New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Gobsmacked]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nz-expansion-bombshell-more-than-a-decade-away-from-second-team/news-story/27777a1a659af8f0d7d62ee1ded630cc?amp

The NRL are at least 10 to 15-years away from being able to expand into New Zealand with a second team to rival the Warriors. That’s the opinion of two of the most powerful men across the Tasman, Warriors owner Mark Robinson and CEO Cameron George, who have declared it would be “devastating” if the NRL added a second franchise anytime soon.

While welcoming the prospect of a second New Zealand team in the future, the influential brains behind the rise of the Warriors have given a warts-and-all account of how much work the NRL have to do to grow the game across the ditch.

George has even had a crack at former NRL and NZRL CEO David Moffett, who is part one of the three New Zealand franchise bids, the South Island Keas.

“What underpins a strong NRL team is having strong elite players that are getting challenged every week in (second-tier) competitions,” George said.

“So when you drop them from NRL down they can find form and come back up.

“Right now, if we drop a player back to a local competition, there’s no chance of being NRL ready a week later.

“It’s funny because David Moffett has been quite vocal about how he’s coming to get the Warriors. “This is the problem. I think he was the CEO of the NRL (in 2001), why didn’t he put money into New Zealand rugby league then?

“Then all of a sudden, we’re saying we’re ready to go now.

“(But) he knows it’s not ready to go.”

George’s comments have emerged ahead of the NRL’s anticipated announcement this week that Papua New Guinea will become the game’s 18th team, potentially by 2028.

Fans and commentators will receive the news by asking questions as to how, given the surge in interest in rugby league in New Zealand, largely due to the Warriors recent success, and the talent pool of schoolboy rugby union players, the NRL haven’t introduced a second team across the Tasman.

George gave a telling insight.

“For us, we’ve never said expansion into New Zealand isn’t right,” George said.

“There’s an opportunity for sure and certain, but it’s the timing of that opportunity.

“To give you an example, the NRL, as I understand it, has people employed working for the NRL, in the Northern Territory. “They have no one working in New Zealand to grow the game.

“We’re (Warriors) the shop front window for the game, along with the Kiwis playing a few times a year.

“My challenge to the NRL and for those that have got bids in is, we’re trying to get more money invested in the game in New Zealand.

“At the moment, we’ve got five teams (NRLW, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, SG Ball and Harold Matthews) that sit underneath the NRL.

“For all five of those teams to compete in top line competition they have to travel to Australia.

“You can’t play them locally because the level of competition isn’t there.

“So our message to the NRL is if you’re looking at New Zealand as an expansion opportunity, absolutely it’s an opportunity.

“But it’s going to take at least five to 10-years for the local game to be equal to Queensland Cup or NSW Cup (standard) because there’s no use putting another team here, in Christchurch next week, next year or the year after and flying five teams over (to Australia) because that’s 10 teams going over and back every week.

“It just can’t be sustainable.

“So they’re better off to say, in 2035 there’s a second team in New Zealand, but between now and then we are investing and growing the game and taking over that country.

“We can help them with that.

“But it would be devastating in my view if they threw one (team in Christchurch) now and they’re sending all their teams over with us to play in Australia.”

Robinson echoed George’s position when asked to consider the three New Zealand bids, which have included the Southern Orcas based in Christchurch and run by former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe, a South Island bid led by former Canterbury Rugby League chair Tony Kidd and ex-Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott and the Keas overseen by Moffett.

“It comes back to our local league comps here. Auckland Rugby League is in a shambles, there’s no real senior competition,” Robinson said. “Schoolboys are strong up until the age of about 13 and then there’s nothing.

“They go and play rugby union.

“The local competitions are at least 10 to 15 years away from having the right amount of decent players to even run a second team.”

Stop reading at " the opinions of the Warriors owner and the CEO "
What a joke.
Let's ask Woolworths if they would like another supermarket chain next hey...?
I'm sure they're all for it lol.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Any organisation that wasted that many years on SJ deserves to fall over

 

[Wb1234]

Dolphins coming in saw the game boom in all of qld not just Brisbane

30k plus members, multi million dollar sponsorship, more money spent on juniors

The Brisbane derby means two sellouts each year plus massive tv ratings

The warriors are an Auckland club and the game needs more coverage

 

[Matt_CBY]

Any organisation that wasted that many years on SJ deserves to fall over

Do just try being a wanker on here or what?

every post I see from you is nothing but arrogance and wankerish.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Do just try being a wanker on here or what?

every post I see from you is nothing but arrogance and wankerish.

You've added sweet FA since you've popped up on here honey bun.
SJ was a handbrake

 

[Wb1234]

Do just try being a wanker on here or what?

every post I see from you is nothing but arrogance and wankerish.

He’s the only panthers fans that’s a real twat

Wonder if the rest are ashamed of his behaviour ?

