Why the NRL finals should start next weekend
A shortened regular season to ease player workloads and potentially create a representative window for Origin and the international game is a key element of the code's billion-dollar broadcast deals.
The 2025 run home might be as compelling a reason as any to trim the season by five weeks.
By this masthead's infallible calculations and working from the typical top-eight cut-off of 32 competition points, we've already got our top eight sorted. Only minimal shuffling of the decks may be expected - start the finals next weekend and get an early start on Mad Monday for those not involved.
Don't believe us? Have a look at your team's run home.
Current position: First - 34 points, 15 wins, three losses, two byes, +132 points differential
Games against top 8: two.
Games against top 4: none.
Wins to make top eight: none.
Predicted finish: first.
The hard work is done for the Raiders, they could lose most of their final eight games and still play finals in 2025, but with the minor premiership theirs for the taking and a cruisy run home, that won't be happening. Ricky Stuart's biggest task now is keeping his young side healthy and focused as the surrounding hype continues to grow.
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News.com.au
24 minutes ago
- News.com.au
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The Australian
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- The Australian
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The Australian
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