NRL open to another Sunday shift in finals schedule
Scott Bailey |
The NRL has left the door ajar for a Sunday preliminary final, as it manages with the biggest change to the September schedule in almost two years.
NRL officials have confirmed a return to a Sunday game in the second week of the finals for the first time since 2007, instead of the traditional Friday night match.
The shift is two-pronged, with head office having mulled the move for a number of years to draw in better crowds.
Minor-premier Canberra’s push to play on the Sunday in week one of the finals also factored into the decision, given turnaround times into week two.
But it does create questions ahead of week three.
Whoever plays in the Sunday semi-final cannot feature in Friday night preliminary final, with the NRL maintaining a minimum six-day turnaround between games.
A Sunday preliminary final would theoretically create more flexibility for the League, but would likely require agreement from broadcasters.
“We haven’t confirmed it just yet,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said of the finals schedule.
“We will be looking at it closely. Week three brings other complications into it. So we’ll get through week one and assess and make a call.
“As long as we have a six-day turnaround, that’s the benchmark we have set for ourselves.
“So it’s not impossible to move from a Saturday-Sunday into a Friday-Saturday. But we’re also looking at the way in which it falls with stadium availability.”
The other factor for the NRL to consider is the AFL grand final at the MCG, which falls on the Saturday afternoon of week three.
If Melbourne were to beat Canterbury on Friday night, it would leave them hosting a preliminary final next door in the same Melbourne precinct that weekend.
The loser of this Sunday’s Canberra-Brisbane clash would fall to Melbourne’s side of the draw, but if they played the following Sunday in week two they could not feature on Friday night of week three.
It means the NRL would need to flip the schedule around next week, clash with the AFL grand final on Saturday September 27, or move to a Saturday-Sunday fixture in week three.
Abdo said the NRL was yet to determine the schedule, but would try to avoid the AFL grand final if possible.
“We are more focused on the impact of our sport. If we can avoid it we will. If we can’t, player welfare will trump that,” Abdo said.
“We know that a Friday night in Melbourne is as good as a Saturday night, and a preliminary final will sell out.
“The public transport is pretty good in Melbourne. But clearly if we can avoid major clashes with any sport, we are going do that.”
AAP
