Sheesh you guys are dingbats - the increase in numbers this year doesn't negate the fact that there had been a decline in grassroots level previously. One of the key points most of the posters from NZ you chose to pick fights with when this thread started was the hope that the Warriors success would spillover into grassroots.
So, it's good that numbers of teams have increased. However, before you lot get overexcited yet again, it's a yearly one off tournament with teams across 4 different grades. League needs ongoing seasonal comps if your aim of destroying rugby in NZ is going to come to fruition.
I thought you'd be happy.. being a League fan and all.
There's no aim to destroy Union, it's a unique sport with many traditions that can be appreciated in small doses at an international level.
It's been put on a pedestal by NZ for a long time, mostly due to it successful national team, the patriotism that that embodies and the joy it brings a small nation being giants.
Union belongs in a niche and it will.
The NRL is the biggest professional sporting competition in the Oceania region and as NZ slowly realises this while also appreciating that it's part of it will propel Rugby league to dominance in NZ and Union will be the niche. If you look at the way both sports are tracking currently, that cross will be made between 10 and 15 years.
The introduction of a second NZ team will decrease that timeline by 5 to 10 years.
Rugby league is the national sport in PNG and I believe it will be in 2 countries soon, the second being NZ .
How that translates to Australia's success is interesting but certainly won't hurt.