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Not strictly speaking a roosters thread, but given the Origin period normally screws us, maybe scrapes in.
The NRL probably doesn't want to tinker with Origin, but to protect the integrity of the club competition - they should. With just two games per year, there would be less disruption to the season proper. With, from next year, a stand alone weekend for Origin, any disruptions from Origin footy would amount - injuries aside - to one week a year. It means that every series is simply, and more fairly, one game home and one game away.
How would a two game series work?
The holders of the Shield would need only one win from the series to retain the shield. First game of the series would always be in the home town of the State who didn't hold the Shield. That way, even if the away team (the holders of the Shield) won the first game, you'd probably still get a full house at the second game of the series as the locals came to cheer their victorious side and see their captain hold aloft the Shield. And given that home town advantage is big in Origin, the second (and last) game would often be a decider.
And how about establishing a less important award, perhaps the Beetson-Cronin Cup for the team who has the better point differential, giving the losers of the first game something - as well as (the very real) Origin pride - to play for.
The NRL probably doesn't want to tinker with Origin, but to protect the integrity of the club competition - they should. With just two games per year, there would be less disruption to the season proper. With, from next year, a stand alone weekend for Origin, any disruptions from Origin footy would amount - injuries aside - to one week a year. It means that every series is simply, and more fairly, one game home and one game away.
How would a two game series work?
The holders of the Shield would need only one win from the series to retain the shield. First game of the series would always be in the home town of the State who didn't hold the Shield. That way, even if the away team (the holders of the Shield) won the first game, you'd probably still get a full house at the second game of the series as the locals came to cheer their victorious side and see their captain hold aloft the Shield. And given that home town advantage is big in Origin, the second (and last) game would often be a decider.
And how about establishing a less important award, perhaps the Beetson-Cronin Cup for the team who has the better point differential, giving the losers of the first game something - as well as (the very real) Origin pride - to play for.
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