Western Australia expected to win licenece in NRL by end of year

[Perth Red]

It's taken over a decade for the Warriors to be well run, now they are they are starting to take their place at the top of the NRL tree.

NZ puts in $20million a year to the NRL and takes out $4 million

A second NZ team is inevitable. Once a decent bid is developed for Wellington/Chistchurch they will be in. Not this round but by 2020 we will see 2 NZ teams in the NRL.

 

[Perth Red]

ps S15 are cutting their salary cap. The time is ripe to convert Union players to League!

 

[Goddo]

It's taken over a decade for the Warriors to be well run, now they are they are starting to take their place at the top of the NRL tree.

NZ puts in $20million a year to the NRL and takes out $4 million

A second NZ team is inevitable. Once a decent bid is developed for Wellington/Chistchurch they will be in. Not this round but by 2020 we will see 2 NZ teams in the NRL.

I agree whole heartedly. I think the Commission needs to look at putting more money back into New Zealand over the life of the next TV deal, more tests over there, maybe the next world cup in 2017...

But expansion there needs to be built towards and come after all that groundwork is done. So 2nd New Zealand side should definately be next expansion after 2015.

 

[Broncos thats my team]

Maybe NZRL should bank roll another team in NSW Cup?

 

[flippikat]

Maybe NZRL should bank roll another team in NSW Cup?

That's a really good idea - either a team in the NSW cup or the Qld cup would be a serious step towards an eventual 2nd NZ team.


Perth have done well to identify the SG Ball comp as a way to develop their juniors, building towards an NRL bid - maybe the same pathway is also an option for potential NRL clubs?

 

[PerthRugbyLeague]

WA def gets in the next bid. People who say that people dont watch NRL in Perth are idiots.
WA Reds used to pack out subiaco oval. Look at the gold coast and cronulla sharks? What sort of strong side can only get 9000 people to a game? For such an AFL oreintated town WA has gotten over 13000 to both games played here over the last 2 years (one in torrential rain) and neither team was a WA side.... And the Warriors vs Manly game will be a great indicator of crowd support (as they will get all the expat kiwi supporters to the game).

As for the other bid. NZ's 2nd team is a dream. Unfortunantly the Warriors need to win a competition and start dominating like the Broncos did when they were the only team in QLD before a 2nd team goes up in NZ. Also regardless of what people say, rugby league is still weak in NZ.

I find it hard for Ipswich to seriously get a side either. I know the logical choice is QLD. But where? Central QLD doesnt have a ground, or a massive condensed supporter base. Just to note, Mackay got 10 000 almost to the bulldogs game. So there is potential there. Ipswich and brisbane bombers are too close to the Broncos, who have the biggest support base in the game (everywhere in the country the broncos have supporters). The people who make up these bids are kidding themselves if they think the broncos supporters will stop going for the broncos and go for these other teams. Western corridors population is rising significantly every week, so time may tell. But they need a stadium there first.

The Bears - they have a supporter base, a junior base, a stadium, history. So whats hurting them.....11 teams already in Sydney. And the fact that the Sydney teams crowds arent that great, the NRL does not want another Cronulla or Manly that they have to prop up with funds as it is. Can you guareentee that 20,000 central coast people will watch games every week? We like to think so....But to the NRL it is not a calculated risk considering the awareness in rugby league is already massive in NSW. They would rather risk in other states markets and spend money building the game there. It worked for the storm in the heartland of AFL.

 

[Karl]

Queensland already has Brisbane, Townsville, Gold Coast.

I think Brisbane can support another team based on its population and not everyone here is a Bronco's fan. I don't think the Bombers is the right product for the market though - no appreciable point of difference.

A Ipswich/Logan team could pull from Toowoomba, Ippy, Logan and Western Brisbane. They see themselves as NOT from Brisbane so you can Tribal-ise it. These areas have a very distinct demographic. Ipswich, Collingwood Park, Brassal,Redbank Plains, Inala, Shailer Park, Loganholme, Marsden, Ormeau, all the way out to Toowoomba. Call them The SouthWest Cyclone or something. Play them out of Suncorp, train out of Ipswich, you have a home game every week in Brisbane, the TV loves it. Its an easy train ride in from anywhere that matters.

 

[Smithtown]

The Reds never played at Subiaco Oval - they did pack the WACA for their first season in the first few games but by mid-season had settled to a very respectable 10-12k base of supporters. Unfortunately Super League non-sense came along and that, coupled with a few in the team having a local stench about them after dabbling in steroids, had of course the crowds falling away alarmingly. They weren't on their own.

What's as important however, and often overlooked, are the games the NSWRL brought to the WACA prior to the Reds in the early 90's. Almost all were very well attended with crowds varying between 15k and 20k.
Granted they may have been one-off games which were novel for the locals, but the amount of ex-pats that have moved to Perth in subsequent years will easily make up that shortfall.

A Perth side will have the crowds and that isn't a valid arguement for non-inclusion. What is valid is having the correct business nous and acumen behind the team. To get the front office working properly is something that has not been achieved in WA as yet - and looking at a few Clubs it's not an easy task.

The jewel in the crown is of course Perth's time zone, which will allow live 7:30 games to be broadcast back live to the eastern seaboard at 9:30 on either a friday or saturday night.

That is TV rights gold and the reason the Pirates will be first new bid in.

 

[Perth Red]

Aside form the great cap and ball available to crew members the WC Pirates have just released the first merchandise for the club. Great looking Tshirt and $5 discount of you are a crew member. Available from the website next week. $25 members, $30 non members.