Peter V'landys is known for his innovative approach to generating content, and his latest proposal is no different, offering financial incentives to clubs that are hard to resist.
This strategy is smart; however, it seems to be a solution for a non-existent issue in the sport.
V'landys aims to increase the amount of league action during grand final week, which makes sense as it boosts content for broadcasters and keeps audiences engaged in the lead-up to the championship.
The NRL chairman suggested a match for third place, serving as a consolation for the two teams that lose in the preliminary finals.
At first glance, it seems appealing, featuring two strong teams, an additional game, and limited impact on scheduling.
However, it ultimately becomes a meaningless game focused on prize money, detracting from the significance of striving for a grand final berth.
This could lead teams to build squads aimed solely at maximizing salary cap advantages rather than competitive depth.
Phil Gould proposed a different idea, suggesting a knockout tournament for all teams outside the top eight, incentivized by cap discounts.
Gould appears to favor his own concept more than V'landys's, which might stem from personal pride; it hints at a larger issue where those proposing these changes are unclear about the problems they aim to address.