League struggling in Wellington

[siv]

I've heard similar stories around the world where when a pro team starts up the old local competition plays 2nd fiddle to the new kid on the block. In NZs case it doesn't help that;

A) Union went pro and now have 5 pro Rugby Clubs in NZ compared to 1 RL club.
B) Warriors allowed the best talent to move to Auckland to play pro RL
C) NRL scouts in recent years have taken young kiwi kids early and developed them through their club ranks on the other side of the Tasman.

At least a 2nd pro team could at least stop the flow of ,many young Kiwi kids coming to OZ in drones and raise the standard of local RL competition in NZ.

Happened in Brisbane Illawarra and Newcastle and Auckland

It has taken these regions 20 years to recover

 

[RL The greatest game]

The only way I can see potential growth in NZ is another NRL team. There's apparently a bid for a South Island or Wellington team to play in NSW cup, but that's about it.

Warriors are the only professional team in NZ which is the only pro chance for young kiwi players to aim for (apart from playing for kiwis of course).

Agree 100%. I was just going to post the same thing myself

 

[Stallion]

Happened in Brisbane Illawarra and Newcastle and Auckland

It has taken these regions 20 years to recover

Their had been poor local league management in Newcastle over many decades. A number of clubs , especially in the inner city, have failed the code in many areas including junior development, anti social game day staging (Sundays instead of Saturdays)and poor player retention and care which is related to the constant playing of Sunday games. The coalfiends clubs whom play on Saturday are thriving.

 

[LeagueXIII]

So to move forward rather than backwards, what do we do? I don't think we'll ever have a situation again where 10 kiwis are playing in any domestic side but the way forward for NZ is obviously:

• A second NRL side
• Warriors and NZ2 reserves playing in the QLD or NSW Cup
• A new national league based of the Auckland RL with provincial sides from the other major centres supported by the NRL and RLIF
• Development of the strength of the league with the goal of having it at a standard of the second teir comps in Australia and at a level where the Warriors and NZ2 seconds can play in it

This gives us a solid playing base in NZ, pathways from domestic, through to semi-pro level (NZ2 & Warriors reserves) then to the NRL. Helps the NRL with more player numbers, helps the Kiwis with greater depth and development of players. Our sport won't be taken seriously by the general public in NZ until we take it seriously.

The National League is on the way. It will be based on the clubs in Auckland just as the game grew in Australia from sydney I think overtime you will see other areas around NZ come into this competition.

 

[rooster25]

The NRL needs to expand to grow. Perth should come in to make it National in Aust and a 2nd NZ team to help with the games biggest growth area which is the pacific islands. This will also help the international game and create more tv revenue