I beg to differ on the Brisbane 3 teams thing - maybe I’m including Logan and Ipswich as brisbane. But if the game was run properly, free of News Ltd interference, there would be 3 teams in the Brisbane area by now.
There is a reason why AFL is placing the lions at Springfield in the south west. The growth in Brisbane over next 20 years is predicted to be mainly on the south side of the river not up near Redcliffe, who appear to be happy to rep Sunshine Coast as well which is good for them. Though very few south of the river would go for the dolphins which allows Broncos to probably appeal to 4/5s of the brisbane area population.
I’d say the only reason broncos (News Ltd) didn’t really kick up a fuss about the dolphins in the north is cause they won’t steal the future growth areas of Brisbane from them.
I imagine Lions and AFL would be over the moon dolphins got picked. Two NRL teams based on the northside of the river, leaving AFL to be the only national club on the south (Gabba) and west (Springfield).
I truly think the NRL have kicked an own goal by going with the dolphins and northern suburbs. They’ve handed the south and west to the lions to promote and get kids playing AFL. Broncos can’t be assed promoting the game in the south west.
Just ask yourself which location in Brisbane would piss the AFL off more for a 2nd or 3rd NRL club? The NRL’s answer should have been “wherever the lions HQ is”. They blinked and went for Redcliffe. Huge strategical error by NRL.
Easts tigers and the Brisbane Jets bids were both in the growth areas of Brisbane. And thats exactly where I’d put my 2nd (or 3rd) NRL team.
Hmm I wonder if News Ltd would have been happy with a team in the growth corridor? Is that why Dolphins bid got up?? Did News Ltd influence where the 2nd team would be based?? Hmmm surely News wouldn’t influence NRL decisions like that??? I’m sure there is no precedent or evidence to believe News Ltd would protect their patch as owner of the broncos?? Where have i seen this playbook before??? Hmmm i mean it’s not like the establishment of the SEQ Crushers didnt help spark the SL war?? Hmmm
Anyways… back to southern states
As for Melbourne, everyone’s growth flatted due to covid. They are still projected to pass Sydney by 2030.
And just to clarify, I certainly wouldn’t suggest any media company or NRL neglect Qld and NSW in favour of southern states.
That’s exactly why I’d have had a 3rd brisbane team by now. I’d have saturated the market and kill off the AFL’s attempt to get a foothold anywhere in Brisbane. Teams in south west Brisbane (covering Ipswich), Brisbane Broncos and north Brisbane. Redlands would be about the only place AFL could base itself.
Regardless of brisbane, the NRL need to capture more of the southern markets to grow the game and keep expanding on TV rights deals.
So I don’t think NRL taking pot shots at WA and Victoria helps the cause at all. To the contrary, it leaves their TV audience to stagnant in NSW and QLD. That ain’t good for business.
News Ltd understood this in 1995 with Super League, yet NRL and Sydney administrators seem not to comprehend the value of Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth when it comes to TV rights and ratings or growing the game. Each city should have had NRL clubs for at least the past 25 years.
The fact there is no long term strategy to get Sydney teams moved to Adelaide and Perth, like AFL did with swans and lions - is so absurd it’s not funny. Off the bat, west tigers to Perth and St George or Cronulla to Adelaide. It’s a no brainer. That’s how you grow the TV rights; by getting exposure in markets with what an extra 5m people.
Yet here we are, NRL are still pandering to Sydney claiming it’s the tribalism that makes the game and clearly living in the 70s. Throw in the fact they can’t even secure NSW government funding to upgrade suburban grounds - the future ain’t Sydney.
It was so clear in the 90’s the future was Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and NZ second team. That’s probably what a potential audience of 12-15m on TV. So far, by dumb luck they’ve got Victoria (7m) interested (at least during finals) just cause the Storm are so well run.