 

[Matt_CBY]

You've added sweet FA since you've popped up on here honey bun.
SJ was a handbrake

Newsflash, you haven’t achieved anything.

 

[Matiunz]

Any organisation that wasted that many years on SJ deserves to fall over

What’d the Sharks do to you?

 

[Matiunz]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nz-expansion-bombshell-more-than-a-decade-away-from-second-team/news-story/27777a1a659af8f0d7d62ee1ded630cc?amp

The NRL are at least 10 to 15-years away from being able to expand into New Zealand with a second team to rival the Warriors. That’s the opinion of two of the most powerful men across the Tasman, Warriors owner Mark Robinson and CEO Cameron George, who have declared it would be “devastating” if the NRL added a second franchise anytime soon.

While welcoming the prospect of a second New Zealand team in the future, the influential brains behind the rise of the Warriors have given a warts-and-all account of how much work the NRL have to do to grow the game across the ditch.

George has even had a crack at former NRL and NZRL CEO David Moffett, who is part one of the three New Zealand franchise bids, the South Island Keas.

“What underpins a strong NRL team is having strong elite players that are getting challenged every week in (second-tier) competitions,” George said.

“So when you drop them from NRL down they can find form and come back up.

“Right now, if we drop a player back to a local competition, there’s no chance of being NRL ready a week later.

“It’s funny because David Moffett has been quite vocal about how he’s coming to get the Warriors. “This is the problem. I think he was the CEO of the NRL (in 2001), why didn’t he put money into New Zealand rugby league then?

“Then all of a sudden, we’re saying we’re ready to go now.

“(But) he knows it’s not ready to go.”

George’s comments have emerged ahead of the NRL’s anticipated announcement this week that Papua New Guinea will become the game’s 18th team, potentially by 2028.

Fans and commentators will receive the news by asking questions as to how, given the surge in interest in rugby league in New Zealand, largely due to the Warriors recent success, and the talent pool of schoolboy rugby union players, the NRL haven’t introduced a second team across the Tasman.

George gave a telling insight.

“For us, we’ve never said expansion into New Zealand isn’t right,” George said.

“There’s an opportunity for sure and certain, but it’s the timing of that opportunity.

“To give you an example, the NRL, as I understand it, has people employed working for the NRL, in the Northern Territory. “They have no one working in New Zealand to grow the game.

“We’re (Warriors) the shop front window for the game, along with the Kiwis playing a few times a year.

“My challenge to the NRL and for those that have got bids in is, we’re trying to get more money invested in the game in New Zealand.

“At the moment, we’ve got five teams (NRLW, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, SG Ball and Harold Matthews) that sit underneath the NRL.

“For all five of those teams to compete in top line competition they have to travel to Australia.

“You can’t play them locally because the level of competition isn’t there.

“So our message to the NRL is if you’re looking at New Zealand as an expansion opportunity, absolutely it’s an opportunity.

“But it’s going to take at least five to 10-years for the local game to be equal to Queensland Cup or NSW Cup (standard) because there’s no use putting another team here, in Christchurch next week, next year or the year after and flying five teams over (to Australia) because that’s 10 teams going over and back every week.

“It just can’t be sustainable.

“So they’re better off to say, in 2035 there’s a second team in New Zealand, but between now and then we are investing and growing the game and taking over that country.

“We can help them with that.

“But it would be devastating in my view if they threw one (team in Christchurch) now and they’re sending all their teams over with us to play in Australia.”

Robinson echoed George’s position when asked to consider the three New Zealand bids, which have included the Southern Orcas based in Christchurch and run by former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe, a South Island bid led by former Canterbury Rugby League chair Tony Kidd and ex-Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott and the Keas overseen by Moffett.

“It comes back to our local league comps here. Auckland Rugby League is in a shambles, there’s no real senior competition,” Robinson said. “Schoolboys are strong up until the age of about 13 and then there’s nothing.

“They go and play rugby union.

“The local competitions are at least 10 to 15 years away from having the right amount of decent players to even run a second team.”

He’s obviously looking after his own interests- however he does make some valid points around the local scene and the need to drastically improve it which will in turn benefit the NRL.
There was an interesting podcast about the challenges the Warriors development face again stemming back to that missing piece of the relative weakness of the local comp and lack there of at certain age levels.
Damming stat was around the decline of local developed players making the kiwis from the Warriors(debuting not being brought back after they had played for the Kiwis) from 70% when the Warriors first entered to 2002 that dropped to 40% In the decade of 02-12 which then drops to Around 10% in the last decade.

