Easts Tigers are too big to not be in the NRL

[The Daddy3]

Ok so my initial opinion was that Easts Tigers should merge with Ipswich Jets to bid to become the 3rd Brisbane club, targeting areas mainly in the 'westerncorridor'.
My opinion has gradually evolved after reading the opinions and insights of posters on here.

They are now as follows:

- Any club entering the NRL targeting western corridor should be based solely around the Ipswich Jets club and identity. I think this is also based on learnings from the Dolphins entry into the NRL. A big reason for their success is that it's a single stand alone club with a rich history and that resonates with the general public from a nostalgia perspective. For that reason I say that if the Jets can go it alone they should.

- Easts Tigers are a resource rich organisation with a long history in their own right and this shouldn't be overlooked. There must be someway to incorporate them into the NRL, they don't necessarily have to come into the NRL as a Brisbane or even a Queensland club.
Perhaps Easts could adopt, invest and take ownership of an Adelaide club?

 

[mongoose]

A big reason for their success is that it's a single stand alone club with a rich history and that resonates with the general public from a nostalgia perspective.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I think the Dolphins just offer an alternative to the Broncos. Branding has been strong and they have promoted themselves very well so far. I doubt most of their fans even know or care about their QLD cup/BRL days. Having history and ties to local league definitely adds to the brand though

 

[Wb1234]

Wentworthville and st Mary’s are also in the same boat. Strong leagues clubs and juniors

Broncos wont allow it as it’s in their territory

 

[steeden.]

Wentworthville and st Mary’s are also in the same boat. Strong leagues clubs and juniors

Broncos wont allow it as it’s in their territory

I could see Easts buying the Broncos if News Ltd was to sell their ownership stake

 

[flippikat]

I could see Easts buying the Broncos if News Ltd was to sell their ownership stake

That makes a lot of sense, and clears the way for an Ipswich/western corridor team to be precisely that (no need to involve Easts)... what honestly is the likelihood News will offload a business that's so lucrative & prestigious?

If that was to happen, it still leaves us with a scrap between Christchurch & Ipswich/Western Corridor for that 20th team too.. so it doesn't solve THAT dilemma.

 

[Perth Red]

nsw and qlnd is full of wealthy pokie dens. Easts nothing special.

 

[The Daddy3]

What about an Adelaide club run by Easts?
Adelaide Easts?

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Easts standalone just isn’t what the NRL and by proxy QRL wants.

It’s not even about what they have. They are asset and cash rich. They have big junior numbers spread across 9 junior clubs (all with huge numbers throughout the grades) and 2 schools. They own prime real estate. Are under a super profitable Leagues Club and have incredible commercial strength.

It’s what they don’t have.

I’ve always admired Tigers and their commercial nous. Mitch Cook is genuine, a very good operator and has passion to boot. Right now any sort of NRL expansion from SEQLD will be solely on the Jets brand; Easts knows this.

 

[The Daddy3]

Easts standalone just isn’t what the NRL and by proxy QRL wants.

It’s not even about what they have. They are asset and cash rich. They have big junior numbers spread across 9 junior clubs (all with huge numbers throughout the grades) and 2 schools. They own prime real estate. Are under a super profitable Leagues Club and have incredible commercial strength.

It’s what they don’t have.

I’ve always admired Tigers and their commercial nous. Mitch Cook is genuine, a very good operator and has passion to boot. Right now any sort of NRL expansion from SEQLD will be solely on the Jets brand; Easts knows this.

When you say it's what they don't have. What do you mean?
What don't they have?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I'm not sure I agree with this. I think the Dolphins just offer an alternative to the Broncos. Branding has been strong and they have promoted themselves very well so far. I doubt most of their fans even know or care about their QLD cup/BRL days. Having history and ties to local league definitely adds to the brand though

The Dolphins are a strong brand, before their NRL entry I mean. It's definitely helped being a famous RL brand rather than the Brisbane Bombers for example. For sure being an alternative to the Broncos is a major part too. But QRL brands like Dolphins and Jets definitely hold weight, especially in their traditional areas.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I could see Easts buying the Broncos if News Ltd was to sell their ownership stake

This is what the Tigers should do. The Broncos are publicly listed so the Tigers could buy up a stake now if they wished.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

That makes a lot of sense, and clears the way for an Ipswich/western corridor team to be precisely that (no need to involve Easts)... what honestly is the likelihood News will offload a business that's so lucrative & prestigious?

