Erhan said:
With the SOO being mid season, perhaps the computer could pick the team based on how good your team is going. For example, you have 4 Queeslanders and they've got excellent stats so the computer picks all four and they won't be available for selection in the next game you play. You can also choose to play SOO or simulate it if you just want to concentrate on the premiership. This would make it harder for the user if they are going well just like in real life and would be really easy to implement aswell.
I like this idea, but I think I can expand on it. SIDHE can do what Yukes did with the Smackdown series in turning the NRL Franchise mode into a season style mode. You start off getting the job as coach for whatever team you want from the NRL or ESL and manage your team, create moves (see the create your own set plays part of my original post), work on your style of attack and defence, which, essentially, is altering the AI of your defence to tell it where to go. For example, you could have a one-on-one mark up style of defence similar to the Roosters, the Umbrella defence or sliding defence. If you're team is playing well, a member from NSWRL or QRL could approach you mid-season and ask if you'd like to be NSW/QLD State of Origin coach. You could accept and leave your club for a couple of weeks while you work on SOO, leaving your team up to your asisstant coach or stay on with your club. The same goes with Test matches, City VS Country, War of the Roses, etc. If you perform poorly you may be sacked from your job, ending the game or you could get an offer from an ESL club or vice versa, or an offer from a lesser club. A lot of these things could be done through cut-scenes, Smackdown style, where you are offered jobs from in-game characters. If you have problems with a player's behaviour, you could sit them down and have a chat with a CG character...the options are endless.