NRL Wildcard Weekend Proposal: Explained

The NRL has touted the idea of changing the format of the finals series by introducing two additional matches as a way to increase crowd attendance, fan involvement, and financial revenue.

NRL Head of Elite Football Operation Graham Annersley revealed the ‘Wildcard Weekend’ proposal to club CEO’s on Monday.

The proposed format would see a dedicated weekend at the end of the home and away season host two sudden-death matches between teams who finished eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh, with the winners taking up the last two spots in the finals series.

Using last year’s results, this means the Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers could have made the finals if they defeated the New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons in the special round.

Following ‘Wildcard Weekend’ – in which the top six teams have a bye – the finals series would be played in its current format.

The Sydney Morning Herald labelled the idea as “a bad rip-off of the NFL,” however journalist Phil Rothfield told NRL360 he likes the proposal.

“What I like is the fact it’s a huge advantage for the top six clubs. They get the first week off, they get to rest, rehab… we’re putting on two more games for the teams finishing seventh to 10th,” he said.

Ultimately, the aim is to reduce the amount of ‘dead-rubber’ games – where the result of a match has no affect on top eight positions for one or both teams.

According to Fox Sports, there we 36 ‘dead-rubbers’ in 2018, and an average of 23 per season in the last 11 years. If in practice, the proposal would have reduced this to eight games last year, and an average of 14 per season since 2014.

Fox Sports also said ‘dead-rubber’ games are a significant financial liability for clubs, who lose around $80,000 due to an average decline of 3,300 spectators per match. Television audiences also drop by eight percent.

The proposal has divided opinions among fans on social media, current and former players, and game experts.

Retired Queensland star Johnathan Thurston told Wide World of Sports he supports the idea.

“I think it would certainly shake the top eight up, because there have been teams in the past that have gone on a bit of a run towards the back of the year but missed out on being in the finals by points differential,” he said.– Johnathan Thurston

Thurston led the North Queensland Cowboys from eighth position to a grand final appearance in 2017. Under the new format, the Cowboys would have had to play an extra sudden-death game in addition to every week of the finals. Their opponents, Melbourne Storm, would have played two less games than the Cowboys.

In the interest of player welfare, adding extra games into the season makes a long year even longer. With international fixtures following the NRL season, it would give players a smaller window for injury recovery, holidays and pre-season training.

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Cronulla Sharks halfback Chad Townsend told news.com.au that a top-eight structure is the way to go.

“The top eight is the top eight for a reason and I don’t think teams who win less than half their games, a 40 percent strike rate would probably get you in tenth spot and I don’t think that’s good reward or a team that should be playing semi-finals,” he said.

New South Wales State of Origin coach Brad Fittler also backed the current format.

“The last couple of years the finals have rated well, they’ve been great games,” he told Wide World of Sports.

Website rugbyleagueplanet.com. said adopting a format similar to those used in the United States by the NFL and Major League Baseball shows initiative, and it will increase financial revenue.

“It’s not just about playing a game anymore, and hasn’t been for a while, it’s about making money. A wildcard weekend would do that. It would add to the NRL’s coffers and given that it is a business, that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” it wrote.

If approved, the proposal could be implemented as early as next year.