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

[flippikat]

The Roosters and Rabbitohs are 113 years old. Chuck in Wests too (with the benefit of a restructure in 2000). The Dogs, Saints are 80-100 years. Manly and Para 70+. Cronulla and Penrith 50+.

You can’t tell me all these clubs are doing their utmost to maximise revenue through crowds, memberships, merchandise and fan engagement.

My biggest gripe is that the game as a whole could do so much better.
Expansion is a small part of it.
There’s little ambition, no grand plan.
They bring in business acumen but it becomes ‘oh they don’t have RL knowledge’.
The relationship with the media is woeful.
And people accept so very little and bare minimum.

Rugby league has ALWAYS had a strong strain of "reverse snobbery" about the game, which has slammed the door on great growth opportunities & people with solid business acumen, just because they're a bit too posh.

Don't get me wrong, the game's working class roots are great... BUT we also need a sense of upward mobility & ambition that can take the game further.

 

[The Great Dane]

Yeah, but those clubs are the reason NRL gets it's biggest source of income - broadcast deal. Perth etc don't add shit.

Firstly, you are delusional if you think [insert smaller club here] is a requirement for the broadcast deal to be as big as it.

Secondly, it makes no difference how big the broadcast deal is when the majority of it goes back into supporting failed businesses.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

The Roosters and Rabbitohs are 113 years old. Chuck in Wests too (with the benefit of a restructure in 2000). The Dogs, Saints are 80-100 years. Manly and Para 70+. Cronulla and Penrith 50+.

You can’t tell me all these clubs are doing their utmost to maximise revenue through crowds, memberships, merchandise and fan engagement.

My biggest gripe is that the game as a whole could do so much better.
Expansion is a small part of it.
There’s little ambition, no grand plan.
They bring in business acumen but it becomes ‘oh they don’t have RL knowledge’.
The relationship with the media is woeful.
And people accept so very little and bare minimum.

I think the Sydney clubs need to redraw their catchment areas to keep up with the growth and changing demographics of the metropolitan area. Teams like South Sydney should look at relocating out of the CBD and represent Southern Sydney all the way to Canterbury. If they pulled this off they could be as big and powerful as the Broncos. Redfern is no longer the epicentre of South Sydney's fanbase.

Roosters need to absorb the North Shore.

God knows where this leaves smaller teams like St George and Cronulla.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

QLD Cup and BRL is a very important part of our RL history and the supporters of the current teams are no doubt passionate, but to pretend that people support it in large enough numbers to impact Brisbane 2 negatively because of some QLD Cup rivalry boycott is a joke.

Queenslanders like to support one another in the face of competition from Sydney. I can see BRL fans supporting teams they've grown up playing against because it ties into the Brisbane vs Sydney narrative.

I am a Wynnum fan but wouldn't have a problem supporting the Firehawks. I'd even support the Dolphins. Easts and Redcliffe are Wynnum's biggest rivals.

 

[The Great Dane]

QLD Cup and BRL is a very important part of our RL history and the supporters of the current teams are no doubt passionate, but to pretend that people support it in large enough numbers to impact Brisbane 2 negatively because of some QLD Cup rivalry boycott is a joke.

Most of the QRL/BRL clubs don't start and stop at first grade, most of them run juniors and lower grade teams and have done so for generations. In other words you don't need to be an active supporter of one of the QRL clubs first grade teams to identify with them or to identify them as an out group, as the average RL fan in Brisbane literally grew up playing against them in most age groups.

In other words generations of RL fans in Brisbane have grown up in an environment were they see the QRL clubs (and other local RL clubs) as other tribes that they are in direct conflict with, and that is extremely bad for the prospects of converting those people into fans of those clubs at higher levels.

I mean do you really think that the average person is going to play against e.g. the Dolphins in the morning then support them in the afternoon?
Some undoubtedly will, but history shows us that the majority won't.

 

[The Great Dane]

Queenslanders like to support one another in the face of competition from Sydney. I can see BRL fans supporting teams they've grown up playing against because it ties into the Brisbane vs Sydney narrative.

If that were truly the case there'd be no demand for a second club in Brisbane as every RL fan in Brisbane/Queensland would be Broncos supporters as they were the first Brisbane/Queensland team in the Sydney competition.

I am a Wynnum fan but wouldn't have a problem supporting the Firehawks. I'd even support the Dolphins. Easts and Redcliffe are Wynnum's biggest rivals.

You are not representative of the average fan.

Read the comments on this article. They are representative of the average fan.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Apparently Vlandys just said expansion is going ahead. Trying to find link etc.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

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www.couriermail.com.au

 

[Hartwood]

Peter V’landys’ NRL expansion push to combat the AFL has been re-activated with the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins set to formally outline their bids to ARLC delegates.

