Expansion Issue - FINAL

[Rockin Ronny]

Formmonths, there have been a million "where do we expand" threads. But, rugby league fans are missing one key issue which is crucial to the credibility of rugby league: - the next team to be included in any expansion has to be the Central Coast Bears. If not, then one of the great frauds ever perpetrated in Australian sport will continue - and this is a terrible stain for a game that keeps talking "tradition".

The excuses and arguments against a CC Bears team have always been weak. The "bankrupt" at criteria time - absolute lie. The broken promises by the NRL - disgraceful. In terms of grounds, support from 3 regions, financial backing, juniors etc - it is the best contender by miles. It would not rely on pokies support or only one millionaire. It would be a very smart decision by the NRL and give league a huge boost against rival codes which, as the Mariners have shown, are a serious threat.

Even now, the criteria is being shown for the joke it is. Brookvale Oval was regarded as a supeior ground to North Sydney Oval in the criteria - yet Manly have been whining for years for money to completely redo their ground.

It is a simple decision that would help to put rugby league on the map in a big way. It would also be a message to other codes that rugby league takes its tradition seriously and will protect its territory.

For the NRL to keep rejecting the CC Bears - but, at the same time, offer $8 million for a relocation - is simply stupid and short-sighted.

 

[Brownie.Kougari]

Yes! There just aren't enough teams in that central NSW area...

Just because a town's in NSW doesn't mean it should have an NRL team

 

[Brutus]

Too many teams in NSW.

Sorry, but we just can't ignore this point. If say Souths and the Tigers died tomorrow then maybe the Bears could get a run.

 

[Brutus]

Yes! There just aren't enough teams in that central NSW area...

Just because a town's in NSW doesn't mean it should have an NRL team

Agree totally Wynnum person

 

[Brownie.Kougari]

Agree totally Wynnum person

:lol: cheers

I'd love to see the CC in the comp as i think they'd add more to the comp than some of the sydney teams but with that area saturated there's no point

 

[International RL]

:lol: cheers

I'd love to see the CC in the comp as i think they'd add more to the comp than some of the sydney teams but with that area saturated there's no point

Agreed.

In an ideal world yes, we'd have the Bears in. Unfortunately it just can't be justified.

The CC future is a relocation.

 

[Loudstrat]

Rubbish. The CC is bigger than Canberra and Townsville.

 

[Brycey]

Rubbish. The CC is bigger than Canberra and Townsville.

People on the CC can drive to see 10 NRL teams in 1-2 hours.

Tell me, how long does it take for people from Perth, Adelaide and Wellington to see at least 1 NRL team. To a lesser extent, Sunshine Coast also.

Kind've puts it in perspective.

 

[Perth Red]

The CC doesn't offer new market opportunities like other areas do therefore from a business sense it is down the list. From an "expansion" (ie actually spreading the game to a National audience) it also offers little. Sorry but CC probably could sustain a succesful team but suffers from being in a saturated RL state.

 

[Brutus]

Rubbish. The CC is bigger than Canberra and Townsville.

And in NSW unfortunately.

 

[brokendigit]

Readmitting the Bears as the Central Coast franchise makes sense. A young, aspirational demographic with increasing incomes & an overwhelming desire to associate with a local product = winning formula.

If Souths believe that they can survive in the metropolitan area, & don't take the millions on offer, give Greg Florimo & the Bears an opportunity to present a compelling readmission case.
Unlike the inner suburban areas of Sydney, the CC has a long way to go before it reaches it's population peak, & as a RL stronghold it has a lot to offer.

If the CC Bears get up, the NRL can afford to offer the majority of the $8M as another Joint-Venture incentive.

 

[Chapsta]

People on the CC can drive to see 10 NRL teams in 1-2 hours.

Its just over an hour from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

Tell me, how long does it take for people from Perth, Adelaide and Wellington to see at least 1 NRL team. To a lesser extent, Sunshine Coast also.

Kind've puts it in perspective.

How many people in said cities want to see NRL games?

Too many teams in NSW.

