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NSW & Qld conferences

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
This year shows lack of qld teams sees a big drop in audience with no local teams in contention. Way to fix this is split comp into conferences guaranteeing qld finals participation.
Qld is huge rugby league market & NRL should do everything to unsure it is engaged all way to grand final.
Conferences will also allow Sydney teams to play each other more often which generates biggest audience here.

NSW conference - 8 teams. Merge teams such as saints & sharks (St George Sutherland Illawarra).

Qld conference - 8 teams including Auckland (closer to Brisbane) & Storm (who have following up north) Raiders (why not). Add Dolphins & either Ipswich or Firehawks.

Let each team play conference rivals twice & other teams once.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,807
Yeah i feel this is the whole conference argument all over again, it will be the same result, the QLD teams are rubbish this year regardless which conference theyd be put in, storm, raiders and whoever is added to the "INTERSTATE"
Conference will still be better simply because they are run better and their roster has stemmed from that, no conference system will improve the QLD teams any better than if they are playing everyone anyways, if anything it'll make it worse, as travel for these interstate teams will be at constant, while the NSW conference will not, thus be more advantaged.
Ive always said a conference system can only work if there is a legitimate split in the geographical map of the clubs, then there's no bias for anything.
As it stands everyone seems to point out sydney with its 8.5 teams should be segregated in its own conference, which is totally wrong, you need to split it in half then add interstate clubs to each, that way they all have to travel as much as each other. As well as creating more derby games within its proximity.
Northern conference vs Southern conference, is the only way to go, effectively cutting thru sydney

I made a conference allocation a few months back regarding this
https://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/nrl-conference-idea-ne-vs-sw.479293/
 
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Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
Yeah i feel this is the whole conference argument all over again, it will be the same result, the QLD teams are rubbish this year regardless which conference theyd be put in, storm, raiders and whoever is added to the "INTERSTATE"
Conference will still be better simply because they are run better and their roster has stemmed from that, no conference system will improve the QLD teams any better than if they are playing everyone anyways, if anything it'll make it worse, as travel for these interstate teams will be at constant, while the NSW conference will not, thus be more advantaged.
Ive always said a conference system can only work if there is a legitimate split in the geographical map of the clubs, then there's no bias for anything.
As it stands everyone seems to point out sydney with its 8.5 teams should be segregated in its own conference, which is totally wrong, you need to split it in half then add interstate clubs to each, that way they all have to travel as much as each other. As well as creating more derby games within its proximity.
Northern conference vs Southern conference, is the only way to go, effectively cutting thru sydney

I made a conference allocation a few months back regarding this
https://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/nrl-conference-idea-ne-vs-sw.479293/
Ideally there should be equal or almost the same number of qld teams as NSW - that will cancel any travel consideration. Place Auckland, Melbourne in any conference to balance things out, but Perth afl teams put up with this every season etc not to mention warriors & cowboys.
Salary cap should ideally level playing field, of course success fluctuates. Right now qld teams are poor but having 1/2 of rugby league market disengaged for most of season & entire finals is bigger problem than a weak conference.
Before anybody says it can't work; in NFL there are 32 teams with 16 rounds & each division plays each other twice. Nobody complains about unfair draw because highlighting established rivalries & ensuring big markets are engaged are simply best for sport.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,807
Ideally there should be equal or almost the same number of qld teams as NSW - that will cancel any travel consideration. Place Auckland, Melbourne in any conference to balance things out, but Perth afl teams put up with this every season etc not to mention warriors & cowboys.
Salary cap should ideally level playing field, of course success fluctuates. Right now qld teams are poor but having 1/2 of rugby league market disengaged for most of season & entire finals is bigger problem than a weak conference.
Before anybody says it can't work; in NFL there are 32 teams with 16 rounds & each division plays each other twice. Nobody complains about unfair draw because highlighting established rivalries & ensuring big markets are engaged are simply best for sport.
NFL doesn't have all teams based in the equivalent of NSW vs the rest, they are all spread out, so your theory only strengthens mine, in saying youd need to segregate via geography, not by giving the sydney centric teams the advantage of not travelling at all,
Both AFC & NFC are also split up into 4 seperate conferences again, being NORTH, SOUTH, EAST & WEST, so that 32 team competition is really and 8 conference comp
With 4 clubs within each conference.
I think that would work here but is still not ideal
 
