Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns believes it’s finally time for the NRL to introduce an AFL-style bye round before the finals series begins.
There have been calls for a week off before the finals to be introduced for several seasons, particularly given the increase in top clubs resting their front-line stars to field essentially a second string side in the final week of the competition.
The fallout means final-round upsets could throw the battle for the lower end of the competition out of kilter.
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Both the Broncos and Storm named a second-string 17 for Thursday night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium, and the Knights have also rested several of their in-form stars for their clash against the Dragons.
The Panthers, meanwhile, who will play the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon have named more or less a full-strength side, having rested several players for their loss to the Eels last weekend.
With the opportunity to clinch a minor premiership brought about after the Broncos were beaten by the Storm on Thursday night, it’s now likely Penrith’s stars will play.
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Johns said for this reason – and the potential for concussion protocols to rule players out for finals clashes – a bye round makes sense.
The AFL introduced a bye round – which takes place this weekend – before their finals series for the 2016 season.
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He said another incentive for sides to play full-strength squads in the final round of competition could be an increase in prize money for the minor premiership.
The prize pool for the minor premiership was doubled to $200,000 for 2023, but Johns said it should be much higher than that, with a chunk to go straight to players.
“I think if they bumped it up (to) $1 million for the club and $1 million for the players to split amongst themselves, the tight arses out there would go ‘right, I’m gonna get fifty grand, I’ve got a corked thigh, I’m playing, I don’t care’,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.
Johns said he could also get around the idea of a wildcard round to settle the bottom two spots in the top eight.
It could see the top six sides given a rest, and the bottom seven eliminated, leaving seventh place to play tenth, and eighth to play ninth for the final two spots in the finals.