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

[Generalzod]

More Melbourne teams you know we all want it lol

 

[Perth Red]

Whether or not the Ipswich/Bombers bid merging with Easts is a good idea really depends on the ins and outs of the deal.

If there's an expectation of an equal say in club affairs, games played annually in Ipswich, etc, etc, it'd probably end up being more trouble than it's worth IMO.

Easts would probably be better off just beating the Jets in the bidding process, then trying to sign them as an affiliate club when their deal with Newcastle ends. That way all the same benefits would be achieved without risking all the unnecessary BS that goes along with disjointed mergers. We don't need Wests Tigers 2.0.

I don't know much about Wynnum Manly's financial situation, but a marriage between them and Easts, for NRL purposes, would probably be a better fit, assuming that a good deal could be struck and they weren't looking to do anything crazy.

The report said one place on the board so doesn’t look like they are suggesting an equal joint ownership.

unless firehawks need the money or the corporate connections of the jets bid team they’d be better being stand alone and having them as feeder club with souths Logan and Wynnum.

It also might be they feel they won’t beat Redcliffe and this is a strong way of presenting a winning bid.

 

[Perth Red]

Anyone access this?

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

No Cookies

www.couriermail.com.au

 

[Hartwood]

Anyone access this?

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

No Cookies

www.couriermail.com.au

The Brisbane Jets have declared they have the funds to meet the NRL’s $10 million bank guarantee as the Mayor of Ipswich outlined the $250 million stadium plan to make the expansion hopefuls an NRL force.
In a landmark moment for rugby league, the battle for the NRL’s 17th licence kicks off on Monday when the three bid teams — the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins — deliver formal presentations to the Expansion Assessment Committee.
The Committee comprises eight people. They include ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, NRL head-of-football Graham Annesley and ARL Commissioners Kate Jones, Peter Beattie and Megan Davis.
The NRL called for expressions of interest in May and as part of the ARL Commission’s expansion plans for a second Brisbane team, the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins must provide a $10 million bank guarantee.
Redcliffe has an asset base of $100 million, while the Firehawks have $25 million in cash reserves, although there are major concerns the Jets are cash-strapped and do not have the funds to satisfy the NRL’s demands.
But on the eve of the expansion battle, Jets official Nick Livermore rubbished suggestions their consortium is broke, confirming the western-corridor bid will meet the NRL‘s financial benchmarks.
Livermore‘s revelation came as Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding revealed plans for a state-of-the-art, $250 million stadium in the western-corridor to support the region’s push for a second Brisbane team.
News Corp understands the Ipswich City Council is prepared to consider more than $10 million in funding for the Jets should they clinch a licence as the NRL’s 17th team for 2023 or 2024.
V’landys says potential playing numbers are a key factor in the expansion battle and Harding confirmed she had personally written to the ARLC boss to back the Jets amid fears the rival AFL code will destroy the NRL in the Ipswich region.
“If the NRL didn’t embrace this region, the AFL could certainly be a threat to the code in the western corridor,” Harding said.
“The AFL have made the decision to expand substantially here, they have set up a $70 million facility (at Springfield) and they aren’t silly, they can see the growth potential out here.
“There would be no issue around the viability of the Jets.
“I’ve written to Peter V’landys. The Brisbane Jets are the perfect option for the NRL. It’s the region with heart. It’s the grassroots of rugby league, it’s the region that has a century-long affiliation with the game and has produced greats like Allan Langer, the Walters boys and Wayne Bennett.
“Ipswich is the fastest growing city in Queensland.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys will hear formal presentations from bid teams the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins on Monday. “The NRL would never regret choosing the Brisbane Jets as the 17th NRL team.”
It is understood the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins will have approximately one hour each to deliver their pitch to the Expansion Assessment Committee.
V’landys, Abdo and Beattie will view the presentations via hook-up from Sydney. Annesley and Jones will be on the ground in Brisbane to personally hear the bid teams’ addresses.
In March, the Jets issued a document calling for potential investors to supply $1 million each, fuelling fears the western-corridor bid lacks the funds to bankroll a 17th NRL team.
But Livermore says the Jets will head into Monday’s D-Day presentation with their finances in order.
“We have more than met what the NRL may be after,” he said.
“We have absolutely no concerns on putting forward a team for 2023 or 2024.
“The dollars aren’t the concern at all. Our No.1 goal is to ensure the growth and participation of the game.
“We will not only be viable, if we are successful in getting a licence, we will set a benchmark for all NRL clubs.
“To have a politician of Teresa’s standing coming out and supporting us, it is encouraging for the NRL and what it means for one of the largest growth markets in Queensland.”
Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson has offered to merge with the Brisbane Jets. Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics victory shapes as a game changer for the Jets in terms of infrastructure.
Harding is confident of state and federal government support for the construction of a 12,000-to-20,000 multi-purpose stadium in Ipswich that would match Townsville‘s Queensland Country Bank Stadium for quality.
“We will continue to support the Brisbane Jets for the delivery of a stadium at North Ipswich Reserve,” Harding said.
“When you see the new stadium in Townsville, it’s a massive economic multiplier for the North Queensland region and it would be the same for Ipswich.
“The Penrith Panthers are huge for the NRL in western Sydney and the Jets would have a similar impact in Brisbane‘s western corridor.
“All three bids have got their strengths, but the Jets bid is the standout when you look at the grassroots reach.”

