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18th club, whose next?

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,547
Rooster GIF

Nat Geo Wild Hello GIF by Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER's Exotic Animal ER

horse GIF
More bulldog than bronco

Since super league they have distanced themselves from how the game is run
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,000
So you think the club man on there was lying? Why do you think he would do that?
Last thing anyone from clubland wants to look is greedy..... but they certainly are, and they certainly asked for it, when the dolphins came in, and then again with Png, and now with Perth, it might not be an official statement, but a few club ceos having coffee together rubbing their hands over free expansion money happened nearly every time they've had their little get-togethers, among asking for other revenues, and frankly there's nothing wrong it, if they are letting go another slice of pie to another potential future Melbourne Storm, then they'll lose players and money to that new entity, it's another reason they are keen on Norths to be the 18th, coz they won't have too many rookies lost at their own clubs since they already have a patch in northern Sydney
 
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MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,000
You really do think PVL has way more power than he does.

It isn't like he can pocket the expansion fee.
Mestrov may not of asked for it but doesn't mean others haven't.
PerfRed's mate Politis certainly did, he is the driver of the licence fee , and has got all the Ceos to back that, mestrov might have denied it, or maybe he wasn't going to publicly announce that he ok with it, but its certainly "a thing", there reasoning is that American sports do it all the time, and they've been collectively the brands of the NRL, so any newbie should pay the cabal for a seat at the table
 

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,266
PerfRed's mate Politis certainly did, he is the driver of the licence fee , and has got all the Ceos to back that, mestrov might have denied it, or maybe he wasn't going to publicly announce that he ok with it, but its certainly "a thing", there reasoning is that American sports do it all the time, and they've been collectively the brands of the NRL, so any newbie should pay the cabal for a seat at the table

Mestrov didn't push back when Read said his part. So some clubs would of mentioned it
 

Matt_CBY

Juniors
Messages
1,481
Reported by Brent Read - so you know take with it less than a grain of salt.

PNG to come in 2028 regardless of what is decided with Perth.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,000
Dude you literally say the clubs are greedy and are in the way of expansion all the time(which I actually agree with). Now it doesn't suit your agenda they're boy scouts.
Incorrect, he doth never blames the clubs (ceos)
Just always blames Saint Peter V'landys, he is solely to blame, and is the root of all evil in our great game especially here on the west coast
 
Messages
648
Newtown’s hopes of a top-flight rugby league revival have been dashed after the NRL not only knocked back the Jets bid, but the rest of the expansion hopefuls.
It is understood that eight bid parties were told that their submissions had been rejected by the NRL. The governing body still maintains it hopes to expand the competition to 20 teams, but it seems the process may take longer than the game had hoped.

It can be revealed that three bids came from New Zealand’s South Island, while there were two from Brisbane and another from Central Queensland.

A team based out of Fiji were also considered, while Western Australia had its bid rejected earlier this month.

Discussions between the NRL and the Western Australian government are continuing in the hope the Western Bears can be resurrected and become the game’s 18th team.

It will be announced as soon as next month that PNG will be part of an expanded competition, but they will not enter the NRL until 2028.

The Newtown Jet’s dream of a return to top-flight rugby league have been crushed … for now. Picture: David Swift

The Newtown Jet’s dream of a return to top-flight rugby league have been crushed … for now. Picture: David Swift
Perth may still come in a year earlier if the NRL can find a way to get that bid back on track. The NRL felt the eight bid parties did not make a strong enough business case to be granted a license. The NRL also hold reservations about issuing a new franchise to private owners.

They may now explore the prospect of taking ownership of a new team with another team in Brisbane or a second New Zealand team the most likely outcome.

They hope to do the same with Western Australia – which would mirror that of the AFL and their ownership of the new Tasmanian team.

NRL boss Andrew Abdo insisted expansion was not dead.

“Expansion is an exciting priority for the game,” Abdo said.

“The (Australian Rugby League) Commission have made it clear that any expansion must have a strong business case that delivers value for all stakeholders.

“We are working on the right plan and model for every region. New Zealand, Western Australia, Queensland and PNG are strategic, vibrant and growing rugby league regions.

“At this stage, the bids submitted have not met the necessary threshold to be accepted. We continue to work to strengthen the case for any potential expansion.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says expansion remains a priority, but admits the current bids fell short of the necessary threshold to be accepted. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says expansion remains a priority, but admits the current bids fell short of the necessary threshold to be accepted. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
After flirting with Western Australia, Newtown entered a partnership with Ipswich – to be known simply as the Jets – but their bid was knocked back.

So too were the three New Zealand bids – including the South Island Kea run by former NRL boss David Moffett.

A team called the Southern Orcas were another putting their hands up for inclusion.

The latest rejection shapes as another blow to the Brisbane Firehawks, who were part of the bid process that led to the Dolphins being added to the competition in 2023.

The Firehawks are a financial juggernaut with cash reserves of $25 million, total assets of $57.4 million and equity of $52.4 million.

However, the NRL is believed to be reluctant to add another team in southeast Queensland given the presence of the Broncos, Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans.
 

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