Can you please explain the logic behin that. State boundries are rather artifical nowadays.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

The CC is nothing but a small conurbation of small towns. This is far a smaller corporate scale than Perth or even Geelong!

 

[BrisVegas]

While in an ideal world the CC would have a team, the NRL is definitely not ideal in design in it's current setup.

While sad that a foundation club such as the Bears was mismanaged to bankruptcy, I don't see how they can re-enter.

1. Gallop has stated that the NRL sees Perth, Wellington, the Central Coast and SE-QLD (again) as likely bases for future NRL clubs. PNG are now also gunning for a licence.

2. He has stated that 18 teams is the highest the NRL can accommodate.

3. He has stated (numerous times) that the NRL believe there are too many clubs in the greater Sydney area.

4. There is an $8 million dollar offer for an existing team to relocate to the Central Coast.

5. The available sponsorship and corporate support in the greater Sydney area is strongly contested, the 10 clubs within driving distance of the CC won't want yet another competitor, especially given the financial concerns of NSW clubs over the coming years.

6. It is becoming more and more apparent that most Suburban Parks/Stadiums are not fit to host NRL clubs (Leichhardt , Campbelltown, Brookvale, Toyota Park, OKI) making Blue Tounge stadium more attractive proposition.

7. An additional Central Coast team won't provide the increase in TV revenue that Perth or Wellington can.

8. A relocation to the CC is a far easier sell then to Perth or NZ or QLD. Fans can still get to the stadium relatively easy.


Read between the lines, a Central Coast team is likely, but it will be a relocation. An NRL license is far too valuable a commodity to be wasted on yet another NSW club within driving distance of 10 existing teams.

When (and it is when, not if) a Sydney club relocates to the CC the NRL will be able to easily cover 3 of their desired expansion locations by raising the number of clubs to 18.

 

[Brutus]

Read between the lines, a Central Coast team is likely, but it will be a relocation. An NRL license is far too valuable a commodity to be wasted on yet another NSW club within driving distance of 10 existing teams.

Spot on.

 

[Brycey]

Its just over an hour from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. .

You're comparing 1 team verses 10 teams. You're really stretching the situation there, GC people had no alternative teams compared to a place that had 9 alternatives.

How many people in said cities want to see NRL games?.

8000 people show up for a game in Sydney or 8000 show up for a game in Perth. Not much to lose really, Sydney crowds are so poor they more than justify an existence in both Melbourne and Perth, maybe there would be poor crowds...but at least there would be room for growth. Same cannot be said for Sydney.

 

[skeepe]

Rubbish. The CC is bigger than Canberra and Townsville.

Rubbish. The CC population is roughly 298,000. The Canberra population is roughly 340,000 and then you include Queanbeyan which is to Canberra what Tweed Heads is to the Gold Coast, and you get 380,000... and that's not including the nearby regional towns of Cooma, Yass, Bungendore, Crookwell and Goulburn which are all part of the Canberra local competition and supporter base.

Townsville's population is roughly 145,000, but then you need to include all the nearby centres that the Cowboys draw from. They support towns in the north of Queensland such as Mackay, Cairns and Rockhampton.

With the Central Coast, the 298,000 is it. That includes all the small towns up there, whereas Canberra and Townsville are drawing from bases of 500,000+

Do your research next time.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Brycey do some research, Sydney clubs are averaging 15,000 this year. When you consider the record is just over 16,000. Not bad really. Most Sdney clubs average more than Canberra, Melbourne and Warriors.

 

[Brycey]

Brycey do some research, Sydney clubs are averaging 15,000 this year. When you consider the record is just over 16,000. Not bad really. Most Sdney clubs average more than Canberra, Melbourne and Warriors.

Did I say the average? Don't assume.

Look in the crowd there, this year there have been several games in Sydney under the 10k mark. In this day and age thats totally unacceptable. And we're not talking crappy games either, just the other week Cronulla, a team that has enjoyed recent success this year played the table topping Gold Coast Titans on a Sunday afternoon. It could not crack 10k, disgusting effort.

If we're going to get sh!t crowds, we may as well get them on the other side of the country where there is room for growth.

 

[girvie]

It's time for the Bears to be in the Nrl again.