If that was to happen, it still leaves us with a scrap between Christchurch & Ipswich/Western Corridor for that 20th team too.. so it doesn't solve THAT dilemma.

It comes down to strength of bids and Ipswich has a functioning club ready to roll with a famous brand, juniors, history and the hard support of the Queensland RL, Christchurch has heaps going for it and I want it to happen but you've got a bunch of bids that aren't strong enough on their own and that's about it. At the moment Ipswich is miles in front.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

What about an Adelaide club run by Easts?
Adelaide Easts?

There is zero incentive for Easts to do that. The incentive for the Bears was to get their brand and jersey back into the NRL. That goal is a non issue for Easts

 

[titoelcolombiano]

When you say it's what they don't have. What do you mean?
What don't they have?

The location... NRL and QRL want the western corridor represented in the NRL.

 

[The Daddy3]

This is what the Tigers should do. The Broncos are publicly listed so the Tigers could buy up a stake now if they wished.

That actually sounds like a super idea. Instead of Easts trying to compete with the Broncos in the centre of Brisbane and cannibalising the market with another club, why not use their resources to buy into and take ownership of the Broncos.

Is there any reason why they wouldn't or couldn't do that?

So in an ideal world we would have the following Queensland clubs in the NRL.

Brisbane Broncos (owned by Easts)
Dolphins
Gold Coast Titans
North Queensland Cowboys
South Queensland Jets

Ok we've solved it fellas, someone get on the phone to Ben Ikin and QRL

 

[Trifili13]

That actually sounds like a super idea. Instead of Easts trying to compete with the Broncos in the centre of Brisbane and cannibalising the market with another club, why not use their resources to buy into and take ownership of the Broncos.

Is there any reason why they wouldn't or couldn't do that?

So in an ideal world we would have the following Queensland clubs in the NRL.

Brisbane Broncos (owned by Easts)
Dolphins
Gold Coast Titans
North Queensland Cowboys
South Queensland Jets

Ok we've solved it fellas, someone get on the phone to Ben Ikin and QRL

Leaving the financing issue to buy the Broncos to one side, would they keep the Broncos brand or Tigers brand? Having a club branded as the Tigers owning another brand called Broncos also playing league doesn’t make sense even if they are not in the same comp. I know this is a much smaller scale, but aren't all clubs under the Panthers Group branded as Panthers once they were acquired?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

That actually sounds like a super idea. Instead of Easts trying to compete with the Broncos in the centre of Brisbane and cannibalising the market with another club, why not use their resources to buy into and take ownership of the Broncos.

Is there any reason why they wouldn't or couldn't do that?

So in an ideal world we would have the following Queensland clubs in the NRL.

Brisbane Broncos (owned by Easts)
Dolphins
Gold Coast Titans
North Queensland Cowboys
South Queensland Jets

Ok we've solved it fellas, someone get on the phone to Ben Ikin and QRL

Easts and Broncos offer each other what the other lacks. Broncos have an NRL license and Easts have the pathways and junior footprint. Both are incredibly profitable. Tigers also have a nice boutique ground for reserves and NRLW which Broncos NRLW team already use.

 

[Wb1234]

Easts and Broncos offer each other what the other lacks. Broncos have an NRL license and Easts have the pathways and junior footprint. Both are incredibly profitable. Tigers also have a nice boutique ground for reserves and NRLW which Broncos NRLW team already use.

Broncos are worth 100 million though and a takeover would have to be a premium

But they will making ten million profits soon so you could get financing for a takeover

 

[Pippen94]

Leaving the financing issue to buy the Broncos to one side, would they keep the Broncos brand or Tigers brand? Having a club branded as the Tigers owning another brand called Broncos also playing league doesn’t make sense even if they are not in the same comp. I know this is a much smaller scale, but aren't all clubs under the Panthers Group branded as Panthers once they were acquired?

I think wests Newcastle rosellas own knights

 

[Canard]

Broncos are worth 100 million though and a takeover would have to be a premium

But they will making ten million profits soon so you could get financing for a takeover

If it was that easy then any old hedge fund could "takeover" the Broncos.

It's mental that people believe that one of the biggest sporting clubs is Australia can just be bought out so easily.

And it's also mental to think that Easts have access to pathways that the Broncos don't.