LOYAL DRAGON
First Grade
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23752263-5006066,00.html
Is your team safe? ... Phil Rothfield casts his eye over the Sydney clubs. / The Sunday Telegraph
NRL chief executive David Gallop has rekindled the possibility of more mergers after warning during the week that Sydney clubs are facing extinction.
Gallop told Sydney's financially stricken clubs to consider merging or die, dangling the $8million amalgamation carrot in front of CEOs at the two-day conference during the week.
As all nine Sydney clubs fight for additional revenue streams, Gallop claimed mergers had their benefits.
The NRL's last merger was between Western Suburbs and Balmain, who came together to form the Wests Tigers in 2000.
"Mergers have had mixed success, from the highly successful Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra through to the Northern Eagles,'' Gallop said.
"As in the past, a package where clubs merge remains. It's not an easy exercise, but it does allow fans of both teams to continue to have an active presence in the competition.''
Talk of possible mergers will send a collective shudder down the backbone of every rugby league supporter.
The NSW Government's 40 per cent poker machine tax and the introduction of smoking bans has led to a 10 per cent drop in revenue across Leagues clubs this financial year.
Rising taxes and sinking revenues have debilitated clubs that are heavily reliant on Leagues club grants to survive.
There are no guarantees of survival for South Sydney, Penrith, Cronulla, Manly, Parramatta and the Roosters, prompting Gallop to say: "It's for that reason that mergers are worth considering carefully.''
Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright - a former Penrith great - gave strong reasons for the competition to be cut from 16 teams to 12.
Cartwright said the NRL's fight to maintain clubs in Sydney was too costly.
"I'm just thinking out loud (about) what's best for the game of rugby league, and it's hard to take emotion out of it because it's an emotional game,'' Cartwright said.
"I just think the game's figureheads have got to get their minds together and come up with a solution before a club becomes insolvent.
"You don't have to be a genius to work out the pie is only so big and Sydney has nine clubs competing for it.
"We didn't even have a full house for the first Origin game (on Wednesday night). It's not good for our game, and I think anyone who says it is isn't being fair dinkum.
"You turn the tele on and you see a game on Saturday, Sunday or Monday night and see that empty far side of ANZ stadium, it's not good for anyone.
"The bottom line for clubs is maybe it's the only way they can operate, but it's not a good look for our game. I'd hate to see us get to a stage where clubs just fall over through attrition.''
Cronulla Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia said the threat of merging had not yet been considered by his club, declaring it a "last, last resort''.
"I understand what John is saying, but would he be saying that if he was trying to work under the current taxes being dished out by theNSW Government?'' Zappia said.
"The Queensland and Victorian governments are supportive of their sporting codes, the Gold Coast Titans have a huge advantage over the NSW clubs because of that support.
"Here at the Sharks, we're busy putting plans in place to ensure our future.''
Gallop also sees relocation as a viable alternative, putting it back on the table as a way of easing the pressures in Sydney.
the sharks are in sh*t
Is your team safe? ... Phil Rothfield casts his eye over the Sydney clubs. / The Sunday Telegraph
NRL chief executive David Gallop has rekindled the possibility of more mergers after warning during the week that Sydney clubs are facing extinction.
Gallop told Sydney's financially stricken clubs to consider merging or die, dangling the $8million amalgamation carrot in front of CEOs at the two-day conference during the week.
As all nine Sydney clubs fight for additional revenue streams, Gallop claimed mergers had their benefits.
The NRL's last merger was between Western Suburbs and Balmain, who came together to form the Wests Tigers in 2000.
"Mergers have had mixed success, from the highly successful Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra through to the Northern Eagles,'' Gallop said.
"As in the past, a package where clubs merge remains. It's not an easy exercise, but it does allow fans of both teams to continue to have an active presence in the competition.''
Talk of possible mergers will send a collective shudder down the backbone of every rugby league supporter.
The NSW Government's 40 per cent poker machine tax and the introduction of smoking bans has led to a 10 per cent drop in revenue across Leagues clubs this financial year.
Rising taxes and sinking revenues have debilitated clubs that are heavily reliant on Leagues club grants to survive.
There are no guarantees of survival for South Sydney, Penrith, Cronulla, Manly, Parramatta and the Roosters, prompting Gallop to say: "It's for that reason that mergers are worth considering carefully.''
Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright - a former Penrith great - gave strong reasons for the competition to be cut from 16 teams to 12.
Cartwright said the NRL's fight to maintain clubs in Sydney was too costly.
"I'm just thinking out loud (about) what's best for the game of rugby league, and it's hard to take emotion out of it because it's an emotional game,'' Cartwright said.
"I just think the game's figureheads have got to get their minds together and come up with a solution before a club becomes insolvent.
"You don't have to be a genius to work out the pie is only so big and Sydney has nine clubs competing for it.
"We didn't even have a full house for the first Origin game (on Wednesday night). It's not good for our game, and I think anyone who says it is isn't being fair dinkum.
"You turn the tele on and you see a game on Saturday, Sunday or Monday night and see that empty far side of ANZ stadium, it's not good for anyone.
"The bottom line for clubs is maybe it's the only way they can operate, but it's not a good look for our game. I'd hate to see us get to a stage where clubs just fall over through attrition.''
Cronulla Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia said the threat of merging had not yet been considered by his club, declaring it a "last, last resort''.
"I understand what John is saying, but would he be saying that if he was trying to work under the current taxes being dished out by theNSW Government?'' Zappia said.
"The Queensland and Victorian governments are supportive of their sporting codes, the Gold Coast Titans have a huge advantage over the NSW clubs because of that support.
"Here at the Sharks, we're busy putting plans in place to ensure our future.''
Gallop also sees relocation as a viable alternative, putting it back on the table as a way of easing the pressures in Sydney.
the sharks are in sh*t
