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John Grant urges NRL to add a team in Ipswich/Logan

blue bags

First Grade
Messages
9,577
Funnily enough with all the rhetoric about AFL threats coming from the Ipswich Jets bidders, that $40mil, was promised by the same mayor who is advocating AFL aswell, I suppose if the NRL aren't going to put up shop there then she'll sell us out to the rival code.. what a Queenslander!!!
Tasmania Devils are coming
🧐
 

SirPies&Beers

Juniors
Messages
129
No money in regional centres like sunshine coast.
Bear with bit of a case study below, sorry if it's long.

Re: no money in Sunny Coast.

That's not entirely true. There's plenty of money on the Sunny Coast. It's not like it's Harvey Bay or something like that. The city has grown significantly in the last decade and according to statistics have a current population of 365-370k with an estimated growth of up towards over half a mil in the next 2 decades. Which is when I would anticipate it would be looked at with any genuine seriousness anyways tbf.

You'll find there's a portion of wealthier Brisbanites moving up there to relocate, live & settle. I think it's fair to assume this is the catalyst for recent investment into new developments both from a commercial space (see Caloundra/Maroochydore) and a residential space (see Aura).

The current Sunny Coast stand alone population actually trumps the current Ipswich stand alone population by about 100k. I think it's when you factor in western regions/darling downs inc. Toowoomba that the Ipswich and western regions pull away.

However if you add the the equivalent surrounding regions with similar distances to Sunny Coast i.e Fraser Coast vs Ipswich i.e Darling Downs then Sunny Coast pulls away in lead again.

Estimates:
Sunny Coast 365k + Noosa 57k + Gympie 56k + Maryborough 30k + Harvey Bay 57k = 566k
Ipswich 255k + Darling Downs (inc. Toowomba) 290k = 545k

I wasted 15 mins of my time to type this up that I am sure will get lost in archive history but good food for thought.
 
Last edited:

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
7,104
Bear with bit of a case study below, sorry if it's long.

Re: no money in Sunny Coast.

That's not entirely true. There's plenty of money on the Sunny Coast. If not like it's Harvey Bay or something like that. The city has grown significantly in the last decade and according to statistics have a current population of 365-370k with an estimated growth of up towards over half a mil in the next 2 decades. Which is when I would anticipate it would be looked at with any genuine seriousness anyways tbf.

You'll find there's a portion of wealthier Brisbanites moving up there to relocate, live & settle. I think it's fair to assume this is the catalyst for recent investment into new developments both from a commercial space (see Caloundra/Maroochydore) and a residential space (see Aura).

The current Sunny Coast stand alone population actually trumps the current Ipswich stand alone population by about 100k. I think it's when you factor in western regions/darling downs inc. Toowoomba that the Ipswich and western regions pull away.

However if you add the the equivalent surrounding regions with similar distances to Sunny Coast i.e Fraser Coast vs Ipswich i.e Darling Downs then Sunny Coast pulls away in lead again.

Estimates:
Sunny Coast 365k + Noosa 57k + Gympie 56k + Maryborough 30k + Harvey Bay 57k = 566k
Ipswich 255k + Darling Downs (inc. Toowomba) 290k = 545k

I wasted 15 mins of my time to type this up that I am sure will get lost in archive history but good food for thought.

So smaller than central coast which doesn't have a team despite numerous Sydney clubs located right next door and could relocate if it was worth there while.. but it's not. Big city brings more sponsors & eyeballs. Population growth would include many retirees too. Better to base in Brisbane and allow places like sunshine coast & Toowoomba bring secondary markets.
 

SirPies&Beers

Juniors
Messages
129
So smaller than central coast which doesn't have a team despite numerous Sydney clubs located right next door and could relocate if it was worth there while.. but it's not. Big city brings more sponsors & eyeballs. Population growth would include many retirees too. Better to base in Brisbane and allow places like sunshine coast & Toowoomba bring secondary markets.
Big difference comparing a town 2 hours out of Sydney with 8/9 clubs vs a town 2 hours out of Brisbane with 2 clubs.

Technically these markets have bigger populations than Townsville (Cowboys) and their regional surroundings are much closer to their centers ie Darling Downs to Ippy & Fraser Coast to Sunny Coast than what North QLD regional surrounds are to Townsville and they go alright. These markets also have more money in them than Townsville as well.

