Is there the depth of talent for expansion?

[Twatface Magee]

If there was an extra 2 teams in the NRL that would mean an extra 34 players running around in first grade each week than there is now. Where are these players going to come from?
As it is there is already a large number of players in the NRL who, realistically, are out of their depth playing first grade. And there aren't too many guys in NSW or QLD Cup who you would say "He should definitely be playing NRL". I just don't think adding 2 extra teams would improve the overall quality of the competition, in fact it would decrease the quality.

 

[Perth Red]

Yes. Next?
Squad that could be made just from ex nrl players not in nrl next year. Plenty of talent, just needs nrl salary cap creativity to get them back.
1. Bowen
2. Sio
3. Nielsen
4. Tonga
5. Mantiellato (k)
6. Carney
7. Kelly
8. Tilse
9. Burns
10. Sims
11. Williams
12 minichello
13. Burgess (c)

You could make a squad out of quality SL players also.

The key is to ensure investment in expansion is not just at the top. Better funded programs in WA, Victoria and NT are needed. Better scouting in PNG and Fiji and opportunity for best 16-18 year olds in those country to try out for nrl clubs, raid Union, more support for nrl etc etc plenty of talent out there.

 

[DC_fan]

Yes. Next?
Squad that could be made just from ex nrl players not in nrl next year. Plenty of talent, just needs nrl salary cap creativity to get them back.
1. Bowen
2. Sio
3. Nielsen
4. Tonga
5. Mantiellato (k)
6. Carney
7. Kelly
8. Tilse
9. Burns
10. Sims
11. Williams
12 minichello
13. Burgess (c)

You could make a squad out of quality SL players also.

The key is to ensure investment in expansion is not just at the top. Better funded programs in WA, Victoria and NT are needed. Better scouting in PNG and Fiji and opportunity for best 16-18 year olds in those country to try out for nrl clubs, raid Union, more support for nrl etc etc plenty of talent out there.

How old and passed their used by date are some of these. Seriously their is not enough depth of quality players available for a further two teams. Which is not to say we shouldn't have expansion, just that we should keep team numbers at a maximum of 16.

 

[hutch]

Definitely enough talent for 2 extra teams. There will always be stand out teams and poor teams, at the moment though we seem to have 16 pretty decent teams. The time is near to expand to 18!

 

[Spanner in the works]

????

By 2034-35 Australia's population is expected to reach 32 million people. Essentially in the next 20 years we need to build two cities the size of Sydney. I'm sure we can find 50 first grade players out of those two cities, let alone tapping the talents of NZ and the Pacific Islands...

 

[taipan]

There is plenty of talent.Some already lost because they don't get opportunities with NRL clubs,the Pacific Islands,Pommyland and NZ

Closest most unpredicatble comp ever with 16 teams.

 

[pHyR3]

easily enough talent.

also factor in around 4 less games played by each club over a similar timeframe as now may lead to less injuries.

look at penrith, they just dumped like what 5-10 reserve graders/NYC players and almost took out broncos. that to me says we DO have the talent in lower grades who can play a bench or even starting role in some cases of a new team.

and add in the growing talent pool of the pacific islands, new zealand and expansion areas like WA/Vic.

 

[lafai]

Imagine say Hayne and SBW on one team and Izzy and Surgess on another

 

[bobmar28]

Yes.

 

[papabear]

How old and passed their used by date are some of these. Seriously their is not enough depth of quality players available for a further two teams. Which is not to say we shouldn't have expansion, just that we should keep team numbers at a maximum of 16.

if you are not growing you are going backwards.

 

[duylm]

I find the depth argument to be a load of crap. In a 16 team comp there will be 1 team that will finish 16 spots below another team. Are we waiting until 4 points separates 1st to last before we declare we have enough depth? Last can still beat 1st on any given day And given we have a salary cap, New raw talent will be fairly spread. New teams will build on experience as well as kids. Our junior factory churns out the very best, yet how many turn away from the game just because they are not peaking at age 13-17.

 

[T to the T]

Yes. Easy. Those who don't think there's enough talent](*,)

Why do Antipodeans go to Superleague in their droves? Why has Yawnion got 5 Sooper Teams?

The NRL could have 22-24 teams easily if planned properly within a 10 year period without diluting the pool at all.

The sooner Brisbane 2&3, Perth, Wellington, Adelaide, Central Queensland, Central Coast and Wollongong have their own teams, the better [/dreamer]

 

[Howdy]

Islands are full with talent + teams can take better players from Superjoke teams, there must be some decent at least.

 

[gUt]

With the decline of rugby in Australia you'd think more and more kids who want to be professional footballers will choose to go down the league path.

 

[Twatface Magee]

Yes. Easy. Those who don't think there's enough talent](*,)

Why do Antipodeans go to Superleague in their droves? Why has Yawnion got 5 Sooper Teams?

The NRL could have 22-24 teams easily if planned properly within a 10 year period without diluting the pool at all.

The sooner Brisbane 2&3, Perth, Wellington, Adelaide, Central Queensland, Central Coast and Wollongong have their own teams, the better [/dreamer]

Wollongong?

 

[anjado]

If you put teams in the right places they will add quality. Also certain players will improve performances when changing teams and becoming higher profile players.

Just taking from 1997 when we had 22 teams these are some players who made a massive break through that season

Adelaide - Luke Williamson, Kevin Campion
Hunter - Brett Kimmorley, Scott Hill, Richard Swain
South Queensland - Clinton Schifkofske, Mark Tookey, Aaron Moule
Perth - Robbie Kearns, Rodney Howe, Matt Geyer

I am sure their are others but that is who i thought of off the top of my head.

If you have a team in Perth and a team in New Zealand or Queensland or even the central coast they will eventually add to the competition give them a decade and they will begin to produce quality first graders.

Before we expand i was always of the belief that we should have added more teams to the under 20's competition and reserve grade.

If we are able to do that then the path will become much easier NRL clubs can sign the best under 20's players from Perth on loan and then they send them back when they have a team. So someone like Waqa Blake can play for Penrith for the next two seasons but when Perth come into the competition they are allowed to bring him back.

The quality of the NRL would probably take a short term hit but it will be for long term gain. People might think i am crazy but i think we could add 8 more teams in the future. We haven't even begun to try to tap into certain markets. New Zealand could support 3 teams. Queensland another 2. Central Coast, Perth, Adelaide, PNG, a pacific island team.

That's 8 teams their as well as Pacific islands and Asia really if Rugby League was smarter we could have a huge competition and base in which to work off of.

But we are always too timid expansion is a good thing really and we should be looking to add 2 clubs each decade i don't see why not.

 

[Jimmy-o]

Hook weighs in.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...l-cant-afford-more-teams-20150512-gh01bc.html

 

[jim_57]

Was just thinking about this so called problem, IMO there are many areas that are severely untapped by the NRL.

PNG: The biggest one. A country of 6 Million RL nuts sitting just north of Australia yet there are very few PNG NRL players. Given time and the right pathways put in to place the should be getting similar numbers to NZ players in the NRL. That sounds a bit ludicrous now but twice the population without the competition of Union? Why there is so few at present is the truely ludicrous situation.

Fiji/Samoa/Tonga: Similar to above but on a smaller scale, all these countries are brimming with unrealized potential.

France: Every year France compete very well against the best opposition, most recently beating England in the Under 18's this past weekend. Despite this we see only a handful of players in Super League and 0 in the NRL. How many superstars have been picked off by Union or faded away in the French semi-pro comp because of Ignorance/Lack of effort by English and NRL Clubs.

USA: Thousands and thousands of talented athletes with similar skillsets turn away from sport after High School or College. Maybe each NRL club could form a partnership with an USARL club for players to have a paid trial Rugby League in the USA and if their form is encouraging go on to full contracts in Australia. Would benefit Rugby League immensely in the USA and unearth a superstar or two over the years.

South Africa: Strong Rugby country, I imagine there would be quite a few Juniors and 2nd division players more suited to Rugby League who would take the chance to play in Australia.

Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Japan, Argentina etc: Same as above on a lesser scale.

The NRL and it's clubs should be marketing itself as the best Rugby club competition in the World.

 

[CowboyFuriousFury]

Hook weighs in.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...l-cant-afford-more-teams-20150512-gh01bc.html

Stay status quo and watch other codes pass NRL in time. 2nd Brisbane/WA must happen for a broader national reach. Enough of keeping it to the east coast with the constant excuses. Time for the insular thinking of expanison to stop and see the bigger picture of the benefits of expansion eg greater coverage.

 

[juro]

Give athletes the chance to be professional and they will come. Bringing in 2 new teams would mean 50 more top squad spots. The increase in demand for athletes will be matched by an increase in supply of athletes. An increase in the salary cap will improve the quality of the athletes too.