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

[The Great Dane]

It think it is fair to say that it has worked for the AFL with Fremantle and Port Adelaide. Each club has captured about one third of their city as second to market. Neither club is in the centre of town but now has fans right across town. No two (or three) situations are the same but it can work.

Port Adelaide went with a neutral brand and until very recently distanced themselves from the Magpies brand as much as possible, and what PR said of Freemantle is also true.

In other words, no it hasn't worked for the AFL as the AFL has never attempted what the Dolphins are attempting.

 

[The Great Dane]

We really need to have 3 teams in Brisbane before the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The world will be watching Brisbane and it is imperative it knows we are an RL loving city. AwFuL will try their best to pretend it's a fumbleball city and will talk non-stop about the main Olympic Stadium, the Gabba, being the home of the Lions. Three teams, with Lang Park hosting soccer and hopefully the RL Nines in 2032, will allow us to promote our game and allow the Dolphins, Firehawks, Titans, Cowboys and Broncos to grow their brand around the world.

Nobody will give a f**k about RL, or any other domestic comp for that matter, when the Olympics are on in Brisbane.

I mean have you heard anything about Japanese baseball, soccer, or RU because of the Tokyo Olympics?

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Nobody will give a f**k about RL, or any other domestic comp for that matter, when the Olympics are on in Brisbane.

I mean have you heard anything about Japanese baseball, soccer, or RU because of the Tokyo Olympics?

I reckon rugby league, and the NRL in particular, has the potential to become as big as the NFL/EPL. It's never been promoted to the rest of the world, largely due to politics from the other code and self interest from our administrators. The free advertising from being at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could be a game changer.

 

[Perth Red]

I reckon rugby league, and the NRL in particular, has the potential to become as big as the NFL/EPL. It's never been promoted to the rest of the world, largely due to politics from the other code and self interest from our administrators. The free advertising from being at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could be a game changer.

It doesn’t meet the criteria of being played in 75 countries

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

I reckon rugby league, and the NRL in particular, has the potential to become as big as the NFL/EPL. It's never been promoted to the rest of the world, largely due to politics from the other code and self interest from our administrators. The free advertising from being at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could be a game changer.

I'm not suggesting it will get to the heights you reckon - but who knows!

What I do know is that there is a legitimate opportunities for the Rugby Codes in the USA to thrive. Union is actually quite well established, League has been around for a while but even with the proposed new US League, it's still very much low-tier..

That said - now the world is more connected, internet, social media etc etc - it's led to exposure of more and more sports to new audiences across the globe. That's not exactly a revelation I know, but it does give new audiences a look into what the sport is actually like - not just "yeah rugby players dont wear pads" knowledge.

League and Union could definitely thrive in the USA and Canada if structured and developed professionally by the right people. There is a massive base of athletes who are potential players. While I'm not suggesting American Football players would be converting en-masse, the USP's for Rugby codes that may attract lower tier American Football players are many.. including...

- More games played (many players rarely see a game, more reserves and practice rosters)
- More Game time (playing bigger minutes rather than just a 4 or 5 minutes).
- The ability to play for your country...

The last one is what I feel is the kicker. Rugby 7's being an olympic sport now conveys that message to a greater audience in the USA. It's also an easy game to watch and pick-up, rather than the technicalities of the 15 man game. If Rugby League 9's came to Brisbane - I think with another 12 years of time passing, more exposure to North America ... it would legitimise League there too. And help establish a firm presence for the sport.

And while I'm not a Vlandys fan at the moment - he is definitely the guy who could drive it's inclusion into the olympic program more than anyone within the sport. But will he.... or will he be tarnished by the world cup boycott in garnering support from other league bosses to lobby the IOC...

 

[Perth Red]

Again it doesn't meet Olympic inclusion criteria. There are only 55 countries that are members of the IRL and there has to be at least 75 for men.

 

[siv]

Time to push the Asia-Pacific region and get those actual countries who do play to become proper members

We could alway join as a Winter Olympics sport

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Again it doesn't meet Olympic inclusion criteria. There are only 55 countries that are members of the IRL and there has to be at least 75 for men.

Then get another 20 countries to play it. We have 11 years to get it done.

There are heaps of countries in Asia and Africa that would embrace the game if it was given the right promotion.

Don't forget about the South Pacific, which has plenty of Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian countries that are well suited to RL 9s. Our game is perfect for Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians. The IOC want smaller nations to have greater representation at the Olympics. RL 9s can provide a pathway for Pacific Islanders to compete at the Olympics.

 

[Perth Red]

Then get another 20 countries to play it. We have 11 years to get it done.

There are heaps of countries in Asia and Africa that would embrace the game if it was given the right promotion.

Don't forget about the South Pacific, which has plenty of Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian countries that are well suited to RL 9s. Our game is perfect for Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians. The IOC want smaller nations to have greater representation at the Olympics. RL 9s can provide a pathway for Pacific Islanders to compete at the Olympics.

Well guess what, if we had a RLWC making money for the IRL to be able to grow the game in another 20 countries that might be a good idea, oh hang on.......

 

[Jim Rockford]

Well guess what, if we had a RLWC making money for the IRL to be able to grow the game in another 20 countries that might be a good idea, oh hang on.......

Yeah, the players should all put their lives at risk so Perth Red can get his Perth Buttpirates team off the ground. Nothing selfish about that at all

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Yeah and South Africa is the Rainbow f**king Nation lol.

