Remove the asterisk: Why only one revamped NRL fixture makes sense

It was Jamie Ainscough crossing for his third try to help the Newcastle Knights orchestrate a 48-18 rout of the North Sydney Bears in the 1996 World Sevens final.

It was a weekend during which Andrew Johns wore No. 3 on his back en route to the man of the series award, a weekend from which outlandish jersey designs have become collectors items.

Yet with little more than pictures and a Knights-flavoured highlights video around to tell the tale, it was a weekend which has largely faded into obscurity.

Much like Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis hopes will happen to the opening rounds of the NRL regular season some 24 years later.

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Politis has demanded the competition be restarted with all clubs on zero points with the NRL targeting a May 28 return after being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One can't help but wonder if the message would be the same if the defending premiers had at least one win under their belts following the opening two rounds before play was suspended.

The Roosters are looking to become the first club to win three consecutive premierships since Parramatta achieved the feat 37 years ago.

But they are already behind the eight ball having dropped their first two games of the season, which is likely to resume as a 15-round affair.

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart sees a 15-round competition as the only way to remove an asterisk from the name of this year's eventual premiers. Play everyone once and integrity is protected as much as it can be.

Yet Politis believes resuming the competition and taking results from the opening two rounds into account will render the remainder of the season meaningless.

We rested Boyd Cordner because we are in it for the long haul, the Roosters boss will say. Well by now the NSW Blues' State of Origin captain should be well rested and ready to drive you towards the finals.

By all means pack it in and spend your weekends at Bondi beach - should that be opened to the public any time soon.

Because what would scrapping the first two rounds mean for every other club? Six clubs are unbeaten, four have won once, another six are yet to sing a victory song.

Think the Raiders will be happy to start all over again on the road to redemption? How about Parramatta, who have leaked just eights points in two games.

Competitions might not be won in March - and certainly not in April this year - but a win carries the same weight as it does further down the track in the regular season.

NRL officials are still building a fixture following talks either playing every rival once or splitting the league into conferences.

The New Zealand Warriors and Cronulla Sharks joined the movement, fearing a shortened season makes it far more difficult to feature in the finals series.

However to say fighting your way back into finals contention is on the verge of impossible following two losses is simply ludicrous.

The North Queensland Cowboys were anchored to the bottom of the ladder after three rounds of the 2015 season. Fast forward one month and they were in the top eight.

We all know how that story panned out. First came the Michael Morgan flick pass, then the Kyle Feldt buzzer-beater, the Johnathan Thurston field goal, the club's first premiership.

There is only one competition format which makes sense at this point in time should the NRL return on May 28.

Play 13 more games, with each club playing all other teams once. Whether you draw certain sides at home or away is a pill you simply have to swallow.

A conference system won't necessarily leave an asterisk next to the premiership winners, but there will always be questions hovering over a side who didn't play all of their rivals.

Restarting the competition to appease the Bondi billionaire and a handful of clubs who are yet to win a game is a thought which should simply fade into obscurity.

Where Ainscough's sevens grand final hat-trick has a place in the hearts of some rusted-on die-hards, a billionaire's gripe should not.