of the year but it is gauranteed that in the second part of the season they would see a non Sydney side in action EVERY week against their own.

Also Brisbane (for instance) would play Melbourne, then Gold Coast, then Auckland, then Newcastle, then Cowboys, then WA Reds, then Canberra etc. twice (before turning to Sydney sides)

How would that effect them being shown on FTA? In actual fact some National sides might get more exposure because they would be gauranteed to play a side like the Broncos twice a year and that is nearly gauranteed coverage as opposed to the Reds playing most of the Sydney sides and maybe (if you are lucky) play the Broncos.

 

[muzby]

As it presently stands every team does NOT play in Melbourne every year anyway so there is no gaurantee that your (non Melbourne team for instance) will play in Melbourne anyway.

at least every 2nd year is better than never at all..

 

[joshreading]

at least every 2nd year is better than never at all..

Actually that is what the Sydney/National Conference system would guarantee.

 

[gerg]

Why?

 

[joshreading]

Why?

Because your draw is far simpler (being initially home and away in your conference) then one game against every side from the other conference.

It can then be as simple as playing half the other conference at home and half away each year (obvious really) but then those you played away this year, you play at home the next. This guarantees a Dragons fan would see them play the Storm in Melbourne atleast every two years.

ie.

Cross Conference Period

Melbourne V

Roosters (home 2012 - away 2013 - home 2014 - away 2015)
Sea Eagles
Souths
Sharks
Eels
Bulldogs
Dragons
Tigers
Panthers
Bears (assuming admitted into a 20 team comp)

 

[muzby]

Actually that is what the Sydney/National Conference system would guarantee.

how? if i support a sydney based team, and melbourne are not in that conference, how would i see them play live down here?

 

[sting]

the seahawks beating the saints at home in the nfl playoffs proves why conferences are a joke and don't work properly.

 

[joshreading]

how? if i support a sydney based team, and melbourne are not in that conference, how would i see them play live down here?

Have you read the idea at all? I doubt it, it sounds like you have jumped to conclusions.

Each conference would play their conference sides twice, then every team in one conference would play EVERY TEAM in the other conference ONCE. Assuming you simply change who is playing home and away in the cross conference period. You can GUARANTEE that the Dragons will play in Melbourne every two years.

Read it slowly, seriously this has been clear that every team would play every other side every year.

 

[smithie]

Actually that is what the Sydney/National Conference system would guarantee.

Any two-conference system would guarantee that not just a Sydney/National system.

 

[joshreading]

the seahawks beating the saints at home in the nfl playoffs proves why conferences are a joke and don't work properly.

Upsets happen ALL the time in all sorts of systems. In no way does this prove anything. All it conclusively proves is that the Seahawks can beat the Saints on their day. Plus the proposal given is quite different from the NFL system anyway, which has multiple conference and teams might never play each other unless they meet in a final or superbowl.

 

[joshreading]

Any two-conference system would guarantee that not just a Sydney/National system.

I agree, it just ensures that the traditional Sydney tribal emphasis can be grown rather than diluted and the national Big City rivalries can be grown.

Remember the 'Sydney Grandfinal' between Bulldogs and Eels. It is that Sydney centric 'feeling' that a Sydney conference playing for a Sydney only shield can help to grow.

 

[gerg]

Because your draw is far simpler (being initially home and away in your conference) then one game against every side from the other conference.

It can then be as simple as playing half the other conference at home and half away each year (obvious really) but then those you played away this year, you play at home the next. This guarantees a Dragons fan would see them play the Storm in Melbourne atleast every two years.

ie.

Cross Conference Period

Melbourne V

Roosters (home 2012 - away 2013 - home 2014 - away 2015)
Sea Eagles
Souths
Sharks
Eels
Bulldogs
Dragons
Tigers
Panthers
Bears (assuming admitted into a 20 team comp)

So we will have a minimum of a 28 round competition - where do you squeeze in Origin and the Anzac test?

Again I ask why? What is wrong with the current competition and why does it need changing? Over the past few seasons the football has been going from strength to strength - why change it?

As others have pointed out this will only benefit Sydney teams.

 

[joshreading]

I agree that in a Twenty team system it makes for a fairly long season. (although some have proposed such already). That is undoubtedly one of the weaknesses. Although in the 18 team format this would not be a problem and the 18 team format would be what we are nearer to.

I agree that Sydney teams benefit and I am not a fan of any Sydney team (GO THE STORM but National can benefit as well with something else to play for. A specific focus through the year in winning the conference title. The possibility of extra money from winning the conference (through points win) Increased sponsorship through essentially creating competitions within the competition.

