NRL Conference Plan (Merged threads)

[Damien]

I think this would be pretty good but more importantly will aid expansion greatly and will make it easier going forward. I particularly like the talk about a 2nd NZ team and for once the NRL leadership seem to see the potential there:

The NRL has pitched a proposal to split the competition into two conferences which would see new teams added in Brisbane and New Zealand as part of the game’s bold expansion plans.

The plans have the backing of one of the game’s most influential figures, with Wayne Bennett throwing his support behind the concept that would revolutionise the professional game.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and chairman Peter V’landys have met with several clubs over the past fortnight to outline the long-term vision for the game in regards to expansion and how they can maximise future broadcast rights deals.

And on New Zealand specifically:

Privately the NRL feels there is a huge opportunity in New Zealand given the financial state of rugby union in the country. While the 15-man code is by far the most dominant sport in New Zealand, the NRL believes a second team will help boost junior participation and create a rivalry with the Warriors that will increase interest across the ditch.

NRL two conference system proposed by Andrew Abdo, Peter V’Landys (smh.com.au)

[gingerjon]

It's a good way of appeasing the Sydney clubs who would otherwise be frightened at the very prospect of expansion, it seems.

 

[Damien]

25 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

It's a good way of appeasing the Sydney clubs who would otherwise be frightened at the very prospect of expansion, it seems.

 

Indeed. It may well be a good way of ensuring that everyone gets a bit of something, allowing the game as a whole to move forward.

[Hela Wigmen]

It’s a solid plan and one that’s been predicted for a while. I think it would work very well. 

[Copa]

Interesting 

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/secret-dossier-reveals-bombshell-nrl-conference-system-revolution/news-story/a613270973716ffb8a4c8702d3d94633

The two conference system would include a Sydney-based conference and a conference made up of the teams outside Sydney.

The proposal includes the nine clubs in each conference playing each other twice, and playing the clubs in the other conference once — expanding the season to a 25-game home-and-away competition.

It will also result in an overhaul of the finals system with the proposal outlining plans to have the best four teams from each conference qualify for the finals.

The two conferences would then have separate finals systems before the best club from each conference clash for the NRL Grand Final.

It comes after the NRL last year flirted with the idea of breaking the competition into two conferences as part of the plan to re-start the season following the COVID-19 season shutdown.

The NRL in 2019 also investigated a proposal to expand the finals system with a wildcard weekend that would see teams from 7th to 10th play off for a chance to secure a spot in the top eight. The proposal was designed to eliminate the number of games played that had no impact on the make-up of the finals.

How the NRL conferences would look

Sydney conference: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Eels, Bulldogs, Tigers, Panthers, Dragons, Sharks, Sea Eagles

Expansion conference: Broncos, Titans, Cowboys, Storm, Warriors, Knights, Raiders, second Brisbane franchise, second New Zealand franchise

How the season would work

The nine teams from each conference play each other twice (16 games) and each team from the other conference once (nine games)

How the finals system would work

Each conference would have a top four group of teams that qualify for the finals. The finals would then unfold as separate competitions in an elimination format that would begin with 1vs4 and 2vs3. The winners of each conference would then play for the NRL grand final.

[Eddie]

Terrible, I don’t like how only one team from each conference can make the final, ie you could never have a Roosters v Bunnies final etc. I do like the extra Brisbane and NZ teams though. 

[DI Keith Fowler]

1 minute ago, Eddie said:

Terrible, I don’t like how only one team from each conference can make the final, ie you could never have a Roosters v Bunnies final etc. I do like the extra Brisbane and NZ teams though. 

I agree actually, you should mix it.

A. 1st in Sydney V 4th in Expansion

B. 2nd in Sydney V 3rd in Expansion

C. 3rd in Sydney V 2nd in Expansion

D. 4th in Sydney V 1st in Expansion

And so on. Allows for an all Sydney or all expansion Grand Final but obviously favours 1st place in each league. 

 

[Scubby]

Sydney's grip on RL is like a vice. It is its strength and it also plays a large part in holding it back.

[Damien]

1 hour ago, Hela Wigmen said:

It’s a solid plan and one that’s been predicted for a while. I think it would work very well. 

I agree.

[Whippet13]

Interesting proposal, more details here:

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl-consider-conference-system-report-085215094.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIB_PvbsHkkydDgkiJWeaH5NnHiO-nFGcbt0TXGbMjqoEe-6KQ9wLPL3Avdg4NlGoMg33UqH48_T51OOkIjXe1clfTrjD7PfSaG9mP28juWL_N6eejIxsK9A1k4MByLExfokaMW80eFPji4tFPdizp4IpY9yO8JRl6E8WqV4jVz0  

[DavidM]

The NRL draw is totally unsatisfactory , unbalanced and pretty inexplicable tbh and will be even more so with expansion. Whether this is the answer I don’t know . There’s upsides and downsides but I guess any radical rejig will have . Certainly deserves a hearing anyway 

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, Scubby said:

Sydney's grip on RL is like a vice. It is its strength and it also plays a large part in holding it back.

