LOL @ Cleary.
This felt like a compelling argument to be able to flex/change some of the timeslots for games in the closing rounds - the Miracle in Mudgee shouldn’t have been buried at 6pm Friday.
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The location of the match doesn’t help either in terms of timeslot choices, but I don’t like the idea that the games should be changed up to suit the broadcasters towards the end.
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I think the game is better served as a whole, by having games with playoff implications or teams in them building hype for the playoffs on FTA in the closing weeks. Also from a narrative perspective, the two ‘best’ games of the weekend were last night on the one night, imho it’s better to stagger them.
The problem with that is that you’d have to go back to the old system of not scheduling games for the last few weeks of the season. Fans got the shits with that, especially those who travel to games and plan around it.
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Not saying that’s not a consideration but fans seem to cope okay when they get 6 days notice before finals of where and when they’re playing.
You can’t schedule that any other way… If you COULD schedule it like that, I imagine you’d get better attendances again at finals matches, obviously some fans won’t be able to make it at short notice like that.
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I do get the sentiment, but it would be difficult to do. Let’s take the game last night. It could not have been moved to Sunday afternoon, because that would have put the Panthers on a short turnaround for Thursday next week. I don’t think Nine would have swapped it out for Storm-Dogs, which leaves either moving it to Thursday or Saturday night. Both of those moves would have had to have been made weeks ago to allow for fans to reschedule, similar to the rules in the NFL (at least 12 days for SNF, and 21 days for TNF or MNF).
Good to see the NRL support Country round too by having a single game in the country 
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But then you’d make it so they weren’t playing the next Thursday.
Even a few weeks ago you’d know the Panthers v Raiders was going to be a marquee game and putting it in the 6pm castoff slot didn’t really do it justice.
Part of me wonders whether Nine would have requested a change anyway - the Raiders don’t seem to get the rub of the green when it comes to FTA games.
They’ve rough end of the pineapple when it comes to FTA games for some time now (they’d have to be close to the lowest-ranked team outside the Warriors for FTA access over the long term). Form can’t be a factor, because there are plenty of poor performing clubs (Knights, Eels, Dragons, Tigers) who all get much better FTA coverage.
I’d like to see future rights deals try and give a more equitable level of access to allow clubs to build a supporter base - it doesn’t necessarily have to be done across a single year, perhaps across the life of the deal.
I like, no love, your idea. But you’d get fans of the Sydney clubs and the media saying there’s no games in Sydney this weekend, and whinge and whine.
There have been other games played in country areas … Panthers vs Knights in Bathurst earlier this year, Sharks have taken home games to Coffs in the past as have Tigers/Knights in Tamworth.
But it doesn’t happen as often as it should.. I think there should be 1 game per month played in a regional centre somewhere in different regions (eg. Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth, Coffs, Lismore, Port Macquarie) so all NSW regions get a taste of premiership footy once a year. QLD teams should do the same with their home matches in places like Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton etc.
I can recall in 2005-06 the Warriors did not have a single Channel Nine game, partially because in the 2004 season it finished 14th (out of 15 teams at the time).
In 2004, the Storm had at least three or so regular season games televised by Nine including a home game against the Roosters which had to be delayed until after midnight on GTV due to them also televising the AFL.
Still in 2004, the Cowboys’ round 25 game against the Tigers was their first Nine game since their inaugural season in 1995.
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Manly made it equal fourth after scoring 58 points against the Dolphins at home this afternoon, in Daly Cherry-Evens’ 350th first grade game. The visitors however scored 30 points of their own.
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Defence optional.
88 points in total in one game must be the highest in quite a while.
You would think that the Cowboys might spread things out. But cause the new stadium has been built they have to play all their games in Townsville.
Yeah don’t think Dubbo hasn’t had a match for a few years.
Also i wonder. Would Muswellbrook be considered too close to Newcastle to have a game? Plus I’m not sure whatthe facilities at Olympic Park are like these days.
Most total points in one game:
1.Canberra 32-70 Newcastle (R2 2006)
2. St George 91-6 Canterbury (R5 1935)
3. Northern Eagles 28-68 Penrith (R26 2002)
=4. Easts 87-7 Canterbury (R6 1935)
=4. Sydney Roosters 64-30 North Queensland (R13 2007)
6. Parramata 68-22 Brisbane (R25 2007)
=7. Souths 34-54 Cronulla (R25 2003)
=7. Sea Eagles 58-30 Dolphins (today)
=9. Canberra 52-34 Bulldogs (R26 2008)
=9. Canberra 74-12 Penrith (R22 2008)
=9. Brisbane 34-52 Parramata (R25 2017)
=9. Wests Tigers 26-60 Parramata (R27 2024)
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I don’t think they’ve improved much from when I lived up there.
I’d love to see Scone host a NRL game at Scone Park for shits and giggles. A proper NRL game. In fact, a whole Magic Round in Scone. People would be hanging off every tree branch and roof top to see it. 
Great win by Parra over the Roosters 30-10.
Manly’s win earlier today means its a more open three horse race for 8th spot.
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