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For Argument's Sake, by Barry Dick, CM rugby league editor
03 June 2005
The Gold Coast NRL bid team popped champagne and swapped hugs, kisses and high-fives last week when they got the good news about their inclusion in the 2007 premiership, but hopefully the celebrations didn't last too long.
The last things the Pirates or whatever they're going to be called need between now and October next year, when they will start pre-season training for '07, are sore heads and fuzzy thinking.
Chief executive Michael Searle (who might also become known as "chief kisser" on the evidence of pictures taken last Friday) deserves a medal for his persistence over the past five or six years, but he would be well aware nothing has been achieved yet.
The real hard work will come over the next 20 months as the coast crew try to manufacture a team from nothing as well as build strong relationships with sponsors, the council and community.
As a bloke who was raised on the Gold Coast, I hope the "Pirates" succeed on and off the field, although off-field success will be dependent on on-field wins because Coast people have shown before they won't support a losing team in any sport.
I'm glad the new team will get a new stadium to play out of because Carrara is terrible, but Searle and Co will be hoping the building costs don't blow out too much. Otherwise they will be left with hiring costs which could cripple them.
On the player front, Preston Campbell might be a handy first signing for the Coasters but he's hardly the player you would build a side around. The same applies to errant Eel Jamie Lyon, who displayed an unwillingness to tough things out last year.
Luke Bailey, a prop, a current State of Origin player and a fringe Australian rep, would be a different matter.
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15486824%255E10389,00.html
03 June 2005
The Gold Coast NRL bid team popped champagne and swapped hugs, kisses and high-fives last week when they got the good news about their inclusion in the 2007 premiership, but hopefully the celebrations didn't last too long.
The last things the Pirates or whatever they're going to be called need between now and October next year, when they will start pre-season training for '07, are sore heads and fuzzy thinking.
Chief executive Michael Searle (who might also become known as "chief kisser" on the evidence of pictures taken last Friday) deserves a medal for his persistence over the past five or six years, but he would be well aware nothing has been achieved yet.
The real hard work will come over the next 20 months as the coast crew try to manufacture a team from nothing as well as build strong relationships with sponsors, the council and community.
As a bloke who was raised on the Gold Coast, I hope the "Pirates" succeed on and off the field, although off-field success will be dependent on on-field wins because Coast people have shown before they won't support a losing team in any sport.
I'm glad the new team will get a new stadium to play out of because Carrara is terrible, but Searle and Co will be hoping the building costs don't blow out too much. Otherwise they will be left with hiring costs which could cripple them.
On the player front, Preston Campbell might be a handy first signing for the Coasters but he's hardly the player you would build a side around. The same applies to errant Eel Jamie Lyon, who displayed an unwillingness to tough things out last year.
Luke Bailey, a prop, a current State of Origin player and a fringe Australian rep, would be a different matter.
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15486824%255E10389,00.html