 

[Wb1234]

He’s obviously looking after his own interests- however he does make some valid points around the local scene and the need to drastically improve it which will in turn benefit the NRL.
There was an interesting podcast about the challenges the Warriors development face again stemming back to that missing piece of the relative weakness of the local comp and lack there of at certain age levels.
Damming stat was around the decline of local developed players making the kiwis from the Warriors(debuting not being brought back after they had played for the Kiwis) from 70% when the Warriors first entered to 2002 that dropped to 40% In the decade of 02-12 which then drops to Around 10% in the last decade.

That’s a warriors thing as opposed to an issue with the local scene

30 percent of all nrl players are from nz so the kids are finding their way into the nrl even if the local scene isn’t strong

 

[MugaB]

He’s the only panthers fans that’s a real twat

Wonder if the rest are ashamed of his behaviour ?

Nah, it's actually refreshing, too many people here all likes and pro expansion, and Chins just like to throw truth bombs everywhere

 

[Matt_CBY]

Nah, it's actually refreshing, too many people here all likes and pro expansion, and Chins just like to throw truth bombs everywhere

Nah, he’s a true wanker.

 

[flippikat]

Any organisation that wasted that many years on SJ deserves to fall over

In the 2024 season his coming-and-going & inability to fully shake-off injury was problematic, but I wouldn't say all those other years were wasted.

Anyway, I have a feeling 2025 will be a better season because the uncertainty around SJ's fitness is not gonna be an issue.. and we have a decent chance to get stability in the halves.

 

[Matua]

In the 2024 season his coming-and-going & inability to fully shake-off injury was problematic, but I wouldn't say all those other years were wasted.

Anyway, I have a feeling 2025 will be a better season because the uncertainty around SJ's fitness is not gonna be an issue.. and we have a decent chance to get stability in the halves.

I'm still 50/50 on the upcoming season. I think combined with SJ's terrible form and being picked regardless when not injured we suffered from Webby's little man game plan being worked out and our new buys seem to reinforce we're sticking with the gameplan. We're going to miss AFB hugely, and JFH is a great guy to come in but he plays a different game.

Plus it's the Warriors, there's always at least an 80% chance we'll be shit in any given season.

But SJ had a decent career, not the great one some thought he would have coming out of the U20s. Unlike Benji he didn't learn to control games better as he aged.

 

[Matt_CBY]

I'm still 50/50 on the upcoming season. I think combined with SJ's terrible form and being picked regardless when not injured we suffered from Webby's little man game plan being worked out and our new buys seem to reinforce we're sticking with the gameplan. We're going to miss AFB hugely, and JFH is a great guy to come in but he plays a different game.

Plus it's the Warriors, there's always at least an 80% chance we'll be shit in any given season.

But SJ had a decent career, not the great one some thought he would have coming out of the U20s. Unlike Benji he didn't learn to control games better as he aged.

…

 

[Wb1234]

I'm still 50/50 on the upcoming season. I think combined with SJ's terrible form and being picked regardless when not injured we suffered from Webby's little man game plan being worked out and our new buys seem to reinforce we're sticking with the gameplan. We're going to miss AFB hugely, and JFH is a great guy to come in but he plays a different game.

Plus it's the Warriors, there's always at least an 80% chance we'll be shit in any given season.

But SJ had a decent career, not the great one some thought he would have coming out of the U20s. Unlike Benji he didn't learn to control games better as he aged.

Compared to 2002 this side tries harder, makes way less mistakes,
and competes for longer in games, but in terms of skills it’s average

Maybe sj was a hand break and the attack will open up next year

Creativity in the halves was severely lacking this year

 

[Wb1234]

Value of derby games shown in a league with 26k at go media when it’s Wellington and 13k or less when it’s not

Warriors v Christchurch in the nrl will have to be played at Eden park

 

[MugaB]

Compared to 2002 this side tries harder, makes way less mistakes,
and competes for longer in games, but in terms of skills it’s average

Maybe sj was a hand break and the attack will open up next year

Creativity in the halves was severely lacking this year

More time with Tmartin, and Lmetcalf together is whats needed, just needed them fit, SJ caused too many disruptions with him in and out aswell as metcalf in and out, a steady season will see them blossom

 

[Matiunz]

More time with Tmartin, and Lmetcalf together is whats needed, just needed them fit, SJ caused too many disruptions with him in and out aswell as metcalf in and out, a steady season will see them blossom

Think that’s the best combo and what we will go with. If it has time together and gels it could be decent(not amazing but decent). Glaring risk is Metcalfs injury history and neither has anything close to a solid long kicking game.
SJ was a once in a generation player but we haven’t got an heir apparent, there were a few years of stop gaps between SJ1 and SJ2, hopefully it’s not too long before SJ3 comes of age

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Has he heard of the nzrl? Why would the arl have do in an area controlled by a rival governing body ?

the NZRL is not a rival body to the NRL. It’s the equivalent to the ARL and state leagues in Australia. The NRL runs the professional competition.