It's a good debate for sure. But I think discounting QLD or comparing how QLD is to NSW isn't fair. Chalk & cheese.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,538


Under searle they said their area extended to the northern rivers then it seemed to die off

Pretty sure they are pushing close to outer Brisbane too

They have one of the best junior nurseries in the game probably potentially better than Penrith
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,518
Geez AFL must be doing something right if they can take over with just one club (which everyone on here says isnt that big) whilst some feel it needs 3 NRL clubs to 'stave them off'! Maybe NRL should be doing whatever AFL is doing in Brisbane if its working with just one club?
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
14,997
Big difference comparing a town 2 hours out of Sydney with 8/9 clubs vs a town 2 hours out of Brisbane with 2 clubs.

Technically these markets have bigger populations than Townsville (Cowboys) and their regional surroundings are much closer to their centers ie Darling Downs to Ippy & Fraser Coast to Sunny Coast than what North QLD regional surrounds are to Townsville and they go alright. These markets also have more money in them than Townsville as well.

It's a good debate for sure. But I think discounting QLD or comparing how QLD is to NSW isn't fair. Chalk & cheese.
We could be looking at the future equivalent of Qlds "Newcastle"
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
14,997
Geez AFL must be doing something right if they can take over with just one club (which everyone on here says isnt that big) whilst some feel it needs 3 NRL clubs to 'stave them off'! Maybe NRL should be doing whatever AFL is doing in Brisbane if its working with just one club?
I personally think all that is hogwash, AFL are only doing well there, coz the Lions have been up top on the ladder, regardless of that, having more teams in QLD can work, depending on where it is, and what the future plans are...
Sunshine Coast Falcons
South QLD Sabres (easts owned)
Ipswich Jets
Could all fight it out after, for the 21st licence
After the likes of Perth, PNG and SI.NZ are in
 

AlwaysGreen

Post Whore
Messages
50,029


Under searle they said their area extended to the northern rivers then it seemed to die off

Pretty sure they are pushing close to outer Brisbane too

They have one of the best junior nurseries in the game probably potentially better than Penrith
This is old news and your mate Searle didn't instigate squat.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,518
I personally think all that is hogwash, AFL are only doing well there, coz the Lions have been up top on the ladder, regardless of that, having more teams in QLD can work, depending on where it is, and what the future plans are...
Sunshine Coast Falcons
South QLD Sabres (easts owned)
Ipswich Jets
Could all fight it out after, for the 21st licence
After the likes of Perth, PNG and SI.NZ are in
Agreed, Ideally we'd see 5th Qlnd team and Adelaide in teams 21 & 22 slots by 2040. That pretty much sets up the NRL for a few decades to come.
 

SirPies&Beers

Juniors
Messages
129
Geez AFL must be doing something right if they can take over with just one club (which everyone on here says isnt that big) whilst some feel it needs 3 NRL clubs to 'stave them off'! Maybe NRL should be doing whatever AFL is doing in Brisbane if its working with just one club?
It needs 3 + clubs because it's one of the biggest rugby league heartlands in the world that has a massive contingency of players that come from it. It gets business, it gets support and it makes money. AFL has nothing to do with it cob?
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,518
It needs 3 + clubs because it's one of the biggest rugby league heartlands in the world that has a massive contingency of players that come from it. It gets business, it gets support and it makes money. AFL has nothing to do with it cob?
Then they should be leading with that not the supposed AFL threat BS lol
 

SirPies&Beers

Juniors
Messages
129
Then they should be leading with that not the supposed AFL threat BS lol
From memory Lions/AFL did set up a big HQ in Springfield which is the fastest growing area in Ippy region and at one point IIRC fastest in QLD.

I suspect RL was asleep at the wheel when this happened and this is probably a reason Ipshit's feel threatened. That doesn't take away from the fact that the area is ripe RL territory and one day should have something as far as an NRL club is involved. If they fall asleep again though, Sunny coast probably pips it.

Assuming nothing happens for 20 years and they go up against each other. That will be how long it'll take Sunny coast to catch up and it will catch up. Inland, hot area vs beach laden coast area? Not hard to see which one wins out there!
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
7,104
From memory Lions/AFL did set up a big HQ in Springfield which is the fastest growing area in Ippy region and at one point IIRC fastest in QLD.

I suspect RL was asleep at the wheel when this happened and this is probably a reason Ipshit's feel threatened. That doesn't take away from the fact that the area is ripe RL territory and one day should have something as far as an NRL club is involved. If they fall asleep again though, Sunny coast probably pips it.

Assuming nothing happens for 20 years and they go up against each other. That will be how long it'll take Sunny coast to catch up and it will catch up. Inland, hot area vs beach laden coast area? Not hard to see which one wins out there!

South Brisbane is bigger & growing almost twice as fast. Sunshine coast will get preseason games for dolphins & storm.
 

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