MacDougall
New member
I'm sure this isn't a completely original thought, but with the desire to expand but also the desire to shorten the length of the competition to prevent player burnout, I feel that introducing conferences is the future of the game.
Basically how it would work is 20 teams. The current 16 + Perth, Central Coast, Central QLD and Brisbane 2 are divided into two conferences of 10\. To balance them you base it on the performance of the teams in the season prior (minor premiership rounds). So if it were to start this season it would look like this.
Conference 1
Melbourne Storm
Gold Coast Titans
Wests Tigers
Parramatta Eels
New Zealand Warriors
Penrith Panthers
Newcastle Knights
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brisbane Bombers
Central Coast Bears
Conference 2
Manly Sea Eagles
Canberra Raiders
Brisbane Broncos
Cronulla Sharks
Sydney Roosters
North Queensland Cowboys
St George-Illawarra Dragons
Canterbury Bulldogs
Central Queensland
Perth Reds
Each team plays each other team in their conference twice, plus 2 byes making 20 rounds. In round 21 the teams finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in each conference play against their counterpart to determine the final top 8\. So let's say hypothetically each conference finished the way it's written there, Round 21 would look like (bold win).
1 v 1 = **Melbourne** vs. Manly
2 v 2 = Canberra vs. **Gold Coast**
3 v 3 = Brisbane vs. **Wests**
4 v 4 = **Parra** vs. Sharks
Then the final table would be;
Melbourne
Manly
Gold Coast
Canberra
Wests
Brisbane
Parra
Sharks
After which we have a normal McIntyre finals system.
This gives us 5 extra rounds (considering each team still gets two byes anyway) with which to conduct any of the following.
A) Pre Season Comp/World RL Sevens
B) Stand Alone Rep Weekends
C) Trade Window
D) Extra bye rounds to prevent player burnout
In addition after Round 21 you could have a second all stars match comprising the public selected best 17 players from the 12 teams that failed to make the finals. A last chance match to impress leading in to the internationals played after the end of the season. This match could take place before the Grand Final.
Pros/Cons?
Basically how it would work is 20 teams. The current 16 + Perth, Central Coast, Central QLD and Brisbane 2 are divided into two conferences of 10\. To balance them you base it on the performance of the teams in the season prior (minor premiership rounds). So if it were to start this season it would look like this.
Conference 1
Melbourne Storm
Gold Coast Titans
Wests Tigers
Parramatta Eels
New Zealand Warriors
Penrith Panthers
Newcastle Knights
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brisbane Bombers
Central Coast Bears
Conference 2
Manly Sea Eagles
Canberra Raiders
Brisbane Broncos
Cronulla Sharks
Sydney Roosters
North Queensland Cowboys
St George-Illawarra Dragons
Canterbury Bulldogs
Central Queensland
Perth Reds
Each team plays each other team in their conference twice, plus 2 byes making 20 rounds. In round 21 the teams finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in each conference play against their counterpart to determine the final top 8\. So let's say hypothetically each conference finished the way it's written there, Round 21 would look like (bold win).
1 v 1 = **Melbourne** vs. Manly
2 v 2 = Canberra vs. **Gold Coast**
3 v 3 = Brisbane vs. **Wests**
4 v 4 = **Parra** vs. Sharks
Then the final table would be;
Melbourne
Manly
Gold Coast
Canberra
Wests
Brisbane
Parra
Sharks
After which we have a normal McIntyre finals system.
This gives us 5 extra rounds (considering each team still gets two byes anyway) with which to conduct any of the following.
A) Pre Season Comp/World RL Sevens
B) Stand Alone Rep Weekends
C) Trade Window
D) Extra bye rounds to prevent player burnout
In addition after Round 21 you could have a second all stars match comprising the public selected best 17 players from the 12 teams that failed to make the finals. A last chance match to impress leading in to the internationals played after the end of the season. This match could take place before the Grand Final.
Pros/Cons?
