NRL委员会主席彼得·范德斯提议在大决赛周增加第三名争夺赛，由两支落败的半决赛队伍对阵[1]。范德斯表示将提供"巨额奖金"来吸引球员参与这项新赛制[1]。目前NRL的总奖金分配为：总冠军获100万澳元（其中球员50万、俱乐部50万），亚军获40万澳元[1]。
然而这一提议遭到了球员方面的反对。球员工会主席克林特·牛顿表示："鉴于当前需求和世界杯赛程安排，我们不太可能支持"[1]。多位球员和教练质疑，在落败半决赛的失望之后，球员能否有足够动力参加额外比赛，工会也担心在已经密集的赛程中继续增加比赛场次[1]。
范德斯表示"还没有排除"在本赛季推进该计划的可能性[1]。当前NRL赛程包含24轮常规赛共204场比赛，明年珀斯熊队将加入联赛，2028年巴布亚新几内亚酋长队也将随之加入[1]。
NRL Commission Chairman Peter V'landys has pitched a third-place playoff match to be contested by the two losing semi-final teams, contingent on the offer of substantial prize money to incentivize player participation [1].
V'landys stated he would provide "massive prizemoney" to advance the third-place playoff concept [1]. Currently, the NRL awards one million Australian dollars to the grand final champions—split equally between players and their club at 500,000 each—while runners-up receive 400,000 dollars [1]. However, the players' union has expressed opposition to the additional fixture within an already congested fixture list [1]. Players' Association President Clint Newton stated: "Given current demands and World Cup scheduling, we are unlikely to support it" [1]. Some players and coaches have also questioned whether competitors who have missed the grand final would possess the motivation to participate with intensity [1].
V'landys indicated that he has "not ruled out" pushing the plan forward for the current season [1]. The NRL currently operates a 24-round regular season comprising 204 matches [1], with the Perth Bears set to join the competition next year and the Papua New Guinea Hunters scheduled to enter in 2028 [1].