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<\/p>\nCould the NRL introduce a wildcard weekend?<\/p>\n
Debate has once again erupted regarding whether rugby league powerbrokers should re-work the current eight team series to include another week of finals football.<\/p>\n
In 2019, the NRL briefed clubs on a proposal that would see a wildcard round introduced as early as 2020 before they backflipped on the move following public outrage.<\/p>\n
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Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now the concept has come in focus once again, with The Daily Telegraph\u2019s David Riccio explaining how it could work next season on NRL360 on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cTeams seventh through 10th play in a sudden death final. Seventh plays ten, eight plays nine and you\u2019re knocked out,\u201d Riccio said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re dragging nine and ten teams into the finals.\u201d<\/p>\n In November last year, the AFL announced wildcard finals would be introduced into their competition in 2026, taking the place of the traditional pre-finals bye.<\/p>\n Over the weekend, 10th placed Carlton downed Melbourne who finished the regular season in seventh, while eighth seed Western Bulldogs bested Collingwood.<\/p>\n The team that finished fifth (Geelong) now plays Carlton, the lowest-ranked winner, while sixth (Adelaide) plays the highest-ranked winner out of wildcard weekend. <\/p>\n However, NRL360 host Braith Anasta raised the pressing question.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are we rewarding mediocrity would be my question? Some teams would lose just as much as they win and still be playing finals,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n Looking at the current NRL ladder, the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs, the teams in ninth and 10th, would play post-season football with a losing record of 11 wins and 12 losses.<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Can DCE stand up for the Chooks? | 08:30<\/p>\n \u201cEven top eight, some people think that\u2019s too many. But at least usually you have a 50\/50 record,\u201d Crawley said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other things is, what\u2019s the use of playing 27 rounds of a regular season and then at the end of the year say \u2018oh, now we will have a top 10 and give a couple of teams a chance to jump the ladder\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were never winning from that point anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Anasta also said an eight team finals series was \u201cpart of the game\u201d and the norm for \u201cso long\u201d \u2014 but he did concede one factor could change his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are heading towards an expanded competition,\u201d Riccio said.<\/p>\n To which Anasta replied: \u201cWhen all teams are in, I am probably willing to sit here and have a look at it\u201d.<\/p>\n The NRL has already unveiled the Perth Bears and the PNG Chiefs, meaning 19 teams will be apart of the competition when the 2028 season begins.<\/p>\n Rugby league bosses have made no secret of their desire to announce a 20th team, which would join the NRL in 2029 to round out a 20-team competition.<\/p>\n The AFL introduced wildcard weekend pre-emptively before their own expansion to a 20-team competition.<\/p>\n \u201cI know Collingwood played one of the sides that are huge and the fans really flocked. If our fans are really going to come,\u201d league legend Gorden Tallis said.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n SOUTHS LOCKED IN: Rabbitohs\u2019 finals berth after touching Arrow tribute<\/a><\/p>\n BENNETT DELIVERS: Wayne\u2019s touching moment in \u2018emotional\u2019 Arrow scenes<\/a><\/p>\n