The ARL Commission will hold formal meetings with the NRL’s three expansion hopefuls over the next fortnight with a view to unveiling Brisbane’s second team to rival the Broncos by October.

ARLC boss Peter V’landys has confirmed expansion is officially back on the agenda amid the Covid crisis with the NRL to advise the existing clubs in the next 24 hours of plans to investigate a 17th team for 2023 or 2024.

Prospective NRL franchises the Dolphins, Jets and Firehawks were originally due to meet with the ARL Commission in June, only for the latest Covid outbreak to scupper the presentations at the eleventh hour.

But V’landys’ expansion push to combat the AFL has been re-activated with the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins to formally outline their bids to ARLC delegates within 14 days.

It is understood broadcasters are supportive of a second Brisbane team, with the monetary value for the Telstra Premiership to be determined, and V’landys says he is ready to push on with his plan to grow the NRL in Queensland.

“Yes, the interviews with the bid teams will take place,” V’landys told News Corp.

“We were focused on the Covid situation and now we are turning our attention to expansion.

“We have all the documentation from the bid teams, so now it’s a matter of speaking to them and we will do that in the next week or two.

“We will be contacting the bid teams to arrange a time (for formal presentations).”

News Corp understands the winning bid could be announced as early as late September or after the NRL grand final in October. It is possible the ARL Commission could award the 17th licence this year, but delay the installation of a second Brisbane team until the 2024 season.

Asked if the ARLC would announce Brisbane’s new team later this year, V’landys said: “I’m not sure on the final timeline. I need to speak to the 16 clubs.”

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson assured the NRL the Brisbane Tigers-backed consortium could be operational and field a competitive side in a 17-team league for the 2023 season.

“It is definitely achievable for the Firehawks to be up and running for the 2023 season, no question,” said Richardson, the former South Sydney football boss.

“If the Commission wants to hold interviews, we are ready to go.

“Unfortunately, the process was delayed by the Covid issue earlier this year, but we’ve been patient and we’re very confident in the bid we have put forward.

“I know there is talk about delaying expansion until 2024 but honestly we can easily be ready for a 2023 timeframe.

“We would announce our coach, we have a player list already drawn up, we have $25 million in the bank, we would go in straight away and sign players to contracts.

“We have a plan already in place of what our top 30 should look like and what sort of money we should be paying at the different levels.

“We could push the button on our operations tomorrow.

Brisbane Jets official Nick Livermore believes 12 months is an ample runway for the western-corridor bid to be alive and kicking in 2023.

“We were ready back in June when we were going to host the presentations, so we look forward to the Commission’s next step,” he said.

“We have been patient for 11 years and if they decide that they are ready to kick-off formal presentations, we are ready to go. We have presented our documentation to the NRL so hopefully they have had some time to go through our bid.

“Twelve months is ample time for a new NRL team to put in structures and begin signing players to field a competitive roster.

“It’s definitely achievable to have a 17th team up and running for 2023 and if the Commission makes a call in September or October, we would have no issue having the Brisbane Jets operational.”

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

I'm hoping the bids are so compelling they add two teams.

 

[Hartwood]

I'm hoping the bids are so compelling they add two teams.

2 more Brisbane teams would be great but not before Perth gets 1

 

[Jamberoo]

I'm hoping the bids are so compelling they add two teams.

If they plan to ever introduce Bris3, they need to do it the same time as Bris2 or Bris3 will have a very hard time to build a fan base. Now or never.

 

[Jamberoo]

Peter V’landys’ NRL expansion push to combat the AFL has been re-activated with the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins set to formally outline their bids to ARLC delegates.

The ARL Commission will hold formal meetings with the NRL’s three expansion hopefuls over the next fortnight with a view to unveiling Brisbane’s second team to rival the Broncos by October.

ARLC boss Peter V’landys has confirmed expansion is officially back on the agenda amid the Covid crisis with the NRL to advise the existing clubs in the next 24 hours of plans to investigate a 17th team for 2023 or 2024.

Prospective NRL franchises the Dolphins, Jets and Firehawks were originally due to meet with the ARL Commission in June, only for the latest Covid outbreak to scupper the presentations at the eleventh hour.

But V’landys’ expansion push to combat the AFL has been re-activated with the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins to formally outline their bids to ARLC delegates within 14 days.

It is understood broadcasters are supportive of a second Brisbane team, with the monetary value for the Telstra Premiership to be determined, and V’landys says he is ready to push on with his plan to grow the NRL in Queensland.

