Official 2024 NRL General Discussion

[Proud Shark]

Like what? Serious question, I don't know.

I'd also imagine there is a decent incentive for all teams financially, not just home teams.

 

[egg]

I will have to find where I read it , it was a long time ago .
Compensation

 

[egg]

I'd also imagine there is a decent incentive for all teams financially, not just home teams.

I thought there was a really BIG difference

 

[HaroldBishop]

I'd also imagine there is a decent incentive for all teams financially, not just home teams.

I'd think so otherwise you wouldn't bother as the away team.

 

[egg]

Last year
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...a/news-story/0d4916515f635517740681a16f6ea4f4



10 June 2024 — The term sheet includes a $350,000 payment to the home team and $50,000 for the away side. The Warriors will only travel as the away side while .

 

[HaroldBishop]

Last year
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...a/news-story/0d4916515f635517740681a16f6ea4f4


View attachment 31939
10 June 2024 — The term sheet includes a $350,000 payment to the home team and $50,000 for the away side. The Warriors will only travel as the away side while .

Yeah OK that's decent if true.

 

[egg]

Yeah OK that's decent if true.

Yeah , the Panthers and Raiders could really use that money .

 

[egg]

Yeah , the Panthers and Raiders could really use that money .

Last year it was Roosters and Manly who cleaned up

Saturday March 2

6.30pm (local time) Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v South Sydney Rabbitohs

8.30pm (local time) Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Broncos

 

[bort]

Yeah , the Panthers and Raiders could really use that money .

Hopefully just getting over there is worth far more to us, in that it is another chance - and a better chance - to suck up to the rich boys over there

 

[HaroldBishop]

Hopefully just getting over there is worth far more to us, in that it is another chance - and a better chance - to suck up to the rich boys over there

That's about the only reason for us to go as an away team. There really is no other reason that I can think of, there's no chance you're picking up new members, not significantly anyway.

 

[egg]

Politis speaks out against draft model for NRL​

The NRL draft debate continues.​

Sofia Bamonte
WRITER | November 11, 2024 - 11:59am
719

Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has shared strong reservations about the NRL adopting a draft system similar to the AFL's, warning that such a move could disrupt the league's current player development pathways.

Politis, a billionaire businessman and influential voice in rugby league, believes that a player draft is unnecessary given the existing salary cap, which he argues already ensures a balanced distribution of talent.
Reflecting on the failed attempt to introduce a draft in the 1990s, he told the Daily Telegraph, “It's like communism in rugby league…The salary cap does a good job of equalising talent, and the game already has good pathways. I'm happy with the current system."

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 06: Roosters Chairman Nick Politis celebrates with James Tedesco of the Roosters after the 2019 NRL Grand Final match between the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The proposal for a draft and an under-21s competition is currently under consideration by the NRL Pathways Steering Committee (PSC).
This committee includes key figures such as Queensland Rugby League head Ben Ikin, Penrith's football chief Matt Cameron, Melbourne Storm's general manager Frank Ponissi, and Roosters coach Trent Robinson, all tasked with evaluating how to strengthen development programs across the league.
Politis' cautionary stance references the 1991 case involving Terry Hill, a young player who, after initially signing with Wests, was forced to join Eastern Suburbs under the league's early draft rules.
Hill challenged this in court, arguing it restricted his right to work, and the High Court ultimately ruled in his favour, shutting down the draft system.
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly also expressed concerns, noting that the current grassroots structure enables clubs to build loyalty with homegrown talent, creating one-club heroes like John Sutton and Cameron Murray.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly speaks to the media during a South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL press conference at USANA Rabbitohs Centre on May 01, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“Until we see the Pathways Committee's recommendations, it's difficult to comment, but the grassroots model works well,” Solly stated.
Meanwhile, former Queensland and dual-code international Mat Rogers has advocated for a senior draft rather than a rookie one.
Rogers contends that this could prevent players from signing with rival clubs years in advance, eliminating the awkwardness of a player committed to one team having to continue competing for another.
“I hate the current system,” he said on SEN radio.
“The fact that players can sign for a rival team yet play another year with their current club is disruptive. We need to explore different options.”
The upcoming PSC report will likely spark further debate, as the NRL weighs the merits and potential impacts of a draft on the league's talent pipeline and club loyalty.

