Rabbitohs was only a debacle because they think they're above the league...I just can't comprehend any more teams being cut though, it would be tearing at the foundations of the game to take out any of the current teams. Reducing the comp to 14 was necessary after the super league war, the game could simply not sustain the teams it had. But the game now is healthy, and getting stronger each year. To me sustainable expansion is not only in area but size. A new team in strategic areas every 5-10 years, while not weakening, forcefully relocating, killing or merging current teams. Just moving or chopping and adding teams is not true expansion.
Obviously the most important factors in this are a bigger focus on grassroots in already strong areas, to provide the talent for a larger comp, and to build up new teams in weaker areas, ie. perhaps an Adelaide team, and placing new teams in areas that have the foundations to provide local talent in a relatively short time frame, eg. maybe Perth, with its JB cup team and all.
Also, the areas I see as suitable for expansion are (in vaguely this order) Perth, Central Coast, Adelaide, Wellington, and Brisbane. 21 teams. I could tolerate a relocation to CC. As long as its not my team. Based on close proximity, it would have to be Easts, Souths, Cronulla, or St George. Easts have money and a strong history, as do Souths, who also have a large junior base, however dubiously claimed. Saints have the merger, money, and a huge junior base. Cronulla? If one team had to move, it would have to be them surely. I'd hate to see it personally. But 21 teams seems one too many.
