League struggling in Wellington

[LeagueXIII]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-po...ip-of-the-iceberg-for-wellington-rugby-league

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-po...ing-containers-to-change-in-forced-to-default

 

[siv]

So what is causing the decline ?

Seems like a demographic change isdue

 

[titoelcolombiano]

The article points out the reason for the decline:Wellington clubs used to be successful in a NATIONAL comp that KIWI players played in.

NZRL need to sort out a new national comp with pathways to the NRL and a second NRL team. Seriously, their league should be a strong second teir comp like QLD / NSW cup or the English Championship by now.

 

[Te Kaha]

The article points out the reason for the decline:Wellington clubs used to be successful in a NATIONAL comp that KIWI players played in.

NZRL need to sort out a new national comp with pathways to the NRL and a second NRL team. Seriously, their league should be a strong second teir comp like QLD / NSW cup or the English Championship by now.

No its not that at all. It was self interest that killed the golden goose. 30 years ago League was strong in the Hutt, Wainui and Wellington City and players came from other districts to play there.
Then a long came a couple of Porirua teams, Marist Northern then Parramatta. and all the Porirua boys, myself included switched to the Porirua teams, we signed Ken Laban, who was coaching a successful Wainui team at the time to coach and MN then won the next two Wellington Champs.
Upper Hutt, Wanui and Randwick then effectively created the situation that caused Marist Northern to fold believing that the players would flock back. They didn't, they went to Rugby on mass, North's became a powerhouse in Wellington Rugby and the Parramata raiders folded not long after.

Wellington League never recovered and has been going downhill ever since. There is now a lack of ANY money in the Wellington game and with Wellington Rugby on the rise there are very few juniors joining each year. Its not yet Terminal but it isn't far off.

 

[playdaball]

Struggling on the West Coast with only 2 teams now and Tasman now down to 3 teams.
West Coast has produced many great Kiwis including the likes of Pongia and Mountford but the area has changed and now not a lot of jobs avaiable.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Waikato down to 3 teams and Manawatu down to 2 teams in men's....rugby league is on life sport In many centers around the country.

 

[DlEHARD]

So sad to see NZ rugby league struggle so much...

 

[LeagueXIII]

The article points out the reason for the decline:Wellington clubs used to be successful in a NATIONAL comp that KIWI players played in.

NZRL need to sort out a new national comp with pathways to the NRL and a second NRL team. Seriously, their league should be a strong second teir comp like QLD / NSW cup or the English Championship by now.

The national comp these clubs refer to was a knock out (like the Challenge Cup) in which all the premiers from different provinces and some runners up played at the end of the season.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

No its not that at all. It was self interest that killed the golden goose. 30 years ago League was strong in the Hutt, Wainui and Wellington City and players came from other districts to play there.
Then a long came a couple of Porirua teams, Marist Northern then Parramatta. and all the Porirua boys, myself included switched to the Porirua teams, we signed Ken Laban, who was coaching a successful Wainui team at the time to coach and MN then won the next two Wellington Champs.
Upper Hutt, Wanui and Randwick then effectively created the situation that caused Marist Northern to fold believing that the players would flock back. They didn't, they went to Rugby on mass, North's became a powerhouse in Wellington Rugby and the Parramata raiders folded not long after.

Wellington League never recovered and has been going downhill ever since. There is now a lack of ANY money in the Wellington game and with Wellington Rugby on the rise there are very few juniors joining each year. Its not yet Terminal but it isn't far off.

So would at the very least a decent national league help in NZ? Beacuse from what I can see there isn't one.

 

[Te Kaha]

So would at the very least a decent national league help in NZ? Beacuse from what I can see there isn't one.

There isn't the money. The travel and accommodation costs alone would cripple most clubs and the NZRL is flat broke.

Plus now that the NRL and SR teams scout juniors and sign them to development contracts as teenagers there are simply not enough players.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

There isn't the money. The travel and accommodation costs alone would cripple most clubs and the NZRL is flat broke.

Plus now that the NRL and SR teams scout juniors and sign them to development contracts as teenagers there are simply not enough players.

