18th club, whose next?

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

It is like some people on here don’t understand basic economics.

It is a third world country with massive violence and security issues. So there’s that firstly.

Secondly, the average weekly earnings is significantly less than what somebody would earn on unemployment benefits here (average weekly earnings is $50 AUD). Pray do tell how could anybody actively support a side when they can barely survive? Could you go and watch your Roosters play if you’re earning $50 a week?

He worships a brutal communist dictator who was worse than Hitler. It's hard to take anything he says seriously.

 

[Colk]

Covid showed everyone the impact of having too many borders

Relocating teams has come at a huge cost

They will go with the safe option

CC Bears

When they pick the next side in 2-3 years COVID (which is a 1 in 100 year event) won’t be a consideration

CC Bears simply won’t happen. Nobody is talking about it from the ARLC. There is no press about it. Even the Bears have abandoned this option. Simply put it won’t happen because it makes no sense (not unless you are stuck in 1982)

It’ll be either Perth, NZ 2 or if they have given up hope on the game being anything outside of QLD/NSW then Brisbane 3. They are the options.

 

[Colk]

He worships a brutal communist dictator who was worse than Hitler. It's hard to take anything he says seriously.

That’s true - I forgot about the Stalin name there for a second

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

When they pick the next side in 2-3 years COVID (which is a 1 in 100 year event) won’t be a consideration

CC Bears simply won’t happen. Nobody is talking about it from the ARLC. There is no press about it. Even the Bears have abandoned this option. Simply put it won’t happen because it makes no sense (not unless you are stuck in 1982)

It’ll be either Perth, NZ 2 or if they have given up hope on the game being anything outside of QLD/NSW then Brisbane 3. They are the options.

Perth is the best option and the one that will bring the most optimism into the game.

 

[MugaB]

When they pick the next side in 2-3 years COVID (which is a 1 in 100 year event) won’t be a consideration

CC Bears simply won’t happen. Nobody is talking about it from the ARLC. There is no press about it. Even the Bears have abandoned this option. Simply put it won’t happen because it makes no sense (not unless you are stuck in 1982)

It’ll be either Perth, NZ 2 or if they have given up hope on the game being anything outside of QLD/NSW then Brisbane 3. They are the options.

What if it was the Bears playing 6 at CC and 6 in the new SFS, as NSO is not up to standard... but can be used for trials...
I would say that would be tempting if you could have another SFS tenant that wasn't just the roosters, i did see someone mention that the rabbitohs are thinking of returning there, but having the bears, roosters, rabbits and if you can get 3 dragons games there (9 @WIN) then its a stadium in full use maybe nearly every weekend

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

What if it was the Bears playing 6 at CC and 6 in the new SFS, as NSO is not up to standard... but can be used for trials...
I would say that would be tempting if you could have another SFS tenant that wasn't just the roosters, i did see someone mention that the rabbitohs are thinking of returning there, but having the bears, roosters, rabbits and if you can get 3 dragons games there (9 @WIN) then its a stadium in full use maybe nearly every weekend

That's the worst possible scenario for the game. It'll be adding another six games to Sydney, which already has over 100, and depriving Perth of six.

The only way something like this could be of benefit is if the Tigers rebrand as the Western Tigers and take 8 or 9 games to Perth, with the long view of relocating permanently to Western Australia.

 

[Colk]

What if it was the Bears playing 6 at CC and 6 in the new SFS, as NSO is not up to standard... but can be used for trials...
I would say that would be tempting if you could have another SFS tenant that wasn't just the roosters, i did see someone mention that the rabbitohs are tjunking of returning there, but bears, roosters, rabbits and if you can get 3 dragons games there (9 @WIN) then its a stadium in full use maybe nearly every weekend

Still no. 3 tenants is more than enough. You’d be getting a game there every week.

Furthermore, with regards to North Sydney/CC that area should be serviced by at least Manly, possibly even the Roosters. That would help the game more than adding another team and creating a situation where you have three teams with average support. Manly and the Roosters should see this and in turn be given the opportunity to grow their supporter base

This isn’t an anti Bears thing. I actually don’t mind the Bears per se but the time has come to move outside of NSW. Properly expand.

 

[MugaB]

That's the worst possible scenario for the game. It'll be adding another six games to Sydney, which already has over 100, and depriving Perth of six.

The only way something like this could be of benefit is if the Tigers rebrand as the Western Tigers and take 8 or 9 games to Perth, with the long view of relocating permanently to Western Australia.

