18th club, whose next?

[docbrown]

You can relocate the Sharks to Perth once they go into receivership from their bungled leagues club redevelopment. Apparently the cost blowout to finish the club is 30 million more dollars

In 20 years time the other Sydney clubs are going to dwarf the Sharks if the Sharks stay in Sydney.

 

[docbrown]

It would be a great excuse though to tell the missus I'm off to Perth to watch the Tigers.
If they lose, which is likely, I could drown my sorrows at the CBH with some pints of icy cold Redbacks then recover on the beach as the sun goes down over the Indian Ocean.

Yeah that sounds good. I'd do the same except there's always a chance though of running into Perth Red in real life and being bored to death, so it's not worth the risk.

 

[Nutz]

In 20 years time the other Sydney clubs are going to dwarf the Sharks if the Sharks stay in Sydney.

If you go by my theory you won't need home grounds in the future as spectators will become a myth as everyone will be huddled around their tv.
Cheaper for dad to pay a subscription than to take the family to the footy and the sponsors would rather an extra mil+ world wide to see their product flashed around the electronic advert screen.
Small grounds will be still around for pathways and training fields.... like WT Centre of Excellence. (So far it's done them diddly squat)
I guess I've just got sour grapes because my tigers haven't got a ground except for a collapsing LO and an oval in never never land called CS.

 

[blue bags]

If you go by my theory you won't need home grounds in the future as spectators will become a myth as everyone will be huddled around their tv.
Cheaper for dad to pay a subscription than to take the family to the footy and the sponsors would rather an extra mil+ world wide to see their product flashed around the electronic advert screen.
Small grounds will be still around for pathways and training fields.... like WT Centre of Excellence. (So far it's done them diddly squat)
I guess I've just got sour grapes because my tigers haven't got a ground except for a collapsing LO and an oval in never never land called CS.

West Tiger's centre of excellence cost
Over $80 million to build
It could be used for junior pathways in the future
Involving all club's. N R L

 

[Nutz]

West Tiger's centre of excellence cost
Over $80 million to build
It could be used for junior pathways in the future
Involving all club's. N R L

That's right Baggers. Interesting enough is that Wests Tigers don't own it, they lease it. I doubt WT will co-share with other NRL clubs but these type of centres will spring up everywhere...they are already deep in discussions about a CS Centre of Excellence.
As you said these centres will be used for pathways including the women.
Also other sports will co-lease to reduce costs like soccer etc...well that's what the WT COE is doing. (I can't remember who else resides there but there is at least 1 other sporting club)
The thing with COE centres is that it doesn't have to be a huge venue but just have the best facilities and have a field for the team to train on.

 

[Iamback]

Its not about the amount, its about the actual cattle itself, if they aren't competing at a high level, then they are just park footy players who aren't going to advance or expand the player pool

Correct

 

[mongoose]

I still don't get how adding a team in a League area (NSW, QLD, NZ, PNG) is suddenly going to increase the player pool... there are not 20-30 NRL standard players just waiting in the wings. The Dolphins are not full of players from the Redcliffe/Moreton Bay area and probably never will be lol QLD is not set up like Sydney.

 

[Centy Coast]

I still don't get how adding a team in a League area (NSW, QLD, NZ, PNG) is suddenly going to increase the player pool... there are not 20-30 NRL standard players just waiting in the wings. The Dolphins are not full of players from the Redcliffe/Moreton Bay area and probably never will be lol QLD is not set up like Sydney.

It certainly won’t increase the current player pool, though in a few years it will inspire more players to play in those areas and certainly attract more players to those areas with having a more direct NRL pathway.
It will also give more players an opportunity to showcase their skills.

 

[Colk]

It certainly won’t increase the current player pool, though in a few years it will inspire more players to play in those areas and certainly attract more players to those areas with having a more direct NRL pathway.
It will also give more players an opportunity to showcase their skills.

To a degree yes it will. Nevertheless, there hasn’t been a club since the end of Dragons where every player comes from that specific region. It just doesn’t happen.

Look at Queensland clubs, they are poaching blokes from NSW. Same with the Sydney clubs poaching players from Queensland.

Clubs have to identify the best players, wherever they can get them from.

 

[Centy Coast]

To a degree yes it will. Nevertheless, there hasn’t been a club since the end of Dragons where every player comes from that specific region. It just doesn’t happen.

Look at Queensland clubs, they are poaching blokes from NSW. Same with the Sydney clubs poaching players from Queensland.

Clubs have to identify the best players, wherever they can get them from.

I really question these so called talent scouts at clubs, Nicho was at Manly through Harold Matt’s, S.G.Ball and Jersey Flegg and they let him go, the Saifiti brothers tried out with St George, Bradman Best was taken around by the Roosters.
As I’ve said it’s not how good you are it’s who you know and when you do get that opportunity what you can make of it. I know average players who have made it, some because of their last name “Fulton” .
I’ve seen others who were good but not outstanding players like young Manly centre Tolutau Koula at junior level who are killing it in the NRL, the gap isn’t really that big, players just need to be given an opportunity.

