NRL Competition structure and draw

[ozynorts]

With the league expanding and the new TV deal up for negotiations soon what are people’s thoughts on A: the draw and B: the comp structure?
As I stands we have 17 teams and a 27 round draw. I feel it’s too long and the draw is compromised with some teams getting soft draws and when their bye rounds fall.
I feel the NRL comp needs to be shortened. Each team plays each other twice and if need be there can be and extra round or two for those “rivalry” rounds.
This year we have the end of season International games and that comp won’t finish until Nov 9th I think. Teams go back to pre season training on the first so again we will have a comprised pre season for a lot of teams.
By shortening the NRL comp we can better accommodate Origin and post season Internationals without compromising the NRL comp.
I know the TV companies (Fox and whoever else comes to the party) won’t want that but we have to consider the whole game not just the NRL. By adding more International content that will help compensate for less NRL content.

 

[Titanic]

Assuming 20 clubs

a. 20 clubs with each club having a dedicated Cup team (and perhaps even adding a 19's, I don't like 20 or 21's).
b. Play each other once.
c. Top 8 finals.
d. Stay alone Origin, perhaps on Saturdays, with Pasifika round robin, the same weekend Thursday through Sunday.
e. Pre-season 9's
f. Pre-season 4 pools of 5 teams, semis and final.
g. All Stars if needed
i. Internationals somewhere.

 

[ozynorts]

Fk the pre season comp.
20 teams, play twice and top 8 finals. That is 24 rounds, total.
Yes to mid season Rep games.

 

[DIEHARD]

I would love to see the season shortened to include a rep period and better accommodate post season internationals. I think players are going beyond their limits of their bodies these days.

I agree we have some more content coming with NRLW and perhaps a return of a youth competition. And if we just worked on some ridgey didge competitions and formats, and stuck to them. I'm sure people would buy into the IRL game.

It's exciting times for the sport.