I've spent a fair amount of time in Brisbane, it's no post tribalism utopia.

I'll defer to your superior knowledge of my city then... hats off to you sir!

 

[toomuchsoup]

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dsf.newscorpaustralia.com

Peter Badel and Travis Meyn
July 28, 2021 - 2:24PM

The ARL Commission has temporarily suspended NRL expansion plans following Covid crisis talks in a move that will almost certainly see the introduction of Brisbane’s second team delayed until 2024.

News Corp can reveal NRL hierarchy advised the 16 club chief executives at a teleconference hook-up on Tuesday night that plans for a 17-team league in 2023 had been “put on ice” amid the code’s Covid premiership plight.

While ARLC chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have not ruled out meeting the original expansion target time frame of 2023, the latest Covid saga is set to push back the code’s growth by 12 months.

V’landys is keen to repel the AFL in Queensland’s sporting turf war and he was hoping to unveil a second Brisbane NRL team in line with a new broadcasting deal with Channel 9 for the 2023 season.

But the latest Covid saga, which could cost the NRL around $45 million if the Telstra Premiership finishes the 2021 season in Queensland, has all-but sounded the death-knell for a 17-team league in 2023.

The ARL Commission was set to meet with bid teams the Dolphins, Firehawks and Jets earlier this month, with a view to announcing the winner by the end of July, but were forced to cancel the formal presentations due to NSW’s Covid outbreak.

Abdo has addressed the 16 clubs on the NRL’s latest expansion landscape with V’landys confirming plans for a 17-team competition have been briefly put on the backburner.

“The analysis of expansion has stopped for the moment,” V’landys said.

“I have said to the clubs that the work on expansion has stopped for the moment, but the work will recommence on it.”

Asked if expansion has been officially delayed until 2024, V’landys said: “We haven’t made a final decision one way or the other.

“That’s all that has happened. Once we can recommence, we will know what direction to take.

“I’m the chairman of the board and it’s not true to say expansion is absolutely off (for 2023). The ARL Commission will make the final decision.

“We have put the tools down on expansion and until we pick up the tools again, I can’t tell you if we will have another team for 2023.

“We have a lot of variables we have to consider, including the current challenges (of keeping the NRL competition alive in Queensland).”

Brisbane Jets bid chief Nick Livermore believes expansion is still possible for 2023 if the ARL Commission makes a definitive call by October.

“I’ve always felt October is the time by which we ideally need to have an answer (on expansion),” he said.

“I believe you can bring in a team within 12 months, but what you need is more time to maximise the opportunity to commercialise the club and drive revenue for a 2023 entry.

“Expansion is historically aligned with TV deals in rugby league, but what we have seen over the past two years shows nothing is normal when Covid is impacting so many businesses, including rugby league.

“The game has a responsibility to its 16 teams and state bodies and I think the leadership has shown they are committed to doing whatever they can to keep the game going.

“If that means any growth strategy for the game has to be temporarily suspended, I don’t think anyone can argue against that to ensure the NRL competition is sustainable.

“The ARL Commission would be aware of the risk factor of delaying expansion too long, especially with the AFL targeting Brisbane’s western corridor, which is the highest-growing population area in Queensland.

“We are at risk of losing ground to the AFL, but that may be a short-term risk we have to take to ensure the game’s stability.”

 

[toomuchsoup]

Very disappointing but can’t say I’m surprised

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Well guess what, if we had a RLWC making money for the IRL to be able to grow the game in another 20 countries that might be a good idea, oh hang on.......

The NRL would benefit from expanding the game all throughout southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and China.

We're in a favourable time zone to them, so it will give our game the chance to become the NFL/EPL of Australasia.

 

[flippikat]

So the NRL is saying "Nah, it'll be 2024" to the 16 clubs, while PVL is saying "Weeeeell, you never know.. 2023 may still be on" to the media?

Can we please just bin these clowns & hand the keys to Shane Richardson now??

 

[cumbrian Mackem]

Yeah, the players should all put their lives at risk so Perth Red can get his Perth Buttpirates team off the ground. Nothing selfish about that at all

well Will you look at that, somebody posted an emoji

 

[cumbrian Mackem]

The good news just keeps rolling in

1st it was the World Cup and now no expansion in 2023. What next?

 

[Diesel]

If nothing else, it gives the Firehawks and Jets time to merge.
From memory they’ve sent preliminary business plans to the NRL and would’ve had in/formal feedback.
this 12 months might be the catalyst to include two Brisbane teams over 2 seasons and really stick it to the AFL

 

[cumbrian Mackem]

If nothing else, it gives the Firehawks and Jets time to merge.
From memory they’ve sent preliminary business plans to the NRL and would’ve had in/formal feedback.
this 12 months might be the catalyst to include two Brisbane teams over 2 seasons and really stick it to the AFL

Inner city Brisbane and suburban Brisbane franchises?

 

[flippikat]

If nothing else, it gives the Firehawks and Jets time to merge.
From memory they’ve sent preliminary business plans to the NRL and would’ve had in/formal feedback.
this 12 months might be the catalyst to include two Brisbane teams over 2 seasons and really stick it to the AFL

A merger of the two would be brilliant, and the ultimate trump card that pushes Redcliffe out of the reckoning for Brisbane 2.

FireJets as Brisbane 2, and a Redcliffe/Sunshine Coast club as the 18th team (if the NRL really want a conservative option for 18th team instead of NZ 2 or Perth) could be the go...