Easts Tigers Enter Expansion Race

[Santino Patane]

Every city is provincial. I can't believe there's no divide between south and city & north.

There’s a big divide in Brisbane across the river, but people in Logan (particularly, and to a lesser degree the eastern suburbs of Ipswich) still consider themselves as Southsiders. The Broncos have been a real anomaly for drawing support evenly across Greater Brisbane, but I suppose that’s what happens when you are the only horse in town for over 30 years……

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

How's an inner city team going to viewed as south team. If wanderers were based at Leichhardt then parra, Penrith etc wouldn't have accepted them. Not a local but know Logan will not see inner city clubs as theirs

Easts Tigers are based south of the Brisbane River and their territory extends all the way down to the southern suburbs of Logan.

Logic and donkey doesn't correlate...
Plus he lives in logan, so if there's a new team nearby, of course he'll be a fan of it

You're an idiot if you don't know that Coorparoo is based south of the Brisbane River. Go look at a map of the Brisbane metropolitan area on Google Maps and take a gander at Easts Tigers junior clubs. They're all based south of the Brisbane River, on the eastern side of town from Bulimba in Brisbane's east to Yarrabilba in Logan's outer southeast. The Tigers even mention Yarrabilba and Flagstone on last year's annual report.

Of course I am going to be a fan of a team that represents the southeastern side of Brisbane. There's no team representing us. I grew up in the southeastern suburbs of Brisbane, in Easts Tigers territory. It's an area I am very familiar with, thank you very much.

The Broncos are based northwest of the CBD in Red Hill, north of the Brisbane River and have a large supporter base in Brisbane's lower socio-economic southwestern suburbs. I see plenty of people walking around in Broncos merchandise when I drive through Darra, Oxley, Coopers Plains and the other industrial suburbs out that way. Ipswich is full of Broncos fans and doesn't have the population of Logan and Redlands, so it's stupid arguing for Brisbane 2 to be plonked out there while the southeast has no team.

 

[Perth Red]

It'd be really good to see where Broncos members live, I suspect they would be like WC eagles and spread out across the city being the only club in town as eagles where for years.
Firehawks targeting and representing the SE part of Brisbane (and spreading somewhat SW) would make sense if they can team up with the QRL clubs in those areas, though that's where old rivalries may become problematic?
AT the least you'd hope to see a partnership with Wynnum and maybe Souths Logan? Maybe they should be thinking anything South of river is there territory - South Brisbane Firehawks?

 

[Pippen94]

It'd be really good to see where Broncos members live, I suspect they would be like WC eagles and spread out across the city being the only club in town as eagles where for years.
Firehawks targeting and representing the SE part of Brisbane (and spreading somewhat SW) would make sense if they can team up with the QRL clubs in those areas, though that's where old rivalries may become problematic?
AT the least you'd hope to see a partnership with Wynnum and maybe Souths Logan? Maybe they should be thinking anything South of river is there territory - South Brisbane Firehawks?

Broncos live all over Brisbane genius. Put in another team in same city claiming to represent the same area you give fans no reason flip.
Team representing specific area with local identity such as Morton bay or southern Brisbane is better

 

[The Great Dane]

Broncos live all over Brisbane genius. Put in another team in same city claiming to represent the same area you give fans no reason flip.

Which is a good thing because the goal is to appeal to new/underutilised customers, not cannibalise the Broncos fanbase.

 

[Pippen94]

Which is a good thing because the goal is to appeal to new/underutilised customers, not cannibalise the Broncos fanbase.

By providing carbon copy of broncos. Learn from history

 

[The Great Dane]

By providing carbon copy of broncos. Learn from history

So we shouldn’t give a license to a QRL backed bid without the necessary funds to cover start up costs, right at the start of the most unstable time in the sport’s history, and when their closest competitor was literally out to murder them.

