Reduced number of games

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Owey

Matthew Gidley
I want to preface this by saying I was at commbank for the Tongan match at the weekend and it was a magnificent event. My daughter got us tickets for father's day and it was an unforgettable experience, made by the Tongan fans. I left knowing that we got lucky, if the Tongans hadn't upset the kiwis the week before we may have witnessed a professional Australian win in front of a largely lifeless crowd.

So to my question. With all the talk around expansion I think something is getting missed. The aim seems to be to have about the same number of nrl matches but up to 8 less rounds, so maybe 4 less home matches? I've been a member forever and every home match is special. If I can't get to an away game, I'll make sure I can watch it. The Knights are the pinnacle of enjoyment for this sport for me. To the point where the nsw win was special because of the part Bradman played in it. I don't want to have the number of times I can enjoy seeing my team slashed by a third to accommodate new teams and still play rep games. I think the current administration needs to be hearing this NOW not that I think I could cut through their sheer arrogance. What are peoples thoughts on this? What actions can we take? I can't even find a contact email on their website. Maybe start with contacting the Knights directly?
 
I think it's more a player welfare thing. The physicality of rugby league is pretty much unmatched across all sports ... to have them playing 24 games in a regular season ... followed by possibly four finals matches, a trial and/or All Stars game, and then three Origins and three internationals ... that's up to 35 games in a season which is pretty much ridiculous.

We did cope back in the day when the competition was only 22 rounds ... I don't have a problem with reducing it. I think allowing players more recovery time will lead to a better standard of play, less injuries, and if it's like the NFL, the games that we do have might get that even more premium feel and you'll see more sold out matches.

Plus of course I'm always in favour of more internationals. All of the Pacific Championship matches were either sold out or got amazing crowds ... there's definite demand and for NZ and Pacific Island sides it is a highlight of the season.
 
Limiting the number of games individuals can play and making teams use their whole squads is the way to go.
As long as all clubs play by the same rules it won't make any noticeable difference to the final product.
 
Billy said:
Limiting the number of games individuals can play and making teams use their whole squads is the way to go.
As long as all clubs play by the same rules it won't make any noticeable difference to the final product.
Click to expand...
But there are obvious clubs won’t play by the rules and you don’t have to Einstein to know who?
 
Billy said:
Limiting the number of games individuals can play and making teams use their whole squads is the way to go.
As long as all clubs play by the same rules it won't make any noticeable difference to the final product.
Click to expand...
That is my thought as well. Players are rested regularly in European football and a couple of big American sports. Cram the nrl season with more games but have teams rest players, it isn't hard to police and we shouldn't be allergic to the idea if it is OK for other major sports.
 
I reckon that really devalues the competition. Who's going to get excited about a Knights game where a perfectly fit Ponga has to sit in the stands? It would be so frustrating, as well. Knowing us we'd end up having to rest him for the final round to make the finals lol.
 
jamesgould said:
I reckon that really devalues the competition. Who's going to get excited about a Knights game where a perfectly fit Ponga has to sit in the stands? It would be so frustrating, as well. Knowing us we'd end up having to rest him for the final round to make the finals lol.
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But there's the trade off, isn't it? Why not rest the top 17 for the trip to Penrith?
 
Most players, maybe all players, carry minor injuries into games.
You'd just need to rest them instead.
The benefit would be less games mean less injuries and not playing with minor injuries means they have more time to heal - so on average the top players should stay healthy for longer and have longer careers.
 
I don’t get it to be honest. In the Super League they play 27 games (without byes) plus the Challenge Cup which could be another 4 games for the finalists.

In the other code, they play 22 games in the Guinness Premiership plus a European league/cup and a domestic cup competition.

If they do reduce the number of leagues games down I think it would be good to introduce a cup competition where perhaps they could introduce a rule on how many reserve grade players have to play.

I also think they should introduce a shield comp alongside finals for those finishing 9-16th. They could have the same rule about playing developing players to give them experience and something to play for. Plus it would mean extra TV revenue!
 
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I thought we had a thread on reducing games already?

Anyway, I do think it's necessary. Down by 6 games, allow for rep stuff after each season. Less wear and tear on players.
 
When we get to 20 teams, we could do something similar to what the NFL do, have 4 divisions of 5 teams, each division plays each other twice and every other team once, that is 23 games, if my maths is right lol. Top of each division automatically into play offs, then there are 4 wild cards for highest winners from any division. Highest Div winner takes on lowest Div winner, 2nd highest vs 3rd highest, winner of each gets week off. Highest wild card plays lowest wild card, 2nd vs 3rd wild card, loser eliminated. Highest Loser Div vs lowest Winner wild card and then the other loser vs winner. Then semi final is Highest Winner Div vs Lowest Winner previous week, unless already played and then the other game and winner of both go into Grand Final.
 
And for SOO we take a 3 or 4 week break in the middle of the season, and have Women play Friday night, Saturday is Pacific Nations, eg Tonga vs Samoa, PNG vs Fiji and they switch around over the 3 weekends to play each other and on Sunday we have mens SOO, oh and New Zealand vs England with each year they can switch between going to UK or coming to NZ.
 
and I also think that the womens game needs to be Home and Away series so double the amount of games they play and get them paid accordingly, maybe even full time
 
20 teams, 19 games with home grounds alternating every 2 yrs, this also puts a premium on the big games. ( you know your only going to see penrith in newcastle every 2 yrs for example.

Also include a FA cup/ Australia cup style comp with nrl teams joining in what would be the usual trial period with clubs free to use any player from Sg ball upwards, with no NRL trial matches to be played this ensures at some point nrl players will feature in the comp, no nrl teams to host at their own home grounds, when the eventual time comes for an nrl v nrl match it is to be played in regional areas. There will be massive scorelines and a disparity in quality but the benefits this could provide CRL teams far outweigh this ( exposure for local club sponsors and in increased revenue for clubs, talent identification outside of traditional pathways to name a few). As someone who doesnt follower the A league and soccer in general i actually do enjoy watching the australia cup, we all love an underdog story.
 
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