18: PNG - govt funded, further expands nrl into the pacific, creates a point of differentiation, makes NRL more important politically, taps into a league stronghold area
19: NZ South Island - taps into growing demand for RL in NZ, creates local rivalries with the warriors and PNG, great new stadium in Christchurch, opportunity to steal market share from union
20: Perth (dependant on stadium upgrade or new rectangle stadium ) - tackle a new market, expand the comp nationally
20 alternative: Brisbane 3 - if having a strong financial backing and supporter backing is more important than a new market and Perth doesn’t get a stadium upgrade then let’s go with Brisbane 3
Depends on how you look at it, it’s either what you want to happen, what you think should happen or what you think is actually gonna happen. For me it’s:-
What I want to happen
18. Brisbane Tigers (Bengals, Sabres etc)- pure parochialism. I’d love more content locally…
19. Perth- would be great to have a team in a new market
20. PNG- if they could land this, that would be something special for both RL and PNG!
What I think should happen
18. NZ2- strike whilst the iron is hot. Never been a better time to grow the game in NZ. Was against the idea a few months ago but have changed my tune hearing from the locals and seeing what the Wahs have done
19. Perth- linked to above, but more for expanding to a location that seems to be willing to support a franchise where it will need it as it will be a shorter term drain on the comp (no juniors, no large, established fanbase).
20. PNG or Bris3- if it that timeframe a PNG team is still viable, do it- it’s a big thinking plan. If not, Bris3 is a slam dunk (and would have given the Dolphins breathing space to establish)
what I think will happen
No idea, seems like for a while PNG were a shoe in, but anything I say here is just a guess……