New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Wow. Talk about setting the bar high.

You mean sometime after 2050?!?

Subnational population projections: 2018(base)–2048 | Stats NZ

The population growth rate will slow in all regions, cities, districts, and Auckland local board areas between 2018 and 2048.

www.stats.govt.nz

Colin Smith said to forget about expanding to regional areas that already have a professional team from another sport. That rules out Wellington and Christchurch.

Gold Coast have over 600k people and struggle. Rugby league is the main sport on the Gold Coast.

Rugby league isn't the main sport in New Zealand.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Like Newcastle or Canberra or Townsville?

Cowboys struggled financially in a rugby league dominant area until the mid-2000s.

Newcastle have struggled financially since 1988.

Canberra rely on property developments and gaming revenue.

Of the three clubs, only the Cowboys have morphed into a financial juggernaut generating more than $20m football operations per annum. It also has the luxury of being the only professional football club in the region that prefers rugby league over every other sport.

There isn't a region in New Zealand where rugby league is preferred over every other sport. Wellington and Christchurch have well established rugby union teams.

 

[bazza]

There was an article in the herald some years back about some North Shore union wanker who had a Kiwi mate over and took him to a club union game on the north shore of Sydney. His mate was surprised by the type of crowd that union attracted in Oz, it`s much more of the everyman`s game in NZ. And obviously from what you`re saying an everyman`s game that is also played in private schools, not dominated by them and inextricably linked to them like here in Oz.

no doubt union in NZ is played by all demographics which is why a small country has been able to dominate the sport for years compared to larger nations that draw from a shallower player pool

 

[SpaceMonkey]

no doubt union in NZ is played by all demographics which is why a small country has been able to dominate the sport for years compared to larger nations that draw from a shallower player pool

In the past it had to do with the sort of people playing the game too. NZ were fielding teams full of shearers, farmers and meat workers against oppositions full of doctors, lawyers and uni students. Of course they were tougher. Professionalism has ironed that out a lot in recent decades, though it still persists to a point in the lower grades.
Martin Johnson (2003 RWC winning England captain) talked about it when he recounted his experience of playing club rugby for a season or two in regional NZ, he said the players weren’t necessarily any more skilful than those he played with in the UK but were noticeably tougher.

 

[Matua]

And Sydney people won’t travel three suburbs lmao. The reality is 90% of a crowd is made up of people who live within easy travel of the stadium.

on the bears as long as they used a large chunk of white to differentiate from the ruggers mob it’d go ok.

TBH, their best bet for success is to be associated with the Crusaders, kind of like an Argentine sporting club that has teams in different sports sharing facilities, then they can leverage off that association.

 

[The Penguin #6.]

The Warriors have ignited a Rugby league fire in nz. We need to capitalize.
Christchurch will have a brand new purpose built stadium that puts them in the box seat and also is genuine expansion.

Really does show how disillusioned people are with union over there at the moment.

 

[Gobsmacked]

TBH, their best bet for success is to be associated with the Crusaders, kind of like an Argentine sporting club that has teams in different sports sharing facilities, then they can leverage off that association.

I agree, sharing training days, photo opps and supporting each other ( attending games)will be the way forward. You don't want a code battle with the most successful Rugby team in the southern hemisphere. Even dual memberships.

 

[Wb1234]

I agree, sharing training days, photo opps and supporting each other ( attending games)will be the way forward. You don't want a code battle with the most successful Rugby team in the southern hemisphere. Even dual memberships.

Can’t see the nzru allowing it as they own them

 

[Wb1234]

so looks like our game is getting into schools

 

[Gobsmacked]

so looks like our game is getting into schools

A GIANT has been woken!

 

[Matua]

so looks like our game is getting into schools

I've mentioned that school a few times in this thread - it's mine (and Tohu's) old high school.

 

[Matiunz]

so looks like our game is getting into schools

Not sure they even have a League team- they didn’t when I went there. Very strong first XV though

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Not sure they even have a League team- they didn’t when I went there. Very strong first XV though

The NRL needs to assist the NZRL in improving school’s competitions in NZ while interest in the Warriors is at a high. Do things like provide a set of criteria for a school to fulfil in terms of preparation for a team and then provide them with strips, balls, funding to get their feilds set up etc.

 

[Matua]

Not sure they even have a League team- they didn’t when I went there. Very strong first XV though

They've have on occasion, played in the national comp at least one year I think, but if the Super 8 teams aren't playing league they wouldn't have anyone to play against.

I would advise Wb not to get too hyped up about it as it's more due to Tohu than league taking over the school, but he'll just turn the advice into a shitfight.

 

[MugaB]

And Wellington and Christchurch have no team

yeh Buckleys

As they do now, im not saying theyll never get one, or are not important enough, just that if you want a derby or a expansion on the RL market in NZ then waikato is the better area to start from, from distance and population point of view

 

[Wb1234]

I

The NRL needs to assist the NZRL in improving school’s competitions in NZ while interest in the Warriors is at a high. Do things like provide a set of criteria for a school to fulfil in terms of preparation for a team and then provide them with strips, balls, funding to get their feilds set up etc.

with the pipulariry

As they do now, im not saying theyll never get one, or are not important enough, just that if you want a derby or a expansion on the RL market in NZ then waikato is the better area to start from, from distance and population point of view

they can reasonably drive to a warriors game whilst the other cities it’s more of a trek

it doesn’t have to be exactly low brisbane to be a success

wahs will complain less too

 

[MugaB]

I

with the pipulariry

they can reasonably drive to a warriors game whilst the other cities it’s more of a trek

it doesn’t have to be exactly low brisbane to be a success

wahs will complain less too

Who cares, you want them to complain and compete, not be ok with far away borders, the niggle the drama the hate, the derby!!

 

[Wb1234]

Next team

Who cares, you want them to complain and compete, not be ok with far away borders, the niggle the drama the hate, the derby!!

So mt druitt leopards for the nrl

 

[MugaB]

Next team

So mt druitt leopards for the nrl

Why not we have the juniors to do so... and its a revival of St.Marys Cougars, Brown, Tan and White... get it right pal

 

[MugaB]

That’s kinda the conundrum with NZ2- you don’t really have a clear favourite for hosting a second club as all three have their pros and cons.

Hamilton/Waikato - by far the largest regional population, has a decent stadium. Close enough to Auckland that fans will travel in big numbers for derby games.
however had by far the smallest urban population and risks cannibalising the Warriors market the most.

Wellington - larger urban population, best potential for corporate support. Has substantial adjacent regional population. However stadium has restrictions with the number of night games it can host and already has two major tenants.

Christchurch - will have the best stadium as of 2025. Similar urban population to Wellington. Smallest regional population.

In terms of which region has the best existing player and support base that’s a good question but I’d guess Waikato due to the northern part of the region being a traditional league heartland. Plus it has a much larger Māori population and league has taken hold particularly well among Māori and Polynesian people.

So you agree?