The broadcaster want a 2nd Brisbane team and as demonstrated over and over again they get what they want.
Whilst I agree that we need a 2nd NZ team I'm ok with Brisbane coming first.
Personally I think a 2nd Brisbane team is a strong move strategically. Right now most sports that aren't the NRL are struggling there. Another Brisbane team would really hurt the AFL and potentially super rugby as well. Mainly AFL, the lions and suns are both losing lots of money. The last thing they need is another NRL side taking away fans and sponsors. It also means more NRL matches in Brisbane and more local derbies keeping the focus on the NRL.
That plus it's great for the broadcasters and provides a real rival for the broncos (I mean for fans and sponsorship dollars). I used to be more against a 2nd Brisbane side but now I think it might actually be a really good thing.
All those reasons make sense, but I'd counter that strategically NZ makes more sense for the following reasons:
1. NZ remains a huge talent pool that is utilised by many NRL clubs, but underperforms from a business standpoint; the Warriors support base remains highly south-Auckland centric and their administration has proved incapable of elevating the appeal of the club both on and off the field. In spite of this, the decision by the Panthers and Sea Eagles to take NRL matches to Christchurch this year showed that there is strong potential.
2. NZ is now the great Rugby League test rival of Australia, replacing the underperforming and poorly rubg England. Building the game there provides the NRL with both an additional source of TV revenue as the popularity of the NRL builds in NZ, whilst also adding increasing prestige to tests between the two nations – thus giving the sport a new “event” match to compliment Origin and the GF.
Trans-Tasman RL have been out-rating the Bledisloe for years, averaging 1 million+ viewers despite being treated as second order match by most involved. There’s significant room for improvement here and it’s an area the AFL have no capacity to replicate.
3. NZ TV revenue. Adding a new club in South Island would increase the profile of the NRL in NZ, which would increase the value of their TV rights by both providing an alternative source of NZ pride in the competition AND bolstering the depth of their national side contributing to our test environment as described above.
So whilst I get the reasons stated in support of Brisbane 2, I think there are more reasons to go to NZ first given it will bolster the game in more ways.