 

[Reflector]

Which is ironic considering the NSWRFL and Sydney media claimed state of origin was a stupid concept when the QRL pushed the idea. The NSWRFL and Sydney media claimed Queenslanders were insane and stupid for wanting to select players on origin, rather than the competition they played in. They predicted the SOO match in 1980 would be a dud and they would return to the Representatives format in 1981.

Suns up NSWRL's views on expansion.

The same NSWRL that expanded to Canberra, Wollongong, Brisbane, Newcastle, the Gold Coast-Tweed, North Qld, NZ and W.A in the next 15 years?

 

[Reflector]

More teams at top flight means more players playing at top flight, so expansion can happen with or without covid disruptions, yes reserve grade has been put off, but adding another team in SEQ won't hamper that

I'm suggesting we go a step further and admit 4 new teams:

Firehawks (Brisbane)
Dolphins (Northside Brisbane/ Peninsula)
Pirates (W.A)
Bears (North shore/ Central Coast)

The issue with overall quality in the NRL atm has more to do with coaching than playing talent available.

 

[Hartwood]

I'm suggesting we go a step further and admit 4 new teams:

Firehawks (Brisbane)
Dolphins (Northside Brisbane/ Peninsula)
Pirates (W.A)
Bears (North shore/ Central Coast)

The issue with overall quality in the NRL atm has more to do with coaching than playing talent available.

Who would you suggest as the coaches for those teams then? Excluding current coaches I'd go Bennett, Flanagan (ban will have ended), Tooves and Neil Henry

 

[Hartwood]

I'm suggesting we go a step further and admit 4 new teams:

Firehawks (Brisbane)
Dolphins (Northside Brisbane/ Peninsula)
Pirates (W.A)
Bears (North shore/ Central Coast)

The issue with overall quality in the NRL atm has more to do with coaching than playing talent available.

Also no way should Central coast get a team before NZ gets a second

 

[Reflector]

Also no way should Central coast get a team before NZ gets a second

Why shouldn't the Bears (with a combined area of 1 million+ and some of the biggest corporate sponsorship on it's doorstep) get in ahead of NZ getting a second team?

 

[Reflector]

Who would you suggest as the coaches for those teams then? Excluding current coaches I'd go Bennett, Flanagan (ban will have ended), Tooves and Neil Henry

Those are all decent candidates for starters, then you have potential overseas coaches doing well like Shaun Wayne.

 

[Hartwood]

Why shouldn't the Bears (with a combined area of 1 million+ and some of the biggest corporate sponsorship on it's doorstep) get in ahead of NZ getting a second team?

Because Sydney already has too many teams, we should be looking to expand into new areas. North Sydney is basically an extension of the CBD and the roosters should look to build a bigger fanbase there

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

The same NSWRL that expanded to Canberra, Wollongong, Brisbane, Newcastle, the Gold Coast-Tweed, North Qld, NZ and W.A in the next 15 years?

The NSWRL killed long and established competitions so that a dozen Sydney clubs could become relevant in new markets. It was great for Sydney, but terrible for everyone else. What they replaced these competitions with didn't make up for what they took away. We're now seeing the damage caused by having just one team in Brisbane. If there were 3 teams in Brisbane then the Broncos' fall from grace wouldn't be so disastrous on ratings and attendances. Having all the teams playing in Queensland due to COVID-19 wouldn't be costing the game so much money if there were fewer teams from Sydney and more from Brisbane. With three Brisbane clubs the NRL could have a local team playing at Lang Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night with the Titans playing at Robina Stadium on Sunday arvo. Attendances would be higher and the NRL could run double headers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with one game played on the Sunshine Coast and one in Townsville.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Because Sydney already has too many teams, we should be looking to expand into new areas. North Sydney is basically an extension of the CBD and the roosters should look to build a bigger fanbase there

Roosters should look at building a fanbase on the North Shore. Manly should focus on Northern Beaches and Central Coast.

