2018 NRL Draw Released – Our Nein Points of Interest and Moans

The 2018 NRL Draw has been released, and this was the year when the NRL boldly declared they would be taking back control of the fixture list, presumably from the darkness that is Channel Nein, and early thoughts are it looks as if they have tried a bit.

First of all Brisbane fans get the rarest of treat with more than zero Sunday games in Queensland, there’s one standalone State of Origin game as promised (which hopefully turns into three in 2019), the ridiculous amount of bye rounds has been reduced to 2 x 4 game rounds,

That reduction of bye affected rounds is the biggest hallelujah in recent NRL fixture making history. Perhaps they realised completely f***ing their competition for nearly three months to keep Origin on a pedestal is a stupid idea. Much like the ISC two-week Marvel Heroes round.

But the usual bugbears of the draw like an overdose of FTA Broncos, the Sydney dominated Sunday afternoon games, and the fact that Channel Nein still have the FTA broadcast rights remain and there’s nothing we or the NRL can do about it.

There’s also some valid gripes about the level playing field of turnaround and top/bottom 8 opponents, which we will address later with an idea.

For now, enjoy our 2018 NRL Draw analysis, and moaning, with our Nein Points of Interest.

WANT TO WATCH LEAGUE? FOX SPORTS IS A MUST. FTA STATS.

The NRL really haven’t left League fans with much of a choice, as any real rugby league fan really needs the Pay TV channel to follow the game properly. To be left at the devices of Channel Nein means you get what they say you want, and the added bonus of their tremendous commentary team and coverage.

Few surprises in the general FTA stats, but still mildly interesting all the same. Perhaps the NRL will even it out across time, or maybe they want people to go to Fox League.

Last year’s grand finalists are down the list a little. No surprise.

SYD-UNDAY AFTERNEIN RUGBY LEAGUE

We have always maintained this is all you need for the Sunday afternoon NRL game, and the 2018 NRL Draw doesn’t change that opinion.

At least the Brisbane fans get their taste in 2018, and the Sydney dominance has been softened a little with just 14 of the 25 Sunday afternoon games on FTA being all Sydney affairs (56%). We guess that is fair as 9 of the 16 teams come from Sydney. Thankfully 22/25 games feature at least one Sydney team. Damn the Melbourne Storm and Broncos  stuffing up the 100% record.

Tigers (6) are the team most watched for Sunday FTA, closely followed by the Roosters, Manly and Dragons with 5.

We just can’t wait for the Gus and Rabs show, and the Channel Nein sidekicks who make the coverage all the better. Pity it clashes with Fox League’s coverage.

SYD-UNDAY AFTERNEIN FOOTBALL BREAK UP

FEWER BYES = FEWER SHIT ROUNDS AND MOANS

One real positive is the removal of all but two rounds affected by byes. Whilst the two that remain are the why both rounds of four games, at least there are only two, and every other round is a full book of eight.

Truly about time for the NRL to realise that State of Origin shouldn’t kill your bread and butter weekly NRL.

Now for three stand alone Origin so no Bye rounds are required at all.

NRL PATS THEMSELVES ON BACK FOR REGIONAL GAMES

The NRL seems quick to give themselves a pat on the back for more Regional games, but there are some truths to be told.

Firstly, the clubs go to most of the trouble of going to these locations and some have been doing it for a while like Penrith in Bathurst and Souths in Cairns.

Secondly, the only reason the Titans are playing at Toowoomba and Gladstone is that they lose their home ground thanks to the Commonwealth Games. As great as it is that these towns get a taste of rugby league, does anyone really think they’ll be back in 2019?

It’s great the Tigers and Dragons will be visiting Tamworth and Mudgee too in 2019, but what about doing it properly with a Queensland Cup style Country week where all the teams play in the country for one whole round. 

We suggested it a while ago, and still believe it would work. Given the rapid decline in crowds, they won’t lose many by heading to the bush, if any. Not many.

CAN’T WAIT FOR THE “THEME” ROUNDS

We are really hoping the Marvel Super Hero Round is back in 2018. What a tremendous idea. If the NRL weren’t so broke they could get someone to come up with a theme round that essentially wasn’t trying to flog off another jersey.

A FAIRER WAY TO DO A DRAW

A lot has been said of the fairness/unfairness of which teams play top/bottom sides, so we developed a quick, cheap way of doing it. That could be fairer for all.

• Divide the 16 Teams into 4 Groups of 4 Teams based on traditional or geographic rivalries where permitted.
• Play every team at least once. (15 Games)
• Play every team within your group both home and away. (Another 3 Games)
• Sort the 4 team groups in the order of the previous season.
• Then split each of the groups into two. Each team plays all of the others team in the same half of their respective tables. (Another 6 games)
• This then comes to the current 24 fixtures, and gets as close as possible that top teams and bottom teams from the previous year are more likely to play similar strength sides, but they will still play their best rivals ensuring the best games.

E.g. Broncos will play the other Qld sides and great rivals Storm twice, and then the other six sides in the top half of the above table, and then the remaining six in the bottom half just once. Alternating home and away each year.

And before we go, how hard is it to make the 5 day turnaround more even. Get to end of draw, compare each team’s totals and even out accordingly. Simples.

TIME FOR A SUNDAY SELLOUT IN BRISBANE

We are not Broncos fans, but do love our Sunday afternoon football. Although we prefer Intrust Super Cup and the mighty, premiership winning PNG Hunters, it is still great to see rugby league return to Brisbane in 2018 on a Sunday.

The Broncos get three games, the rarest of home FTA games at 4:10pm, one  at 2pm, and the other one at 5:30pm thanks to daylight savings. To claim that the 5:30pm is a Sunday afternoon game is a long bow, but the other two are encouraging.

Sunday afternoon NRL may even tempt us to return to an NRL game for the first time in 3 seasons, but Brisbane fans should get their in sellout numbers if they want to prove to the NRL that Sunday rugby league needs to stay in Brisbane.

2018 NRL DRAW PROVES DECIDING LAST 6 ROUNDS IN JUNE WAS BULLSHIT

The NRL have given up on claiming they wait until June to do the final 6 rounds after their pants were pulled down by truckloads of the clearly bottom 8 bound Bulldogs, Rabbitohs and Tigers ruined their theory in 2017.

Another step forward in the NRL hopefully deciding not to treat NRL fans like idiots.

SIX OF THE BEST FROM THE FIRST SIX ROUNDS

It’s not all doom and gloom as we point out six of the best to start the season.

ROUND 1 – PERTH DOUBLE HEADER

What a great and surprisngly out there idea to not only have a double header, but in Perth.

ROUND 2 – BRONCOS v COWBOYS

The NRL’s flagship regular season match.

ROUND 3 – TITANS v DRAGONS @ Toowoomba

The home of Scott Minto gets an NRL game. Will Toowoomba’s local outnumber the regular Titans crowd figures.

ROUND 5 – AUCKLAND DOUBLE HEADER

Another great double with Tigers v Storm and Warriors v Cowboys

ROUND 6 – ROOSTERS v RABBITOHS

First of two decent Sydney based rivalries.

ROUND 6 – SHARKS v DRAGONS

Second of the two great Sydney based rivalries.

Channel Nein were really spoiled for choice at 4:10pm on A Sunday this week.

FULL 2018 NRL DRAW

Why not copy the below and put it into a spreadsheet to ensure you look busy at your desk at work whilst really perusing which NRL game you’re going to.