Now that the finals are upon us, the remaining eight teams will be planning how they can navigate their way through to the Grand Final on the first Sunday of October. Since 1999 clubs have been accustomed to getting there through the finals format known as the McIntyre system. Hopefully this will be the last season of its use. It's time for a change to the final eight system used by the AFL. Interestingly, the system now used by the AFL was originally under the operation of Rugby League back in the mid '90s but for some reason League decided to copy the AFL who were using the McIntyre system only for the other code to later decide it was not for them.
The difference between the systems are as follows:
In the first week of the McIntyre system come the following matchups
Team 4 (Newcastle) v Team 5 (Manly)
Team 3 (Brisbane) v Team 6 (St.George-Illawarra)
Team 2 (Canterbury) v Team 7 (Canberra)
Team 1 (Melbourne) v Team 8 (Parramatta)
The bottom two ranked losers are eliminated after the first weekend. Under this system if all the lower ranked sides defeated their higher ranked opponents, Team 3 (Brisbane) and Team 4 (Newcastle) are the ones to be eliminated in the first week. This goes against the myth that finishing in the top four guarantees a side a second chance.
Compare this with the AFL system that has the following opening weekend match ups.
Team 1 (Melbourne) v Team 4 (Newcastle)
Team 2 (Canterbury) v Team 3 (Brisbane)
Team 5 (Manly) v Team 8 (Parramatta)
Team 6 (St.George-Illawarra) v Team 7 (Canberra)
While Teams 3 and 4 would not host a final in the first week, they nevertheless are playing for the right to have a definite week off and have the benefit of a guaranteed second chance, entitlements which they fully deserve but do not get under the McIntyre system. Only Teams 1 and 2 have the guarantee of two bites at the cherry. Under the AFL system, Teams 1 and 2 still have the benefit of hosting finals in the opening week while the bottom four sides are left to play in the elimination matches.
It has to be said the match ups under the AFL system look more balanced unlike the usual Team 1 v 8 scenario that League has had over the years which usually results in a one sided contest.
The problem I have with the McIntyre system is that it does not reward the top ranked sides (in particular Teams 3 and 4) as much as the AFL system. Supporters of the McIntyre system say the format provides greater reward for the top four teams because in the first week they play lower ranked teams than what they would in the AFL system. Fair enough, but they would get no less benefit under the AFL system. If anything, there is more incentive for the top sides to win under the AFL system. Take for instance this weekend's games. If short priced Melbourne and Canterbury win their matches, both third placed Brisbane and fourth placed Newcastle, win or lose, will play the next weekend regardless of how their matches end up. The same goes for fifth ranked Manly and sixth placed St.George-Illawarra. However under the AFL system, if Brisbane and Newcastle won their matches, they would be guaranteed a week off and progress directly to the Preliminary Finals. Brisbane and Newcastle would be playing for a guaranteed prize. By finishing in the lower half of the eight, the Dragons and Sea Eagles would find themselves in sudden death matches with far greater stakes. As for the top two sides, Melbourne and Canterbury, they would be treated the same under either system, if they won they get a week off, if they lost they would be required to play the following weekend.
Time and time again with the McIntyre system we have had sides eliminated from the finals in the first week (eg Melbourne 2000, Sydney Roosters 2001, St George-Illawarra 2004) not necessarily just for losing their matches, but because another side lost theirs. When a team is eliminated from the finals it should be when the final siren sounds in the match they are participating in, not one from another match.
Overall I think the AFL system is easier to explain to supporters and ensures every game within it is meaningful. The NRL would still retain the same number of matches that it currently has in the McIntyre system so there would be no chance of revenue loss. The finals series is the highlight of the Rugby League club calendar where clubs' entire seasons are on the line. For these reasons it is time the NRL changed the finals system, after all, it did serve us well the last time we had it.