Huh??? Not sure how not using the brand NEW SFS is a problem... besides your assuming that PVL or the ARLC want perth, seems that they are going for NZ2 by media reports... the safer option is to consolidate sydney before expanding to far away areas that could possibly become money pits... like ive said before, i want Perth, Cc, NZ2, PNG etc but not touch what already exists, expansion is about expanding what already exists, not stealing from peter to give to paul

 

[Colk]

Huh??? Not sure how not using the brand NEW SFS is a problem... besides your assuming that PVL or the ARLC want perth, seems that they are going for NZ2 by media reports... the safer option is to consolidate sydney before expanding to far away areas that could possibly become money pits... like ive said before, i want Perth, Cc, NZ2, PNG etc but not touch what already exists, expansion is about expanding what already exists, not stealing from peter to give to paul

Well NZ 2 (preferably South Island) would be fine. I wouldn’t want another Auckland side. Anyway South Island or Perth is true expansion because you are giving access to the game to people who have no access

 

[MugaB]

Well NZ 2 (preferably South Island) would be fine. I wouldn’t want another Auckland side. Anyway South Island or Perth is true expansion because you are giving access to the game to people who have no access

Not really, your talking about "live" access
PR is a Melbourne storm fan, like i mentioned before, a subscription to Kayo can give him all the access nessesary...
Personally i want to expand where the players are now, not where they could be IF there was an NRL team, we expanded previously from 1908 all the way to 1988 to places where the players were, after that it went sideways coz we tried to push league onto areas who weren't really ready to create new players to replace that inagural roster

 

[Colk]

Not really, your talking about "live" access
PR is a Melbourne storm fan, like i mentioned before, a subscription to Kayo can give him all the access nessesary...
Personally i want to expand where the players are now, not where they could be IF there was an NRL team, we expanded previously from 1908 all the way to 1988 to places where the players were, after that it went sideways coz we tried to push league onto areas who weren't really ready to create new players to replace that inagural roster

Live access is the most important thing though.

For example, PR might be a Melbourne fan but he isn’t going to many games because of his location and he isn’t likely to be a member because how would he use it. So in all of this example, he is not helping the bottom line of his club. The only way in which you can impact on the revenue of a club and becoming an active member is by doing these things.

On the second point, I kind of understand where you are coming from, although I would add the real reason why it went pear shaped was because they added too many teams at the same time and because of the war. If Super League didn’t come around, we would still have Perth and added Adelaide and Melbourne over time.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Live access is the most important thing though.

For example, PR might be a Melbourne fan but he isn’t going to many games because of his location and he isn’t likely to be a member because how would he use it. So in all of this example, he is not helping the bottom line of his club. The only way in which you can impact on the revenue of a club and becoming an active member is by doing these things.

On the second point, I kind of understand where you are coming from, although I would add the real reason why it went pear shaped was because they added too many teams at the same time and because of the war. If Super League didn’t come around, we would still have Perth and added Adelaide and Melbourne over time.

The reason expansion failed in 1995 is because Arthurson and Quayle forced the four expansion clubs to cover the travel and accommodation costs of visiting teams in first grade and reserve grade. It was an act of bastardry by Arthurson and Quayle to benefit Sydney clubs because they couldn't afford to travel to Townsville, Auckland and Perth.

I cannot think of anything more short sighted and selfish than mugaB's suggestion to add an 10th team in Sydney that will play a few token games in Perth. For a start, the other nine Sydney clubs wouldn't accept it as they don't want another competitor. Plus Sydney cannot support nine teams, so it sure as hell doesn't need a tenth.

Plus no one gives a f**k about the Bears!

They had a tiny fanbase, many of whom are either dead or in a retirement home because it's been 23 years since they were around. We need less broke teams in Sydney that rely on gamblers having a spin on the pokies, not more.

 

[Perth Red]

Fortunately Vlandys seems to have seen the error of his ways and his last comment on the 18th club had perth first and nz2 as a secondany thought. There won’t be another nsw or brisbane club. It will come down to which of perth or nz2 can get the biggest backers to give the super conservative nrl confidence they won’t have to invest anything.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Fortunately Vlandys seems to have seen the error of his ways and his last comment on the 18th club had perth first and nz2 as a secondany thought. There won’t be another nsw or brisbane club. It will come down to which of perth or nz2 can get the biggest backers to give the super conservative nrl confidence they won’t have to invest anything.

Perth is probably at the front of the queue.

I'll never understand why Redcliffe built such a small stadium. It would have been better to invest in building one big stand with state of the art corporate suites than erecting three small ones.

 

[Perth Red]

Perth is probably at the front of the queue.

I'll never understand why Redcliffe built such a small stadium. It would have been better to invest in building one big stand with state of the art corporate suites than erecting three small ones.

tbf it hasnt looked they'd need anything else. Designing it so it couldn't at some point be enlarged was a bit short sighted though.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

tbf it hasnt looked they'd need anything else. Designing it so it couldn't at some point be enlarged was a bit short sighted though.

