Wild Card Weekend - reports NRL looking to expand finals to ten teams

[Eelectrica]

Can we ship Greenburg off to RU or AFL? We shipped Gallop off to soccer. There has to be a way.

 

[Iafeta]

I vote a top 16 finals series.

Week 1:
1 vs 4
2 vs 3
5 vs 8
6 vs 7

9 vs 16
10 vs 15
11 vs 14
13 vs 12


Week 2: we drop to 6 games, winners of top 4games get a week off.

Loser of 1 vs 4 plays winner of 6 vs 7
Loser of 2 vs 4 plays winner of 5 vs 8
Loser of 6 vs 7 plays winner of 9 vs 16
Loser of 5 vs 8 plays winner of 10 vs 15
Winner of 11 vs 14 plays winner of 12 vs 13
Loser of 11 vs 14 plays winner of 12 vs 13

Week 3: same formula only we bring the week 1 top 4 winners back and give the week 2 highest ranked winners a break.

This goes on indefinitely with no teams being eliminated.

Omfg. I love this! Get it to Todd and his blind mice immediately

 

[GongPanther]

Wow.

Just wow.

FFS, will someone please take control and LEAD this game. Turn it into what it should be, not what it is becoming.

This idea will be a mere blip after the players association give it their thumbs down.

 

[adamkungl]

Just watched the debate on this on NRL360, Slothfield was arguing that it was a good idea because it reduces dead rubbers, and Kent was against it for the same reasons as us. It’s cheapening sport for the sake of entertainment, and as such is. A bloody stupid idea.
The only way I could see something like this working would be if there was a scheduled week off after the end of the season and that if any teams were tied on competition points for the last few spots they would then get to play off for those spots on that weekend. But otherwise, no.

Taking the no dead rubbers idea to its logical conclusion, 15 of the 16 teams make the finals

 

[SBD82]

This idea will be a mere blip after the players association give it their thumbs down.

I hope you’re right.

 

[Iafeta]

Omg the poll on nrl.com is somehow 51% yes
This sport truly has the dumbest fans

It’s duped. No doubt. It’s like the US Electoral College.

Putin is probably on it too.

 

[SBD82]

Theoretically under this system a team could lose more games than they win through the season and the finals, and be the premiers.

Insane.

 

[Matt23]

Personally I think the only reason the NRL are looking at is because a certain rival code is, it rewards mediocrity, it's a no from me.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Taking the no dead rubbers idea to its logical conclusion, 15 of the 16 teams make the finals

Shhh, don’t tell Slothfield

 

[Iafeta]

Just watched the debate on this on NRL360, Slothfield was arguing that it was a good idea because it reduces dead rubbers, and Kent was against it for the same reasons as us. It’s cheapening sport for the sake of entertainment, and as such is. A bloody stupid idea.
The only way I could see something like this working would be if there was a scheduled week off after the end of the season and that if any teams were tied on competition points for the last few spots they would then get to play off for those spots on that weekend. But otherwise, no.

Slothfield likes it because it’s an extra weekend on the turps at the footy. Take alcohol out of it and Rudolph would be against it too.

 

[Iafeta]

Personally I think the only reason the NRL are looking at is because a certain rival code is, it rewards mediocrity, it's a no from me.

I think they’re promoting this to take the spotlight on porn-gate frankly.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Theoretically under this system a team could lose more games than they win through the season and the finals, and be the premiers.

Insane.

As it was pointed out Canberra would’ve got a shot with a 10-14 record this year. Totally nuts.

 

[King hit]

If 9th or 10th were deadset neck and neck with the top 8 then I could see some appeal to it but that would only work circumstancely. It wouldn’t have worked last year.

But there are far more cons then pros as far as I see it. Seems like something to appeal to tv broadcasters.

 

[Matt23]

I think they’re promoting this to take the spotlight on porn-gate frankly.

...and that too

 

[SpaceMonkey]

If 9th or 10th were deadset neck and neck with the top 8 then I could see some appeal to it but that would only work circumstancely. It wouldn’t have worked last year.

But there are far more cons then pros as far as I see it.

Yeah that’s the one scenario I’d be ok with a playoff in. But inevitably that’d mean that some years you’d get playoffs and some years you wouldn’t. And I don’t think the media organisations would be too keen on that.

 

[typicalfan]

Can we trial pads and helmets as well

 

[Diesel]

No thanks.

The current finals format was put in place partly, (but not because of) because the Warriors finished in 6th in 2011 and got towelled up in week 1 but still played the GF.

Who wants to see teams 9 and 10 play 5th and 6th in week 1 of the finals proper. The current format we have is the best one around, don’t change it for the sake of change.

Another stupid idea from the idiots at HQ

 

[Tommy Smith]

I say we go ahead with this idea but with a slight tweak: we make the week one 7v10 & 8v9 games 'Lumberjack Matches'.

If a winger goes into touch I wanna see Hacksaw Jim Duggan whack him over the head with a 2x4 or Goldust give him a reach around.

 

[adamkungl]

Crrraaaazy idea if they want an extra game...

Maybe get the winning lads over from England in for some kind of ...World Club Challenge

wait no dumb idea. the fans want 6th v 10th not 1st v 1st.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I dont mind it, but they could do better. They should be doing everything they can to ditch the games that arent sudden death....

I still think smaller conferences is the better way to go (with 18 teams, 3 groups of 6. With 20 teams, 4 groups of 5). Have the same teams in the divisions every year and only have the top team fo through.

Imagine a group of Rabbits, Dragons, Sharks Raiders, Roosters, Manly; directly knocking each other out every year, the rivalries would be f*cking deadly. And the play-off for conference champion would be almost as big as the GF.

You compare that to now where no one gives much of a shit until the week before the GF and we are always just hoping a decent rivalry just happens to appears.