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Mass Expansion possible with de- mergers

Steel Saints

Juniors
Messages
1,270
Hard to see an NRL team in Adelaide. In America, the NFL doesn't have a team in every state. So the NRL don't need to tick the box of having a team in every state.

Instead there is the possibility in the future that the NRL could have three overseas teams in the comp- Warriors, PNG and NZ2.
 

AdelaideSharky

Juniors
Messages
1,222
Wasn’t much interest in afl in western Sydney or Gold Coast really

League isn’t trying to pretend it can take over

Just capture a part of the market

Origin got around 90k yesterday that would probably be what the local afl sides get

Again this is probably 15 years away

By then the nrl will have so much money it won’t know what to do with it
GWS & Gold Coast was an ego trip by former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou.

That has been blatantly proven both teams being admitted was a grave mistake.

I'd like an NRL team here but I have strong doubts as to whether it work.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
73,456
Hard to see an NRL team in Adelaide. In America, the NFL doesn't have a team in every state. So the NRL don't need to tick the box of having a team in every state.

Instead there is the possibility in the future that the NRL could have three overseas teams in the comp- Warriors, PNG and NZ2.
TBF we have very few cities over 600k population though compared to USA. They have 30 cities covered by 32 clubs. We have 8.5 cities covered by 17 clubs (soon to be 10.5 covered by 19 clubs)
 

Steel Saints

Juniors
Messages
1,270
TBF we have very few cities over 600k population though compared to USA. They have 30 cities covered by 32 clubs. We have 8.5 cities covered by 17 clubs (soon to be 10.5 covered by 19 clubs)

When Parramatta won their first premiership in 1981, the comp had 12 teams from one city. So the code has come a long way over the last 44 years.

With regards to cities with 600k, Newcastle and Townsville are below that mark in population but Knights and Cowboys still have strong support with regular or semi regular crowds of over 20,000.

More of a case of how the sport of rugby league is embedded in those cities, instead of having a huge population.
 

Vlad59

First Grade
Messages
5,716
For mine, its a reductive argument to claim that an area that has been neglected for decades isn't into Rugby League.

I mean, no shit.

That's why its important to start engaging that area, and sooner rather than later.
I don’t doubt you could market rugby league in Adelaide and gain traction over time. Fact is it’s a dead zone right now. It will take a lot of work and some years to build a reasonable presence. The baseline right now is very low.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
73,456
Was it popular in Adelaide the mid 90's? The Rams seemed to do all right in their brief existence.
What shts me is not that they dont have a team, its that the NRl has zero interest or strategy to grow the game nationally. If it wasnt for the WA govt, and the bloody hard work and resilience of a few people at NRLWA, RL would be dead in WA as well.

Its pure stupidity to blame a city for lack of interest in a sport when that sport has zero interest in being in the city.
 

AdelaideSharky

Juniors
Messages
1,222
Was it popular in Adelaide the mid 90's? The Rams seemed to do all right in their brief existence.
What shts me is not that they dont have a team, its that the NRl has zero interest or strategy to grow the game nationally. If it wasnt for the WA govt, and the bloody hard work and resilience of a few people at NRLWA, RL would be dead in WA as well.

Its pure stupidity to blame a city for lack of interest in a sport when that sport has zero interest in being in the city.
Different time, mate.

The Rams biggest issue is they came in at a time when the Crows won back to back AFL flags and Port's ascension from the SANFL to the AFL.

The NRLSA competition is growing smaller by the day too.

The SA Premier is more interested in posing with his shirt off in the pool, car racing and schmoozing with the Saudis at LIV Golf.
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
7,876
When Parramatta won their first premiership in 1981, the comp had 12 teams from one city. So the code has come a long way over the last 44 years.

With regards to cities with 600k, Newcastle and Townsville are below that mark in population but Knights and Cowboys still have strong support with regular or semi regular crowds of over 20,000.

More of a case of how the sport of rugby league is embedded in those cities, instead of having a huge population.

Hunter would have population over 500k
 

Dark Corner

Juniors
Messages
1,864
Hard to see an NRL team in Adelaide. In America, the NFL doesn't have a team in every state. So the NRL don't need to tick the box of having a team in every state.

Instead there is the possibility in the future that the NRL could have three overseas teams in the comp- Warriors, PNG and NZ2.
I really think NZ3 with a team in Wellington.
 

Dark Corner

Juniors
Messages
1,864
Different time, mate.

The Rams biggest issue is they came in at a time when the Crows won back to back AFL flags and Port's ascension from the SANFL to the AFL.

The NRLSA competition is growing smaller by the day too.

The SA Premier is more interested in posing with his shirt off in the pool, car racing and schmoozing with the Saudis at LIV Golf.
God politicians are awful creatures.
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
7,457
Tigers cover to many areas of Sydney.

But if they moved to Brisbane they would be more popular in Sydney.

Steve Brule GIF by MOODMAN
They don't need to move to Brisbane. We already have a Brisbane Tigers. And yes, just with Bears being able to tap into Perth and old North Sydney fans for support. Brisbane Tigers would bring a large fan base from Brisbane and have appeal to old Balmain fans as they wear the Balmain jersey and used the logo up until recently.
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
7,457

'Leaders should never be satisfied. They must always strive to improve, and they must build that mind-set into the team. - Jocko Willink'

Ok Jocko - how about Magic Rd, Vegas, PNG and Perth. We aren't the AFL (thank God), we don't have to have dots on the map expansion. We go were there is demand for the game and the game is flying because of it. If Adelaide aren't interested, good for them. We are still killing it.
 

flippikat

First Grade
Messages
5,662
Different time, mate.

The Rams biggest issue is they came in at a time when the Crows won back to back AFL flags and Port's ascension from the SANFL to the AFL.
If memory serves me right, didn't the Rams have pretty decent turn-out in 1997? And that's with the local AFL teams taking-off, AND a split competition in rugby league.

Now Perth is confirmed for an NRL team, work needs to start on engaging with Adelaide. It's the last huge market that has practically no NRL presence, so let's see what level of interest can be activated there.
 

AdelaideSharky

Juniors
Messages
1,222
If memory serves me right, didn't the Rams have pretty decent turn-out in 1997? And that's with the local AFL teams taking-off, AND a split competition in rugby league.

Now Perth is confirmed for an NRL team, work needs to start on engaging with Adelaide. It's the last huge market that has practically no NRL presence, so let's see what level of interest can be activated there.
Yes they did and it tapered off in 1998 after they had a falling out with the SACA (the then owners of Adelaide Oval) and were forced to move to Hindmarsh (the now Coopers) Stadium where the club's crowds fell in a huge hole.

The problem any future club has here is where to play.

Adelaide Oval post redevelopment is now too big and Coopers is arguably too small and that's not dealing with the issue with the field being too small as soccer is the only sport played on it these days.

Plus that ground has little wriggle room to build any further out as northern end backs on to a road.
 

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