Rugby league: Proposed NRL conference system rubbished by Gorden Tallis

Former Kangaroos great Gorden Tallis has rejected a proposed conference system designed to resurrect the NRL season during the coronavirus threat.

A split, 14-week competition proposal consisting of two isolated 'bubbles' is gathering steam at Rugby League Central in Sydney.

One conference would include all eight Sydney-based clubs, while the remaining eight, including NZ Warriors, would be quarantined in Queensland.

Fox Sport reports St George Illawarra and Newcastle Knights, situated within New South Wales borders, would have to cross state lines to contest the Queensland conference.

Tallis, a former premiership winner with the Brisbane Broncos, believes the re-jigged competition is "unfair" and could lead to a gross imbalance, come the NRL playoffs.

"I don't believe in two conferences, I really don't," he said on Fox League Live. "If you're a Queenslander, and you're going to go to Sydney and play in front of an empty stadium, then you've got to go.

"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."

The proposal has each team playing each other twice, before a four-week finals series, effectively scrapping the first two rounds completed before COVID-19 state lockdowns began. 

AAP reports the idea is one of several scenarios the innovation committee will consider, when it meets on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Tallis has rubbished suggestions the season should resume with a three-week State of Origin series. 

The former Queensland hardman believes the long lay-off would "dilute" the game's product. 

"What makes Origin so special is the standard that it's played at, what the players put their body through," he said.

"And it's the best product that we can get on our television set, so you don't want to dilute that by not having everybody fit, fighting and raring to go."