SO THIS is where we are at? We have had epic NRL and Super League grand finals and some interest in the upcoming NZ tour of the UK, the Melanesian Cup final and some quality World Cup Qualifying internationals including Tonga vs. the Cook Islands at Campbelltown Stadium. So no one can say there is no footy until next year.
But no one would argue this year was always going to be the quieter on the four-year international cycle. No Four Nations and of course no World Cup this off-season was designed to provide elite players with an opportunity to rest and enjoy a full off season. This plan of course ignores the needs of Kiwi, European and islander players who represent countries such as France, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, United States, Jamaica, Canada and South Africa who will play up until the December 12. But hey, when have Rugby League plans gone off without a hitch?
All of this considered, it does seem unsettlingly quiet this October considering the recently restructured international calendar. If I were one of the NRL Corporate types I’d see a quiet off season as an opportunity to increase content and consequently revenue. As a fan, I see the opportunity to watch more Rugby League and even better that watch International Rugby League.
And, while I’m keen for something to watch I do understand the powers at the RLF have to be careful to not saturate the post seasons with endless Four Nations tournaments that can quickly fade into each other and burn players out.
So, I agree, not the biggest problem in the game but there could be a ready-made solution.
After 18 months since the inaugural Auckland Nines, the international equivalent of the Nines format has yet to be developed. And, there has been little talk about an international form of the game being included in the international calendar, aside from a few suggestions that the NRL club format of the Auckland Nines is replaced by an international tournament.
So, while the international calendar is jammed, is this year in the cycle the right time to introduce an International Nine World Championship? The format, as I see it, would be 16 teams, considering the Big three, the islanders, France and the home countries would fill 12 of the places. Qualification would be simplified by mandating that all RLWC qualifiers are preceded with a Nines qualifier the day/night before.
Corporate NRL will love the prospect of new revenue streams (essentially a whole new product) and the opportunity to encourage bids from Perth, Melbourne, London, California, Hawaii and Abu Dhabi.
As for player burnout, the structure of team selection and the tournament itself could be tweaked to suit the players. For one the teams will inherently need less players in their squad. Alternatively the organisers could allow for bigger squads and mandate that all players can only play a maximum number of pool games. Big Three countries could agree to select players from a mix of experienced elite players to young fast emerging players. The Australian team could perhaps not consider any player who played State of Origin that year and still include players such as James Roberts, Blake Austin, Lachlan Coote and Jack Bird. Importantly players such as Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston could avoid selection, enabling these younger players an amazing experience.
And, correct me if I’m wrong, but it’d be bloody awesome! Imagine the flair of Fiji and PNG, the intensity of Australia and NZ and the fighting underdogs of Serbia and Germany.
Either way the Nines format is not going away any time soon and it is surely a matter of time before an International format is established. And here’s hoping it’ll give us something to watch.
