Following controversial club decisions to rest major players in the lead up to finals, journalist Phil Rothfield has pushed for the introduction of an NRL ‘Wildcard Weekend’ — although some believe this could only further the league’s current resting problem.

Backed by Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy and Souths boss Blake Solly, Rothfield has suggested adding a week to the competition which would see the top six teams enjoy a week off while the teams placed seventh to 10th play in a pair of elimination finals.

The proposed weekend would see the seventh placed team play the 10th team and the eighth team play the ninth team, each game competing for a place in the finals.

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Rothfield is confident this would provide a perfect incentive for some teams to avoid the mass resting of players seen in recent weeks, sparked from Penrith’s historic decision to rest 16 players in last Thursday’s clash against the Bulldogs.

“It’s gathered momentum since Cleary rested his entire playing squad with the line of thinking he won’t want to rest in three weeks,” Rothfield said on Fox League’s NRL360.

“Every other side that has had to play Penrith this year has had to work their backsides off to get those two points, Canterbury were gifted them.

“There was no integrity in this comp.

“I like wildcard weekend because the top six clubs get that bonus of a rest.”

Following a blowout 28-4 win for the Bulldogs over Penrith last week, many have questioned the integrity of the Panthers’ huge resting strategy if similar tactics can be avoided, however the ‘Wildcard Weekend’ may not be everyone’s preference.

Rothfield’s idea was met with critique and disagreement from the NRL360 panel.

“I think it’s got merit but it doesn’t stop Penrith from still resting players,” NRL great Gorden Tallis said.

Reporter Brent Read fired back at Rothfield: “On this they (Donaghy and Solly) are misguided, with all due respect. If you think this is the solution to resting, you’re kidding yourself.”

Read suggested that if this were implemented a team like Penrith would still rest players the week before ‘Wildcard Weekend’, making the idea redundant.

The panellists also argued that too many teams are rewarded by this extra weekend, as not only are a third of the teams given a rest week but a team in 10th place who have likely lost more games than they’ve won will be rewarded with a shot at finals.

“I think it rewards too many teams, I don’t think they deserve it,” Read said.

While the ‘Wildcard Weekend’ remains a concept at this stage, its potential introduction into the sport would likely pair with the welcoming of the Perth Bears in 2027 as the competition grows to 18 teams.

As the competition expands, Rothfield is positive a double-header event the weekend before finals is the perfect way to build momentum heading into a finals series.

“Massive massive sudden death, television ratings, big crowds and the top six clubs get the rest,” Rothfield said.

“At the back end of the competition, it keeps more fans engaged.”