NRL 2022 draw: Less games is best result for clubs and players

Clubs are angry with the 2022 NRL draw, and players are stretched to breaking – but there is a way to fix it. Buzz’s weekly highlights and lowlights.

2021 - NRL ROUND 25 - BRONCOS V KNIGHTS - Payne Haas injury Picture NRL Images

The NRL released its 2022 draw/TV schedule last week and we are now dealing with the annual outcry about the integrity of the competition.

This is understandable. The Eels, Dragons, Knights and Rabbitohs have been scheduled seven games against bottom-four clubs from last season.

This is a huge advantage. Melbourne Storm and the Canberra Raiders get only five games against the weaker teams at the bottom of the ladder. Seriously, how is this fair?

The Titans have a rails run as well. They get 14 of their 24 matches against bottom-eight clubs.

NRL 2022 DRAW: DOWNLOAD YOUR 2022 NRL FIXTURE POSTER

Broncos behemoth Payne Haas suffered an injury in round 25 of the 2021 season. Picture NRL Images

With 16 or 17 clubs, there is no way of fixing it. However, once we get to 18 teams, hopefully in the next five years, this should change. Teams should then play each other once.

You could add one derby for each club, which would mean we’d get the Roosters v Rabbitohs, Sharks v Dragons or Parramatta v Penrith twice a season.

That would make an 18-round competition with nine games each weekend instead of eight.

The entire NFL competition in the US runs for 18 weeks.

This would be a much better outcome for player welfare in the NRL.

The athletes are now so big, so strong and so powerful that 25-week seasons with finals and State of Origin are far too much.

You could have a shorter NRL season but play international football for a month every year after the grand final.

This would be a win-win situation.

We get a fairer NRL competition and we build international football to a level where it should be.

Sport’s Editor-at-Large Phil Rothfield has all the best gossip from NRL land in his Monday Buzz column.

HIGHLIGHT

Sydney is finally getting its stadium policy right. The plan by Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd to build a retractable roof over Stadium Australia and two new boutique suburban stadiums will ensure sporting fans in this city have the best facilities in the country.

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LOWLIGHT

The Wallabies’ eighth straight loss to England, this time 32-15 at Twickenham. The Wallabies kicked five penalty goals but couldn’t score a try in the most uninspiring performance.

SPOTTED

Cowboys and Maroons Origin star Val Holmes with his first child – little Billy Valentine Holmes, born in Townsville last week. Mum Natalia and the bub are doing well.

Valentine Holmes with his first child Billy Valentine Holmes.

SHOOSH

Channel 9 bosses are telling the NRL there will be major changes to the way the broadcaster covers rugby league next season. Apparently, it will be in a more positive light. Who will be breaking this news to the great Gus Gould?

SHOOSH

South Sydney Rabbitohs executives Blake Solly and Shannon Donato have failed in a sneaky attempt to host the opening game at the new Allianz Stadium in Moore Park. We’re hearing they lobbied the NRL to play the grand final rematch against Penrith at the venue in round 23. Common sense prevailed and the NRL scheduled the Roosters as the home team for a blockbuster against the Rabbitohs in round 25.

Blake Solly’s attempt to open the new Sydney football stadium against the Panthers fell over. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

SHOOSH

Which NRL club wants to invest in soccer with a team in the national second division competition behind the A-League. The 12-team competition will start in 2023.

SHOOSH

New sports Minister Natalie Ward is already offside with a number of NRL clubs over her attempts to cut funding for high-performance facilities that were promised by previous ministers.