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Post by England 3 Lions on Jan 28, 2009 23:17:01 GMT 10
The NRL currently holds 26 rounds during its premiership season. The final seasons is played over 4 weeks. This is a total of 30 weeks, thus meaning there isn't a lot of time to host an international season. Reducing the amount of rounds during the NRL's minor premiership to 16 would allow the RLIF to create an extended international season. Even better, the fewer rounds in the NRL will minimise player burn-out, and allow the ARL to hold the State of Origin series as a stand-a-lone event. The main problem behind a 16-round regular season is the inability for teams to play one another twice. The NRL could work their way around this problem by adding a conference system into the mix. Each conference wuld contain 8 teams. The teams' rivalries with one another would determine which conferences they're placed in. The 8 teams in each conference would play each other twice. Two byes could be added to the calendar to make-up for two spare rounds each team has, or they could be given the luxury of playing their two biggest rivalries for a 3rd time. Alternatively, 2 more teams could be added to the NRL, thus increasing the size of each conference to 9 teams. What I like the most about this formula is it'll give rugby league players one less reason to play rugby union in France. If the regular season is short, State of Origin is played on separate weekends and the international season is extended, then not only does the player-burnout issue becomes redundant, but there's a more prestigious international season for those who wish to represent their country of origin. I'm also in favour of the RLIF running an Isle of Origin series between Tonga and Samoa parallel to the State of Origin series between Queensland and New South Wales. One match could be played on a Friday/Saturday night while the other one is played on a Sunday night. A Maori XIII vs Australian Indigenous XIII match/series must be added to the calendar. It would allow the ARL and NZRL to host a first-class rugby league match in areas like the Northern Territory and southern New Zealand. Its the ESL and french season which are the big worry. With 27 rounds = 4 finals rounds and then about 8 challenge cup rounds, and the Northern rail cup which has about 10 rounds or more... you are talking one packed season from end of Jan till october. France being in the off season too, makes life interesting with clubs havig to release players as well. They have 22+4+5 rounds with LER and LD. Reducing the length of the seasons in France and England is definitely a necessity. I'm not sure how the FFR13 and RFL can accomplish this. |
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Post by Druzik on Jan 28, 2009 23:26:50 GMT 10
The FFRXIII season is probably OK in terms of its length, but needs to be brought into line better with the ESL and NRL.
The ESL... not sure what to do there to be honest.
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Post by England 3 Lions on Jan 28, 2009 23:29:52 GMT 10
The FFRXIII season is probably OK in terms of its length, but needs to be brought into line better with the ESL and NRL. The ESL... not sure what to do there to be honest. Maybe the ESL should have its teams play each once, then hold a few extra games between teams who are close rivals. This would draw its regular season back to about 16 or 17 games. |
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Post by Druzik on Jan 28, 2009 23:46:17 GMT 10
Its what they sort of doo already, they have extra derby rounds and the MM. Similar to the NRL though they dont all play each other twice.
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Post by arh21980 on Jan 29, 2009 13:34:19 GMT 10
The thing I'm worried about is that players that are eligible to play for Australia, New Zealand will go back to playing for them. Neville Costigan has already said that he wants to go and play for Qld, not forgetting Feleti Mateo and T.Williams as well the RLIF will have to tighten up there eligability rules
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Post by Druzik on Jan 29, 2009 17:18:09 GMT 10
Yes well this has been the contentios issue hasnt it. OK so there are a few things that people need to realise with all these rules... well upto now anyway.
Apparently the eligibility rtules only apples to WC games... this was the precedent that NZ used to get Fuifui Moi moi on the GB tour in 2007... I know this as its what Andrew Chalmers told me in person... the fact that fui had plazed for tonga in a WC qualifier was OK apparently as the tour was not part of any WC matches... I say BS and that a test match is a test match and should be treated as such.
There is this whole you can swap once shit, apparently onlz applies to some people... moimoi could swap but not back but yet farrah was not able to play for Lebanon... and I am sure there have been others that fall in the same boat. It should be that all 1st class internationals come under the same set of rules... you choose your contry and stick with them.
Hopefully now with more "meaningful competition" that will stop to a point... but I can still see th aussies and Kiwis trying to get their way round to poach the best players..
SoO as far as I am concerned is a blight opn the RL landscape and something needs to be done about it... either changing the eligibility rules there so that players can still rep other contreis or something... IT IS what has done damage to IRL.
A player... who is eligible for multiple countruies needs to make a choice... I have no problem if someone can play for tonga and NZ... just choose a Fucking contry and stick with it.
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Post by Marv on Jan 29, 2009 19:57:55 GMT 10
SoO as far as I am concerned is a blight opn the RL landscape and something needs to be done about it... either changing the eligibility rules there so that players can still rep other contreis or something... IT IS what has done damage to IRL. A player... who is eligible for multiple countruies needs to make a choice... I have no problem if someone can play for tonga and NZ... just choose a Fucking contry and stick with it. I wouldnt call origin a blight on RL, its the most demanding series of games on the planet, but I do think that players like Feleti and Tony Williams as examples should be allowed to rep Tonga and NSW. As far as i understand it Origin has nothing to do with country of birth, its the first club you played for? Yes once over it was a test trial but now its a cash cow IMO |
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Post by Marv on Jan 29, 2009 19:59:37 GMT 10
Why would you reduce the length of the French season?
