Hi everyone, this is a must read for everyone! Justin Barlow has answered some questions that you have sent to us. Thanks to everyone who sent in a question and if you think of others that weren't addressed here don't hesitate to ask.
What will the jersey designs and Leprechaun look like?
The jerseys will be very traditional. There will be a home, away and clash jersey which most likely will be the butcher stripes, the jersey similar to the 87 style and a style similar to the State League jumper.
The jersey is our most important piece of IP and symbol of who we are. It is the pinnacle of what a football side is as it is the end result, the item that defines who you are once you are on the field. It is what connects us all and connects us to our history.
The Leprechaun logo is something that should be decided by our members. There will be a vote/poll to decide if we go with the 87, “running” Leprechaun or the traditional style “sleeves up” logo.
How will Brothers engage people in regional areas who don't play for them?
This is an excellent question and vital to the process. It is important to recognise that this proposal is not just about Brothers but Brothers being the most suitable vehicle to deliver as much elite Rugby League to as many regional areas as possible due to the vast, in place network. Each of the other bidding teams are focused on delivering an outcome for a specific region or city, this will of course come at the expense of other areas and communities. Should Brothers be successful, we can deliver games, training camps, community programs and coaching clinics to many areas which can be implemented by our vast regional network for the benefit of all Rugby League fans.
We are very aware that we need to contribute to everyone in regional areas and not keep our programs and contributions exclusive to Brothers stakeholders.
Which regional cities will you take games to?
We will look to take between 2-4 games per year to regional centres. We will look to have the games in areas where there is a Brothers team present, the infrastructure is approved and up to NRL standards and the local council is engaged and willing to support. We will also look to take trials to many areas as well.
While many NRL teams currently sell games off to regions, many of them are only present for a short period around game day. Through our Brothers base in these areas, we can provide longer term content for longer periods by utilising the regional clubs to assist in delivering on the ground support.
This strategy will also provide long term economic impact and job creation for several regions as opposed to one specific area. By doing this it will provide a strong case to lobby local councils and state governments to invest in upgrading fields and training facility’s, maintenance and employment training as opposed to building one stadium to service one area. That sort of money can be shared amongst several smaller upgrades amongst several cities.
What benefits will it bring to country/regional football?
More Rugby League content, more often, across multiple regions. Improved facilities and improved chances for exposure to elite opportunities.
As it is vital that the bid and ultimately the Brothers NRL team will need to be connected to all regional communities with open and often lines of communications and regular visits, the opportunity to identify and nurture talent will naturally progress. This talent, although may be invited into the Brothers NRL system, will not be encouraged into a Brothers regional system. The ultimate way to improve our own club is to ensure the integrity and standard of the competitions are as high as possible and the talent is at all times spread as even as possible. Like all areas of Rugby League, a one game philosophy must be maintained. We must always ensure we do what is best for the game before we do what is best for our team.
Brothers have clubs in Ipswich and Toowoomba. Why not base the team there?
We will look to have a very meaningful presence in the Western regions of SEQ and ensure that we can deliver a connection to the region, but without a stadium present in these areas, it makes more operational sense to be as close to your main playing ground (Suncorp Stadium) as possible. Having training fields and administration facilities in an area and playing nearly an hour away does not make viable sense. We will ensure that our presence in these regions is frequent and genuine across both football and community. Through an in place relationship, we will look to deliver an outcome focused Indigenous program with the native title holders of an area of the Western Downs, The Iman People.
It is our understanding that Ipswich Brothers are currently supporting the Western Corridor bid. We respect their decision and doing what they believe is best for their fans and players. We will look to develop a relationship with them and would love for them to align with Brothers NRL.
How will the bid/team be financed? Who will run the club?
The bid process has currently been funded personally while we build the assets and start putting a support team in place. As we progress, the bid team will be funded according to workload required through sponsorship, memberships, merchandise, events and coterie groups. As we progress through to an NRL organisation we will be entitled to grants, greater sponsorship investment and further opportunity due to increased exposure.
We are currently finalising our corporate structure and governance model which will dictate the final ownership structure of the club. The desired structure is one that does not prosper any individual. A Not for Profit where by any profitable revenues are invested back into the organisation or into grass roots endeavours is favoured or a member owned model, similar to that of the Green Bay Packers, is also a preferred outcome.
Once this structure is finalised, the bid will be run by an independent working committee made up of local business identities that are best qualified and experienced in their respective fields. There will also be a representative of the Confraternity. Once the NRL organisation is running, an NRL approved, member elect board will be put in place to guide an experienced CEO and his team.
Brothers have had financial problems historically. How will it be different this time?
The current group driving the bid were in no way affiliated with the previous operations of Brothers. There can be no guarantees in today’s business climate however, the shared commercial experience and respect for the Brothers band the working group have will determine that a viable business plan will be implemented.
Thank you for these questions and the opportunity to address your concerns. It is so comforting to see that so many people genuinely care about how this bold venture will take shape.
I look forward to hearing more thoughts and feedback as often as possible.
We Can Do This!
Justin Barlow
