Employing a new system for the finals has been long overdue, and finally in 2012 fans will see the fairest finals since 1996 after the old format was abandoned in 1999.
With the new system in place, the debate over who deserved home finals will be abolished, with the highest ranking side to earn the right to host.
For that reason, ultimately this system advantages the top four teams in terms of draw, ticketing and second chance at the finals - while the bottom half of the eight enters immediate sudden-death.
It is an immediate credit to the new commission that on the eve of the 2012 NRL launch, the days of debates about finals are finally gone.
To set the record straight for those who are referring to the new format as a copy of the AFL, the ARL used this finals system in 1995 while the AFL adopted it five years later in the year 2000.
The NRL has simply resorted back to an old method for the new season.
And a looking at the history of the AFL shows how much stronger it makes the strong.
No team from the bottom half of the eight has won the grand final in their 11 years of using this method.
That is a scary thought for the side which finishes fifth this season.
And on first blush, Melbourne and the Wests Tigers are the two teams who will be benefit first and most from this system.
Should those two finish in the top four as expected, the second chance will be amissive insurance policy - and could ultimately be a saving grace for one of them.