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SYDNEY - Sydney is facing a National Rugby League finals lockout with the success of interstate teams threatening to rob NSW of most of the finals action.
With the top three positions on the NRL table secure ahead of this weekend's final round it is becoming increasingly possible Sydney could host just three, and as few as two, NRL finals games over four weeks and leave NSW with a rugby league free weekend in September.
It would be the first time in the history of the NRL that Sydney has not hosted at least one finals game on a week of the four-week playoffs.
New Zealand Warriors can secure fourth place on the NRL table with a victory over Penrith this Saturday, resulting in Manly hosting the only Sydney game at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night in week one of the finals.
If the favourites (top four ranked sides) then all succeed in week one of the finals, Sydney will only host one more NRL final prior to the September 30 grand final at Telstra Stadium.
Melbourne and Manly would earn "home" preliminary finals to be played at Telstra Dome and Telstra Stadium/Aussie Stadium respectively, while top ranked winners the Cowboys and Warriors would host semifinals at Townsville and Auckland.
If, under the same scenario, Manly were to play Brisbane in week one of the finals and lost, there would be no finals in Sydney until the grand final.
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer says the issue would cause controversy and stir debate at the end of year CEO's conference.
"Potentially you're looking at only three games in Sydney in four weeks which obviously rubs a lot of people the wrong way and a lot of rugby league supporters will be up in arms about it," said Mayer.
"I prefer to think it is going to work out the right way and there will be enough games in Sydney but I bet your bottom dollar if it goes the other way and the wrong way there will be healthy debate at the CEO's conference in December about that the issue because I don't think it's right.
"They're trying to develop the game in places like Victoria but (if) there's none (games) in Sydney it doesn't seem right."
In the nine years of the McIntyre final system there has been at least one first-week upset with either the sixth ranked side beating third (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006) or seventh toppling second (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004).
But 2007 is the first time home finals are awarded up until the grand final qualifier.
NRL chief operations officer Graham Annesley said taking finals away from Sydney was the fairest approach for all teams in the competition.
"It recognises the fact that it is an international competition," said Annesley.
"The fans of those (non-Sydney) clubs have been deprived I guess of semifinal football up until this point and if their clubs qualify they have the opportunity to go and see them play right throughout until the week before the grand final.
"Of course Sydney retains the jewel in the crown which is the grand final.
"We've got Sydney teams qualifying so there will be games in Sydney, we just don't know how many because that depends on results."
Annesley also defended the fact that the Storm and Sea Eagles could find themselves on the road if they lose in week one, possibly travelling interstate to play a side who finished much lower on the NRL table.
"The whole idea of the finals series is that it's a new competition," said Annesley.
"The 25 rounds of the Telstra Premiership are over and we've got a new competition.
"They've (top two) got maximum opportunity to progress straight through to week three.
"You've also got to provide some incentive for other teams otherwise you may as well hand the title over at the end of 25 rounds."
- AAP
