NRL: Review unlikely to alter finals system

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The NRL will review its use of the McIntyre finals system at the end of the season, but expect the controversial top-eight method to be implemented again next year.

The New Zealand Warriors have this season been the big beneficiaries of the dubious system that was dumped by the AFL 11 years ago.

Having finished the regular season in sixth spot, the Warriors were thrashed 40-10 in the first week of the finals by third-placed Brisbane.

But they survived the cut when North Queensland and Newcastle, who finished the season in seventh and eighth respectively, both lost on the same weekend.

The Kiwis made the most of their reprieve, ending the seasons of fourth-placed Wests Tigers and minor premiers Melbourne in Sydney and Melbourne on successive weekends.

It was tough on the Tigers, who after finishing fourth on the ladder, beat fifth-placed St George Illawarra 21-12 in week one of the finals.

The Warriors continued their run last Saturday with a 20-12 win over minor premiers Melbourne in the preliminary final.

The Storm can also feel aggrieved. Having defeated the Knights 18-8 in the first week of the finals, their season is suddenly over after losing to a team who were 30-point losers just two weeks earlier.

An NRL spokesman defended the McIntyre system, saying that regardless of the type of top-eight system used, it was sudden-death for all teams that reached the preliminary final.

He said the McIntyre system was supported by most NRL powerbrokers, but that it was likely to be reviewed by rugby league's new independent commission, headed by John Grant.

The Warriors must overcome a taxing travel schedule in their bid to beat Manly. The Sea Eagles have had to travel only 84km - two 42km round-trips from Brookvale Oval to Sydney Football Stadium - in their two weeks of finals football, and will on Sunday embark on a 20km trip to Homebush.

That pales into insignificance compared with the Warriors' marathon journey - 16,279km of travel against Manly's paltry 104km adventure.

- Courier-Mail