New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[SpaceMonkey]

A large percentage of the warriors fan base are of a pasifika background and this would just dilute the market in Auckland giving you 2 weaker teams instead of 1 strong team.

Also just look at how non-existent the moana pasifika super rugby team is in Auckland.

truth is nobody supports segregation teams no matter what is rammed down our throats by liberal woke politicians, media and activists.

nobody is seriously talking about segregation, it’s just marketing a team to a particular fanbase and geographical area.

but you’re right in that the Warriors already pretty much own the Pasifika fanbase in NZ because they largely make up the junior base and the club is based in Penrose which is adjacent to South Auckland. Part of the reason Moana Pasifika have struggled to attract a fanbase in Super Rugby is their target market already follows the Warriors.

basing a Pasifika side outside of Auckland is illogical as the bulk of PI fans live in Auckland, particularly South Auckland. The only thing that would potentially work would be if the Warriors moved and made room for another side there- and that’s not gonna happen, they’ve spent close to 30 years building their fanbase.

 

[Brian potter]

nobody is seriously talking about segregation, it’s just marketing a team to a particular fanbase and geographical area.

and that fan base happens to be of pacific island heritage.

but you’re right in that the Warriors already pretty much own the Pasifika fanbase in NZ because they largely make up the junior base and the club is based in Penrose which is adjacent to South Auckland. Part of the reason Moana Pasifika have struggled to attract a fanbase in Super Rugby is their target market already follows the Warriors.

that and being absolutely garbage on the pitch.

basing a Pasifika side outside of Auckland is illogical as the bulk of PI fans live in Auckland, particularly South Auckland. The only thing that would potentially work would be if the Warriors moved and made room for another side there- and that’s not gonna happen, they’ve spent close to 30 years building their fanbase.

for me the only way a pasifika team could ever work would to be to base it permanently in the pacific just like the Fijian Drua.

 

[Dark Corner]

There hasn’t been any expansion news for a while. I'd think any and all announcements will be shelved until a couple of weeks after the GF.
Luckily the NRL now has probably the best management it's had probably ever and they'd be avoiding cannibalising the media coverage and attention away from the pinnacle of their own comp.
It'll keep NRL in the newspapers for the off season with steady releases and bids exc.

I don't know why Perth red is so confident tbh. During the double header in Perth there wasn't a lot of hype, that was the only chance they had to push to the front of the line and there wasn't much at all.

Meanwhile across the ditch: games in Wellington , Christchurch, Napier, Hamilton, Auckland with most of those selling out ! Massive ratings! and test matches at seasons end! A brand new state of the art stadium being built! Ever growing sky deal!and increasing ratings! More talent than ever coming from NZ! With a ever bigger portions of our top stars ... kiwis!
Dally M will be none other than Shaun Johnson! among others to collect awards !
Rugby league is going gang busters in NZ!
Perth: crickets

In a pefect world the NRL would have teams in Wellington, Christchurch, Napier, Hamilton and Otago instead of throwing money down the drain on the unpopular NPC teams.

 

[Brian potter]

In a pefect world the NRL would have teams in Wellington, Christchurch, Napier, Hamilton and Otago instead of throwing money down the drain on the unpopular NPC teams.

I honestly don’t think New Zealand is big enough to accommodate more than 3 NRL teams as it stands.

2 New Zealand based NRL teams is definitely viable and maybe a 3rd one in 20 years time if the NRL decides to expand beyond 20 teams.

bring in NZ2 as team 18 and give them 20 years to establish themselves and grow.

 

[Dark Corner]

I honestly don’t think New Zealand is big enough to accommodate more than 3 NRL teams as it stands.

2 New Zealand based NRL teams is definitely viable and maybe a 3rd one in 20 years time if the NRL decides to expand beyond 20 teams.

bring in NZ2 as team 18 and give them 20 years to establish themselves and grow.

I totally agree with you but was just a day dreaming what if thought.

 

[Brian potter]

I totally agree with you but was just a day dreaming what if thought.

Yeah, if only New Zealand had a population of around 8-9 million and a few more cities with 500k+ population then it would be more than viable but unfortunately it doesn’t and looking at projected population figures New Zealand isn’t expected to hit 6 million until the early 2030’s.

 

[MugaB]

100%.

never been a better time in history for RL in New Zealand to really make an impact at all levels in that country.


fiji should have been a gold mine for RL talent for well over 30 years by now when we first saw the calibre of athletes they are from that island in the form of players like noa nadruku, petro civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri etc.

SUVA, Fiji! nah mate THAT'S IN QUEENSLAND!!!

 

[MugaB]

What I'm seeing here in Christchurch is the opposite of everything we've been told. Everyone was riding the Warriors- massive atmosphere in all the bars! I was at a bar just this afternoon that had a huge sign " NRL on 24 screens!"
Not only is Rugby league better but it's being realised! On a massive scale! It's more trendy amongst younger people and catching on fast!
The iron is red Hot!!!!
Another team in NZ right now would be a bonanza for the NRL!

I've been to Wellington and I'm in Christchurch now and what I'm seeing and hearing won't be lost at NRL headquarters, they'll be well on top of this.
The next team will be NZ . Guaranteed.

No bids.... sorry unless mark graham gets his way and convinces the bears to move to waikato for 9 games a year

 

[Dark Corner]

Yeah, if only New Zealand had a population of around 8-9 million and a few more cities with 500k+ population then it would be more than viable but unfortunately it doesn’t and looking at projected population figures New Zealand isn’t expected to hit 6 million until the early 2030’s.

