2020 NRL COMPETITION VARIATIONS BEING CONSIDERED BY ARLC
*WILDCARD ROUND
A wildcard round is up for discussion which would boost the number of teams in the NRL finals from eight to 10, and would help shake up the log jams of teams in the middle of the ladder during a shortened competition.
So far only two rounds have been played, which would mean a further 13 rounds of games for each team to play twice, four weeks of finals, and one spare round – which could be perfect for a wildcard weekend.
Teams placed seventh and eighth would face off in a sudden death match against teams that finished ninth and 10th, with the winners going through to the next week of finals.
*CHANGES TO STATE OF ORIGIN
State of Origin is the biggest money-spinner for the NRL, the three-match series generating upwards of $100 million for the league.
And while it appears unlikely Origin will go ahead as planned, it’s viewed as essential for the NRL.
Options include playing all three over as many weeks, kicking off the NRL restart with Origin or playing an extended series at the end of the year.
*ISOLATING THE COMPETITION IN ONE LOCATION
So far, two locations in Queensland have made public their interest in housing all 16 NRL teams in a bid to isolate the competition and allow it to go ahead.
The innovation committee, headed by league legend and ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce, will be tasked with looking at all creative options to restart the season.
Gladstone, which has a huge facility in central Queensland has been discussed, while a remote island off the southern coast has also been mentioned as a possible destination to keep players safe, and allow games to continue without
*GRAND FINAL SERIES
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has confirmed a three-game NRL grand final series is up for discussion, with games to be played in Sydney, Brisbane and potentially Townsville if a decider was needed.
The matches would be scheduled for December 20, Boxing Day and New Years’ Day, with the format estimated to generate in excess of $28 million for the league.
*REPRESENTATIVE WEEKEND
With one extra week to fill in a 20-week competition the representative round is still on the table, but it would largely depend on whether international travel restrictions remain in place towards the end of the season.
The Rugby League World Cup is set for next year, and international football will be a consideration if it is able to be played safely – particularly given the boost provided by Tonga, who beat Australia in a Test for the first time last year.
