Impact of Super Rugby's structure change on the NRL

[PaulyTom]

With the Super 18 rugby format being analysed in London on Friday it would appear that the Australian conference could lose 1 or 2 teams.

What impact will that have on the NRL ? And any future growth/ expansion?

At present Western Force and Brumbies are on very thin ice. This could only mean good things for the Raiders who would get exclusivity to talent/support in that area . GWS have a lose presence in Canberra due to the lack of games and the deeper connection to Western Sydney. The Raiders as a team have turned things around in the past few years and started to grow their fanbase to levels not seen since the glory days of Grand final wins in the late 80s early 90s. The loss of the Brumbies would only solidify the Raiders brand in Canberra.

Expansion- If the Force were to fold it would open up an opportunity for the NRL to expand in the coming years .

If the Melbourne Rebels were to fold I doubt there would be much of an impact for the Storm , they may see a slight increase in crowds and membership with the large kiwi supporter base hungry for some form of Rugby.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

They can all f**k off and dIie.

 

[Valheru]

I would be stunned if the brumbies folded. They seem to have decent support over the years in Canberra. The force are unlikely also given their geographically startegic position as a pit stop for SA teams on the way to east coast of Australia and/or NZ.

The rebels will be the team to go as they have been an abject failure from day one. As you say, that will have no impact (positive or negative) on the NRL.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

This is like asking what impact a gnat's death would have on an elephant.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I voted Brumbies because it would be the funniest. I remember John O'Neill (not the league legend from Gunnedah) boasting about vichyball owning Canberra (that was the only place he could come up with) so this would be gold.

The Rebels don't seem to worry the Storm and there's no point the Force going because there will never be a Perth NRL team while the game is run by the current oxygen thieves.

 

[Canard]

The Melbourne team lost 71 to 6 last weekend.

That means they conceded nearly 3 tries. Do you realise how bad you have to be at Union to give up more then 2 tries!

 

[hellteam]

I live in Melbourne and I have not seen or heard one mention of the Rebels. If they were gone no one would bat an eyelid. I don't think it would have too much of an impact either way on the Storm.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Doubt they will dump the brumbies that would be a cataclysmic failure on behalf of the ARU. They seem to have a widespread support across Nsw so do dump them will alienate the most 'rugby' fans compared to say Perth or Melbourne.

I think they will actually keep 5 sides and they will just change the 18 team format to conferences of 6 or something like that. The most radical change would be a Trans Tasman comp less RSA but that would mean abandoning their significant tv revenue input.

Never understood they do it as a franchise league when the likes of NZ and RSA have provincial unions with lots of history, I always thought they should make super rugby the equivalent to the European club cup and focus more on the domestic league in each country. But maybe that's just my club centric British up bringing

 

[Red Bear]

Perth going would be a pretty good opportunity to jump in there for the NRL.

The Brumbies going would be piss funny, but not great for the Raiders. Would be the end of a new stadium in the CBD with some sort of insulation against the crap winters we get here.

Rebels are in a position where they are financially sound despite being complete shit in every other department.

It's lose lose lose for ARU if they have to cut a side. They either remove a side in a reasonably strong (but small) Union area or they admit defeat in expansion areas, incl. the second biggest city in Australia. Or they maintain five sides, spread the talent thinly and continue to suck the top level.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

 

[Raiderdave]

Perth going would be a pretty good opportunity to jump in there for the NRL.

The Brumbies going would be piss funny, but not great for the Raiders. Would be the end of a new stadium in the CBD with some sort of insulation against the crap winters we get here.

Rebels are in a position where they are financially sound despite being complete shit in every other department.

It's lose lose lose for ARU if they have to cut a side. They either remove a side in a reasonably strong (but small) Union area or they admit defeat in expansion areas, incl. the second biggest city in Australia. Or they maintain five sides, spread the talent thinly and continue to suck the top level.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

yeah
poor old toffball is on a hiding to nothing regardless of what they end up doing & how they spin it

enjoy you pims sucking F witz : )

 

[soc123_au]

Poll needs a "who gives a f**k" or "What is Super Rugby?" option

 

[axl rose]

They wont cut the ACT, you can thank sewer league for the support they have

 

[taipan]

Well what's the decision by the leather patch mob?It's near 5am in London Saturday.
Are they all p*ssed from sucking on too much Pimms?

My recommendation would be two teams in each country.No one gives a rat's rectum about the Rebs or Farce.

 

[Billythekid]

I can't see them actually cutting a team. It would be the beginning of the end for Australian rugby IMO. It's dancing around the big issue anyway and that is that super rugby in its current format isn't tenable. They need to rethink the whole thing and IMO either break it into smaller groups. Even then I'm not sure if that will turn things around in Australia.

 

[axl rose]

I can't see them actually cutting a team. It would be the beginning of the end for Australian rugby IMO. It's dancing around the big issue anyway and that is that super rugby in its current format isn't tenable. They need to rethink the whole thing and IMO either break it into smaller groups. Even then I'm not sure if that will turn things around in Australia.

No choice, cant afford to bail them out every year. My heart bleeds. They had shed loads of cash after the 2003 World Cup but they pissed it away on god knows what, probably that dud Folau or Saliors salary.

 

[Perth Red]

It shows what can happen to your sport if it gets buried on pay tv only. Without fta main stream coverage both aleague and super15 will remain non entities. Sadly we can see the same for rugby league in England.

 

[T to the T]

As I've mentioned elsewhere, if the Farce are cut, the NRL needs to ramp up it's Perth expansion efforts immediately. A major charm offensive to fill the void.

Axing the Brumbies or the Webels won't affect the NRL really, Perth is the market NRL wants and needs

 

[Marlins]

They can all f**k off and dIie.

AMEN

 

[PaulyTom]

Brumbies axing will help raiders dominate the ACT and potentially hold off AFLs surge into the ACT and NSW country

 

[Diesel]

As I've mentioned elsewhere, if the Farce are cut, the NRL needs to ramp up it's Perth expansion efforts immediately. A major charm offensive to fill the void.

Axing the Brumbies or the Webels won't affect the NRL really, Perth is the market NRL wants and needs

Surely someone at HQ would be thinking that way, but... Grant and the other commissioners left are too busy making sure they stay on the gravy train along with the clubs who are trying to get their two fingers into they pie.

FFS, they're useless when it comes to vision