New Scheduling

'Television Rights' seems to be the topic on the tip of every League fan's tongue. As a Rugby League tragic I was thrilled to read in the Daily Telegraph today about the '27th' and '28th' rounds that could be included in the 2013 season.

This will mean that these rounds will include stand alone representative weekends as well as a 'Super Round' that will see triple header NRL Fixtures being held at Suncorp and ANZ Stadium respectively. State Of Origin will also see mass change as it could move to a Monday Night in order to lighten the load on our rep players as well as maintain the standard of NRL Matches.

It will also see "state against state" move across the Tasman and for the first time we could see an Auckland vs Counties fixture as well as at Toyota Cup level. I will say by seeing the possible line-ups for the Kiwi fixture it would be an awesome concept that would give the New Zealand players a chance to represent their place of 'Origin' and give them a good mid year hit out for their Test team.

The array of talent on display can only benefit the game and give guys on the fringe of Test selection a chance to prove themselves for inclusion in the national team.

The 'Super Round' is another really good idea that the new Independant Commissioners will look at. Sydney fans will have the chance to see three games back to back at ANZ Stadium. As a Sydney resident I would be very quick to get a ticket that will allow you to watch some of the best entertainment the country has to offer. Not just once, but three times which could be the beginning of an annual tradition.

Queensland fans wont be dissapointed as they will get the chance to see all three Queensland teams and possibly the new Brisbane Bombers all on one day at Suncorp Stadium. These fixtures will allow the game to create even more revenue for the clubs involved.

If we cast our mids back to 1999, on the opening weekend a double header at the new 'Stadium Australia' as it was known then saw 104,000 fans come through the gates. In recent years, Brisbane has been holding an annual double header for Bronco's and Titans fans which has seen crowds of up to 50,000 in attendance.

I'm not sure why the NRL haven't talked about this concept more before but with the TV rights being negotiated next year, its come into conversation at a really good time.

On another note, I heard this week that West Tigers star Simon Dwyer's career is in massive jeopardy after the horrific nerve damage suffered against the Bulldogs. If he is forced to retire it will be a sad day not only for Tigers fans but League fans in general. His future in the game looked to be huge with Tim Sheens once claiming "he's the closest backrower I have seen to Bradley Clyde at his age". As far as compliments go, they don't get any bigger. He had become my favourite player to watch this season.

I shudder to think that we have seen the last of Dwyer, but if it is he has left an indellible mark on the game in a short time. No one will forget his shoulder charge on Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves in last years epic Qualifying Final. His game against South Sydney at the SFS earlier this season was as dominant performance I have seen from a backrower this year. From all League fans I hope he can recover and continue to play for the Wests Tigers.

The Glory Bound Rounds!

State Of Origin is over for another year and again Queensland are just too good on the night. While the excitement of Origin is gone for another year we must remember that semi-final football is only 8 weeks away.

The rep period allowed teams less affected by Origin such as Newcastle, Cronulla and Penrith to close the gap and move into the top 8 with Cronulla just outside after their season looked dead and buried.

Teams like the Tigers, Bulldogs and Warriors werent able to capitalise despite each team only having one player committed to Origin duites. The Bulldogs in particular have been poor while the Tigers lost 3 in a row and young backrower Simon Dwyer for the season. The Warriors lost 4 on the trot but got back on track with a solid win over the Gold Coast Titans.

The top 5 looks to be all but a certainty just the places have to be finalised. Melbourne, St George Illawarra and Brisbane all looking in good shape after being heavily affected by Origin. North Queensland will have to make the finals without Johnathon Thurston and look the worst for wear coming into the back end of the year.

The Bottom half of the 8 will be an interesting battle week to week. For and against will become a big factor and positions 6, 7 and 8 will be changing every week and at times every couple of hours.

I'm going to make a bold prediction and say the West Tigers will not make the 8 despite being tagged as a competition heavyweight before the season started.

I also thought that if Cronulla could win 8 games this year that it would be somewhat of a successful season. I'll go one better and say they will finish in 8th position. They will need to win at least 13 games for the year equating to 6 wins from their last 8 games.

There is still a lot of football to be played until we get to the magical month of September and almost anything can happen. If it gets as exciting as last year did, we are in for one hell of a rollercoaster ride.

Knights to win the comp in 2011?