Do you think a shortened season (like that of the NFL in USA, which is 17 Rounds + 4 weeks of playoffs) would work in the NRL? Also, what about the idea of conferences (like US sports)?
Finally, I thought of a top 8 finals system. Tell me what you think of this one (even though there is less games):
Week 1: Quarter Finals (loser eliminated. All games are played at the respective teams home grounds)
Game 1 (Friday Night) : 4th vs 5th at 4th place's home ground
Game 2 (Saturday Night) : 3rd vs 6th at 3rd place's home ground
Game 3 (Saturday Night) : 2nd vs 7th at 2nd place's home ground
Game 4 (Sunday) : 1st vs 8th at 1st place's home ground
Week 2: Semi Finals (loser eliminated. All games are played at the respective teams home ground choice of venue with capacity of at least 40,000)
Game 5 (Saturday Night): 2nd highest winner vs 3rd highest winner (from week 1)
Game 6 (Sunday) : 1st highest winner vs 4th highest winner (from week 1)
Both games are played at the 1st+2nd highest winner's venue of choice. Venues of choice are:
- Suncorp Stadium (if North QLD, Brisbane or Gold Coast are the host side)
- Aussie Stadium (if Penrith, Parramatta, Wests Tigers, Manly, St George/Ill, Cronulla, Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney, Canberra or Newcastle is the host side)
- Telstra Stadium (same as Aussie Stadium)
- Telstra Dome (if Melbourne are the host side)
- MCG (same as Telstra Dome, although highly unlikely to use this as venue for a league game)
- Eden Park (if NZ Warriors are the host side)
Week 3: Grand Final at Telstra Stadium: Winner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 6
As I mentioned earlier, the system i've proposed may not have as many games. however, out of all the top 8 systems, i believe it's most fairest on all sides.
Ppl might criticise that it's a knockout, and hence if you lose youre out and why it doesn't favour teams 1+2 (which get 2nd chances under AFL and McIntyre systems). Well, the advantage for team 1 is that they get to play the lowest ranked side in week 1 (with home ground advantage btw), and the lowest ranked winner in week 2 (if they get through week 1). If they cannot beat team 8 in week 1, i dont see why team 1 deserves a second chance. Plus, they get home ground advantage for that game as well, as I've mentioned earlier.
So, for an example with this finals assuming all top sides win (based on the current top 8 as of today)
Week 1:
North QLD vs NZ Warriors at Dairy Farmers Stadium
Parramatta vs Brisbane at Parramatta Stadium
Manly vs Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval
Melbourne vs Wests Tigers at Olympic Park
Week 2:
Manly vs Parramatta at SFS/Telstra Stadium
Melbourne vs Nth QLD at Telstra Dome
Your thoughts please...
Finally, I thought of a top 8 finals system. Tell me what you think of this one (even though there is less games):
Week 1: Quarter Finals (loser eliminated. All games are played at the respective teams home grounds)
Game 1 (Friday Night) : 4th vs 5th at 4th place's home ground
Game 2 (Saturday Night) : 3rd vs 6th at 3rd place's home ground
Game 3 (Saturday Night) : 2nd vs 7th at 2nd place's home ground
Game 4 (Sunday) : 1st vs 8th at 1st place's home ground
Week 2: Semi Finals (loser eliminated. All games are played at the respective teams home ground choice of venue with capacity of at least 40,000)
Game 5 (Saturday Night): 2nd highest winner vs 3rd highest winner (from week 1)
Game 6 (Sunday) : 1st highest winner vs 4th highest winner (from week 1)
Both games are played at the 1st+2nd highest winner's venue of choice. Venues of choice are:
- Suncorp Stadium (if North QLD, Brisbane or Gold Coast are the host side)
- Aussie Stadium (if Penrith, Parramatta, Wests Tigers, Manly, St George/Ill, Cronulla, Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney, Canberra or Newcastle is the host side)
- Telstra Stadium (same as Aussie Stadium)
- Telstra Dome (if Melbourne are the host side)
- MCG (same as Telstra Dome, although highly unlikely to use this as venue for a league game)
- Eden Park (if NZ Warriors are the host side)
Week 3: Grand Final at Telstra Stadium: Winner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 6
As I mentioned earlier, the system i've proposed may not have as many games. however, out of all the top 8 systems, i believe it's most fairest on all sides.
Ppl might criticise that it's a knockout, and hence if you lose youre out and why it doesn't favour teams 1+2 (which get 2nd chances under AFL and McIntyre systems). Well, the advantage for team 1 is that they get to play the lowest ranked side in week 1 (with home ground advantage btw), and the lowest ranked winner in week 2 (if they get through week 1). If they cannot beat team 8 in week 1, i dont see why team 1 deserves a second chance. Plus, they get home ground advantage for that game as well, as I've mentioned earlier.
So, for an example with this finals assuming all top sides win (based on the current top 8 as of today)
Week 1:
North QLD vs NZ Warriors at Dairy Farmers Stadium
Parramatta vs Brisbane at Parramatta Stadium
Manly vs Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval
Melbourne vs Wests Tigers at Olympic Park
Week 2:
Manly vs Parramatta at SFS/Telstra Stadium
Melbourne vs Nth QLD at Telstra Dome
Your thoughts please...