Should the NRL buy buy the ESL?

[Vlad59]

NRL mulls shock plan to buy Super League after record $700m year

NRL mulls shock plan to buy Super League after record $700m year

www.foxsports.com.au

I think this belongs in the expansion thread. It certainly merits its own discussion. I’m all for this. The potential benefits are huge. If you want to expand expotentially, buy the next biggest competition in another country.
Throw in France and off we go!

 

[flippikat]

NRL mulls shock plan to buy Super League after record $700m year

NRL mulls shock plan to buy Super League after record $700m year

www.foxsports.com.au

I think this belongs in the expansion thread. It certainly merits its own discussion. I’m all for this. The potential benefits are huge. If you want to expand expotentially, buy the next biggest competition in another country.
Throw in France and off we go!

For a kick-off/quick wins, an NRL-owned Superleague would do well to foster better connection between St Helens & wider Liverpool/Merseyside and Salford & Greater Manchester.. getting more into those two big metros would be a huge positive.

With just 12 teams in the UK Superleague there's certainly scope for expansion if the NRL manages to get a good TV deal to assist that.. plus the prospect of "NRL Australia" players spending some time in the competition can bring some skill and star power.

Beyond the big English metro markets (Birmingham would have to be a consideration to begin with), you have Scotland, Ireland & especially Wales well within reach.. and if juniors are a desired resource, there's some RU talent in there that could be ripe for turning to RL.

As far as branding goes, it could trigger a rebrand to NRL (or NRL football) for the Superleague competition.. heck maybe even the complete game over time, which would remove the need to explain & differentiate the "two types of rugby" to people from non-heartland places - great when it comes to expansion.

 

[Vlad59]

For a kick-off/quick wins, an NRL-owned Superleague would do well to foster better connection between St Helens & wider Liverpool/Merseyside and Salford & Greater Manchester.. getting more into those two big metros would be a huge positive.

With just 12 teams in the UK Superleague there's certainly scope for expansion if the NRL manages to get a good TV deal to assist that.. plus the prospect of "NRL Australia" players spending some time in the competition can bring some skill and star power.

Beyond the big English metro markets (Birmingham would have to be a consideration to begin with), you have Scotland, Ireland & especially Wales well within reach.. and if juniors are a desired resource, there's some RU talent in there that could be ripe for turning to RL.

As far as branding goes, it could trigger a rebrand to NRL (or NRL football) for the Superleague competition.. heck maybe even the complete game over time, which would remove the need to explain & differentiate the "two types of rugby" to people from non-heartland places - great when it comes to expansion.

Just on the last point. Imagine the lure we can provide for big business and sponsors through internationally branding the game. NRL England, NRL France, NRL Australia etc etc.
This opens up endless possibilities for promoting the game, attracting elite athletes, spreading the NRL Gospel (according to Peter).
It potentially takes the game to another level our major competitors can only dream of.
And while we are at it, we need to reclaim the English version of league tag the rah rahs have stolen.
We need to promote a low level contact version of the game to offer participation to all.
Off we go!

 

[BuffaloRules]

This should be 20 years away minimum …

The NRL needs to concentrate on Aust, NZ and the Pacific in the medium term …still a lot of work to be done..

 

[Vlad59]

This should be 20 years away minimum …

The NRL needs to concentrate on Aust, NZ and the Pacific in the medium term …still a lot of work to be done..

You could do both at once.

 

[BuffaloRules]

You could do both at once.

What outcome are you hoping for in respect of the game in England… say by 2050?

In 120 years, they haven’t been able to successfully expand 300kms down the road from Wigan to London.… doubt the NRL owning them is going to change that ..

I see a big money pit ahead …the NRL needs more money to fund that … $50m a year profit isn’t going to cut it

 

[flippikat]

You could do both at once.

Precisely.

Pick the right & competent people to run the UK operation, give them a brief/mission statement & parameters to operate in, and let them at it. If the right deals are struck, "NRL Northern Hemisphere" would turn a decent profit.

With robust reporting channels to NRL Australia, you don't have to micromanage the whole thing - and in fact, the best people could even be stifled by that.

 

[Vlad59]

Precisely.

Pick the right & competent people to run the UK operation, give them a brief/mission statement & parameters to operate in, and let them at it. If the right deals are struck, "NRL Northern Hemisphere" would turn a decent profit.

With robust reporting channels to NRL Australia, you don't have to micromanage the whole thing - and in fact, the best people could even be stifled by that.

That’s correct. The game already runs itself over there. The NRL can adopt its model of investment and growth to the game over there and you don’t know where we could end up. Our major competitor can do the same in Nauru and see how they go

 

[Canard]

Precisely.

Pick the right & competent people to run the UK operation, give them a brief/mission statement & parameters to operate in, and let them at it. If the right deals are struck, "NRL Northern Hemisphere" would turn a decent profit.

With robust reporting channels to NRL Australia, you don't have to micromanage the whole thing - and in fact, the best people could even be stifled by that.

Really? If only some highly competent Aussies run the comp, it would start making a profit?

What sort of arrogance is this?

 

[Vlad59]

Really? If only some highly competent Aussies run the comp, it would start making a profit?

What sort of arrogance is this?

Where did he say they had to be Aussies?

 

[Canard]

Where did he say they had to be Aussies?

What possible benefit could the NRL buying the Superleague give that couldn't be achieved right now with a zero dollar investment?

 

[Vlad59]

What possible benefit could the NRL buying the Superleague give that couldn't be achieved right now with a zero dollar investment?

Starting off on a positive note as usual?

 

[Canard]

Starting off on a positive note as usual?

Tell me what is the benefit you dickless wonder?

 

[blue bags]

Just on the last point. Imagine the lure we can provide for big business and sponsors through internationally branding the game. NRL England, NRL France, NRL Australia etc etc.
This opens up endless possibilities for promoting the game, attracting elite athletes, spreading the NRL Gospel (according to Peter).
It potentially takes the game to another level our major competitors can only dream of.
And while we are at it, we need to reclaim the English version of league tag the rah rahs have stolen.
We need to promote a low level contact version of the game to offer participation to all.
Off we go!

NRL America

 

[jim_57]

I’m all for the 2 comps working closer together and the NRL helping Super League wherever possible but I’m struggling to think how a buyout would even work.

Winter comp seems like an insane idea given the weather in the North of England. Any idea of any decent player playing a stint in the UK in the NRL off-season is fantasy these days as well.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Buy the Super League and close down Hull KR!

 

[Canard]

I’m all for the 2 comps working closer together and the NRL helping Super League wherever possible but I’m struggling to think how a buyout would even work.

Winter comp seems like an insane idea given the weather in the North of England. Any idea of any decent player playing a stint in the UK in the NRL off-season is fantasy these days as well.

There is literally no gain in this that couldn't be achieved by a simple mutual agreement between both codes, without zero or very little money changing hands.

 

[MugaB]

Buy the Super League and close down Hull KR!

Better off merging them actually, that would really piss on thier pocket

 

[bad boy bubby]

NRL Australia

NRL Australasia.
I'm all for it.

 

[ash the bash]

Down the line definitely yes, along with taking control of the international game. Before then let's grow the asset base over 1 billion, game will have revenues over 1 billion in the not too distant future.

The international game is a long game, 30-50 years in future we can grow RL into the bigger rugby code. It is the more entertaining (IMO) and simpler version of rugby. This growth will have to come from ARLC or whatever it eventually morphs into.