 

[Proud Shark]

I thought there was a really BIG difference

That's about the only reason for us to go as an away team. There really is no other reason that I can think of, there's no chance you're picking up new members, not significantly anyway.

$50k for an away game isn't the worst, but I'll admit it's less than I assumed. You'd think the NRL are also covering all other associated travel costs too. You don't make any profit from other away games. Add to that the extra opportunity to woo Dorrell and his friends and it's still worth it for us.

 

[bort]

Politis speaks out against draft model for NRL​

The NRL draft debate continues.​

Sofia Bamonte
WRITER | November 11, 2024 - 11:59am
719

Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has shared strong reservations about the NRL adopting a draft system similar to the AFL's, warning that such a move could disrupt the league's current player development pathways.

Politis, a billionaire businessman and influential voice in rugby league, believes that a player draft is unnecessary given the existing salary cap, which he argues already ensures a balanced distribution of talent.
Reflecting on the failed attempt to introduce a draft in the 1990s, he told the Daily Telegraph, “It's like communism in rugby league…The salary cap does a good job of equalising talent, and the game already has good pathways. I'm happy with the current system."

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 06: Roosters Chairman Nick Politis celebrates with James Tedesco of the Roosters after the 2019 NRL Grand Final match between the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The proposal for a draft and an under-21s competition is currently under consideration by the NRL Pathways Steering Committee (PSC).
This committee includes key figures such as Queensland Rugby League head Ben Ikin, Penrith's football chief Matt Cameron, Melbourne Storm's general manager Frank Ponissi, and Roosters coach Trent Robinson, all tasked with evaluating how to strengthen development programs across the league.
Politis' cautionary stance references the 1991 case involving Terry Hill, a young player who, after initially signing with Wests, was forced to join Eastern Suburbs under the league's early draft rules.
Hill challenged this in court, arguing it restricted his right to work, and the High Court ultimately ruled in his favour, shutting down the draft system.
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly also expressed concerns, noting that the current grassroots structure enables clubs to build loyalty with homegrown talent, creating one-club heroes like John Sutton and Cameron Murray.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly speaks to the media during a South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL press conference at USANA Rabbitohs Centre on May 01, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“Until we see the Pathways Committee's recommendations, it's difficult to comment, but the grassroots model works well,” Solly stated.
Meanwhile, former Queensland and dual-code international Mat Rogers has advocated for a senior draft rather than a rookie one.
Rogers contends that this could prevent players from signing with rival clubs years in advance, eliminating the awkwardness of a player committed to one team having to continue competing for another.
“I hate the current system,” he said on SEN radio.
“The fact that players can sign for a rival team yet play another year with their current club is disruptive. We need to explore different options.”
The upcoming PSC report will likely spark further debate, as the NRL weighs the merits and potential impacts of a draft on the league's talent pipeline and club loyalty.

It absolutely would disrupt things - you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that felt otherwise I would have thought.

Funny how one of the teams with the smallest contribution to junior systems who uses the cap system to bypass that issue doesn’t see a problem with current way of things though.

Draft got shut down on appeal because NRL couldn’t adequately argue a draft was integral to survival of the competition. It’s not so simple as court just rules he should be able to play anywhere he wants. I don’t think the NRL could prove it as integral now either but they could certainly try if they felt they had the evidence.

Imagine someone these days going to court to get out of playing for Roosters so they can play for tigers…

 

[Tiger Shark]

Not sure how I see a junior draft working without ALOT of effort to put it in place. It'll mean clubs will basically stop putting the time and money into their own if players are going to get snapped up in a draft.

Can clubs put a hold on a player so they're exempt from the draft and they can keep them. Does that then defeat the purpose of a draft ?

Does the NRL need to own the whole pathway system ?

I'm all for evening out the comp but it does really disadvantage teams that have a strong junior pathway.

