20th Team. Where?

[jim_57]

Probably a few years to discuss this one so thought it deserved its own thread.

I’ll go South Island NZ, whichever of the bids ticks the most boxes or NRL owned/part-owned once they transition out of Perth ownership.

 

[taste2taste]

Abdo was quoted as saying the 20th team is likely for 2032.

South NZ is the obvious choice but a 2nd QLD gets a lot of mentions from the media, mainly to stop AFL ‘taking over’ QLD

 

[BuffaloRules]

Where do we want it to be , or where do we think it will be ?

My preference is Christchurch , but I’m sure they will have it in West Brisbane as it’s just easier and the QRL knows how to play the NRL politics…

 

[Perth Red]

I’d love adelaide but there’s zero signs of that so Christchurch for me.

 

[flippikat]

I voted Wellington, sheerly out of self-interest.. but I could live with Christchurch getting it - especially if it means regular "home away from home" games at Sky Stadium.

 

[cinders7]

Feels like twentieth is a fait accompli with the QRL pushing the Ipswich Jets + Newtown Jets merger/JV/whatever it'll be.

It'll very likely gain the backing of the Sydney genx/boomers running the game and like the Phins it'll be stress-free for the existing clubs. Simple thing to tick off.

More interesting will be 21 & 22 and having to choose between Adelaide, Brisbane3, Christchurch and Melbourne2.
-How do they unite the NZ2 bids into a strong club?
-Do they de-merge WT, keeping Wests at Campbelltown and send Balmain's history/jersey to Brisbane3 (Easts Tigers), Adelaide or Melbourne2?
-Are clubs like Cronulla still holding back the comp? Is it worth relocating them instead of de-merging the WT?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I would like it to be Christchurch but it's going to be Ipswich

 

[flippikat]

Feels like twentieth is a fait accompli with the QRL pushing the Ipswich Jets + Newtown Jets merger/JV/whatever it'll be.

I think the NRL are gonna see how the Norths/Perth Bears thing goes, and if it works then that opens the door to a similar link-up with Ipswich/Newtown.

It shouldn't be such a factor, because they're different beasts entirely, SEQ needs time to get the Dolphins/Titans/Broncos dynamic right first (and get the Dolphins working well), and NZ2 really is the most compelling next-choice.

If it DOES happen, I hope like hell their main colour is green, with blue & white as trim - we don't need another team with main colour as blue (especially something like royal blue, yet green is under-utilised.

Something like this Vancouver Canucks (NHL) reverse retro.

 

[Canard]

Feels like twentieth is a fait accompli with the QRL pushing the Ipswich Jets + Newtown Jets merger/JV/whatever it'll be.

It'll very likely gain the backing of the Sydney genx/boomers running the game and like the Phins it'll be stress-free for the existing clubs. Simple thing to tick off.

More interesting will be 21 & 22 and having to choose between Adelaide, Brisbane3, Christchurch and Melbourne2.
-How do they unite the NZ2 bids into a strong club?
-Do they de-merge WT, keeping Wests at Campbelltown and send Balmain's history/jersey to Brisbane3 (Easts Tigers), Adelaide or Melbourne2?
-Are clubs like Cronulla still holding back the comp? Is it worth relocating them instead of de-merging the WT?

QLD won't accept a 3rd rate defunct Sydney side being forced on them.

That would be the Paul Cariage of expansion teams.

 

[jim_57]

The Newtown link with Ipswich seems like an unnecessary add on to me. The Blue and White won’t be the main brand and it’d just be diluting the brand to have a different set of colours as away colours for a few thousand Newtown fans left in Sydney.

 

[Last Week]

Yeah this needed another thread.

 

[BuffaloRules]

With the Perth Bears now bedded down … seems like Expansion is going to be dormant for a while …maybe 2030 might get cranked up again to sell a 10th game in 2033 deal

 

[Gobsmacked]

I've excepted lots of moves that the NRL has made that I don't agree with but if a second NZ team is looked over for team 20 - I'M OUT.
Criminal how NZ Rugby league has been treated and I won't be supporting a code that’s capable of such neglect.

So for me it has to be NZ 2. The question is when? 2032 seems like the earliest and that’s purely due to the inclusion of PNG . Perth shouldn't be a problem but if PNG is the nightmare I think it will be, the conversation will be more around a reduction to 18 and it could be 20 years before we're back to talking about team 20.

PNG is a massive mistake. The cost in consequences that this team will have will far exceed 600 million. My hope is either, it's a miracle and it works.. probably 5% chance. There's a clause that allows the NRL to abandon the concept 30% but 65% chance that it's an ongoing drag on the competition for 10 years +

 

[jim_57]

With the Perth Bears now bedded down … seems like Expansion is going to be dormant for a while …maybe 2030 might get cranked up again to sell a 10th game in 2033 deal

Yeh I’d expect them to park it for a while to see how the new teams go, there is no rush for a 10th game as it won’t be priced in to the TV deal. 2033 makes sense.

The NRL will also want to see how owning Perth goes and see if they want to implement the same strategy in Christchurch if none of the bids tick all the boxes, or even Adelaide in the future.

 

[T to the T]

Do any of the old BRL sides who play in the Queensland Cup have a following which could be potentially leveraged for a sync up with Adelaide?

 

[flippikat]

Do any of the old BRL sides who play in the Queensland Cup have a following which could be potentially leveraged for a sync up with Adelaide?

Interesting thought.

We've already seen a Sydney club team-up with one AFL-land city, and there's been chatter before about Ipswich maybe joining forces with Newtown... but a heritage BRL club investing in an Adelaide NRL club would be a different spin on the concept of a heritage club being hand-in-hand with an expansion club.

For instance, if "Brisbane 3" is indeed a Western Corridor/Ipswich focused club - whether on its own or in conjunction with Newtown, would Brisbane (Easts) Tigers entertain the idea of ownership in an Adelaide NRL team as a way to have an NRL club of their own - particularly if it looks unlikely there'll be a 4th Brisbane NRL club?