 

[Von]

Guys, guys, you are arguing over which model to use.

Just like the republic, we don't need it.

The current system works fine.

 

[gerg]

Guys, guys, you are arguing over which model to use.

Just like the republic, we don't need it.

The current system works fine.

No. I agree with you, conferences are a sh*t idea. I'm just trying to pick flaws in the idea but all it really comes down to, as I have said a few times, why change something that is going really well?

However, its nothing new for some Storm fans to want to change the rules of a game they have only followed for just over a decade.

 

[supera]

i actually don't mind the idea behind it. the lack of equality in terms of who plays who twice isn't a fair system. i'm another who is on board with 20 teams playing each other once, plus a bye, a 5 week finals, and origin played on weekends.

the reasons it doesn't work are two-fold. the first is the travel issue that has already been mentioned. the teams who end up in the sydney conferences will end up travelling less than they already do, the sydney teams who don't make the sydney conference (in the OPs suggestion, the roosters) end up with a massive disadvantage.

the other reason is that i can see a situation where tv scheduling becomes focussed not only around team a and team b - but also how it affects teams c and d in any given division. in the OP, canberra, nz, melbourne and the roosters are in one division - given the obvious parrallels here with the NFL, i'd equate that division with AFC west. we see none of it, there's no interest in it - because tv networks would usually rather show a meaningless NFC East game because theres more viewers and more money in that region, and because broadcasters already favour those teams.

so the danger is a further disparity in broadcasting as well.

 

[joshreading]

Ahhh... turn it into a Storm issue.

Yes, this would significantly help Sydney Sides. (I am not worried about that) Could you imagine most Sydney Clubs Ticketed members buying 'Sydney Season Tickets' (eg. Rabbitohs Sydney Season Tickets) where they can go to ALL games in Sydney of their team. The increase in crowds and tribalism could be huge.

Just imagine not thinking that the way it is, is the only way and a bit of tweaking could actually make what we have even better. Innovation should be a Rugby League trait, but unfortunately we have been 'burned' by Super League so keep your vision and innovation to yourself.

We have always been like this, except the constant tweaking of the rules to make the game better, the new teams to expand our boundaries, the new technology introduced to increase fan enjoyment, the new attacking and defensive strategies to keep up.

Yes, the present comp is good but it could be better

 

[Deacon]

Once the comp gets to 18-20 teams over the next 5-10 years conference system could be an option.

But I like and I think the NRL should do this...

• 18-20 Rounds, each team playing one another once with one extra game to level up the home and away schedule(make the extra game be drawn only live prior to round 1 like they do in the FA Cup so it builds excitement heading into the season and then play that game in Round 1)
• Stand Rep weekends, Friday Night North Island of NZ v South Island of NZ and Saturday Night NSW v QLD. ANZAC Test also stand alone in April
• Top 8 Finals System as is, but get with the times and introduce the AFL System.

As a result the competition will be played over the same length of the year and workload on the played wont be as heavy

 

[smithie]

The current system works fine.

No it doesn't. A two-conference system where each team plays home-and-away with teams within their conference and play other teams once a year works. (18 teams = 25 rounds) It means every team plays at every venue at least once every two years.

Last year was the first time in five years the Roosters played at Suncorp.

 

[gerg]

Ahhh... turn it into a Storm issue.

Yes, this would significantly help Sydney Sides. (I am not worried about that) Could you imagine most Sydney Clubs Ticketed members buying 'Sydney Season Tickets' (eg. Rabbitohs Sydney Season Tickets) where they can go to ALL games in Sydney of their team. The increase in crowds and tribalism could be huge.

Just imagine not thinking that the way it is, is the only way and a bit of tweaking could actually make what we have even better. Innovation should be a Rugby League trait, but unfortunately we have been 'burned' by Super League so keep your vision and innovation to yourself.

We have always been like this, except the constant tweaking of the rules to make the game better, the new teams to expand our boundaries, the new technology introduced to increase fan enjoyment, the new attacking and defensive strategies to keep up.

Yes, the present comp is good but it could be better

At present club CEO's meet each year to discuss changes to the game. Every CEO has the best interest of their club at heart and currently nominate which teams they would like to have for home games, based on crowd attendances. So for people complaining about only seeing their side once every few years become a club member and get all your mates to go to these games to improve attendance - then write to your club suggesting that you want to see a particular team.

I am all for improving the game but I don't see how a conference system would work. Just this year the NFL had a team in the playoffs with a losing record when teams in the other conference with better records missed out - would you want that?

How would it work anyway - the winner of either conference playing off in a grand final? so two Sydney sides couldn't play in the GF and vice-versa?