The Crushers weren’t a carbon copy of the Broncos, none of the current bids are anything like the Crushers except in the most superficial ways, and the current state of the game is absolutely nothing like the situation it was in back in their time.

 

[Perth Red]

xperienced rugby league executive Shane Richardson is confident in the Brisbane Firehawks’ bid to become the NRL’s 17th franchise.

Richardson, who’s in charge of the Firehawks’ expansion push, was instrumental in both South Sydney’s 2014 premiership and Penrith’s 2003 success while heading those clubs, and he believes he can create a similar system with the Firehawks.




Speaking on SEN 1170 Afternoons, Richardson explained why a 17th club is necessary for the NRL in Queensland.

“I really believe what we’ve got to do is take the AFL head on,” Richardson said.

“They (the AFL) have opened up an academy and their operations in Springfield, just west of Ipswich which is the heart of rugby league.

“I think now’s the time to inject all the different feeling into the game, different things to talk about and different opportunities.

“I don’t buy into the attitude that there’s not enough players to go around, I’ve spent my life building up clubs from a zero base to winning premierships and I did that by bringing in players who needed an opportunity.

“We need to expand our pathways in Queensland and help the QRL with participation rates, and the battle against the AFL would push that.

“I think a 17th team would be nothing but a positive for the state and the game in general.”






With Brisbane being a one-team town currently with the Broncos, Richardson believes they won’t feel threatened by the Firehawks’ bid as they don’t plan on stealing their sponsors or supporters.

“Funnily enough, they (the Broncos) are one of the clubs which I haven’t found a lot of push back at all,” Richardson explained.

“They understand the competition, you’ve got to remember there’s only four clubs in the competition that make a profit, and they’re one of them.

“We’re not going to diminish their profits, and the whole crux of our business is based on doing things differently and in a digital world.

“We’re not going to take their sponsors or their rusted on supporters.

“The NRL has a challenge on their hands with the demographics of their memberships.

“What we’re trying to do is create a club that gets heavily involved in that 18-40 bracket.

“We want to do things differently and be sort of outlaws when it comes to doing things differently, and I think that can only assist.

“We’re not going to steal their sponsors or supporters, we’re going to create new ones in different areas.”

With expansion now looking likely to be pushed back until 2024, Richardson said his team was still ready to pull the trigger on 2023 if the NRL sticks to its original timeline.

“Originally, they spoke about 2023,” Richardson said.

“But, from our view, if it was 2024 due to COVID, that wouldn’t concern us at all.

“We’re ready to go from 2023 … we’ve got the coaching staff and everything else sorted out.

“It’s just a matter of pushing the button, the structure and everything is put in place.

“It’s no different to the structure we’ve put in place at clubs like Penrith, Cronulla and Souths, which have been successful.

“We know what’s required, we just need a timeline.

“Hopefully it’s 2023, but if not we’re happy with 2024.”

The Firehawks will compete against bids from the Brisbane Jets and Redcliffe Dolphins who are both also vying to become the NRL’s 17th franchise.

Brisbane Firehawks boss wants to “take the AFL on” in QLD

“I think a 17th team would be nothing but a positive for the state and the game.”

www.sen.com.au

 

[flippikat]

Shane Richardson is one of the few administrators we have who can truly be described as "visionary" - I sure hope he gets the Firehawks a place in the NRL.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Shane Richardson is one of the few administrators we have who can truly be described as "visionary" - I sure hope he gets the Firehawks a place in the NRL.

Since the Bombers joined the Jets, the old Bombers administration has gone a bit quiet (I would assume they are still involved) but I like the way Nick Livermore thinks about the game also.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Shane Richardson is one of the few administrators we have who can truly be described as "visionary" - I sure hope he gets the Firehawks a place in the NRL.

He's given the Firehawks bid a strong profile that stands out from every other club. The Dolphins and Jets are a bit bland in comparison.

Since the Bombers joined the Jets, the old Bombers administration has gone a bit quiet (I would assume they are still involved) but I like the way Nick Livermore thinks about the game also.

