LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Andrew Johns has dismissed fan criticisms regarding the NRL's State of Origin scheduling, asserting that the current system is effective.
His comments come amidst Phil Gould's call for improvements in team announcements prior to the event.
Notably, the Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers are facing significant player losses during this period, as each will miss five players due to Origin commitments, yet they must compete in round 12 with significantly weakened line-ups.
The Wests Tigers benefit from a bye during this time and currently have no players absent due to Origin.
In contrast, the Sharks will face the Roosters with a full-strength team because they have no players selected for the showcase event.
The Warriors have one representative, while the Tigers have none; both teams are scheduled for two byes during the Origin period.
The Roosters, however, have no bye before an Origin match and will play with a reduced team on three occasions in 2025, igniting further discussion about whether State of Origin should be a standalone series.
This change could allow NRL clubs to collectively take a break, preventing any dilution of competition quality.
Despite these suggestions, Johns believes such alterations are impractical.
On Channel 9's "Freddy and the Eighth," he stated, "There are people calling for a month off (the NRL season) - that won't work.
They are calling for international Tests...
the best system is what they have now." He also pointed out the difficulty in determining which teams should receive more byes, noting the unpredictability of player selections for NSW or Queensland.
Johns argued it's unreasonable to overhaul the schedule based on fluctuating player participation, highlighting that lower-ranked clubs often go on winning runs due to their limited representation in the Origin teams.
Ultimately, he advocates for maintaining the existing format while addressing the inherent complexities of player availability.