The NRL remains tight-lipped about the potential for a post-season 'wildcard' system.
Interest has surged among NRL fans regarding the possibility of a similar tournament to the successful play-in format utilized in the NBA and NBL, where only four teams vie for the last two playoff spots.
The AFL has also adopted this concept for the first time this year, allowing the top six teams to advance directly to the finals.
Teams ranked seven through ten then compete for the final playoff opportunities.
However, according to The Daily Telegraph, it seems unlikely the NRL will adopt a comparable framework.
Officials within the league are currently navigating the complexities associated with next year's draw, especially with an additional team joining the competition.
Consequently, introducing more post-season matches appears to be off the table for now.
The challenges involved in reconfiguring an 18-team league seem to be consuming significant resources, making it hard to consider a wildcard round.
The AFL's recent format has been highlighted as a major broadcast opportunity, adding excitement to the schedule ahead of the finals.
It seems the NRL is prioritizing enhancements to its scheduling instead of creating an extension to its finals structure.