NRL Draw Bias
In another thread I pointed out how the Storm (and the Titans) were getting the shaft from the NRL on Monday Night games. Monday night games are notorious for low crowd figures and short turnaround issues. Whether coincidentally or not, teams backing up from Monday night games do not perform well. Niggling injuries, travel, etc all play a role.
I have done some further analysis of the NRL draw to see which teams are looked after in terms of Free-to-Air (FTA) appearances. Once again, unfortunately, the Storm get the big old shaft here once again.
Monday Night Games
Storm – 6 (4 away)
Titans – 6 (4 away)
Cowboys – 5 (3 away)
Sharks – 5 (3 away)
Knights – 4 (3 away)
Rabbitohs – 4 (2 away)
Dragons – 4 (2 away)
Panthers – 4 (0 away)
Broncos – 2 (2 away)
Tigers – 2 (1 away)
Sea Eagles (2 (1 away)
Raiders – 2 (0 away)
Eels – 2 (0 away)
Roosters – 1 (0 away)
Bulldogs – 1 (0 away)
Warriors – 0
Call me crazy but it would be MUCH fairer to have Sydney teams playing other Sydney teams in the heavy lifting of Monday Night away games. But no… Melbourne and two single city QLD teams do the bulk of travelling.
As far as FTA appearances go, and bearing in mind the value this represents to clubs in terms of sponsorship $$$, the below details the number of FTA games each team has in 2014;
FTA Games
Broncos – 18
Bulldogs – 16
Sea Eagles – 16
Rabbitohs – 13
Tigers – 12
Roosters – 11
Dragons – 9
Eels – 9
Titans – 8
Knights – 6
Panthers – 6
Cowboys – 6
Sharks – 5
Storm – 5
Raiders – 3
Warriors – 1
The Bulldogs have done wonderfully in both avoiding Monday Night games and obtaining FTA games. Gee, I wonder how they were able to get such a free ride /sarcasm.
Whilst the broadcasters select their preferred games to air when, the fixed draw and overall scheduling is an NRL responsibility. Nine (and to less of an extent Foxtel) play a role in ensuring the draw favours certain teams. Not just in terms of sponsorship dollars either (although this is a massive benefit).
Look at the Broncos for example… Every week, for the first 10 weeks of the season, they had a Friday night game. Then, in the lead up to the finals, 6 of their last 7 games are also on a Friday night (the seventh game on a Sat)… One of the biggest challenges clubs have (particularly our club) is managing player workload and coming up with the best ways to deal with turnaround times that are rarely the same week to week. The Broncos, for the best part of the season, can rely on a seven day turnaround consistently.
I have done some further analysis of the NRL draw to see which teams are looked after in terms of Free-to-Air (FTA) appearances. Once again, unfortunately, the Storm get the big old shaft here once again.
Monday Night Games
Storm – 6 (4 away)
Titans – 6 (4 away)
Cowboys – 5 (3 away)
Sharks – 5 (3 away)
Knights – 4 (3 away)
Rabbitohs – 4 (2 away)
Dragons – 4 (2 away)
Panthers – 4 (0 away)
Broncos – 2 (2 away)
Tigers – 2 (1 away)
Sea Eagles (2 (1 away)
Raiders – 2 (0 away)
Eels – 2 (0 away)
Roosters – 1 (0 away)
Bulldogs – 1 (0 away)
Warriors – 0
Call me crazy but it would be MUCH fairer to have Sydney teams playing other Sydney teams in the heavy lifting of Monday Night away games. But no… Melbourne and two single city QLD teams do the bulk of travelling.
As far as FTA appearances go, and bearing in mind the value this represents to clubs in terms of sponsorship $$$, the below details the number of FTA games each team has in 2014;
FTA Games
Broncos – 18
Bulldogs – 16
Sea Eagles – 16
Rabbitohs – 13
Tigers – 12
Roosters – 11
Dragons – 9
Eels – 9
Titans – 8
Knights – 6
Panthers – 6
Cowboys – 6
Sharks – 5
Storm – 5
Raiders – 3
Warriors – 1
The Bulldogs have done wonderfully in both avoiding Monday Night games and obtaining FTA games. Gee, I wonder how they were able to get such a free ride /sarcasm.
Whilst the broadcasters select their preferred games to air when, the fixed draw and overall scheduling is an NRL responsibility. Nine (and to less of an extent Foxtel) play a role in ensuring the draw favours certain teams. Not just in terms of sponsorship dollars either (although this is a massive benefit).
Look at the Broncos for example… Every week, for the first 10 weeks of the season, they had a Friday night game. Then, in the lead up to the finals, 6 of their last 7 games are also on a Friday night (the seventh game on a Sat)… One of the biggest challenges clubs have (particularly our club) is managing player workload and coming up with the best ways to deal with turnaround times that are rarely the same week to week. The Broncos, for the best part of the season, can rely on a seven day turnaround consistently.
Unfortunately this is what happens when you sell your soul/game to a tv network for a big payday while in turn giving them virtually 100% control of the fixtures.
People can say what they want about the AFL but at least they don't pander to the tv networks and let them run roughshod over them. They still have the bulk of control over the game and they earned an even bigger payday than the NRL.
People can say what they want about the AFL but at least they don't pander to the tv networks and let them run roughshod over them. They still have the bulk of control over the game and they earned an even bigger payday than the NRL.
Taken from an article on news.com.au - http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/melbou ... 7034331597
Melbourne is on the road on Monday before meeting the Roosters in Sydney next Saturday.
The side’s second five-day turnaround between away games in less than a month will be a massive task.
The Storm players will return home on Tuesday, only to fly back to Sydney three days later.
“We will give our guys the best preparation we can,” Bellamy said.
“Obviously the five-game turnarounds on away games are not ideal and we’ve had two of those in five weeks. That’s not real good scheduling and hopefully that doesn’t happen again.”
Melbourne is on the road on Monday before meeting the Roosters in Sydney next Saturday.
The side’s second five-day turnaround between away games in less than a month will be a massive task.
The Storm players will return home on Tuesday, only to fly back to Sydney three days later.
“We will give our guys the best preparation we can,” Bellamy said.
“Obviously the five-game turnarounds on away games are not ideal and we’ve had two of those in five weeks. That’s not real good scheduling and hopefully that doesn’t happen again.”