Keep the points, but scrap the competition’s name and trophy.
That’s the left field call by Paul Gallen, who wants the 2020 NRL season to be rebranded if it resumes in a new conference model.
The former Cronulla captain has supported the move to abort a proposal to ditch points awarded for the opening two rounds held before the coronavirus shutdown, despite his beloved Sharks being 0-2.
But the ex-NSW skipper reckons some drastic action should still be taken when the game relaunches, saying the competition’s name and trophy should be changed to reflect the new-look format.
The game’s innovation committee meets on Thursday to discuss resuming the season in a two-conference system for a 14-week regular season.
One conference would include eight Sydney-based teams, while the remaining sides – believed to include St George Illawarra and Newcastle – would be quarantined in the Sunshine State.
“If the competition can start again I think they should keep the points,” Gallen told Wide World of Sports.
“But if we’re going to a conference system, I don’t think it should be the NRL Telstra Premiership this year – it should be called the Telstra conference champions.
“If the word is true, the winner of the two conferences play each other and whoever wins, that’s the champion.”
Under the proposed new format, each team would face each other twice before a four-week finals series, taking the entire season to 18 weeks – not including State of Origin.
Gallen said, as a result, the Provan-Summons Trophy should not be handed out to the 2020 victor.
“I think the NRL makes a new trophy,” he said.
“It’s got to be. It’s a new system, new conference and new competition.
“Even if they have to play a three grand finals series, I’m open to that.
“(But) I don’t think the premiership trophy that’s been given out, can be given out this year if the team that wins the competition does not play every team in the competition,” said Gallen, who led the Sharks to the title in 2016.