LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The NRL is considering a significant change that could revolutionize the league's annual schedule.
As reported by the Daily Telegraph, the Australian Rugby League Association is looking into reducing the NRL's regular season from 27 rounds to 19.
This proposal is part of a broader plan for long-term expansion, aligning with the NRL's ambitions to establish a 20-team competition by the time of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Should this change be enacted, it would represent the most considerable scheduling alteration in 40 years, with the last significant adjustment occurring in 1988 when the Winfield Cup grew from 13 to 16 teams.
The new format being contemplated would see each team play every other club once per season, with home and away games alternating each year.
This change is intended to create a more equitable draw, addressing the criticism surrounding the imbalances seen in the current 27-round system.
Presently, 17 clubs engage in 24 matches across 27 rounds, and critics have raised concerns that the schedule is overly demanding. Players frequently face the strain of participating in games shortly after representative commitments or enduring travel-heavy schedules.