There isn't enough players of sufficient quality to support a 14 team league, and I doubt whether there would be enough money to support 20 teams.
Quote: Uncle Rico "
hasnt Thelonius Monk previously advocated split leagues and a spiced up play off system?
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Would that be me?
Lose two teams and the magic weekend. 12 team league where everyone plays everyone else home and away (22 games) then each team keeps their points as the league is split into top 6 and bottom six where they play 10 more games (everyone in their 'half' home and away).
As I see it there is only two negatives. Firstly you could argue that the bottom six teams have nothing to play for in the last third of the season - but isn't that pretty much the case as it is now anyway (at least this way then towards the end of the season they are more likely to be playing teams of a similar standard each week = more competitive/interesting games for supporters). Secondly you would have to lose the playoffs unless you wanted a ridiculously long season.
The positives. Every club know before the season kicks off that they will play 32 league games, 16 of them at home. Sky can start their season end buildup from round 18 or so when they start their "will they or won't they" make the top six. The last 10 weeks of the season consist of 3 top games each week contested by the best 6 teams in the competition. Champions are champions because they are the best team over the course of the whole season, not just able to get 'up' for the really big games. Best teams generally are the best because they have the better players. Better players generally make up the bulk of the international side. Playing higher intensity games for 10 weeks out of 10 can only help to battle harden the players when it comes to playing the Aussies.