Jets have the worst bid of the lot. Hopefully they join up with Easts to create a juggernaut of a club representing southern Brisbane, eastern Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich.

 

[cumbrian Mackem]

He's given the Firehawks bid a strong profile that stands out from every other club. The Dolphins and Jets are a bit bland in comparison.

Jets have the worst bid of the lot. Hopefully they join up with Easts to create a juggernaut of a club representing southern Brisbane, eastern Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich.

Would it not be best for the jets to concentrate on being accepted later on down the track?

Arent Logan and Ipswich one of the fastest growing regions in Queensland whose populations are expected to have nearly doubled by 2035?

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Would it not be best for the jets to concentrate on being accepted later on down the track?

Arent Logan and Ipswich one of the fastest growing regions in Queensland whose populations are expected to have nearly doubled by 2035?

Yes and yes.

 

[flippikat]

@toomuchsoup posted this mockup for a Jets/Firehawks bid on the jersey mockups thread... gotta say, mixing the Ipswich Jets green & Easts Tigers orange looks damn good.

The last two designs on the right.. just wow!

 

[siv]

What if News Ltd decide to sell the Broncos?

Brisbane Easts are the team to most likely takeover

 

[Perth Red]

It’s a p

What if News Ltd decide to sell the Broncos?

Brisbane Easts are the team to most likely takeover

It’s a profitable company, that gives them an influence on one of their biggest investment sports, why would they?

 

[Pippen94]

So we shouldn’t give a license to a QRL backed bid without the necessary funds to cover start up costs, right at the start of the most unstable time in the sport’s history, and when their closest competitor was literally out to murder them.

The Crushers weren’t a carbon copy of the Broncos, none of the current bids are anything like the Crushers except in the most superficial ways, and the current state of the game is absolutely nothing like the situation it was in back in their time.

Team playing out same stadium as broncos, representing same area also, made up mascot with little commercial appeal, random colors...

 

[The Great Dane]

Team playing out same stadium as broncos, representing same area also, made up mascot with little commercial appeal, random colors...

As usual you've got no idea what you are talking about.

The Crushers didn't play out of the same stadium as the Broncos; the Crushers played out of Lang park, and at the time the Broncos played out of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (then known as ANZ Stadium).

They also didn't appeal to the same market as the Broncos anymore than other examples of a city with two teams, and all mascots and colours are made up. Aside from the mustard, their brand was actually reasonably popular at least initially. Sure things soured once SL kicked off proper and the team sucked, but in the beginning people generally liked the brand because it wasn't an 'American brand' and was relatively unique and interesting.

 

[Pippen94]

As usual you've got no idea what you are talking about.

The Crushers didn't play out of the same stadium as the Broncos; the Crushers played out of Lang park, and at the time the Broncos played out of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (then known as ANZ Stadium).

They also didn't appeal to the same market as the Broncos anymore than other examples of a city with two teams, and all mascots and colours are made up. Aside from the mustard, their brand was actually reasonably popular at least initially. Sure things soured once SL kicked off proper and the team sucked, but in the beginning people generally liked the brand because it wasn't an 'American brand' and was relatively unique and interesting.

Stop blaming super league. Teams came out of the other side of that. f**k Dolphins saw it's entire competition disintegrate & now it's more profitable than most NRL clubs.

Branding is super important. Have a stupid mascot or name & it hurts marketing opportunities. Magpies control wests but know value of tiger brand. Gold Coast wanted to be dolphins but fortunately the court told them to keep their hands off. Fact you have no value for this shows how little idea you have.

 

[Pippen94]

View attachment 52611

@toomuchsoup posted this mockup for a Jets/Firehawks bid on the jersey mockups thread... gotta say, mixing the Ipswich Jets green & Easts Tigers orange looks damn good.

The last two designs on the right.. just wow!

How many times are all these guys going to merge before realizing dolphins is just best bid?!