Maybe, but if the two best teams are from Sydney why not have them play the final, or likewise of the best two are from elsewhere why have a Sydney team in it. As a fan of the NFL I think the NFC / AFC split is a weakness in that regard, ie often one of the conference finals features the two best teams. 

[goldcoaster]

I like the 18 teams, like the way the fixtures are structured. But I think you need to do finals on the best 8 clubs on cumulative points. Leave the finals as they are

[Damien]

1 hour ago, DavidM said:

The NRL draw is totally unsatisfactory , unbalanced and pretty inexplicable tbh and will be even more so with expansion. Whether this is the answer I don’t know . There’s upsides and downsides but I guess any radical rejig will have . Certainly deserves a hearing anyway 

Yes the current format is a little strange. This format should certainly make that clearer. I think anything that helps expansion should be seriously considered. I would love to see the NRL have a proper crack at expanding the game in New Zealand. 

[Whippet13]

Need to make sure the conferences are balanced, unfair having the top half dozen in one group.

Since that changes there would need to be a certain amount of realignment each season.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Whippet13 said:

Need to make sure the conferences are balanced, unfair having the top half dozen in one group.

Since that changes there would need to be a certain amount of realignment each season.

You cant be changing every season. I think it would be pretty fair anyhow.

[RugbyLeagueGeek]

6 minutes ago, Damien said:

You cant be changing every season.

Why not? They could do a draw every season for the 2 conferences (a la the Champions League draws) and make a feature of it. Not saying it's necessarily better than keeping it the same every year, but it could easily be done. Would seem a bit fairer on the travel front, as currently all the 'expansion' division clubs would have far more travelling to do than the Sydney division.

[Damien]

24 minutes ago, RugbyLeagueGeek said:

Why not? They could do a draw every season for the 2 conferences (a la the Champions League draws) and make a feature of it. Not saying it's necessarily better than keeping it the same every year, but it could easily be done. Would seem a bit fairer on the travel front, as currently all the 'expansion' division clubs would have far more travelling to do than the Sydney division.

Well obviously it is possible, anything is. It is just stupid and defeats the point of what they are trying to achieve with two conferences based on geography with a Sydney conference and more Sydney rivalries. Likewise it would be the same if the Queensland teams were split and the two NZ teams. I think set conferences would also create rivalries much better.

[Scubby]

I might be reading this wrong but this indicates that there would be a Sydney club in the NRL grand final every year? No more Melbourne v Brisbane 2006, or Brisbane v Cowboys 2015, or even a future all NZ GF?

[Scubby]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

Maybe, but if the two best teams are from Sydney why not have them play the final, or likewise of the best two are from elsewhere why have a Sydney team in it. As a fan of the NFL I think the NFC / AFC split is a weakness in that regard, ie often one of the conference finals features the two best teams. 

Is does mean certain GF match ups from the past can never happen again? 2015 for example.

The system may have some merit but the top 8 just need to go into a cross play-off, or at the very least the top 2 from each (when whittled down).

[bird]

Brilliant. Fans in Sydney go to matches by bus. All others collect Air Miles.p

[Spidey]

13 minutes ago, Scubby said:

I might be reading this wrong but this indicates that there would be a Sydney club in the NRL grand final every year? No more Melbourne v Brisbane 2006, or Brisbane v Cowboys 2015, or even a future all NZ GF?

I read that. But they also mentioned a traditional 8 club playoff as well. Depends what way they go.

[Damien]

14 minutes ago, Scubby said:

I might be reading this wrong but this indicates that there would be a Sydney club in the NRL grand final every year? No more Melbourne v Brisbane 2006, or Brisbane v Cowboys 2015, or even a future all NZ GF?

I suppose it would depend on the play off format chosen. If its all conference v conference then no but if they jumble it up a little then it still may be possible.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

Why not just keep all the clubs in one league as they are now. After everyone’s played each other once have all the Sydney clubs play each other a 2nd time and the non Sydney based clubs play each other a 2nd time. They play some clubs once and some clubs twice as things stand anyway. 

[Big Picture]

A Sydney division and an "Expansion" division eh?  ROFLMAO what moron thought that up?

As the Yahoo report states, "The travel factor would be immense for the likes of Newcastle and Canberra, who would spend every third week headed interstate.

In comparison, Sydney teams would have to leave the NSW/ACT area just four or five times a year."

More typical Sydney-centric thinking at work.