If we get to 20 teams and go to conferences what happens when it’s time to expand again? Rip it all up and start again?
21 teams you’d need 3 conferences of 7, 22 only divides by 2 conferences of 11. 23 doesn’t work at all, 24 you could make it neat again but that is a long way from 20.
Just keep it as is, everyone plays each other once, big rivalries get played twice.
Then the NRL needs to set out every teams rivals, again whether it's in pools or conferences it still needs to be outlayed who are each teams best rivals, can't have everyone want to play against the Broncos (for example) they need to specify why each team has each home and away every year and why a certain team is stuck with the titans more often... (again for example)
Don't forget every team wants 12 home games, so that means a minimum 24 rounds in the comp, so 19 rounds verse everyone then 5 teams again
Also bronx will want their 13th game at magic round too tehehe
Its why my 4 pool set up works, it lessens travel for the expansion sides, and makes Sydney rivalries them home and away every year, depending on how close they are to each other
It also creates a reason to be pooled, and leaves one round for magic round, where the broadcasters can pick and will certainly pick Souths vs Easts and Perth vs Manly, or whichever rivalry is lacking for a 2nd game for the year