 

[Reflector]

Because Sydney already has too many teams, we should be looking to expand into new areas. North Sydney is basically an extension of the CBD and the roosters should look to build a bigger fanbase there

The Central Coast is no more part of Sydney than the Sunshine Coast is part of Brisbane. The Central Coast not only has a fantastic stadium ready to go, but it is also the largest junior league area in NSW without NRL representation. No chance of the Roosters relocating there. With the Bears you get a foundation club back, relocated to an area with plenty of future growth.

 

[Reflector]

The NSWRL killed long and established competitions so that a dozen Sydney clubs could become relevant in new markets. It was great for Sydney, but terrible for everyone else. What they replaced these competitions with didn't make up for what they took away. We're now seeing the damage caused by having just one team in Brisbane. If there were 3 teams in Brisbane then the Broncos' fall from grace wouldn't be so disastrous on ratings and attendances. Having all the teams playing in Queensland due to COVID-19 wouldn't be costing the game so much money if there were fewer teams from Sydney and more from Brisbane. With three Brisbane clubs the NRL could have a local team playing at Lang Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night with the Titans playing at Robina Stadium on Sunday arvo. Attendances would be higher and the NRL could run double headers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with one game played on the Sunshine Coast and one in Townsville.

But who else was planning to expand the game at the time? Not the BRL/ QRL. Had the NSWRL not expanded into Brisbane, we would've continued with two completely separate state competitions for who knows how long. The mistake the NSWRL made was allowing the Broncos to have exclusivity to SEQ, rather than adding two new Qld teams in 1988 whether the Broncos and another bid OR inviting BRL sides like Wynnum/ Redcliffe to join a bigger comp. As it was, the NSWRL soon realised it wasn't good for the Broncos to have a monopoly on SEQ and that's why they introduced the Crushers.

As you know, there was a great deal of kicking and screaming about the addition of another Winfield Cup team in SEQ then a deliberate move to cull the Crushers (along with the Gold Coast) and ensure the Broncos once again were the only team in town- and this had nothing to do with the NSWRL.

 

[flippikat]

But who else was planning to expand the game at the time? Not the BRL/ QRL.

I might be mistaken here, but wasn't that just an outcome of NSWRL (read Sydney) just having more money than the BRL/QRL? Pokies, basically.

Even IF Queensland had the desire to expand into new markets, they probably wouldn't have had the resources to do it.. certainly not compared to the guys south of the border.

 

[Hartwood]

The Central Coast is no more part of Sydney than the Sunshine Coast is part of Brisbane. The Central Coast not only has a fantastic stadium ready to go, but it is also the largest junior league area in NSW without NRL representation. No chance of the Roosters relocating there. With the Bears you get a foundation club back, relocated to an area with plenty of future growth.

I wasn't saying that Central coast was apart of Sydney, but they don't need a team either. If you think Redcliffe can represent people in sunshine coast, then why can't manly also represent Central coast, they could even play 2 or 3 games there a year.

The mistake the NSWRL made was allowing the Broncos to have exclusivity to SEQ, rather than adding two new Qld teams in 1988

They did add 2 seq teams in 1988

 

[Perth Red]

Thanks for posting the article hartwood.

nsw isn’t getting another club, not even under one eyed Vlandys lol.

 

[Pippen94]

I wasn't saying that Central coast was apart of Sydney, but they don't need a team either. If you think Redcliffe can represent people in sunshine coast, then why can't manly also represent Central coast, they could even play 2 or 3 games there a year.

They did add 2 seq teams in 1988

Gold coast giants were based in tweed heads nsw

 

[Pippen94]

I might be mistaken here, but wasn't that just an outcome of NSWRL (read Sydney) just having more money than the BRL/QRL? Pokies, basically.

Even IF Queensland had the desire to expand into new markets, they probably wouldn't have had the resources to do it.. certainly not compared to the guys south of the border.

Brl was planning for future which included creation of state league. Clubs like redcliffe were talking about joining nrl in 1986. Lack of pokie money & Sydney centric nature of Australia did them in