 

[Colk]

I really question these so called talent scouts at clubs, Nicho was at Manly through Harold Matt’s, S.G.Ball and Jersey Flegg and they let him go, the Saifiti brothers tried out with St George, Bradman Best was taken around by the Roosters.
As I’ve said it’s not how good you are it’s who you know and when you do get that opportunity what you can make of it. I know flops who have made it, some because of their last name “Fulton” .
I’ve seen others who were good but not outstanding players like young Manly centre Tolutau Koula at junior level who are killing it in the NRL, the gap isn’t really that big, players just need to be given an opportunity.

Yeah that is true. There are also other factors - you might not be the best in your age group, you might have suffered some injuries in the early stages which means that clubs pass up on you, there is also some degree of politics as you have rightly pointed out.

 

[Centy Coast]

So what is the general consensus for when team 18 will be admitted 2027 ?, with team 19 what the same year or 2030 ?.

 

[Centy Coast]

Another player I have watched from a young age is Jacob Preston, he played his juniors in the Manly competition but they couldn’t spot talent even in their own juniors, idiots, played in the Roosters S.G.Ball and Jersey Flegg squads, then made his NSW Cup debut with North Sydney before being given a lifeline this year by the Bulldogs.
Despite the Bulldogs having players like Kikau, Mahoney, Burton, Addo-Carr, TPJ, Averillo etc on their roster Preston was the Bulldogs 2023 player of the year.
Jacob was easily the Bulldogs cheapest signing and no doubt their best value for money.

 

[Iamback]

I still don't get how adding a team in a League area (NSW, QLD, NZ, PNG) is suddenly going to increase the player pool... there are not 20-30 NRL standard players just waiting in the wings. The Dolphins are not full of players from the Redcliffe/Moreton Bay area and probably never will be lol QLD is not set up like Sydney.

Look at the amount of debuts we saw with the Dolphins, A few of them were floating in lower grades. I'd expect the same next year and so on.

Them being in NRL allowed the already existing strong pathways another layer on top of it, With expert coaching etc

A team in a new area using the same model. Needs to find 70 or 80 players, As opposed to the 40 odd the Dolphins did. That is the benefit with going QLD in next

 

[Iamback]

So what is the general consensus for when team 18 will be admitted 2027 ?, with team 19 what the same year or 2030 ?.

Depends on where they are going, I think the 20 teams by 2032 is not possible.

2027 for the next seems possible. I have asked this question before but how long to set up decent pathways in WA? You need to work backwards with teams in new areas

 

[Iamback]

Yeah that is true. There are also other factors - you might not be the best in your age group, you might have suffered some injuries in the early stages which means that clubs pass up on you, there is also some degree of politics as you have rightly pointed out.

Nicho Hynes' issues when coming through the grades are known, There would be many more in that situation that just stop playing

 

[Centy Coast]

Look at the amount of debuts we saw with the Dolphins, A few of them were floating in lower grades. I'd expect the same next year and so on.

Them being in NRL allowed the already existing strong pathways another layer on top of it, With expert coaching etc

A team in a new area using the same model. Needs to find 70 or 80 players, As opposed to the 40 odd the Dolphins did. That is the benefit with going QLD in next

Yes and look at some of the so called experienced players the Dolphins used Brenko Lee, Endrick Lee, Tesi Niu, Euan Aitken, they were horrible, even Jesse Bromwich was desperately holding onto his past glories.
The Dolphins were brought in earlier than expected, they should had another year to prepare.
I honestly can’t see another QLD side being added so close to the Dolphins admittance and I’m not saying that because I am pro-Bears, pro-Perth, but then again it is the NRL we are talking about lol.

 

[Iamback]

Yes and look at some of the so called experienced players the Dolphins used Brenko Lee, Endrick Lee, Tesi Niu, Euan Aitken, they were horrible, even Jesse Bromwich was desperately holding onto his past glories.
The Dolphins were brought in earlier than expected, they should had another year to prepare.
I honestly can’t see another QLD side being added so close to the Dolphins admittance and I’m not saying that because I am pro-Bears, pro-Perth, but then again it is the NRL we are talking about lol.

I don't see it either but Brisbane Easts would use the argument that if they had access to full time coaches, S & C along with collecting a handful of players that they could build a handy side.

 

[Perth Red]

So what is the general consensus for when team 18 will be admitted 2027 ?, with team 19 what the same year or 2030 ?.

Likely 2028 in line with new tv deal, unless deal get negotiated in 2025/6 incumbents win and tv want nine games in 2027. Problem is that leaves a new club very little time to be ready.
Ideally tv deal is done 2025 and new club comes in 2028.

Club 19 and 20 many years off imo. have to remember it was literally a suggestion by politis in a meeting earlier this year, it’s not been an nrl strategy they’ve been working on for years! Only caveat to that is depends on feds and wa govt funding opportunities. That could fast track club 19 if both are too good to turn down.

 

[Wb1234]

I still don't get how adding a team in a League area (NSW, QLD, NZ, PNG) is suddenly going to increase the player pool... there are not 20-30 NRL standard players just waiting in the wings. The Dolphins are not full of players from the Redcliffe/Moreton Bay area and probably never will be lol QLD is not set up like Sydney.

Dolphins promised to spend 1 or 2 millon pa ( can’t remember which) on juniors

that’s new money