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Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
NFL doesn't have all teams based in the equivalent of NSW vs the rest, they are all spread out, so your theory only strengthens mine, in saying youd need to segregate via geography, not by giving the sydney centric teams the advantage of not travelling at all,
Both AFC & NFC are also split up into 4 seperate conferences again, being NORTH, SOUTH, EAST & WEST, so that 32 team competition is really and 8 conference comp
With 4 clubs within each conference.
I think that would work here but is still not ideal
No - divisions are based on geography it's in the titles. This ensures a spread of teams representing areas far & wide across USA at start of playoffs. NFL conferences based on afl & NFL merger, but NBA is strictly divided by location.
Don't look now but Sydney teams travel less than other teams just based on make up of comp. By adding more qld teams particularly in south east it goes a long to leveling field as far as travel in concerned.
Ultimately, who gives a f**k if Sydney teams travel less? Right now the system is doing it's best to alienate & drive off half of RL audience - only NSW & act teams in finals (storm have no real Vic fans). Good would out weigh any negative
 
Messages
12,413
With 3 teams in Brisbane, plus one on the Goldie and one in Townsville, there would be far less travel for the Cowboys, Titans and Broncos. The 5 teams would play each other home and away and each one would only travel to Sydney 3 or 4 times a year.
 
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MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,807
No - divisions are based on geography it's in the titles. This ensures a spread of teams representing areas far & wide across USA at start of playoffs. NFL conferences based on afl & NFL merger, but NBA is strictly divided by location.
Don't look now but Sydney teams travel less than other teams just based on make up of comp. By adding more qld teams particularly in south east it goes a long to leveling field as far as travel in concerned.
Ultimately, who gives a f**k if Sydney teams travel less? Right now the system is doing it's best to alienate & drive off half of RL audience - only NSW & act teams in finals (storm have no real Vic fans). Good would out weigh any negative
Not sure what you mean regarding "No"
But yes geography is what the NFL uses to some extent, they dont have 8 teams in one city, or state for that matter. Like what youve suggested at the start of this topic
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
Not sure what you mean regarding "No"
But yes geography is what the NFL uses to some extent, they dont have 8 teams in one city, or state for that matter. Like what youve suggested at the start of this topic
No - in that you were wrong for saying NFL teams not divided by geography. This is done to cast wide net especially come playoff times. NRL should structure comp similar to maximize two biggest RL watching markets - pretty simple concept
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,807
No - in that you were wrong for saying NFL teams not divided by geography. This is done to cast wide net especially come playoff times. NRL should structure comp similar to maximize two biggest RL watching markets - pretty simple concept
I never said the NFL weren't divided by geography, i actually pointed out that it does, all i said your wrong to suggest that NRL should make a conference system based on Sydney vs the rest,
The comparison to NFL is incorrect
If you want the NRL to emulate the NFL.
Then this is what it should look like

NRL NORTH
North Queensland Cowboys
Brisbane Broncos
Gold Coast Titans
Newcastle Knights

NRL EAST
New Zealand Warriors
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Sydney Roosters
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks

NRL SOUTH
South Sydney Rabbitohs
St George Illawarra Dragons
Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm

NRL WEST
Wests Tigers
Penrith Panthers
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Parramatta Eels

Play every club once, then twice within your own conference, add a heritage round and a Magic Round, will end up with 20 rounds
If you added more teams you'd have to add one to each conference
Dolphins in the North, CC Bears or NZ2 to the East, Perth to the West, Adelaide to the South
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,411
Here's an idea we could grow up as a game and take a national approach rather than our traditional two state mentality!
When (if) we get to 20 clubs a two conference system could work well but shouldn't be predominantly state based in make up. It should be partly state, partly rival, partly club size and strength and partly logistical. From one of the many other threads we have had on conferences lol

Arthur Summons Conference

Panthers
Eels
Bulldogs
Wests
Knights
Broncos
Titans
Cowboys
Brisbane2
Qlnd5

Norm Provan conference

Dragons
Rabbits
Sharks
Roosters
Sea-Eagles
Raiders
Warriors
Storm
Pirates
Adelaide
 
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Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
Here's an idea we could grow up as a game and take a national approach rather than our traditional two state mentality!
When (if) we get to 20 clubs a two conference system could work well but shouldn't be predominantly state based in make up. It should be partly state, partly rival, partly club size and strength and partly logistical. From one of the many other threads we have had on conferences lol

