News

ARL commission scraps finals system

Thu February 23, 2012 7:11am

THE Australian Rugby League Commission has made its first major decision by electing to scrap the controversial McIntyre finals system in favour of the model which has been used by the AFL in recent seasons.

The decision was made at the inaugural meeting of the eight commissioners at ARLC headquarters on Tuesday which started at 10am in the morning and didn't finish until 10pm.

Although the McIntyre system has been in place since 1999, it is understood the ARLC needed only a matter of minutes to scrap it after being presented with a recommendation to change the format which had been endorsed by most of the 16 clubs.

Club bosses were informed of the move -- which will be in place for this year's finals series -- at a chief executives meeting yesterday before the launch of the 2012 season last night.

"It was pleasing that we were able to inform the clubs that after extensive consultation we recommended a change to the finals system," NRL chief executive David Gallop said yesterday.

"The commission signed off on it and the clubs were pleased to hear that today.

"In terms of the clubs' position, it was a very clear majority in favour of change."

The Australian revealed in December the league had set up a think tank -- which included NSW coach Ricky Stuart and Queensland's Mal Meninga -- to examine some of the game's burning issues, including the use of the McIntyre system.

The format had come under fire in recent seasons, with some clubs of the opinion there were no rewards for finishing high up the ladder with teams which finished third or fourth in danger of being eliminated immediately if there were upsets in the opening week of the finals.

Viewing page: [ 1 2 ]