NRL Season Structure

[Guest]

I am starting this thread in hope of some discussion around what you would like to see the NRL season to look like. Do you want it to stay the same? I thought about putting SBW name in title to attract more viewers, alas I opted against that...

Is mid week origin the best way? Twilight/Night grand final? 26 rounds the best? Internationals? City v Country? Show casing 20's Origin? I would love to see a 7's competition back. Bring back the team relay and individual sprint on grand final day.

I'll start with this....

All Stars Weekend concept.
All Stars Weekend in February celebrating/advertising the return of footy.

Saturday SEVENS - in Sydney have a 7's comp. Each NRL team to field a team. Each team must have 10 players, with a minimum of 3 or 4 of the clubs top 25 squad, the rest under 20's or NSW Cup/QLD Cup.

Split the 16 clubs into 4 pools, where they play each team in their pool once. In each pool the top team goes through to semi final. The two winners of the semi final then play the final. That's a maximum of 5 games for any one club.

Put $100,000 - $200,000 up for grabs, winner takes all. Get some music happening, make it like a day at the cricket.

On the Sunday in Brisbane play the All Stars Match in its current form.

Following year swap them around. 7's in Brisbane, All Stars in Sydney.

[stsae]

Lol, I remember the 7s, it was like one day cricket, too much sun and booze made people loco.

I remember the Mexican wave and a chicken carcass landed on the seat next to me.

I remember leaving underwhelmed.

It wasn't footy it was entertainment, it was still summer, it didn't feel right to me.

It's all about $$$ now. If the TV networks can make a buck they will revisit it again.

[stephenj]

if they dont do sevens in the off season they may consider ozz tag?

[Guest]

Lol, I remember the 7s, it was like one day cricket, too much sun and booze made people loco.

I remember the Mexican wave and a chicken carcass landed on the seat next to me.

I remember leaving underwhelmed.

It wasn't footy it was entertainment, it was still summer, it didn't feel right to me.

It's all about $$$ now. If the TV networks can make a buck they will revisit it again.

Fair enough, I only remember watching it on tv and wishing I was there. I know now that me and 12 or so mates would love a day watching fast footy, sinking cold ones. But we are qlders we tend to get behind league as a whole rather than just one team.... LOL LOL LOL

[stsae]

Fair enough, I only remember watching it on tv and wishing I was there. I know now that me and 12 or so mates would love a day watching fast footy, sinking cold ones. But we are qlders we tend to get behind league as a whole rather than just one team.... LOL LOL LOL

Don't get me wrong it's not a bad idea mate, and it was an enjoyable day when the 7s were an event.

Just from memory it was more like a one day cricket game than a day at the footy. More entertainment than footy. Maybe if it was held more in the evening it would help with the pre season heat.

I do recall it was interesting seeing the international teams competing against club sides.

Where I had a problem, and I gather the clubs would've also, is it's a means nothing event. I want to watch Easts compete for something, and compete with our best players. From memory a lot of clubs were resting their top liners using a lot of kids often. People won't want to pay to see 1/2 the stars, neither would sponsors.

Still if there is real $$$ in the idea I'm sure someone from 9 or Fox wouldve floated it by now.

[Hawkeye]

I am starting this thread in hope of some discussion around what you would like to see the NRL season to look like. Do you want it to stay the same? I thought about putting SBW name in title to attract more viewers, alas I opted against that...

Is mid week origin the best way? Twilight/Night grand final? 26 rounds the best? Internationals? City v Country? Show casing 20's Origin? I would love to see a 7's competition back. Bring back the team relay and individual sprint on grand final day.

I'll start with this....

All Stars Weekend concept.
All Stars Weekend in February celebrating/advertising the return of footy.

Saturday SEVENS - in Sydney have a 7's comp. Each NRL team to field a team. Each team must have 10 players, with a minimum of 3 or 4 of the clubs top 25 squad, the rest under 20's or NSW Cup/QLD Cup.

Split the 16 clubs into 4 pools, where they play each team in their pool once. In each pool the top team goes through to semi final. The two winners of the semi final then play the final. That's a maximum of 5 games for any one club.

Put $100,000 - $200,000 up for grabs, winner takes all. Get some music happening, make it like a day at the cricket.

On the Sunday in Brisbane play the All Stars Match in its current form.

Following year swap them around. 7's in Brisbane, All Stars in Sydney.

Make all prize money salary cap exempt ...then you'll get a lot of the top players wanting to take part and not have to worry about minimum number of players having played x number of games.

Personally I'd like to see the pre season knockout staged over the 4 weeks leading into the season.
And before anyone says that the players already play too many games as is ..... teams generally play one or two trial games anyway.
In the knockout formula, 8 teams will play 1 game, 4 teams will play 2 games, 2 teams will play 3 and the final 2 teams will have played 4 games.
So its really only 4 teams who would really play more games than they would have if they were to only play a couple of trials !