The way they and the ARLC went about expansion has been underwhelming and contemptuous. I tried to be positive and overlook the negatives, but that doesn't do the game any good.

The only way the Dolphins could work is a) as a Moreton Bay branded club playing all 12 games played at a 25k to 30k Dolphin Oval and b) under the name Moreton Bay Dolphins.

How the f**k do people who live in Moreton Bay travel to Lang Park on a Thursday or Friday night?

Playing games in Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast will make full season ticketed memberships unappealing for most people.

I'll still have them as my second club, but it's hard to see it being as successful as it could have been.

@The Great Dane was right.

 

[Perth Red]

Some of us have been saying that all along lol. That's why I think Firehawks where a better bet to be Brisbanes second club playing out of Suncorp FT. But News ltd didnt want that as they would be a genuine second Brisbane club and they didnt want that level of competition for the Broncos. Having a half arsed Dolphins that doesnt represent anyone specifically and plays games in three places suits News just fine.

 

[flippikat]

Plus no one gives a f**k about the Bears!

They had a tiny fanbase, many of whom are either dead or in a retirement home because it's been 23 years since they were around. We need less broke teams in Sydney that rely on gamblers having a spin on the pokies, not more.

The Bears had a few good things going for them..

1) Red & Black colors. A classic sports combo, sadly missing in the NRL.

HOWEVER - any expansion team could pick red & black to wear.

2) A pretty cool mascot.

HOWEVER - A bear isn't native to Australia or NZ, and plenty of other decent indigenous animals would make great emblems.

3) They were "Lovable losers", and everyone had a soft spot for them.

HOWEVER - Is that really the culture you want an expansion team to be saddled with?

4) They saw the writing on the wall, and tried to move before they were pushed, their return would be a righting of a tragic wrong (ie the nascent NRL not ring-fencing & supporting them in 1998).

Yeah, well, you got me there... BUT the Sydney/Central Coast market is oversaturated as it is.. for the Bears to come back, it'd have to be somewhere outside NSW.. and unless it's "take this brand or you don't get a license" from the NRL, expansion bids won't want anything to do with them, due to "HOWEVER"s 1, 2 and 3 above - AND the niggling concern that the Bears may up and leave for NSW once they're back in.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Some of us have been saying that all along lol. That's why I think Firehawks where a better bet to be Brisbanes second club playing out of Suncorp FT. But News ltd didnt want that as they would be a genuine second Brisbane club and they didnt want that level of competition for the Broncos. Having a half arsed Dolphins that doesnt represent anyone specifically and plays games in three places suits News just fine.

The problem with our game is its administration is neither professional nor ethical. We have people in charge who are emotionally connected to certain regions and clubs, thus skewing their governance to suit whichever club they support or region they're from. Then there's News Ltd's control over the game and ownership of the Broncos. This no doubt influenced the selection of Redcliffe as it was the smallest threat to the the Broncos.

The only way we can salvage this monumental corruption is by convincing the Queensland Government to upgrade Dolphin Oval to a 25k seat boutique stadium over the next ten years with adequate cover for spectators to shield them from rain. The ground is built on the peninsula, so it's going to be subjected to strong cold winds in the middle of winter. God help the attendees if it happens to be raining on game day. Rename the club to Moreton Bay Dolphins at all levels, from U7 to NRL. f**k Redcliffe. If they want to be in a national competition then they need to represent a vast area, and that begins with their brand.

I also was in favour of the Firehawks, but I've got no choice but to adopt The Dolphins as my second team as they're the only option.

 

[Perth Red]

The problem with our game is its administration is neither professional nor ethical. We have people in charge who are emotionally connected to certain regions and clubs, thus skewing their governance to suit whichever club they support or region they're from. Then there's News Ltd's control over the game and ownership of the Broncos. This no doubt influenced the selection of Redcliffe as it was the smallest threat to the the Broncos.

The only way we can salvage this monumental corruption is by convincing the Queensland Government to upgrade Dolphin Oval to a 25k seat boutique stadium over the next ten years with adequate cover for spectators to shield them from rain. The ground is built on the peninsula, so it's going to be subjected to strong cold winds in the middle of winter. God help the attendees if it happens to be raining on game day. Rename the club to Moreton Bay Dolphins at all levels, from U7 to NRL. f**k Redcliffe. If they want to be in a national competition then they need to represent a vast area, and that begins with their brand.

I also was in favour of the Firehawks, but I've got no choice but to adopt The Dolphins as my second team as they're the only option.

Still convinced you create another Manly or Cronulla with that approach. Better bet would be for Dolphins to commit ten games to Suncorp and work damn hard to be Brisbanes genuine second team attracting fans from across the city.