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Post by Druzik on Jan 29, 2009 22:43:48 GMT 10
SoO as far as I am concerned is a blight opn the RL landscape and something needs to be done about it... either changing the eligibility rules there so that players can still rep other contreis or something... IT IS what has done damage to IRL. A player... who is eligible for multiple countruies needs to make a choice... I have no problem if someone can play for tonga and NZ... just choose a Fucking contry and stick with it. I wouldnt call origin a blight on RL, its the most demanding series of games on the planet, but I do think that players like Feleti and Tony Williams as examples should be allowed to rep Tonga and NSW. As far as i understand it Origin has nothing to do with country of birth, its the first club you played for? Yes once over it was a test trial but now its a cash cow IMO I do not deny that they are fantastic games to watch and are tough as nails... well that is another point for me to argue another day actually... But SoO had grown that big that it is like you say a cash cow and players rather play for that than a test jumper... the Rivalry between NSW and QLD is bigger than AUS/NZ or Aus/GB. Marve I think your dad said it best up in whitehaven... that the you english should never forget to hate the french... with SoO us Australiand have forgotten to hate the poms! When SoO started to get bigger IRL crowds in the mid to late 90's that should have sparked warning bells for IRL... it wasnt acted upon depite succesful WCs in 92 and 95... sure Super league had come... but that all could have been resulved better I suspect... but still IRL was not capitalised upon. The things abouyt SoO eligibility is that yes, it is the state where you played your first footy... but its only for eligible Kangaroo players... its why El masri cannot play for Lebanon now, as his NSW selection means he is only eligible for Australia as far as i know... what stopped Farrah from playing for lebanon was that he would not be eligible for Australia and thus cannot don a blue Jersey... this is the catch 22 situation that SoO finds itself in. |
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Post by Druzik on Jan 29, 2009 22:45:43 GMT 10
Why would you reduce the length of the French season? where did I say that... I think the french season is OK, but needs to be brough into line better with the ESL and NRL... in terms of player release etc... |
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Post by Marv on Jan 30, 2009 1:04:49 GMT 10
Why would you reduce the length of the French season? where did I say that... I think the french season is OK, but needs to be brough into line better with the ESL and NRL... in terms of player release etc... 3 lions said it mate not you, FWIW I'm with you but It doesnt seem to be high on the FFR13's list of prioritys as far as I can see. Anyway, keep the Elite in winter time, It means I get year round rugby  |
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Post by Marv on Jan 30, 2009 1:15:24 GMT 10
I do not deny that they are fantastic games to watch and are tough as nails... well that is another point for me to argue another day actually... But SoO had grown that big that it is like you say a cash cow and players rather play for that than a test jumper... the Rivalry between NSW and QLD is bigger than AUS/NZ or Aus/GB. I know but is the reason SoO is so big becasue Australia are so much better at producing players than other countrys? Is it because the outcome of the games is much less predictable than an Aus GB game? Is it because the Aussie fans think the Origin players are of a higher standard than the overseas Test teams? I know this isnt how you think, its not nessaceraly how I think, I'm just putting it out there. Marve I think your dad said it best up in whitehaven... that the you english should never forget to hate the french... with SoO us Australiand have forgotten to hate the poms! Being English I pretty much feel that Australia hate us when the whistle goes for any match, any code, any sport! And I know wih my old man around there will still be plenty of hate for the French around in the UK! When SoO started to get bigger IRL crowds in the mid to late 90's that should have sparked warning bells for IRL... it wasnt acted upon depite succesful WCs in 92 and 95... sure Super league had come... but that all could have been resulved better I suspect... but still IRL was not capitalised upon. I know, GB had some amazing players, welsh ones too, which made a strong welsh team. The Kiwis were coming about. The French even beat GB in the mid 90's and PNG beat GB in th 90's. I would call anyone a loony suggesting those two things would have happened at the recent WC!! Not to mention the 10's of International teams springing up every year at the time The things abouyt SoO eligibility is that yes, it is the state where you played your first footy... but its only for eligible Kangaroo players... its why El masri cannot play for Lebanon now, as his NSW selection means he is only eligible for Australia as far as i know... what stopped Farrah from playing for lebanon was that he would not be eligible for Australia and thus cannot don a blue Jersey... this is the catch 22 situation that SoO finds itself in. It doesnt have to be that way IMO, we mostly accept its not a bona-fide test trial, with PI and Kiwi stars in the team, provided they qualify through the current rules should be able to play, if they want. It could increase the games profile even further, because in many ways It would be an "All-Star" game. I know myself I would sell my Nanna, her dog and her House to see a SoO game if one were to be held in the UK. |
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Post by segnz on Jan 30, 2009 6:46:05 GMT 10
great news, I hope that the fans will help to make these games more popular too, the WC has shown people what the smaller nations can do. Who are you calling a Small Nation ... Best not be a jibe at NZed  |
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Post by Druzik on Jan 30, 2009 6:51:28 GMT 10
;D
No, I think outside the top 4/5
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Post by segnz on Jan 30, 2009 7:05:46 GMT 10
Depends if You are one of the NZeders who even cares about the RWC ... The NZRL must capitalise on this opportunity. Touring schools with the trophy will draw attention to the Kiwis, and more importantly, the sport. Informational pamphlets about junior clubs could be handed to the students while they're looking at the trophy. They are launching a " Kids to Kiwis " campaign on the weekend of 1st and 2nd Feb ... The Halberg Awards which the Kiwis are in the final four for Team of the Year is announced on 3rd Feb ... They are doing more than they ever have at least but it is hard to get around the Union Culture of NZed ... |
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