Hmm thanks for the info. It would be nice if the NRL helped fund a national comp. The benefits for the NRL are there in terms of player development (which helps with player depth for future expansion) and a strong Kiwi team leading to competitive internationals. It would basically give the NRL a third, strong, teir 2 comp and would give better pathways for New Zealand players.

 

[latingringo101]

The only way I can see potential growth in NZ is another NRL team. There's apparently a bid for a South Island or Wellington team to play in NSW cup, but that's about it.

Warriors are the only professional team in NZ which is the only pro chance for young kiwi players to aim for (apart from playing for kiwis of course).

 

[LeagueXIII]

Hmm thanks for the info. It would be nice if the NRL helped fund a national comp. The benefits for the NRL are there in terms of player development (which helps with player depth for future expansion) and a strong Kiwi team leading to competitive internationals. It would basically give the NRL a third, strong, teir 2 comp and would give better pathways for New Zealand players.

Why can't they get private owner to run the club. If Melbourne can get a club up and going there is no reason NZ can't have a second side.

 

[playdaball]

The only way I can see potential growth in NZ is another NRL team.

The provinces were stronger before the Warriors entered the ARL / NRL.

 

[LeagueXIII]

The problem I would imagine also would be the hundreds of kids going to Australia to try to get an NRL contract. A second team in NZ would put a stop to this or at least slow it greatly. Of course the greedy Australian NRL clubs wouldn't want their supply line drying up from NZ.
Again this is where leadership comes in..............do we have any?

 

[latingringo101]

The provinces were stronger before the Warriors entered the ARL / NRL.

I've heard similar stories around the world where when a pro team starts up the old local competition plays 2nd fiddle to the new kid on the block. In NZs case it doesn't help that;

A) Union went pro and now have 5 pro Rugby Clubs in NZ compared to 1 RL club.
B) Warriors allowed the best talent to move to Auckland to play pro RL
C) NRL scouts in recent years have taken young kiwi kids early and developed them through their club ranks on the other side of the Tasman.

At least a 2nd pro team could at least stop the flow of ,many young Kiwi kids coming to OZ in drones and raise the standard of local RL competition in NZ.

 

[adamkungl]

I'd say the increased money available in Aus is a bigger drain on local playing talent than either the Warriors or Union

 

[Springs09]

It's not just NRL scouts. My club has had about 10 Kiwis come and go in the last 3 years. Just a regular country footy team. All the other clubs in the area seem to get 2 or 3 NZers come over every year.

And there is money on offer yes but it's not like it's enough to make a living off let alone big dollars.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

So to move forward rather than backwards, what do we do? I don't think we'll ever have a situation again where 10 kiwis are playing in any domestic side but the way forward for NZ is obviously:

• A second NRL side
• Warriors and NZ2 reserves playing in the QLD or NSW Cup
• A new national league based of the Auckland RL with provincial sides from the other major centres supported by the NRL and RLIF
• Development of the strength of the league with the goal of having it at a standard of the second teir comps in Australia and at a level where the Warriors and NZ2 seconds can play in it

This gives us a solid playing base in NZ, pathways from domestic, through to semi-pro level (NZ2 & Warriors reserves) then to the NRL. Helps the NRL with more player numbers, helps the Kiwis with greater depth and development of players. Our sport won't be taken seriously by the general public in NZ until we take it seriously.

 

[Stallion]

So to move forward rather than backwards, what do we do? I don't think we'll ever have a situation again where 10 kiwis are playing in any domestic side but the way forward for NZ is obviously:

• A second NRL side
• Warriors and NZ2 reserves playing in the QLD or NSW Cup
• A new national league based of the Auckland RL with provincial sides from the other major centres supported by the NRL and RLIF
• Development of the strength of the league with the goal of having it at a standard of the second teir comps in Australia and at a level where the Warriors and NZ2 seconds can play in it

This gives us a solid playing base in NZ, pathways from domestic, through to semi-pro level (NZ2 & Warriors reserves) then to the NRL. Helps the NRL with more player numbers, helps the Kiwis with greater depth and development of players. Our sport won't be taken seriously by the general public in NZ until we take it seriously.

And increased presence in NZ Schools would help as well!