Longer playing time : Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:34 pm  

A lot of Oz papers talking about plans to move to longer games - 25 minute quarters - to attract more commercial TV sponsors in the extra breaks. Playing squads to be raised to 21 from 17 to cope with the longer playing time.

If they really did make this move it would be hard for SL not to follow - so what do we think about the proposal?

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:10 am  

Brings us closer to American Football in that respect. I understand the idea but can't say I agree with it.

There were times last year when we struggled to put out a 17, never mind a 21. The only way it would be feasible is if the additional sponsorship and advertising revenue was paid direct to clubs to allow for an increase in the salary cap. We'd also need to look at the restrictions of the overseas/non-fed quotas and how best to lift them to directly increase the available player pool to accommodate the increased squad sizes needed as well as the massive investment needed to boost the home grown player pool as it's not only SL but the rest of the leagues that need to be adjusted given the current ideas regarding P&R

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:34 am  

It would be the death knell for professional RL in this country.It may be possible to increase advertising revenue in Aus but it is doubtful that the same could be achieved here. And what would happen to non SL teams such as ourselves who will have no telly coverage or revenue. It's a non starter

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:07 am  

If they really must have extra ad breaks, then why not simply have 4 x 20 minute quarters?

Same playing time, extra rest periods = no need for any extra playing resources. In fact, you could argue that the extra rest periods would actually lessen the impact of player's bodies and result in fewer injuries.

Having said that, I don't want to have 'stop-start' games of four quarters

[Bullseye]

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:54 am  

Barmy idea. Why prostitute the game for a few extra quid. What price integrity?

[Pumpetypump]

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:52 am  

Only in the tinpot cretinous sport that we follow are the ruling bodies in each country permitted to mess around with the rules. It’s got to stop. All rule changes must be internationally agreed and implemented world wide.

It’s like a creeping schism where increasingly the rules the NRL invent are nothing like ours and the gulf between domestic and hybrid ‘international rules’ widens. One game, one set of rules!

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 11:53 am  

yes, lets have our own version. I reckon three quarters each of 25 minutes except in the super 8s where it is 5 quarters of 15 minutes each. That would help the employment situation too, with the number of pundits required to hot air through those ad breaks, Each club could be required to set up a pundit academy. hey, FA could give up his daytime job, with all the opportunities he would have to provide some real analysis and entertainment he wouldn't need to post on here .

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:15 pm  

How about the top 2 play their first home games in the play off and have to play 10 minutes fewer than their opposition. Any opposition team that can't make up the points difference with no opposition is automatically relegated.

[Bulliac]

Re: Longer playing time : Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:00 pm  

I agree we should go our own way - but I'll hang on for Macbull to give us the definitive rules...