Let's think big on expansion of our game
By Phil Gould
February 29, 2004
The Sun-Herald
The NRL has finally put expansion back on the agenda. You beauty! A press release from the NRL this week has created a lot of excitement and encouragement for a lot of people.
The good news read this way: "The NRL Partnership will discuss the possibility of expanding the competition to 16 teams at its next meeting.
"NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said the move followed continued enthusiasm from both the Central Coast and the Gold Coast for entry into the Telstra Premiership. 'We have received impressive submissions from the Gold Coast and the Central Coast as well as Wellington in New Zealand over the last 12 months,' Mr Gallop said."
How good is that? We are going to the Gold Coast, Central Coast and Wellington. Yahoo! What's that you say? Only one of them? You're kidding? No, no, no, we need them all. You mean we can only have one?
Well, which one do we choose? Or is there some way around all this?
Last December, I wrote a column telling you all about the outstanding presentation by the Gold Coast organisation bidding for a start in the NRL competition. Their junior base is unparalleled. Their resources are remarkable. The support from local government, junior leagues, schools, sponsors and the business community has been nothing short of staggering.
The Gold Coast is the fastest growing area in Australia. It is thriving, vibrant and desperate for a team.
Earlier this month I attended a seminar conducted by the South Queensland Rugby League. I loved their commitment and their obvious excitement at the prospect of having a senior professional team to which the younger generation could aspire.
Junior league registrations for the new season have risen significantly just on the talk a local NRL team may be a possibility.
On Friday, the Gold Coast bid team met the local council to discuss support and preparations for a successful bid, and it received a unanimous vote of confidence - along with a $6 million grant to kick-start the renovation of Carrara Stadium.
Just last weekend the Gold Coast hosted a trial game between the Eels and the Warriors, and despite 40-degree temperatures the match attracted a crowd of more than 14,500 with more than 140 corporate boxes and facilities sold out and fully attended. Last night they hosted the Dragons and the Bulldogs and, despite the bad news during the week surrounding the latter, ticket sales were even better.
I also think another team in the south Queensland area is vital for the future of one of our game's greatest showpieces. I am, of course, talking about State of Origin. The opportunity for more Queensland-born kids to be exposed to development at the professional level can only be good for the future of Queensland rugby league. We can't just keep relying on the Broncos.
Now, you would think the competition between the Gold Coast and the Central Coast would have to get fierce, seeing that it appears only one of these areas will get the nod. That is not necessarily the case.
Paul Broughton, the heart and soul of the Gold Coast bid and the man who has made it all happen, is actually a fan of the Central Coast getting a licence as well.
"It would complete my dream of seeing a senior, professional rugby league team in every major centre along the eastern seaboard of Australia," says Broughton.
I agree with him. Why not both?
The Central Coast, backed by the financial and entrepreneurial might of John Singleton, surely cannot be denied, either. From all reports, this presentation has also been top class and it seems a shame that one of these two areas could miss out.
I felt sorry for the North Sydney Bears when they went broke trying to get the Central Coast started, and I feel for the people of the Central Coast who have been let down when it seemed fulfilment of their dreams was so close at hand. I guess the NRL has some moral obligation to eventually put a team at Gosford and now is as good a time as any, seeing as how Singo is hot to trot.
The Central Coast already has a great stadium, a huge junior league base, corporate support and a captive audience. If the NRL (or should I say the ARL and News Limited) is serious about the future of rugby league, then I don't think it can seriously deny these two coastal centres a start.
Wellington? Well, gee, I like that idea, too. The Warriors have shown what is possible once they got some smart financial backing, professional management and dedicated coaching staff.
I mean, New Zealand is a whole country, so you would think it was inevitable that rugby league eventually expanded its boundaries in that neck of the woods.
So, who should it be? Well, I think we should give serious consideration to all three. Let's think outside the square for a change. Let's try to make it happen.
There has to be a way.
