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  1. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    True, and the hope would be that successful Australian Super Rugby teams (even if they have a sizable NZ contingent) eventually inspires more talent to come through grass-roots. Short term dip for hopefully longer term growth. A gamble, but all Australian RU has now.
  2. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    If NZ went back to NPC (say, a March to October "super-long" NPC first division) , I imagine it wouldn't be too long before there were calls to expand it internationally - whether it's Aussie syndicates lobbying NZR trying to get in, or NZ Rugby reaching out to Japan or America to hook into...
  3. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    The current setup (5 NZ teams, 4 Aussie teams, Fiji & Moana Pasifika) would be improved with an open player market - allowing any player to play for any team and still being eligible for their country's test team. Expansion beyond that without open player movement is folly.
  4. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    The only way we'd get close to scrapping Super Rugby & bringing back the NPC as the highest level under tests is if the 5 NZ Super Rugby teams get replaced by most (if not ALL) the 14 first division unions in Super Rugby. Now, I'm not sure games like Southland Stags v NSW Waratahs or Bay of...
  5. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    One way to move forward for RU might be to add a few NZ teams (and not scrapping SR as a competition) - either re-jigging the current 5 team boundaries to say 7 or 8.. OR the radical option of scrapping the SR teams and making a number of 1st division unions New Zealand's representatives in SR...
  6. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    You make some great points beyond this, but what I've quoted is the crux of the issue. Generally speaking, NZ professional sports teams NEED to be part of international (usually Australian based) competitions to pay the bills. With Australian rugby union in deep deep trouble, NZ rugby is...
  7. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    It's time to give RU a kick in the pants again. Make them scramble to catch-up with us - on both sides of the Tasman AND across the Pacific.
  8. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    We can carve a niche in those states - the Storm has shown it can be done, and there's a local scene in Perth that's had far too long without a top tier outlet there. BUT expansion there shouldn't be done without also expanding into rugby union's stronghold in New Zealand. The time is perfect...
  9. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    For too long, NRL has been focused on AFL without thinking about the gains that can be made by taking on rugby union. In short - playing talent from NZ & the Pacific Islands. Talent that has skills that can be transferred to the NRL.
  10. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    If that happens then what's the likely contingency if PNG's club collapses.... Central Coast Bears?!?
  11. flippikat

    18th club, whose next?

    Well, now the on-field action is over for the year I guess it's clear-space now for the NRL to get on with some decisions & announcements - right??
  12. flippikat

    NZ 2 .. 360 million dollar bid

    In that scenario, I can see the Warriors taking a game each year to Hamilton & a game each year to Rotorua - with Waikato & Bay of Plenty being big population centres up north.
  13. flippikat

    NZ 2 .. 360 million dollar bid

    Hard convincing Sydney teams to take games anywhere over in NZ - it would need a decent financial incentive for that. I imagine 1 game in Wellington, 1 game in Dunedin & maybe also a trial somewhere else (Nelson? Invercargill? Napier? New Plymouth?) - all other home games in Christchurch...
  14. flippikat

    NZ 2 .. 360 million dollar bid

    Precisely. If the Orcas bid teams up with SI-NRL and one of the compromises is "South Island home games only", then the Wellington Rugby League will launch a major objection to them using the Orcas name.
  15. flippikat

    NZ 2 .. 360 million dollar bid

    Part of the Southern Orcas plan is bringing-in Wellington - they're using the Wellington team's nickname for a start, and I gather that a game (or games) each season in Wellington is in their plan. Branding the club as "South Island" cuts against that.
  16. flippikat

    NZ 2 .. 360 million dollar bid

    Moffett is really painting himself into a corner. He's open to talking with the SI-Bid, but the SI-Bid don't want anything to do with him.. while they're a firm "no" on any dealings with the Orcas. (Maybe they're scared of being dominated & taken-over by the Orcas bid?) It sounds a lot like...
  17. flippikat

    WA BEARS

    Yeah, I'd have to think Adelaide would figure in that scenario. It would be the biggest population centre without a place in the top tier - and most other options would either be too low in population or just risk cannibalizing other teams' supporter bases.
  18. flippikat

    WA BEARS

    If 21 becomes the plan (PNG, NZ 2, Perth AND another SE Queensland team) then team 22 becomes a very interesting choice - potentially we have NZ 3, Adelaide, another Queensland team (Central Qld?), Fiji heck even Central Coast as various shades of possible.
  19. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    I If there's ever another South-East Queensland team added to the NRL & it's Brisbane Easts Tigers-owned, THIS would be perfect for them.
  20. flippikat

    New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

    Yeah - I think we're getting up to the point of enough teams with red (what with the Dolphins just added and the likelihood of Perth Bears and PNG both using red to some degree). Orange & green strike me as especially under-used in the NRL - something the Keas bid has particularly jumped on...

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