Rivalries scheduled to spice up run-in to NRL finals

The NRL is planning to finish the season with a string of rivalry rounds in a bid to appease its broadcast partners.

The Roosters and Rabbitohs share the oldest rivalry in the NRL. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL is planning to finish the season with a string of rivalry rounds in a bid to appease its broadcast partners and showcase the game’s most popular teams against each other.

With the two-conference system idea all but scrapped, the NRL is now focusing on a draw that could end with some of the game’s bitter rivals squaring off in the lead-up to the finals.

The first round of rivalry games could include:

• Souths v Sydney Roosters

• Brisbane v North Queensland

• Parramatta v Canterbury

• St George Illawarra v Cronulla

• Wests Tigers v Penrith

• Melbourne v Warriors

• Manly v Newcastle

• Gold Coast v Canberra

Coaches were told of the plan after a phone hook-up with Roosters mentor Trent Robinson, who is part of the NRL’s Project Apollo taskforce. The blockbuster matches will help boost ratings and could be a way to appease the code’s broadcast partners ahead of tense negotiations next week. There is no clear understanding yet about how long the new-look competition will run. It is understood the minimum of amount of games the NRL will schedule is 13 more to ensure all teams face each other once but they do not anticipate playing more than 18.

That takes into account the opening two rounds played before the competition was suspended.

One of the options being seriously considered is having the highest drawing matches play out the rest of the season. That could mean a handful of blockbuster rounds depending on how long the Nine Network and Fox Sports want the season to go.

If matches go beyond the first week then the draw could be: St George Illawarra v Rabbitohs, Parramatta v Penrith, Cowboys v Titans, Bulldogs v Tigers, Raiders v Roosters, Manly v Storm, Brisbane v Warriors, Sharks v Knights.

The NRL has run rivalry rounds as part of previous regular season campaigns. However, the game is totally flexible and open to feedback from stakeholders regarding the length of the season.

Some teams will host more home games than some of their ­rivals unless a full round of 24 matches is played. It is unlikely the original draw will be played out but home ground advantage is not as big an issue, given matches are likely to be played behind closed doors for the rest of the season.

Project Apollo will meet again on Friday.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH