NRL 2 & Expansion

[joshreading]

It seems to me that the opportunities for expansion into genuinely new territory is also becoming quite apparent at a slightly lower level than the NRL. The NRL also seems to be implicating at times that bids should consider a lower level entry before moving up to the NRL.

Realistically, it also creates a platform for NRL sides to potentially fall to if needed.

With a Second NZ side (Christ Church based), Fiji and the present representation in the PNG Hunters surely it is time for a whole rethink and restructure of the level below the NRL to allow areas that will never enter the NRL or need a stepping stone to have higher level representation.

I would not want to totally do away with the QLD and NSW Cups but it does seem we need to loosen the control and broaden the base.

New potential areas for this level include Darwin, Christ Church, Albury Wodonga (Thunder) Wellington and Fiji.

What would you recommend to create a higher profile platform for a second tier competition?

 

[Perth Red]

There are some inherent problems with a proper second tier comp:
1. Cost. It costs around $2million to run a NSW cup or Qland cup team. With very little income via crowds or sponsorship for this level it is extremely difficult to host a team at that level. PNG are only in as the Govt is paying the bill and the other clubs only exist due to pokie funding. If your in a state/country with no pokies who pays the bill?
2. Player quality. Simple fact is outside of NSW,Qland,PNg and NZ there is not the depth of playing talent to be able to field a competitive team. Clubs with NRL club link ups are often much stronger than the rest also. this means that a team in say perth would need to import 90% of the playing squad at great cost.
3. Outcome? What is the point of this comp? It will be so low profile it will do little to raise the profile of Rl in the expansion area and reality is the truly talented kids are getting picked up out of SG ball to play Under 20's in the NRL already. It also arguably weakens the state comp by taking the best talent out of 8 clubs (in WA's case) to put in one.

A lot of money for not a lot of return it would seem?

 

[LJC]

Another issue with the propped up 2nd division besides fans not relating to it is Australia's tyranny of distance. The population centres are too widespread!

The solution is for genuine expansion and consolidation in the form of more clubs just as was happening prior to the "superleague" fiasco! (eg: perhaps Perth Pirates, Central Coast Bears, Brisbane Dolphins and a side from NZ south island?)
Even further genuine expansion is not out of the question with the advent of a locality based conference system being adopted? But that's too much forward thinking for our current crop of administrators and new clubs will attract more and retain players to the game. Adds to the fan base and the reach of RL.

To this day I still believe that powers bigger than you or me contrived to split our great game to halt its progress and this was "superleague's" real purpose! It worked but then again you cannot drag a good game down although they are having a good go at it!

 

[DiegoNT]

I know this will have its detractors but a promotion/relegation system if done well could be the way to kick ahead of the other codes in australia.
heres how I would work it
Take all the current bid teams and create a 12 team NRL2 including with Perth, brisbane brothers, Brisbane bombers, central coast bears, central Queensland, new Zealand 2/wellington, png hunters, Fiji nsw cup team amd others. Give the comp 5 years to get the teams to grow get a following in their respective communities. These teams would operate on a similar budget to what current nsw/qld cup sides do atm When that comp is gaining traction drop the 2 worst nrl teams so we have 2 14 team comps. We have 14 teams in the nrl so we have an equal 26 home and away comp with weekends off for origin. We would also have 28 markets total to sell to the t.v people. It creates more interest in the bottom half of the ladder as every game becomes vital. A dragons v titans game would become a blockbuster in this system as it may seal a teams safety in the top flight unlike what we have atm were that game would attract no interest. A grand final to get into the top division would be another sellout/ratings winner for our game.

 

[Perth Red]

And how does a team promoted with a squad on $1-2mill salary a year compete with a club in the NRL on $8mill plus a year?

All you'll end up with is yo yo clubs going bust as they go down and being cannon fodder as they go up. Take a look at EPL and how many clubs have a good first year after promotion compared to how many go down. Likewise SL when it had P&R. It doesn't work well.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I reckon they should massively expand the number of teams in the State Comps then divide areas into local conferences (to keep costs down regarding travel). Bring the leading teams together at the end of the year for a big finals series culminating in the State Championship of NRL GF day....

This is the best way to bring the game back to the local "working class" style competitions we used to see while exploiting the prestege of our National Competition. Obviously there would be massive inequalities in teams (suburban melbourne/perth or rural NSW probably lose to the Sydney teams 9 times out of 10) but just to compete at that level while representing your town would dramatically change the dynamic of local football.

We all talk about how valuable the history of Sydneys RL competition is to todays NRL teams; this could be a way of establishing local brands that can later be grown into national franchises in non-heartland locations....

 

[DiegoNT]

And how does a team promoted with a squad on $1-2mill salary a year compete with a club in the NRL on $8mill plus a year?

All you'll end up with is yo yo clubs going bust as they go down and being cannon fodder as they go up. Take a look at EPL and how many clubs have a good first year after promotion compared to how many go down. Likewise SL when it had P&R. It doesn't work well.

This is definitely a drawback to the whole thing. Id propose the nrl give the promoted club a one off so they can afford an 8 million dollar salary cap. The club would be able to buy off contract players, players from the relegated club, under 20s graduates etc

another out of the box suggestion is no salary cap in NRL2. so if a rich investor like martin koukash wanted to get into the nrl he could take a nrl2 club and make the necessary investments