General discussion/ideas future NRL expansion.

[bobmar28]

I am expecting these guys to be the late runner on the outside that comes through and pips everyone at the post. They have a massive grass roots infrastructure to call open, could become Australias first non geographic specific team (in same way NZ warriors are for NZ) and have the only historic brand recginition out of the Brisbane bids. If they can tick the financial backing box they would be my Fave for that brisbane2 spot.

Non geographic specific? So QLD will still have only 3 teams?

 

[bobmar28]

There's 3 bids/areas that need teams.

CC, WA and Brisbane 2 were all around prior to SL, get these areas teams and NZ2 within the next 2 expansion rounds

CC? No way. NSW has too many teams now. No need to add one more.

 

[Perth Red]

Where are you getting these figures from?

Well if it is going to be full time players you are looking at a salary cap of around $2-3mill. Add in flights, accommodation, referees etc across 10-12 teams and there's your figure. Reality is crowds for a second division will be around 2-4000 and sponsorship will be limited due to NRL soaking up the big money so second division clubs are going to struggle to bring in much income on their own. TV value is going to be low so the NRL will have to fund most of the expense. There's a reason there is no national second division sports competition in Australia, it's too expensive and generates little interest.

 

[BuffaloRules]

The interesting question would be with the right development could a png team win the NRL with purely home grown png players? If they can there is no need to worry about basing them in Australia to suit the oz/NZ/eng players.

I'm sure that they would have the natural ability, but its getting the coaching expertise and access to sports science, strength and conditioning training and the like from a young age.

Without this access they are really no hope without overseas players.

 

[byrner]

Well if it is going to be full time players you are looking at a salary cap of around $2-3mill. Add in flights, accommodation, referees etc across 10-12 teams and there's your figure. Reality is crowds for a second division will be around 2-4000 and sponsorship will be limited due to NRL soaking up the big money so second division clubs are going to struggle to bring in much income on their own. TV value is going to be low so the NRL will have to fund most of the expense. There's a reason there is no national second division sports competition in Australia, it's too expensive and generates little interest.

Our first grade wasn't truely professional before the late 90s, so it would be safe to say a second grade would not need to be fully pro. So a cap could be around 500k-1mil. Thats 1.5mil cheaper per team than you original estimte.

With that type of cap you dont need anywhrre near the level of sponsership or crowds that first grade has.

Some of this money is already being spent on various semi-pro comps around the county, and would keep a lot more fringe 1st graders plauing at an elite level, while giving areas which will never get a 1st grade side a semi-pro team to follow.

 

[Perth Red]

Then what is the point? We already have semi pro leagues around the country new teams can join if they wish to.

 

[flippikat]

Then what is the point? We already have semi pro leagues around the country new teams can join if they wish to.

Exactly.

The NRL just needs to promote expansion of the NSW & Qld Cup to locations such as Darwin, PNG, Adelaide & Perth and schedule their seasons so that a "superbowl"-type game happens - where the champions of those leagues meet on NRL Grand Final day.

Then you have your semi-pro national league.

 

[Perth Red]

Part of the current problem is that none of those areas can afford to run nsw or q'land cup teams. When wa looked into joining the nsw cup they were looking at a budget of $1million plus. Without a leagues club or NRL team funding it it is unaffordable.

 

[flippikat]

Part of the current problem is that none of those areas can afford to run nsw or q'land cup teams. When wa looked into joining the nsw cup they were looking at a budget of $1million plus. Without a leagues club or NRL team funding it it is unaffordable.

Sure, but it's all about what the NRL wants to prioritize.

If the NRL can see long term benefits in connecting future expansion markets with existing state competitions, shouldn't they put their money towards it? (Or at least broker the competition sponsorship to get them there..)

 

[byrner]

Part of the current problem is that none of those areas can afford to run nsw or q'land cup teams. When wa looked into joining the nsw cup they were looking at a budget of $1million plus. Without a leagues club or NRL team funding it it is unaffordable.

So you want an NRL side but cant afford a NSW Cup side?

 

[byrner]

Exactly.

The NRL just needs to promote expansion of the NSW & Qld Cup to locations such as Darwin, PNG, Adelaide & Perth and schedule their seasons so that a "superbowl"-type game happens - where the champions of those leagues meet on NRL Grand Final day.

Then you have your semi-pro national league.

This is what I was thinkong when describing a national semi pro league. Use the existing structures, makenit national, market the shyt out of it, and we have a strong 2nd grade.

 

[flippikat]

This is what I was thinkong when describing a national semi pro league. Use the existing structures, makenit national, market the shyt out of it, and we have a strong 2nd grade.

That's the thing.. a decent semi-pro league built on the foundations of NSW & QLD Cup could serve a number of important strategic goals.

* Somewhere for Non-NRL Sydney clubs to play.
* Chances to bring the strongest NSW & Queensland Country sides into the frey, and consolidate the heartland.
* A "proving ground" for future NRL expansion spots - if Adelaide or Darwin or PNG want NRL teams, earn their stripes via the 2nd-tier comp.
* You could even include NZ provincial teams in the NSW or Qld cup - or bring them into a knockout pre-season comp (or sevens tournament) - either may work.

 

[kdalymc]

central coast isnt sydney.
neither is newcastle for that matter

 

[byrner]

central coast isnt sydney.
neither is newcastle for that matter

Neither is wollongong.
Is penrith classed as Sydney? It takes me over an hour to get from Penrith to Sydney by train.

 

[214Four]

Neither is wollongong.
Is penrith classed as Sydney? It takes me over an hour to get from Penrith to Sydney by train.

Central Coast is actually a part of Sydney. it sits inside Sydneys metropolitan boundary and its population is counted towards Sydneys Population.

Penrith is also inside Sydneys Metro boundary but wollongong is not part of sydney.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

central coast isnt sydney.
neither is newcastle for that matter

I think you are missing the point of the "not another sydney team" argument.

In this discussion, the city limits of Sydney arent actually that important. The point is that the CC population (like 300,000 people of something) are within an hours drive of 10 teams. Just to emphasise that point again:

10 TEAMS!!!!!!

Now, i know, people come back with the argument that Canberra only have a population of 300,000 and Townsville only have 250,000. But again...

10 TEAMS you could see. 10!!!!!!!

The point of teams in these regional teams is that they give access to people that would have no chance at all to see line NRL. Its not so every entitled fan has a national and profesional team in their suburb.

If the CC still had the same population and still had the same rugby league demographic, but the city was actually placed around the Rockhampton area, then sure, you would probably deserve your own local team. But......

You have 10 TEAMS within 1 HOUR!!!!!!

 

[rednblack]

Central Coast is actually a part of Sydney. it sits inside Sydneys metropolitan boundary and its population is counted towards Sydneys Population.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics once considered the Central Coast to be part of the Sydney Statistical Division. However, after its regional statistical reforms it now identifies the Central Coast as its own Statistical Region Level 4.

That is to say, as the 9th largest urban region in the country, the area is significant enough to warrant being counted in its own right. It is not considered part of Sydney.

http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ce...sus/2011/quickstat/102?opendocument&navpos=95

 

[Perth Red]

The point remains THERE ARE TEN TEAMS ON THE DOORSTEP!

 

[Kurt Angle]

So are nearly 5 million people, or TWENTY times Townsville's population

 

[Perth Red]

And when those ten teams are drawing full houses then it might justify an eleventh!