Arthur Summons Conference

Panthers
Eels
Bulldogs
Wests
Knights
Broncos
Titans
Cowboys
Brisbane2
Qlnd5

Norm Provan conference

Dragons
Rabbits
Sharks
Roosters
Sea-Eagles
Raiders
Warriors
Storm
Pirates
Adelaide
No more teams in afl states until storm can get audience in Melbourne
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,411
No more teams in afl states until storm can get audience in Melbourne

or RL in Brisbane? Only 85k tuned in to the NRL finals game on Sunday. Clearly not enough interest in RL in Brisbane for another club.

The Melbourne game achieved the NRL's largest FTA Metro rating game in week 1 of finals, thanks largely to the 76K Melbourne audience. Go figure!

To give you a more rounded perspective on the difference it makes to FTA TV to have a national comp heres a comparison from the weekend:

NRL EF1 Metro rating total 280k (Syd 164k Bris 116k)
AFL EF1 Metro rating 886k (Syd 36k, Melb 434k, Bris 64k, Adel 102k, Per 250k)

Which do you think a FTA TV company is going to pay more for?
 
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Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
or RL in Brisbane? Only 85k tuned in to the NRL finals game on Sunday. Clearly not enough interest in RL in Brisbane for another club.

The Melbourne game achieved the NRL's largest FTA Metro rating game in week 1 of finals, thanks largely to the 76K Melbourne audience. Go figure!

To give you a more rounded perspective on the difference it makes to FTA TV to have a national comp heres a comparison from the weekend:

NRL EF1 Metro rating total 280k (Syd 164k Bris 116k)
AFL EF1 Metro rating 886k (Syd 36k, Melb 434k, Bris 64k, Adel 102k, Per 250k)

Which do you think a FTA TV company is going to pay more for?
You don't know how to interpret ratings; Melbourne ratings are shit. Storm were home team & on main channel. Brisbane outrated Melbourne without horse in race. Gotta get more Brisbane content to galvanize 2nd biggest market.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,411
You don't know how to interpret ratings; Melbourne ratings are shit. Storm were home team & on main channel. Brisbane outrated Melbourne without horse in race. Gotta get more Brisbane content to galvanize 2nd biggest market.

Ones heartland with no competition that night, other is AFL heartland up against a massive AFL rating game, 76k is not bad at all.
The worry is Brisbane ratings drop off a cliff when no Brisbane team playing, makes you wonder if adding a second one is that good an idea if it requires them to be winning all the time to maintain any level of decent rating? Maybe they should just let Broncos be more successful and solve the problem without wasting $13mill a year on it?

We start to add 50-75k in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide to every game and suddenly the NRL metro ratings dont look as shthouse as they do now with just two cities involved?
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
Ones heartland with no competition that night, other is AFL heartland up against a massive AFL rating game, 76k is not bad at all.
The worry is Brisbane ratings drop off a cliff when no Brisbane team playing, makes you wonder if adding a second one is that good an idea if it requires them to be winning all the time to maintain any level of decent rating? Maybe they should just let Broncos be more successful and solve the problem without wasting $13mill a year on it?

We start to add 50-75k in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide to every game and suddenly the NRL metro ratings dont look as shthouse as they do now with just two cities involved?
Storm does 17k for regular season games - that's in city five times as large as Adelaide. If Broncos, Cows in finals number would've been far greater.
Your argument reminds me of Gordon Ramsey episode were restaurant owner was neglecting paying customers on door step to become fine dining in area where there was no demand for that.
Don't neglect Brisbane a city which watches game for areas that never will.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,411
Storm does 17k for regular season games - that's in city five times as large as Adelaide. If Broncos, Cows in finals number would've been far greater.
Your argument reminds me of Gordon Ramsey episode were restaurant owner was neglecting paying customers on door step to become fine dining in area where there was no demand for that.
Don't neglect Brisbane a city which watches game for areas that never will.

* when On digital.
76k in melbourne, 85k in Brisbane hmmmm on FTA main channel.
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
Just remove the NRL layer and have all teams playing in 12 team NSW Cup or Qld Cups with a superbowl

And bring back the midweek cup as 2 trial rounds and QF SF F during mid seasonSOO period
 
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