Then maybe a semi pro comp for the rest like NSW/QLD but I just find New Zealand strange having 14 or more stadiums with capacity's ranging from 12,000, 18,000, 25,000 etc being near empty with no one going to watch the NPC and so called Super Rugby.

 

[MugaB]

2 days ago you said there was only 1 legitimate option?

Like a clock, he doth flip and the flop

 

[Brian potter]

Then maybe a semi pro comp for the rest like NSW/QLD but I just find New Zealand strange having 14 or more stadiums with capacity's ranging from 12,000, 18,000, 25,000 etc being near empty with no one going to watch the NPC and so called Super Rugby.

If the money is there definitely but I fear another lion red/bartercard cup style competition would haemorrhage money.

it would appear that the kiwi public will only support professional teams in the big competitions like super rugby and NRL.

 

[Dark Corner]

If the money is there definitely but I fear another lion red/bartercard cup style competition would haemorrhage money.

it would appear that the kiwi public will only support professional teams in the big competitions like super rugby and NRL.

And they don't even support Super Rugby.

 

[Brian potter]

And they don't even support Super Rugby.

They get decent crowds of 10k-15k when it’s an all New Zealand clash and maybe 20k if it’s a top of the table clash but even then I get the feeling that the kiwi union fans are getting tired of seeing the same teams over and over again.

 

[Dark Corner]

They get decent crowds of 10k-15k when it’s an all New Zealand clash and maybe 20k if it’s a top of the table clash but even then I get the feeling that the kiwi union fans are getting tired of seeing the same teams over and over again.

The Blues used to get over 30,000 as did Wellington 20 years ago.

 

[Brian potter]

The Blues used to get over 30,000 as did Wellington 20 years ago.

Aussie sides get those kind of crowds also.

 

[Matua]

In a pefect world the NRL would have teams in Wellington, Christchurch, Napier, Hamilton and Otago instead of throwing money down the drain on the unpopular NPC teams.

You're overreaching here. The NPC team is very popular.

Taking a one off match and extrapolating that out to an ongoing team doesn't work. League is a very minor sport in Hawkes Bay and only just restarted the small club comp this year.

 

[Wb1234]

The Warriors' superb run in 2023 has had a stunning response at grass roots level.

The club is having an SG Ball trial in the middle of next month - and has already had over 1300 applications from young hopefuls - from both New Zealand and Australia.

Gone are the days when every young Kiwi footballer dreamed of becoming an All Black - the Warriors' stunning efforts this year have captured the imagination of the players of the future.”


So much for nz junior league numbers being an issue

 

[BuffaloRules]

I hate to post some actual NZ2 expansion news in this thread, but have just seen this recent ( unfortunately pay walled) article…

Business of Sport: the dream of a second NRL club in NZ is alive

A consortium has been formed with the goal of creating a second National Rugby League franchise in New Zealand.The group, which favours Christchurch as the club...

businessdesk.co.nz

From what we can see, it seems that there is now a local consortium over there to get a second NZ team, with their preference being Christchurch, and a target date of 2030…

Whlist I welcome this, I hope that the NRL moves quicker and gets a second team over there before then…

Im thinking that times are now going well for the NRL … they need to start picking things up a bit in terms of expansion. … in hindsight they should have brought in team 18 by now for 2025, but probably too late by now….

I would go with Perth for Team 18 for 2026… and I would announce it this offseason… Im assuming that there would be provisions in their current TV deal to get more money mid term for another game/ TV slot … ( say Sunday night 6pm) … this should more than fund the new Perth team…

whilst I have often said that I don’t like the idea of bringing in two expansion teams at once… I would bite the bullet and bring in two of NZ2 , Brisbane 3 and PNG for 2028 with my preference being the first 2…

you would have 20 teams and 10 games in time for the next TV deal in 2028… happy days I think

 

[Bukowski]

I hate to post some actual NZ2 expansion news in this thread, but have just seen this recent ( unfortunately pay walled) article…

Business of Sport: the dream of a second NRL club in NZ is alive

A consortium has been formed with the goal of creating a second National Rugby League franchise in New Zealand.The group, which favours Christchurch as the club...

businessdesk.co.nz

From what we can see, it seems that there is now a local consortium over there to get a second NZ team, with their preference being Christchurch, and a target date of 2030…

Whlist I welcome this, I hope that the NRL moves quicker and gets a second team over there before then…

Im thinking that times are now going well for the NRL … they need to start picking things up a bit in terms of expansion. … in hindsight they should have brought in team 18 by now for 2025, but probably too late by now….

I would go with Perth for Team 18 for 2026… and I would announce it this offseason… Im assuming that there would be provisions in their current TV deal to get more money mid term for another game/ TV slot … ( say Sunday night 6pm) … this should more than fund the new Perth team…

whilst I have often said that I don’t like the idea of bringing in two expansion teams at once… I would bite the bullet and bring in two of NZ2 , Brisbane 3 and PNG for 2028 with my preference being the first 2…

you would have 20 teams and 10 games in time for the next TV deal in 2028… happy days I think

Someone was always going to pop there head up in NZ for another team. It's great news, 2030 may not be overly ambitious but it's cautious.

 

[Wb1234]

@Perth Red