[Guest]

Don't get me wrong it's not a bad idea mate, and it was an enjoyable day when the 7s were an event.

Just from memory it was more like a one day cricket game than a day at the footy. More entertainment than footy. Maybe if it was held more in the evening it would help with the pre season heat.

I do recall it was interesting seeing the international teams competing against club sides.

Where I had a problem, and I gather the clubs would've also, is it's a means nothing event. I want to watch Easts compete for something, and compete with our best players. From memory a lot of clubs were resting their top liners using a lot of kids often. People won't want to pay to see 1/2 the stars, neither would sponsors.

Still if there is real $$$ in the idea I'm sure someone from 9 or Fox wouldve floated it by now.

I think it's more about the advertisement of the game. It's a celebration, a promotion. As I said if you lay down some prize money I think the players would speak for the clubs-and yes Salary cap exempt money. 10 in a team, winning 100k-200k to split I think would be enticing.

To the Australian market it would be a lot more appealing than the union world 7s which were just on the Gold Coast... Surely...

[Guest]

Pre Season

I am happy with how Pre season runs. The Pre season again should be yes about the clubs prep, but he Pre season is the chance to get into the regional areas. Blitz the schools and club scenes.

The roosters and dogs did it up here in Ipswich after the 2010 floods and there were more people to watch that game (against the Ipswich jets) than most of our home games-exaggerating slightly but not much in it. During the week they split the squad into pairs and visited over 50 schools in Ipswich and greater Ipswich region-and that was in one day. Great promotion for the game.

The smart clubs had their sign on days while they were here and had players at their sign on days. NRL and junior football clubs working together.

[stsae]

I think it's more about the advertisement of the game. It's a celebration, a promotion. As I said if you lay down some prize money I think the players would speak for the clubs-and yes Salary cap exempt money. 10 in a team, winning 100k-200k to split I think would be enticing.

To the Australian market it would be a lot more appealing than the union world 7s which were just on the Gold Coast... Surely...

I'd watch it mate.

I reckon prize money would have to be higher, or even appearance money that way you could buy Poms or blokes playing SL.

Even make it international, play the tournament in the UK and NZ alternate years. Like a 20/20 comp, except have it over a weekend.

Make it a family event, get the clubs having merchandise stalls and members sign on tables manned by players not participating. Face painting, rides, bbqs, the works.

The options are out there, and I think the idea is good. I'm sure it would attract sponsors, and good TV audience after a long off season without footy and good crowds. Like an official season launch.

Someone should pitch this to the IC.

[Guest]

I'd watch it mate.

I reckon prize money would have to be higher, or even appearance money that way you could buy Poms or blokes playing SL.

Even make it international, play the tournament in the UK and NZ alternate years. Like a 20/20 comp, except have it over a weekend.

Make it a family event, get the clubs having merchandise stalls and members sign on tables manned by players not participating. Face painting, rides, bbqs, the works.

The options are out there, and I think the idea is good. I'm sure it would attract sponsors, and good TV audience after a long off season without footy and good crowds. Like an official season launch.

Someone should pitch this to the IC.

I don't know if your being sarcastic or not but I am 100% behind everything you said. Make it a whole heap hooplaaaaa!

Has to be better than trying to have Benji, Brett Stewart open the season and then go get involved in crap... Lol

[Guest]

Lol, I remember the 7s, it was like one day cricket, too much sun and booze made people loco.

I remember the Mexican wave and a chicken carcass landed on the seat next to me.

I remember leaving underwhelmed.

It wasn't footy it was entertainment, it was still summer, it didn't feel right to me.

It's all about $$$ now. If the TV networks can make a buck they will revisit it again.

Thats because you lost your 3 blow up dolls that you took in.

A chicken carcuss landed on the seat next to you? Those chicken carcusses like to sit next to Roosters supporters by the sound of it.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I loved the sevens....for me it was touch footy with a splash of physicality....the perfect game...plenty of skill on show.

[Guest]

I loved the sevens....for me it was touch footy with a splash of physicality....the perfect game...plenty of skill on show.

Your easily pleased.
I think the 7 a side concept should just be played as touch footy. From memory the 7's was played on a full field, a full field is to big for 7 a side, the whole concept of defence is abolished so it just becomes a try fest for fast no name wingers who dont make it in the 13 a side tackle format.

[Hawkeye]

Your easily pleased.
I think the 7 a side concept should just be played as touch footy. From memory the 7's was played on a full field, a full field is to big for 7 a side, the whole concept of defence is abolished so it just becomes a try fest for fast no name wingers who dont make it in the 13 a side tackle format.

perfect example ...the year the Roosters won the 7's, our star of that tournament was Tony Cossato !

[kurtsherlock6]

Thats because you lost your 3 blow up dolls that you took in.

A chicken carcuss landed on the seat next to you? Those chicken carcusses like to sit next to Roosters supporters by the sound of it.

So what did you do with them mate??