How would a senior NRL Draft work, would a team need to pay a player a determined salary the NRL dictates ? How do you value these players ?

I can't see this going anywhere.

 

[bort]

Not sure how I see a junior draft working without ALOT of effort to put it in place. It'll mean clubs will basically stop putting the time and money into their own if players are going to get snapped up in a draft.

Can clubs put a hold on a player so they're exempt from the draft and they can keep them. Does that then defeat the purpose of a draft ?

Does the NRL need to own the whole pathway system ?

I'm all for evening out the comp but it does really disadvantage teams that have a strong junior pathway.

How would a senior NRL Draft work, would a team need to pay a player a determined salary the NRL dictates ? How do you value these players ?

I can't see this going anywhere.

Last sentence I imagine is correct

I don't think a senior draft has ever been proposed. A junior draft there has been suggestion of 'reserving' players but kind of defeats the purpose IMO. If you want them, draft them, if you miss out, bad luck. Can always trade up in draft for someone if you want them bad enough.

A junior draft would be an approx 10 year disruption I'd say, and just not enough benefit to warrant that. NRL would have to take over all pathways up to 21 (as no benefit to clubs to keep doing it) and need time for that to settle and players being drafted overtime would largely accept it as the norm.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Getting 50k as the away team (plus greater exposure isnt terrible) its not like the trip costs the team anything anyway.

The home team is forfeiting a home game so they do need to make up that loss of revenue.

Would rather we got the home game thought because i think we are flat out breaking even with home games currently

 

[Sparkles]

To be fair we have the last 2 years.

Agreed. Given that we play Penrith in round 1, I hope we'll at least get them twice. It would be ideal if we could get Melbourne twice, too.

Outside of that the 'strength' of the draw is a bit of a lottery. You could play Chooks twice and they could easily drop from the top 4 to missing finals. You could also play Brisbane/Souths twice who could do the opposite.

If we get 4 games against the top 2 from last year, plus a decent bye schedule I'll be stoked.

Totally agree. The last two years haven't been much different.
The 'easy draw' is a bit of a myth. The only two consistently hard to beat teams have been Storm and Panther.

I did a quick AI on best and worst times to play teams and it came up with this. Make of it what you will!
I've included the criteria as others might look at it differently:

• Longest Winning Streak: The maximum number of consecutive games won by the team during the season, indicating peak form.
• Longest Losing Streak: The maximum number of consecutive losses, showing periods of vulnerability and poor form.
• Times Won 3+ in a Row: Counts how many times a team won at least three consecutive games, representing their ability to build and sustain winning momentum.
• Best Rounds to Play: Rounds where teams historically performed weaker, including:
  • Periods after significant winning streaks where momentum might decrease.
  • Early, mid, or late rounds where teams often struggled.
  • Rounds following particularly tough or intense losses.
• Worst Rounds to Play: Rounds where teams historically performed stronger, including:
  • Periods of winning streaks or consistent high performance.
  • Rounds immediately following tough losses, when teams often rebounded well.
  • Specific early, mid, or late phases where the team was typically at their strongest.
• Consistency Score: A calculated metric to assess the team’s ability to sustain winning streaks and avoid long losing streaks. The formula is:
  Consistency Score=Longest Winning Streak+(Times Won 3+ in a Row)Longest Losing Streak+1Consistency Score=Longest Losing Streak+1Longest Winning Streak+(Times Won 3+ in a Row)

2023​

2024​

And just because I was interested, how their consistency changed in 2024 vs 2023:

 

[Sparkles]

Totally agree. The last two years haven't been much different.
The 'easy draw' is a bit of a myth. The only two consistently hard to beat teams have been Storm and Panther.

