On expansion, im against having an adelaide team.
a) decreasing and aging population.
b) too obsessed with AFL and very insular.
The priority list for expansion should be (imo)
1) Relocation to CC (3yrs)
2) Perth Team (3-5yrs)
3) Wellington Team (5yrs)
4) 4th QLD team (7-8yrs)
5) 2nd Vic team (7-10yrs)
1. CC is RL heartland that simply NEEDS a team, and before becoming 'national' i think we should take care of all the areas that has tremendous RL support and corporate dollars.
2. This is a requirement to halt the inroads that RU have been able to make, Perth, unlike adelaide will embrace other codes of footy and there is sufficient sponsorship/possible crowd support if the NRL suffer the short term losses.
3. A popuation of > 4 Million simply demands a second team, especially if there is a possibility for RL to take over some of the ground the soccer will relinquish when NZ lose thier A league team. There needs to be alot of marketing for this team to be a success, but knowing Kind, i wont hold my breath.
4. arguably the heartland of RL, will eventually demand and cater for a 4th franchise. Probably in SE QLD, although a Rockhampton based team will do well for the 'national game' image.
5. > 1 million people watched the GF. If there is sport, melbournians would love to watch it. People may laugh at the inability of the storm to draw crowds, but without the suffient groundwork this was never possible. If the pro AFL propoganda is to be restricted, and facts were reported as facts without ridiculing RL (calling us neanderthals etc.) this team could easily work.
There are 4 extra teams, and 1 relocation in my suggestion. Ideally an 18 team competition would work, so therefore i am of the view that some Sydney based franchises should either pack up shop or merge. however, if RL blooms to unimaginable heights there is no reason that we cant support a 20 team comp.