Roosters Origin stars James Maloney, Michael Jennings, Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
A DETAILED analysis of the NRL draw has uncovered alarming discrepancies which have turned the race for the finals into a raffle.
There is no guarantee the best sides will be there in September because some clubs will get a rails run from the lopsided draw.
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The Roosters will be without Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney, Boyd Cordner and Michael Jennings for all three games before Origin because the NRL didn't give them a bye.
Roosters Origin stars Mitchell Pearce (L) and James Maloney (C). Source: News Limited
It's the same with South Sydney, who will be left without Greg Inglis, Ben Te'o and Chris McQueen for three vital games.
At the same time, the Warriors inexplicably get two byes during Origin, yet won't provide a player to NSW or Queensland.
So too wooden-spooners Parramatta, who will probably only provide one player, and the Canberra Raiders, who will be flat out having anyone selected.
The Warriors also get the benefit of an incredible draw anomaly by having to play the competition's top three clubs — the Roosters, Sea Eagles and Storm — only once in 26 rounds. It's almost like the New Zealand team is getting a six competition-point advantage over its rivals.
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Also, Penrith and the Raiders have to play last year's grand finalists the Sea Eagles and Roosters only once.
The Wests Tigers get to play the Broncos and Souths without their Origin stars, while others have to play them at full strength.
Canterbury play the Sea Eagles and Roosters without their Origin players, again while other clubs have to play them at full strength.
It makes you wonder why we bother to have a salary cap to keep clubs on a level playing field when the draw does exactly the opposite.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson says it's not fair on his club during Origin.
"To have the incumbent State of Origin halves and miss them for all three games, I think it could have been better planned," he said.
"They could have given us at least one game where he had use of them. Missing them for all three is too much. Origin is our biggest product but we also want to protect the clubs that offer the players."
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The draw during Origin has also robbed fans of at least two blockbuster games.
The Bulldogs play glamour clubs the Roosters and Sea Eagles before Origin matches, ruining the showpiece events.
No Pearce, no Maloney, no Jennings, no Cordner, no Cherry-Evans, no Watmough, no Stewart — and maybe no fans.
Sadly, Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle is not concerned about losing the gate takings.
Showing the typical self-interest club mentality, she says the Bulldogs have a better chance of getting competition points against weakened outfits.
"It affects our bottom line for those two games but you have to balance the commercial return and the football return," Castle said.
"Because of the number of Kiwi boys we have, we're unlikely to have half our team missing like some others. When you play the tough teams when they've got a lot of stars in Origin, you get a better crack at winning the game."
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The Bulldogs can afford to be blasé about gate takings because they get an open cheque from their thriving Leagues Club at the end of each season.
But it's hardly a good look for the game or fair on the fans who buy season tickets hoping to watch the best against the best.
Outside of Origin, the Knights aren't happy either.
Their biggest home crowds are traditionally against the Rabbitohs and the Sea Eagles.
Yet for the second year in a row, the Knights don't get to host either club. Their one game against Souths is in Cairns.
Channel 9's television coverage is the other big issue.
All but six of the Broncos' games are in prime time on Friday nights, allowing them to sell jersey and ground sponsorship at a much higher rate than the other clubs. Plus they get the seven-day turnaround.
Incredibly, the Tigers get 11 Channel 9 games, while the Dragons get only one. The Warriors don't get any.
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The NRL's head of football Todd Greenberg concedes: "It's very difficult to have a perfect draw.
"There are limitations with the broadcast deal and stadium availability. Still, this year's draw is an improvement on what we did in 2013.
"But there's certainly more room for improvement.
"We'll continue to try to tweak it as best we can. We are working very hard on it."
The situation would be almost understandable if we were talking about an amateur sport but in a billion-dollar business that is the NRL it's unsatisfactory and unacceptable.
HOW YOUR CLUB IS AFFECTED
Broncos
Only have to play the premiers Sydney Roosters once.
Get two byes before Origin games while the Roosters don't get any.
All but six of their games on Friday night free-to-air gives them seven-day back-ups and prime time exposure for their sponsors.
Bulldogs
Two of their biggest games at ANZ - against the Roosters and Sea Eagles – will be missing the Origin players.
Potential blockbusters become second rate matches.
Get no byes during Origin. Have to play all the top sides twice.
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Raiders
Only have to play the Roosters and Sea Eagles once.
Get two byes during Origin while they'll be flat out getting anyone selected.
Get only one Friday night game in the prime time television slot.
Cowboys
Only have to play the Storm and Roosters once.
Only get one bye during the Origin series.
Titans
Only have to play the Roosters and the Sea Eagles once – and not before round 22.
No byes before Origin games means they'll be missing Greg Bird and Nate Myles for key matches.
Get five Monday night games which is more than any other club.
Sea Eagles
Have to play all the top clubs twice.
Get two byes during the Origin series.
Get good exposure from seven Friday night games.
Storm
Get two byes during Origin series while the Roosters don't get any.
Five of last seven games away from home.
Despite being a successful side, they get have only four free-to-air matches and only two Friday night games.
Knights
Get two byes during the Origin series.
Miss out on huge dollars by not hosting biggest rivals Rabbitohs and Manly at home.
Only play the Sea Eagles once - Cairns.
Get only two Friday night games.
Eels
Get two byes during Origin series even though Jarryd Hayne is the only certain selection.
Only have to play Melbourne Storm once.
Panthers
Only have to play last year's grand finalists the Roosters and Manly once.
Get a bye before Origin I but unlikely to have a player selected.
Who said Phil Gould had influence at Channel Nine? Get only three free-to-air games, the second lowest in the competition.
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Sharks
Have to play last year's grand finalists Roosters and Manly twice.
Lose Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen for two games during Origin.
Just two Friday night matches.
Rabbitohs
Don't get a bye before any of the three Origin games, meaning they'll be without Greg Inglis, Chris McQueen and Ben T'eo for three games.
Only have to play Melbourne Storm once.
Dragons
Only have to play the Sea Eagles once – and not at Brookvale Oval.
Get one bye before Origin. Get terrible free-to-air coverage with only one Friday night match.
Roosters
Could provide up to five NSW and Queensland players but don't get a bye before Origin matches.
Have to play all the strong clubs twice.
Warriors
Only have to play Storm, Sea Eagles and Roosters once.
Won't provide one NSW or Queensland player but still get two byes before Origin matches.
Only club that doesn't get a free-to-air game.
Wests Tigers
Only have to play Melbourne Storm once – and that's a home game.
Get to play the Broncos and the Rabbitohs without their Origin players.
Get 11 free-to-air games which is more than Souths and Roosters.
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