I did a quick AI on best and worst times to play teams and it came up with this. Make of it what you will!
I've included the criteria as others might look at it differently:

• Longest Winning Streak: The maximum number of consecutive games won by the team during the season, indicating peak form.
• Longest Losing Streak: The maximum number of consecutive losses, showing periods of vulnerability and poor form.
• Times Won 3+ in a Row: Counts how many times a team won at least three consecutive games, representing their ability to build and sustain winning momentum.
• Best Rounds to Play: Rounds where teams historically performed weaker, including:
  • Periods after significant winning streaks where momentum might decrease.
  • Early, mid, or late rounds where teams often struggled.
  • Rounds following particularly tough or intense losses.
• Worst Rounds to Play: Rounds where teams historically performed stronger, including:
  • Periods of winning streaks or consistent high performance.
  • Rounds immediately following tough losses, when teams often rebounded well.
  • Specific early, mid, or late phases where the team was typically at their strongest.
• Consistency Score: A calculated metric to assess the team’s ability to sustain winning streaks and avoid long losing streaks. The formula is:
  Consistency Score=Longest Winning Streak+(Times Won 3+ in a Row)Longest Losing Streak+1Consistency Score=Longest Losing Streak+1Longest Winning Streak+(Times Won 3+ in a Row)

2023​

View attachment 31946

2024​

View attachment 31947


And just because I was interested, how their consistency changed in 2024 vs 2023:

View attachment 31949

One more....

Cronulla Sharks' 2023 Match Analysis:

Round	Opponent	Opponent's Form Period	Timing Assessment
1	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Strong start	Bad
2	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Good
3	Canberra Raiders	Early struggles	Good
4	St George Illawarra Dragons	Mid-season peak	Bad
5	New Zealand Warriors	Building momentum	Neutral
6	Sydney Roosters	High-performance phase	Bad
7	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
8	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
9	North Queensland Cowboys	Strong performance	Bad
10	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
11	Gold Coast Titans	Mid-season high	Bad
12	Newcastle Knights	Winning form peak	Bad
13	Brisbane Broncos	Strong start	Bad
14	Canterbury Bulldogs	Struggling phase	Good
15	Penrith Panthers	Winning streak	Bad
16	Dolphins	High form	Bad
17	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Strong form period	Bad
18	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Good
19	Canberra Raiders	Seasonal high	Bad
20	St George Illawarra Dragons	Mid-season high	Bad
21	New Zealand Warriors	Strong consistency	Bad
22	Sydney Roosters	High-performance phase	Bad
23	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
24	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
25	North Queensland Cowboys	Strong performance	Bad
26	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
27	Gold Coast Titans	Mid-season high	Bad

Key Observations:

• Challenging Periods: The Sharks faced several opponents during their peak performance phases, particularly in rounds 4, 6, 7, 9, and 15, which likely contributed to tougher matches.
• Opportune Matches: Games against teams like the Wests Tigers (rounds 8 and 24) and Canterbury Bulldogs (round 14) occurred during their struggling periods, presenting favorable opportunities for the Sharks.

Cronulla Sharks' 2024 Match Analysis:

Round	Opponent	Opponent's Form Period	Timing Assessment
1	New Zealand Warriors	Building momentum	Neutral
2	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Early struggles	Good
3	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
4	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Strong start	Bad
5	Bye	N/A	N/A
6	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
7	North Queensland Cowboys	Mid-season peak	Bad
8	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Neutral
9	Brisbane Broncos	High-performance phase	Bad
10	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
11	Gold Coast Titans	Struggling period	Good
12	Sydney Roosters	Building momentum	Neutral
13	Canberra Raiders	Early struggles	Good
14	Newcastle Knights	Mid-season high	Bad
15	St George Illawarra Dragons	Struggling period	Good
16	Penrith Panthers	Winning streak	Bad
17	Dolphins	Inconsistent phase	Neutral
18	New Zealand Warriors	Strong consistency	Bad
19	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Struggling period	Good
20	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
21	South Sydney Rabbitohs	High-performance phase	Bad
22	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
23	North Queensland Cowboys	Mid-season peak	Bad
24	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Neutral
25	Brisbane Broncos	High-performance phase	Bad
26	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
27	Gold Coast Titans	Struggling period	Good

Key Observations:

• Challenging Periods: The Sharks faced several opponents during their peak performance phases, particularly in rounds 4, 6, 7, 9, 16, and 22, which likely contributed to tougher matches.
• Opportune Matches: Games against teams like the Wests Tigers (rounds 3 and 20) and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (rounds 2 and 19) occurred during their struggling periods, presenting favorable opportunities for the Sharks.

You could argue that 2024 ended up being a good draw, but 2023 was actually shithouse.

 

[Flanno]

One more....

Cronulla Sharks' 2023 Match Analysis:

Round	Opponent	Opponent's Form Period	Timing Assessment
1	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Strong start	Bad
2	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Good
3	Canberra Raiders	Early struggles	Good
4	St George Illawarra Dragons	Mid-season peak	Bad
5	New Zealand Warriors	Building momentum	Neutral
6	Sydney Roosters	High-performance phase	Bad
7	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
8	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
9	North Queensland Cowboys	Strong performance	Bad
10	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
11	Gold Coast Titans	Mid-season high	Bad
12	Newcastle Knights	Winning form peak	Bad
13	Brisbane Broncos	Strong start	Bad
14	Canterbury Bulldogs	Struggling phase	Good
15	Penrith Panthers	Winning streak	Bad
16	Dolphins	High form	Bad
17	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Strong form period	Bad
18	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Good
19	Canberra Raiders	Seasonal high	Bad
20	St George Illawarra Dragons	Mid-season high	Bad
21	New Zealand Warriors	Strong consistency	Bad
22	Sydney Roosters	High-performance phase	Bad
23	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
24	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
25	North Queensland Cowboys	Strong performance	Bad
26	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
27	Gold Coast Titans	Mid-season high	Bad

Key Observations:

• Challenging Periods: The Sharks faced several opponents during their peak performance phases, particularly in rounds 4, 6, 7, 9, and 15, which likely contributed to tougher matches.
• Opportune Matches: Games against teams like the Wests Tigers (rounds 8 and 24) and Canterbury Bulldogs (round 14) occurred during their struggling periods, presenting favorable opportunities for the Sharks.

Cronulla Sharks' 2024 Match Analysis:

Round	Opponent	Opponent's Form Period	Timing Assessment
1	New Zealand Warriors	Building momentum	Neutral
2	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Early struggles	Good
3	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
4	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Strong start	Bad
5	Bye	N/A	N/A
6	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
7	North Queensland Cowboys	Mid-season peak	Bad
8	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Neutral
9	Brisbane Broncos	High-performance phase	Bad
10	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
11	Gold Coast Titans	Struggling period	Good
12	Sydney Roosters	Building momentum	Neutral
13	Canberra Raiders	Early struggles	Good
14	Newcastle Knights	Mid-season high	Bad
15	St George Illawarra Dragons	Struggling period	Good
16	Penrith Panthers	Winning streak	Bad
17	Dolphins	Inconsistent phase	Neutral
18	New Zealand Warriors	Strong consistency	Bad
19	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Struggling period	Good
20	Wests Tigers	Struggling period	Good
21	South Sydney Rabbitohs	High-performance phase	Bad
22	Melbourne Storm	Winning streak	Bad
23	North Queensland Cowboys	Mid-season peak	Bad
24	Parramatta Eels	Inconsistent phase	Neutral
25	Brisbane Broncos	High-performance phase	Bad
26	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Consistent form	Bad
27	Gold Coast Titans	Struggling period	Good

Key Observations:

• Challenging Periods: The Sharks faced several opponents during their peak performance phases, particularly in rounds 4, 6, 7, 9, 16, and 22, which likely contributed to tougher matches.
• Opportune Matches: Games against teams like the Wests Tigers (rounds 3 and 20) and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (rounds 2 and 19) occurred during their struggling periods, presenting favorable opportunities for the Sharks.

You could argue that 2024 ended up being a good draw, but 2023 was actually shithouse.

Wests Tigers “struggling period “ should be replaced with “See previous”

 

[MrDravid]

Wide World of Sports has been told that any team that starts play with a kick-off that goes beyond the opposition's 20-metre line on the full will concede a seven-tackle set.

'Radical' rule change to shake up NRL next year

League cracking down on injuries

www.nine.com.au