"It’s very realistic to say that we’ll have a second team in Brisbane in 2023": V'landys

[Jim Rockford]

Good to see this thread being steered back on track.. and refreshing to hear Ikin backing a 2nd Brisbane team in concept.

You mean good to see that you and Moe and Curly have turned this back into a bash Sydney thread. Don't worry, as long as I'm here I'll continue to point out all the bullshit you Three Stooges keep shovelling.

 

[Perth Red]

If the NRL have genuinely snookered themselves out of capitalizing from a 9th game until 2028 (Given that current Fox/Sky deals run to end of 2027), then I can understand the talk about possibly moving Brisbane 2's debut from 2023 out to 2024 or 2025.

Assuming we go to 18 teams in 2028, a 2024 debut for B2 would mean 4 years of 17 teams, 2025 would mean 3 years of 17 teams... either way, this decade would be pretty much lost time.

Yeh its very frustrating given they have been talking about expanding since 2011!! I think ideally you'd be looking to bring in Brisbane2 in 2023/24 and Perth in 2026. Whilst the Tv deals run until 2027 renegotiations usually start 18months-2 years before current deals run out. If they committed to Perth in 2026 next year they could get Cummins or Sage on board now to aim for a NSW cup side in 2024 to be building for 2026, and take advantage of a very RL friendly WA premier who has 4 years tenure to run. But that would take some strategy and vision, sadly two things RL is notorious for lacking.

 

[flippikat]

Yeh its very frustrating given they have been talking about expanding since 2011!! I think ideally you'd be looking to bring in Brisbane2 in 2023/24 and Perth in 2026. Whilst the Tv deals run until 2027 renegotiations usually start 18months-2 years before current deals run out. If they committed to Perth in 2026 next year they could get Cummins or Sage on board now to aim for a NSW cup side in 2024 to be building for 2026, and take advantage of a very RL friendly WA premier who has 4 years tenure to run. But that would take some strategy and vision, sadly two things RL is notorious for lacking.

You think they'd try Perth in 2026, even if they can't get a big TV windfall from a 9th game until 2028?

I'd love to see it, but given the cautious nature of the NRL (and most of the RL industry) I wouldnt necessarily bet on it, sadly

If expansion to 18 teams IS delayed until 2028 due to commercial (read TV rights) factors, and we have 3-5 years of 17 teams then that's a window for the NRL to examine the structure of that 17 team competition - everything from the geographical profile of those 17 teams, to their business models, and even the 2nd tier structure & how rep footy fits in the calendar - and get it "fit for purpose" to go to 18, and maybe even 20 teams again.

Yeah, big call (and probably not likely) but if you have most of the decade before another game is added, you have to do SOMETHING with it. What about dusting-off some of Shane Richardson's ideas?

 

[Perth Red]

I think we will soon get sick of byes like we did before the Titans were admitted so dont think it will be too long between going from 17 to 18. AFL didnt wait for tv to agree they expanded then sold the content, takes balls which we lack sadly, but having more content and the future option of splitting that extra content amongst streaming could force the price up. End of day an 18th team costs the NRL around an extra $13mill plus bit extra for the ninth game production (ref, travel and accommodation etc) so even if they carried it for a season or two it wouldn't break the bank. The realty is a 17th club on its own isn't a big money earner for the NRL, only a ninth game has the potential to do that. I actually think the threat of extra content being sold to a third player could be an interesting strategy for the next negotiations.

The revenue gap (pre covid) with AFL was growing year on year. If the NRL doesn't do something pretty ballsy to claw it back soon they will be all over us and we wont have anything to fight back with. They are sensing blood in the water and throwing everything at NSW and Qlnd in order to position themselves as Australia's footy code. We need to start fighting back soon. That extra revenue is paying for 4 expansion clubs and massive grass roots investment in RL areas. Without extra money NRL is fighting a rear guard action. Best way of extra money is better media deals.

As an example Sunday afternoon games AFL rated 82k in NRL cities whilst NRL only rated 23k in AFL cities. Time to get on the front foot and take the fight to them.

 

[Jim Rockford]

takes balls which we lack sadly

You certainly do, the rest of us are doing fine.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Good to see this thread being steered back on track.. and refreshing to hear Ikin backing a 2nd Brisbane team in concept.

Sure, reservations exist in terms of the games' finances.. but that's where the question needs to be asked by the interviewer about an 18th team.. the point being that a 17th team adds more if there's also an 18th team (thus an extra game per weekend), especially if the 18th is in a place that offers extra scheduling options (NZ 2 or Perth).

I think the 18th team is a dimension that's being lost in this tussle over Brisbane 2. The NRL should either make a call on their preferred 18th team NOW ("After Brisbane is decided, we will commence work with *location* to add our 18th team there soon after").. or already be sounding out the need for interested parties to sharpen their business cases for that 18th team.. with a view to make a decision on THAT next year.

Either choose the winner for team 18, or declare the contest open.

One option would be to free up room for Tigers and Dragons by sending Bulldogs to Christchurch, where they can rebrand as the Canterbury Bulls, and hand the Sharks licence to the Firehawks. That way two of Sydney's Super League clubs, that have no room to grow, are gone and the two ARL teams beside them can win the war. Sydney RL fans hate Super League, so it makes sense to get rid of 2 of the clubs that jumped ship.

 

[Jim Rockford]

Or we could get rid of another Super League club - the Cowboys. Apart from maybe some transplanted bumpkins from FNQ nobody else in Sydney would be sad to see them go.