“Yes, the interviews with the bid teams will take place,” V’landys told News Corp.

“We were focused on the Covid situation and now we are turning our attention to expansion.

“We have all the documentation from the bid teams, so now it’s a matter of speaking to them and we will do that in the next week or two.

“We will be contacting the bid teams to arrange a time (for formal presentations).”

News Corp understands the winning bid could be announced as early as late September or after the NRL grand final in October. It is possible the ARL Commission could award the 17th licence this year, but delay the installation of a second Brisbane team until the 2024 season.

Asked if the ARLC would announce Brisbane’s new team later this year, V’landys said: “I’m not sure on the final timeline. I need to speak to the 16 clubs.”

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson assured the NRL the Brisbane Tigers-backed consortium could be operational and field a competitive side in a 17-team league for the 2023 season.

“It is definitely achievable for the Firehawks to be up and running for the 2023 season, no question,” said Richardson, the former South Sydney football boss.

“If the Commission wants to hold interviews, we are ready to go.

“Unfortunately, the process was delayed by the Covid issue earlier this year, but we’ve been patient and we’re very confident in the bid we have put forward.

“I know there is talk about delaying expansion until 2024 but honestly we can easily be ready for a 2023 timeframe.

“We would announce our coach, we have a player list already drawn up, we have $25 million in the bank, we would go in straight away and sign players to contracts.

“We have a plan already in place of what our top 30 should look like and what sort of money we should be paying at the different levels.

“We could push the button on our operations tomorrow.

Brisbane Jets official Nick Livermore believes 12 months is an ample runway for the western-corridor bid to be alive and kicking in 2023.

“We were ready back in June when we were going to host the presentations, so we look forward to the Commission’s next step,” he said.

“We have been patient for 11 years and if they decide that they are ready to kick-off formal presentations, we are ready to go. We have presented our documentation to the NRL so hopefully they have had some time to go through our bid.

“Twelve months is ample time for a new NRL team to put in structures and begin signing players to field a competitive roster.

“It’s definitely achievable to have a 17th team up and running for 2023 and if the Commission makes a call in September or October, we would have no issue having the Brisbane Jets operational.”

Still sounds like a maybe to me.

 

[Perth Red]

Still sounds like a maybe to me.

End of day it will come down to if Ch9 will pay for it. NRL doesnt have the spare cash floating around to fund $13million a year more to NRL club grants, so it is banking on Ch9 agreeing to cover cost. Getting the chess pieces in place now so they can take it to the FTA negotiations is a smart move. If Ch9 say not worth $13mill plus to us then there will be no expansion, imo.

 

[Perth Red]

I'm hoping the bids are so compelling they add two teams.

That would be the stupidest thing the game could do, so it will probably happen!

 

[Omott91]

My preference:
1. Firehawks
2. Jets
3. Dolphins (coming in as Brisbane 3 at end of decade)

How I think it will go:
1. Dolphins
2. Firehawks
3. Jets

 

[Perth Red]

If they plan to ever introduce Bris3, they need to do it the same time as Bris2 or Bris3 will have a very hard time to build a fan base. Now or never.

Disagree, we dont know if Brisbane can sustain 2 clubs, adding a third to saturate the city to the point the other isnt viable would be ludicrous. Brisbane can have a 3rd team in about 25 years when the other two have shown there is demand for another one.

 

[Jim Rockford]

Just like adding the West Coast ButtPirates (who aren't viable) would be ludicrous. It's all about what you want, not whats good for the game eh Red.

 

[RedVee]

I think the Sydney clubs need to redraw their catchment areas to keep up with the growth and changing demographics of the metropolitan area. Teams like South Sydney should look at relocating out of the CBD and represent Southern Sydney all the way to Canterbury. If they pulled this off they could be as big and powerful as the Broncos. Redfern is no longer the epicentre of South Sydney's fanbase.

Roosters need to absorb the North Shore.

God knows where this leaves smaller teams like St George and Cronulla.

You do realise the Illawarra part of St George Illawarra stretches near to Batemans Bay ?

 

[flippikat]

[re: Adding 2 Brisbane teams]

That would be the stupidest thing the game could do, so it will probably happen!

It's an ultra-conservative move - but the sport has a bigger history of being conservative than it does of being bold, as far as expansion goes.

With Covid making interstate travel difficult, nevermind trans-Tasman travel - I can see how the NRL could be spooked into jumping at Brisbane clubs for 17 AND 18, instead of using that 18th spot for something like Perth or NZ 2.

That's conservative AND extremely short-sighted, given that an 18th team (and 9th game per weekend) is unlikely before the next rights cycle starts in 2028, when Covid surely should be in the rear-view mirror