I said it shouldn’t be a priority whilst we have untapped markets, and I stand by that. I’m an expansionist.
This comment contradicts the following comment:
Brisbane2 has been a no brainer for thirty years!
Why should an "untapped market" that doesn't give two f**ks about the game hold priority over Brisbane 2?
Adding teams in "untapped markets", such as Adelaide and Perth, is not guaranteed to increase the NRL's value. It could have a disastrous impact on the game if RU's decline is anything to go by. ARU expanded into ACT, Perth and Melbourne over a 16 year period (1995-2011).
Their game has never been weaker in this country. The national team is struggling to defeat tier 2 nations. Super Rugby crowds have gone from 20k or more to less than 10k. Using your logic they should be light years ahead of us because they've been in Perth for 17 years and Melbourne for 12. They've gone backwards because RU fans in Brisbane and Sydney aren't interested in watching their juniors play for the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels. The Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies can no longer compete with the New Zealand teams because their player base has been diluted. They could handle the Brumbies taking some of their players in the 90s and early 00s, but adding another two teams in "expansion markets" was too much.
If the NRL were to copy RU's footprint then we would jeopardise the Storm and every club in Queensland and NSW.
what many questioned was the choice of club and would it really fulfil a brisbane2 role, given the immediate cries for brisbane3 I think we got our answer already.
You're living in a fantasy world if you think there was never going to be calls for a third Brisbane team. The game has a long and rich history in Brisbane dating back to 1909. There are rich and historic BRL clubs who have an ambition to play in the NRL. They've produced some of the game's most iconic players.
Dolphins were able to generate bigger attendances than all clubs bar the Broncos. There's clearly enough demand in Brisbane for a third team. V'landys, Ch9 and many pundits, such as Gus Gould, agree there's room for a third team in Brisbane.
Why are you so quick to lower Brisbane to the same level as Adelaide and Perth?
Brisbane is the fastest growing city in the country. Not just in size. It's transforming itself from a relatively unknown "big country town" to a major city that will have a global profile by 2032. Hence the reason its recently adopted the title "Australia's New World City".
Perth is about 20 years behind Brisbane and not even close to becoming major city. Adelaide is 50 years behind Brisbane and the runt of the litter.
Unlike Perth, Brisbane's economy doesn't rely on iron ore.
What happens to Perth when the mining boom is over?