The Future League launches the second year of its campaign for the introduction of the NRL conference system.

With the 2016 NRL season less than a week away, The Future League returns after an off-season hiatus to continue its push for the introduction of a conference system.

A lot has happened in the NRL since the end of the 2015 season. The main component of its next broadcast deal has been finalised, a strategic blueprint proposal has been put forward for the game’s future, and the financial losses of both the clubs that make up the NRL and the NRL itself have been under the microscope.

One thing did not occur during that time. Amidst all the news, proposals and debate, the introduction of a conference system to the NRL was nowhere to be found.

The Future League supports the reduction of the regular season from 2018, but changing 26 rounds to 25 is miles away from solving the issue of player burnout and stagnating crowd figures. It still creates a market of supply, not demand.

In a competition as close as the NRL, every round has to matter, every match between two conference rivals needs a heightened sense of gravitas and every fan must be made to feel like there is nothing more significant than being at their team’s home ground as history happens in front of their eyes.

This is the time the NRL as a sporting business must rise to the high level of entertainment and brilliance of its product on the field.

The Future League will continue to reimagine rugby league atop the lofty throne it should hold in the sporting landscape and pursue that vision to reality. The conference system is just the start.

Welcome back to The Future League for another season. This is the place where history happens.