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“Behind closed doors, NZ Rugby power-brokers are concerned about the stop-start nature of tests,”
In contrast,, the NRL won't be making a decision until the end of 2024.
How do these simpletons have jobs FFS.
" crystal ball"
Wheres the bidder? Who's the bidder? Where is it based in which city/region, we all have ideas on an Nz2 team, no one has anything concerete and there's no work being done to become that 20th team
I was listening to a podcast the other day from 6 months ago and the guy( forget his name) was the head of the East Tigers bid even admitted that that's not the way business is done.
ChristchurchI was listening to a podcast the other day from 6 months ago and the guy( forget his name) was the head of the East Tigers bid even admitted that that's not the way business is done.
First you have a tender, then you have bids.
All this where's the bid nonsense... any serious bid.. will be put forward once they have put out a tender..
What about that is so hard for people to get their heads around?
The only concrete we will get is at the end of 2024, before that everything is just noise.
So we are forced to think logically as to where the NRL will open up bidding.
My logic is either Wellington or Christchurch, Wellington once you add the hutts and probably Wanganui and palmiston north puts them in front on population and rl engagement but Christchurch will have a new stadium and give the NRL a geographical footprint on the south Island.
NZ offers 4 massive things for the NRL :
1:Talent, no other expansion prospect has even 10% of what another nz team offers! Miles of talent!
Given the NRL are effectively opening trials for Americans in Vegas, shows you just how serious they are about addressing the talent issues facing the games expansion.
2: Broadcast money! The NRL just saw a massive increase in broadcast revenue in nz to the tune of $30million and that was before the Warriors break out year! Another nz team fortifies nz's engagement and increases it.. likely substantially which either grows the current deal by millions or solidifying the current deal, either way it'll be a net positive in the 10's of million to nz broadcasting agreements.
3: creates a rivalry! The rivalry that will be born out of another team in NZ will likely end up being the biggest Rugby rivalry across both codes and across the globe- epic! It'll be the game that stops a nation!
4: it adds another time slot! Between both nz sides they could cover the dreaded 6pm Friday night time slot in Australia, prime time in NZ!
Chances are that the NRL is merely procrastinating between Wellington and Christchurch... as we all are.
Happy new year
No I think you’re right there. Auckland vs Canterbury is one of the few rivalries in NZ rugby that can actually get quite bitter at times. Wellington would create a rivalry but Christchurch being on the South Island would add another level.
I too prefer Christchurch and for a few reasons: The south Island shits on the north, it's gorgeous and the people are nicer. It's population will probably start to ramp up because of the remarkable beauty and safety too. A Christchurch team will probably pull all of the South Island into following the NRL that a Wellington bid would likely still miss.
They? There will be multiple after the NRL has announced a location, the same as what happened in Brisbane.
I cant see the ARLC taking such a public risk of calling for bids from a city without any confidence that at least one strong bid already exists. Would be pretty embarrassing for them if they call for bids from Christchurch and dont get anything they feel confident stacks up. Maybe if they call for open bids from a number of locations to mitigate that risk but from one city with no strong bid team in place? Cant see it. Brisbane they were confident there'd be two very strong bids at least.
wtf? Christchurch doesnt have a financially sound bid, yet.
Ok. Let's play this out:
