NRL 2021: How conference system could light up NRL with 15 blockbuster Sydney derbies
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly has put forward a proposal for 15 Sydney blockbusters each year that could create a bonanza for the NRL.
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These are the 15 mega-games ready to rock Sydney.
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly has put forward a proposal for 15 Sydney blockbusters each year that could pull crowds of 30,000 to 40,000.
It would be part of a new competition structure, first revealed in The Daily Telegraph, where the NRL would expand to 18 clubs and then be split into two conferences comprising the nine Sydney sides and the nine out-of-Sydney clubs.
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Solly said the NRL, its clubs, broadcasters and stadium management could meet to determine which games, venues and timeslots could be used for ‘big ticket’ matches.
Hyped Sydney derbies – like traditional Easter Monday, Good Friday and Anzac Day games – would increase television ratings and crowds.
The 15 games could be: Dragons v Sharks, Panthers v Eels, Sea Eagles v Eels, Roosters v Rabbitohs, Dragons v Rabbitohs, Tigers v Bulldogs, Dragons v Bulldogs, Roosters v Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles, Tigers v Eels, Dragons v Roosters, Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Eels v Bulldogs, Sharks v Sea Eagles and Panthers v Roosters.
“If we have the guarantee that we will play each other, home and away every year, then we could sit down with the NRL and create 15 big Sydney games each year, rather than the five or six we have right now,” Solly said.
“There is a real opportunity to put circles around games in the calendar and build up a crowd every year no matter how the teams are playing – fans would just love that day.
“For the broadcasters, ratings for those games would improve, the media would have something to focus on all week and hopefully the bank balance would improve for clubs. It is a really interesting concept and anything that builds up the rivalries in Sydney would be great.
“Our biggest games from a crowd point of view are always against our traditional rivals – the Roosters, Dragons, Tigers, Bulldogs.
“If we can be really considered around when games are scheduled then we can create more big ticket days like Good Friday, Easter Monday and Anzac Day where there is an appetite for people to come and watch two great Sydney clubs play each other in a great stadium at the right time.
“What you would want to do is start at 15 games in the calendar, make them do really well and make them big ticket events. Once you’ve achieved that, which could take three to five years, then add another five to it.
“If you get the day right and the occasion right, whatever stadium you use, you should get a great crowd. Last Sunday afternoon — Roosters-Dragons on Anzac Day — it was a wonderful advertisement for the sport.
“Tigers-Eels on Easter Monday — they have done a great job with that and the Bulldogs have a really good record in building crowds on Good Friday.
“The Origin period is always a difficult sell so it’s unlikely you’d schedule these games in that time but you’d be looking at almost one every week, outside the Origin period.”
Sydney clubs could opt to play the big games out of ANZ Stadium or Bankwest Stadium to improve crowds. Officials also believe Sydney blockbusters would help with merchandise and membership figures.
“Ideally you’d love to sit there with the NRL, the broadcasters, the stadiums and the clubs and work out where the biggest potential is, on what days and then lock it in,” Solly said. “Everyone has a role to play. The broadcasters make the event bigger, stadiums can help make the experience better and the club can push it to members and fans.
“It doesn’t mean every single game between two Sydney rivals is going to have a huge increase but it will enable us to look at those big ticket days throughout the year. We’d love to lock in us against the Roosters home and away at the start and end of the season.
“I’m sure other Sydney clubs would have a rivalry where they would want to play on a day and time when people would come.”
Solly said the NRL must look to follow the AFL in staging massive local derbies.
“Look at what other sports have done – the AFL have done it fairly well by putting dates in the diary and building great events. We are starting to follow that by some of the work we’re doing on Anzac Day, Easter Monday and Good Friday,” he said.
“There’s no reason why we can’t have the Sydney audience as passionate and attending matches like they have for years in the AFL.”
NRL CLUB REACTION TO CONFERENCE PLANS
By Dean Ritchie, Fatima Kdouh, Nick Campton, Nick Smart, Chris Honnery, David Riccio
RABBITOHS
“If we have the guarantee that we will play each other, home and away every year, then we could sit down with the NRL andcreate 15 big Sydney games each year, rather than the five or six we have right now.” — Souths chief executive BLAKE SOLLY.
STORM
“It is worthwhile exploring all options that help to grow our game but there is a lot of detail in this concept we need to work through before forming a position.” — Storm chief executive JUSTIN RODSKI.
ROOSTERS
“The conference system would be great. For the first time in years we’d get a proper draw, rather than a TV schedule. The only completely fair way to run a competition is each side playing each other the same amount of times. The NRL should investigate this.” — Sydney Roosters chairman NICK POLITIS.
DRAGONS
Chief executive RYAN WEBB declined to comment until more information regarding the proposal became available.
TITANS
The business case behind expansion, regardless of whether it’s an additional team or a future conference system, needs significant due diligence. If we can confidently say expansion is good for all stakeholders in the game then it should be supported.” — Titans chief executive STEVE MITCHELL.
RAIDERS
“It’s not worth commenting on because there is no proposal.” — Raiders chief executive DON FURNER.
WARRIORS
“The reality of a conference type approach wouldn’t impact on us too much. In normal circumstances we’re flying out to Sydney or Brisbane or Melbourne anyway, so it wouldn’t create any more travel if we were based in New Zealand. As a club, we want to see opportunities for the game as a whole that can benefit it on or off the field.” — Warriors chief executive CAMERON GEORGE.
COWBOYS
North Queensland CEO JEFF REIBEL is planning to meet the NRL next week to find out more information about the proposed conference system. He did not wish to make a comment until after the meeting.
SHARKS
“We’ll await any proposals or discussions related to a conference system from the NRL before making any position publicly. Until then, it’s difficult to form an affirmative view one way or another.” — Sharks chairman DINO MEZZATESTA.
TIGERS
“I am not against the idea of expansion or the conference system, however before committing to a yes or no I would need to understand all the detail, including the economic impact, the impact on talent , schedule etc.” — Tigers chief executive JUSTIN PASCOE.
BRONCOS
“I haven’t been contacted by anyone at the NRL about this idea so it will be interesting to see what happens.” — Broncos chairman KARL MORRIS.
BULLDOGS
“It’s big picture thinking, I like it but only if it makes sense. For us, commercially playing all the Sydney teams twice is a win but we want a decision that takes into account the greater good of the game.” — Bulldogs chief executive AARON WARBURTON.
DECLINED TO COMMENT
Panthers, Eels, Knights, Sea Eagles.
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