 

[Pippen94]

I think we will soon get sick of byes like we did before the Titans were admitted so dont think it will be too long between going from 17 to 18. AFL didnt wait for tv to agree they expanded then sold the content, takes balls which we lack sadly, but having more content and the future option of splitting that extra content amongst streaming could force the price up. End of day an 18th team costs the NRL around an extra $13mill plus bit extra for the ninth game production (ref, travel and accommodation etc) so even if they carried it for a season or two it wouldn't break the bank. The realty is a 17th club on its own isn't a big money earner for the NRL, only a ninth game has the potential to do that. I actually think the threat of extra content being sold to a third player could be an interesting strategy for the next negotiations.

The revenue gap (pre covid) with AFL was growing year on year. If the NRL doesn't do something pretty ballsy to claw it back soon they will be all over us and we wont have anything to fight back with. They are sensing blood in the water and throwing everything at NSW and Qlnd in order to position themselves as Australia's footy code. We need to start fighting back soon. That extra revenue is paying for 4 expansion clubs and massive grass roots investment in RL areas. Without extra money NRL is fighting a rear guard action. Best way of extra money is better media deals.

As an example Sunday afternoon games AFL rated 82k in NRL cities whilst NRL only rated 23k in AFL cities. Time to get on the front foot and take the fight to them.

Afl had local team on main channel & did pretty poor for that

 

[Pippen94]

One option would be to free up room for Tigers and Dragons by sending Bulldogs to Christchurch, where they can rebrand as the Canterbury Bulls, and hand the Sharks licence to the Firehawks. That way two of Sydney's Super League clubs, that have no room to grow, are gone and the two ARL teams beside them can win the war. Sydney RL fans hate Super League, so it makes sense to get rid of 2 of the clubs that jumped ship.

You lose more fans than you gain eliminating teams.
Sutherland shire not much smaller in population than Christchurch.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Or we could get rid of another Super League club - the Cowboys. Apart from maybe some transplanted bumpkins from FNQ nobody else in Sydney would be sad to see them go.

The broadcasters wouldn't pay as much without the Cowboys. They're one of the most watched teams on Ch9 and Foxtel.

Everything you ever wanted to know about NRL TV ratings but were afraid to ask

The overwhelming majority of fans get their NRL fix through the TV. An average round will attract 124,000 in the stands but 3.6 million, thirty times as many, will tune in via subscription (PTV) or…

pythagonrl.com

 

[Pippen94]

You think they'd try Perth in 2026, even if they can't get a big TV windfall from a 9th game until 2028?

I'd love to see it, but given the cautious nature of the NRL (and most of the RL industry) I wouldnt necessarily bet on it, sadly

If expansion to 18 teams IS delayed until 2028 due to commercial (read TV rights) factors, and we have 3-5 years of 17 teams then that's a window for the NRL to examine the structure of that 17 team competition - everything from the geographical profile of those 17 teams, to their business models, and even the 2nd tier structure & how rep footy fits in the calendar - and get it "fit for purpose" to go to 18, and maybe even 20 teams again.

Yeah, big call (and probably not likely) but if you have most of the decade before another game is added, you have to do SOMETHING with it. What about dusting-off some of Shane Richardson's ideas?

18th team won't be Perth we know that much

 

[Jim Rockford]

You lose more fans than you gain eliminating teams.
Sutherland shire not much smaller in population than Christchurch.

Anyone with a brain knows this but that's why GROTD can't quite grasp it.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

You lose more fans than you gain eliminating teams.
Sutherland shire not much smaller in population than Christchurch.

Cronulla and Bulldogs add nothing to the broadcast rights as they have few fans in Queensland and NZ and are down the pecking table in Sydney. A Christchurch team will make the NZ portion of the broadcast rights more valuable.

 

[Jim Rockford]

The broadcasters wouldn't pay as much without the Cowboys. because they're one of the most watched teams on Ch9 and Foxtel.

Everything you ever wanted to know about NRL TV ratings but were afraid to ask

The overwhelming majority of fans get their NRL fix through the TV. An average round will attract 124,000 in the stands but 3.6 million, thirty times as many, will tune in via subscription (PTV) or…

pythagonrl.com

Maybe but we wouldn't have those inbred bovine-humpers stinking up the comp which you can't put a monetary value on.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Anyone with a brain knows this but that's why GROTD can't quite grasp it.

NRL lost the Bears, Magpies, Tigers, Dragons and Steelers in 1998. There are more people watching today than there were before 1998. That proves you're full of shit.

 

[Jim Rockford]

NRL lost the Bears, Magpies, Tigers, Dragons and Steelers in 1998. There are more people watching today than there were before 1998. That proves you're full of shit.

The population is higher than in 1998 which proves you are a cretinous little turd.

 

[Pippen94]

Cronulla and Bulldogs add nothing to the broadcast rights as they have few fans in Queensland and NZ and are down the pecking table in Sydney. A Christchurch team will make the NZ portion of the broadcast rights more valuable.

Bulldogs are a strongly supported team & among top brands in Sydney. Sharks support isn't as wide spread but both attract fans in biggest market for rugby league. Ask fox if subscribers they'd lose would be made up by Christchurch fanatics?!

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

The population is higher than in 1998 which proves you are a cretinous little turd.

Most of whom are immigrants from non-RL countries and have no emotional attatchnent to teams that were running around in the NSWRL in 1982.

Your dentures must be in need of a clean. All that shit you speak would soil them pretty bad.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Bulldogs are a strongly supported team & among top brands in Sydney. Sharks support isn't as wide spread but both attract fans in biggest market for rugby league. Ask fox if subscribers they'd lose would be made up by Christchurch fanatics?!

Without them there are still another seven teams in Australia's largest market.

 

[MugaB]

Without them there are still another seven teams in Australia's largest market.

Just get rid of the bumpkins of north qld cowboys, they'll just turn into fans of the broncos, titans or whoever the bris2 licence goes to, easy