[blueandblack]

The NRL's McIntyre system has been scrapped in favour of the AFL finals system for the 2012 season.

In the first act of the new Australian Rugby League Commission which met for the first time on Tuesday, the finals format will change from the system which has been part of the premiership since 1999.

The competition will now split the top four and the bottom four finalists into separate pools in week one.

Under the McIntyre system the eight finalists were seeded so that the top four played the bottom four.

With the new format each of the top four teams needs to win two finals matches to reach the grand final, while the bottom four ranked teams must win three.

The minor premiers and second-placed team are each guaranteed two home games.

Clubs complained there was insufficient reward for finishing in the top four.

Last season the Warriors finished sixth and were beaten 40-10 in the opening week of the finals by third-placed Brisbane, and then eliminated fourth-placed Wests Tigers, who had won their qualifying final, the following week.

The Warriors then went through to the grand final.

The recommendation to the Commission follows an extensive review process conducted by ARLC general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk.

"Over the past few months we have been conducting a review with clubs and with the recently formed cOmpetition committee," McGuirk said.

"An overwhelming majority of clubs have shifted their support away from the McIntyre system and to one where the top four teams play each other in week one.

"It offers greater protection for the top four teams and the possibility of even closer matches."

	AFL Short for Australian Football League, an obscure suburban sport played in southern areas of Australia. Previously called the Victorian Football League, or Victorian Rules Football. Before each game, teams must run through banners constructed entirely of toilet paper and clag glue and containing messages such as 'Go the Roo Boys' or other such crap. Playing uniform is similarly macabre. Each player must wear a singlet, shoes, socks and shorts so tight, if they were any tighter they'd need bowel surgery to remove them. AFL is the only sport in the world which rewards people for failure, with one point given for missing a shot at goal, or hitting one of the large goal posts, or if an opposing player runs the ball between the goals.

[beige]

I don't like either format but at least it's an improvement... and it's still easier to explain to people than the Super Rugby system...

[jargan83]

Originally Posted by beige

I don't like either format but at least it's an improvement... and it's still easier to explain to people than the Super Rugby system...

"And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned."

[Ecky]

We finished 8th, so there are 7 teams better than us.

HOORAY! We still made the finals.

[Sheikh]

How hard is the tennis system. Seed teams 1-8:
QF1: 1 plays 8; QF2: 2 vs 7; QF3: 3 vs 6; QF4: 4 vs 5.

SF1: QF1 winner vs QF4 winner
SF2: QF2 winner vs QF3 winner

Final: Last men standing

[shasta]

Originally Posted by Sheikh

How hard is the tennis system.

Very hard if your the stand-out team of the season and have an "off" day in the quarters. Final 8 systems are a joke because of the potential rewards for mediocrity. Everyone knows it's all about the money.

It works for OK for tennis; an individual sport where you get 4 shots at a major every year peppered with lot's of nice little earners in between.

[palitu]

Originally Posted by jargan83

"And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned."

and that lines up perfectly with your avatar

[beige]

The QF-SF-Final format only really makes sense for pool-based tournaments like World Cups and European Cups, not leagues like the NRL or AFL (not saying I like their finals formats either - like Shasta said 8 teams are too many). You need to reward the teams at the top of the ladder.

	AFL Short for Australian Football League, an obscure suburban sport played in southern areas of Australia. Previously called the Victorian Football League, or Victorian Rules Football. Before each game, teams must run through banners constructed entirely of toilet paper and clag glue and containing messages such as 'Go the Roo Boys' or other such crap. Playing uniform is similarly macabre. Each player must wear a singlet, shoes, socks and shorts so tight, if they were any tighter they'd need bowel surgery to remove them. AFL is the only sport in the world which rewards people for failure, with one point given for missing a shot at goal, or hitting one of the large goal posts, or if an opposing player runs the ball between the goals.

[jargan83]

The fact that the teams that finished 3rd and 4th could potentially be knocked out in week 1 of the finals under the McIntyre system was a bit ridiculous.

I'd prefer a system that doesnt involve half the sides in the comp makiing the finals but TV money drives sport these days

[jono]

Gone are the days of a 4 team final series...
Posted via Mobile Device

[blueandblack]

Originally Posted by jargan83

The fact that the teams that finished 3rd and 4th could potentially be knocked out in week 1 of the finals under the McIntyre system was a bit ridiculous.

I'd prefer a system that doesnt involve half the sides in the comp makiing the finals but TV money drives sport these days

I'd like a no finals competition (perhaps with the possibility of a an extra game at the end if there are tied teams).

[Burgs]

You have, it's called The Rugby Championship

[Sheikh]

Originally Posted by beige

You need to reward the teams at the top of the ladder.

You do - home field advantage and the gate money for the matches

Originally Posted by shasta

Very hard if your the stand-out team of the season and have an "off" day in the quarters.

And if they do have an "off-day" in the finals: "Bad luck lads, see you again next year!" The finals should be sudden-death knock-out, no second chances.