That time of year again – where player fatigue is an issue and the representative calendar is the hot topic. Interesting to read Cameron Smith’s comments recently about shortening the season and scheduling Origin matches on a stand alone weekend.
Perhaps we go one step further. Perhaps we include a bigger representative 'month' that showcases country/ international rugby league, as well as highlighting the NRL and includes the origin series played over 3 consecutive Monday Nights? Similar to soccer's approach to World Cup qualifying, or the NBA's approach to its midyear 'All Star' match. The competition proper simply shuts down and to avoid having too many players with 3 weeks off, we incorporate some more games into a celebration of league including some old traditions and some new, successful initiatives.
This suggestion also responds to the issue of a season too long and subsequent meaningless matches at the beginning of the year. Many league supporters know that teams only need to start winning around June to make the top 8 and this takes away from some performances in early rounds. Shorten the season and every match will mean something - bigger crowds will come. Stop the season during origin and you won’t have matches played with a skeleton 17 that barely resembles the NRLs best players, and you minimise player burnout.
For those who believe that current player salaries warrant this kind of physical abuse, look no further than Jonathan Thurston. Less than 12 months ago, Thurston was a shadow of his former self and struggling with shoulders that were rapidly deteriorating and threatening his career. He tried to play on, he played as often as he could and he played all three origin games last year. And then he broke down and the Cowboys basically pulled the plug on their season. JT then pulled out of the end of season tri-nations tournament, had his operations and dived into rehab.
Season 2011 has the Cowboys firmly entrenched in the premiership race. Bringing crowds back to North Queensland and the Cowboys making the news not because of alleged player v coach scandals – but because of a genuine turnaround in fortunes, led by arguably the game’s best; all because he simply needed a rest. Granted, the Cowboys recruited well and their forwards deserve plenty of credit, but they would never be where they are without Thurston.
So - to my suggestion. The NRL shuts down on a Sunday afternoon, origin players are selected and go into camp and a 3 week festival of football begins.
Week 1
Friday Night - Tonga v Samoa
What a spectacle in 2009 during the Rugby League World Cup!! A passionate game of football attended by a huge crowd at Penrith's CUA stadium. This was an instant success and a great advertisement for the islander population of our great game. Marketed properly it could continue as a great tradition.
Saturday Night - City v Country
Play this game as a genuine showpiece of young talent in the NRL, but also use it to gauge players' performance against the best in NSW. This still makes it an origin trial - but for future series or possibly for games 2 and 3 of the series. If not an origin selection trial, this match still has a link to history and will help keep country rugby league alive.
Monday Night - Origin 1
Week 2
Friday Night - Indigenous All Stars v New Zealand.
This gives both teams more time together as preparation for their respective 'other' matches. The Indigenous team now have the February All-Star' game as a highlight, and NZ will use this match as a warm up to a possible post origin series (or one off test) or end of year tri nations, which probably should be held every 2 or 3 years - not every year. Admittedly, the Indigenous team would be missing troops on origin duty, but this puts more onus on development. A great opportunity for young talent to learn at a higher level and a good earner for a worthy charity. This match could also be moved to Saturday or Sunday to accommodate the large number of interstate and rural league fans in attendance.
Saturday Day/Night - Rugby League 7s tournament.
With a number of players who could be 'on holidays' during this month, include them in the 7s and bring back an entertaining concept. Marketed well, this could be a highlight. That brings us to a relevant issue. The NRL is currently owned and marketed by a media company. When this finally changes, the successful marketing of a representative ‘mid season’ festival is key. It simply cannot be advertised on Channel 9 and the Telegraph alone. It will require maximum exposure and a targeting of certain areas in NSW and Queensland to be successful. Western Sydney? Yes. Brisbane City? Yes. North Queensland? Yes. Furthermore, once this ‘festival’ is established, the NRL would then branch out to meet peaking interest in Melbourne and perhaps New Zealand. A step by step approach starting with the Rugby League heartland.
Monday Night- Origin 2
Week 3
Saturday night - NSW v QLD under 20s... with a Junior Rep Grand Final curtain raiser where Jersey Flegg and SG Ball Grand Finals are played.
This will add to the Rugby League "expo" approach and double as a scouting extravaganza for all clubs. The junior rep finals are already played mid season so it would fit perfectly into the schedule. Speaking of the under 20’s competition: what do they do during this 3 week break? They play through. Perhaps start their season 3 weeks after the NRL season begins and they effectively ‘catch up’ during this time.
Sunday - Papua New Guinea v Australian Pri-Ministers 13
PNG are obviously mad for their footy and this game could be part of the rep calendar, rather than at year's end. If played in PNG, the local fans might miss out on seeing some of the NRL's best who are on origin duty, but this is not too far from current strategy.
Monday night - Origin 3
Following weekend - full round of matches.
The response from all clubs would be predictable – What about our bottom line? Any loss of revenue for clubs who do not play for 3 weeks can be covered (hopefully) by revenue created from TV rights for this ‘festival’, including what should be a windfall from selling the origin series to the highest bidder. This schedule addresses the issues of player fatigue as it would shorten the season by 3 weeks (obviously a requirement when you look at the list of players currently injured), players missing from games through rep duty and removes the need for byes. It also markets the jewel in the rugby league crown (State of Origin) as a standalone event surrounded by a carnival of Rugby League.
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