NRL conference plan a win for Sydney’s tribal rugby league scene

The NRL conference plan would reinvigorate rugby league in Sydney creating more derbies and a championship more valuable than the premiership itself.

It's time to bring tribalism back to the NRL!

It’s been an idea more than seven years in the making when Phil Rothfield broached the idea in 2014 and it seems the NRL has finally realised the benefit of bring tribalism back to rugby league in Sydney.

A competition where almost every week would become a heritage round with more derbies and traditional-rival showdowns.

The proposal floated by The Daily Telegraph and rebooted by NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Tuesday would involve adding an extra team in both Brisbane and New Zealand and splitting the competition into two conferences in a major shake-up for the code.

The Sydney conference would be a boost to Sydney’s tribal rugby league scene. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The Sydney conference brings together the Bulldogs, Eels, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Wests Tigers and Dragons and ensures that each of those clubs would play the other twice every season.

It would give Sydney clubs the chance to attract more away-team fans, unlike now when they host the Titans, Cowboys, Warriors or any of the out-of-town teams in front of 10,000 to 12,000 fans.

Manly fans may famously travel like milk, but there’s more chance of drawing them out of their beloved peninsula to watch Tom Trbojevic face off with James Tedesco at the brand new footy stadium in Moore Park than there is of them travelling up the M1 to watch the Knights.

And more games featuring Sydney derbies at the fan friendly Bankwest is a win for all rugby league lovers.

No more grand finals featuring clubs from outside of Sydney as the new system would guarantee a team from Sydney and an out-of-Sydney club to play in a Super Bowl-type decider.

But before that we would have the battle to be named the kings of Sydney rugby league – a title arguably more prestigious than any intra-conference crown.

Dragons supporters at Jubilee Stadium. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

NRL CONFERENCE SYSTEM: HOW IT WORKS

SYDNEY CONFERENCE

Bulldogs, Eels, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Tigers, Dragons

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Broncos, Cowboys, Knights, Raiders, Storm, Titans, Warriors, second Brisbane (TBC), second New Zealand team (TBC)

* Each conference plays home and away matches, then other conference teams once

* 25 regular season rounds

* Top four from each conference qualify for finals

* Always guarantees one Sydney team in grand final

Originally published as NRL conference plan a win for Sydney’s tribal rugby league scene