Barely 24 hours after pitching it, ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce has rejected a proposal to scrap the NRL’s opening two rounds when the competition resumes.
The innovations committee was initially set to consider starting the premiership from scratch when it next met on Thursday, a move that sparked outrage from the six undefeated teams.
It is believed the committee considered ditching points because of concerns about the opening two rounds’ impact on the integrity of the competition which may return in a conference format.
But Pearce – who heads the committee dubbed Project Apollo – backtracked on Tuesday, reportedly after ARL commission chairman Peter V’landys intervened.
“My personal view is when we get the competition up and running again we should carry the results from the opening two rounds,” Pearce told Fox Sports.
“Players have worked extremely hard all off season and clubs have lost players to injuries in those opening two games.
“However the competition is structured, we should still carry the points that have been accrued.”
News Corp reported that Pearce ruled out scrapping points after V’landys spoke with him on Tuesday morning.
It was a dramatic about face from Pearce who revealed the bold plan to scrap points to reporters on Monday.
“We will probably be determining whether or not we use the competition points from the start of the year,” Pearce told News Corp.
“Some people would say that (keeping points) would take away the integrity of the competition if you are going to have a different competition structure.”
The idea of scrapping points raised eyebrows at some clubs considering Trent Robinson – coach of the winless Sydney Roosters – is a member of the eight strong innovation committee.
The committee is still set to discuss a two-conference system with teams isolated in two “bubbles”, in NSW and Queensland, 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.
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
Former Kangaroos star Gorden Tallis did not support the format.
“I don’t believe in two conferences; I really don’t,” he said on Fox League Live.
“Everybody’s got to play each other once, but there can’t be two conferences.
“I don’t think it’s fair on some teams that would be in the conferences, because one conference will be weaker than the other.
“There’s no doubt about that.”
