New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[MugaB]

Are you not in favour of NZ2 or just not in favour of Chch? Where would you prefer NZ2 to go?

I'm OK for another team in nz, chch or elsewhere, just don't buy the whole, wahs doing well, so let's split up the fanbase while iron is hot garbage

Grammar police? " Should " and " need" are completely different f**king words mate.
But fair enough, perhaps some semantics isn't helpful. We could use need in the context of " if we are to capitalise on the recent boom for the NRL In NZ, then we NEED another team.
And no, the crowds alone aren't the reason for another team:
*5 million Rugby loving people
* talent
* television deal
*brand new stadium
* rivalry

So Penrith2 is next then?, or what about Melbourne2, this recent boom is the free to air coverage that is giving RL a presence In NZ, which normally was mostly hidden behind a paywall, Warriors doing well last year also helped that, snowballing from not having any live presence from the covid shut out... not sure that a rival team is necessarily going to go gangbusters, it'll just split the fanbase, but it's got to start sometime, might aswell do it now and let it become something a decade later

 

[Perth Red]

I'm OK for another team in nz, chch or elsewhere, just don't buy the whole, wahs doing well, so let's split up the fanbase while iron is hot garbage

So Penrith2 is next then?, or what about Melbourne2, this recent boom is the free to air coverage that is giving RL a presence In NZ, which normally was mostly hidden behind a paywall, Warriors doing well last year also helped that, snowballing from not having any live presence from the covid shut out... not sure that a rival team is necessarily going to go gangbusters, it'll just split the fanbase, but it's got to start sometime, might aswell do it now and let it become something a decade later

Warriors attendances this season were also built on the cheapest (by a long way) ticketed memberships in the NRL. If that revenue loss is sustainable time will tell.

 

[Wb1234]

I'm OK for another team in nz, chch or elsewhere, just don't buy the whole, wahs doing well, so let's split up the fanbase while iron is hot garbage

So Penrith2 is next then?, or what about Melbourne2, this recent boom is the free to air coverage that is giving RL a presence In NZ, which normally was mostly hidden behind a paywall, Warriors doing well last year also helped that, snowballing from not having any live presence from the covid shut out... not sure that a rival team is necessarily going to go gangbusters, it'll just split the fanbase, but it's got to start sometime, might aswell do it now and let it become something a decade later

Games are selling out in chch

So the city should miss out because r there is a team in Auckland

 

[Matua]

I'd interested to know your preference for expansion locations?

Me, I don't care where as I'll still support the Warriors.

Unless it's in Hawkes Bay .. which will never happen.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I'm OK for another team in nz, chch or elsewhere, just don't buy the whole, wahs doing well, so let's split up the fanbase while iron is hot garbage

So Penrith2 is next then?, or what about Melbourne2, this recent boom is the free to air coverage that is giving RL a presence In NZ, which normally was mostly hidden behind a paywall, Warriors doing well last year also helped that, snowballing from not having any live presence from the covid shut out... not sure that a rival team is necessarily going to go gangbusters, it'll just split the fanbase, but it's got to start sometime, might aswell do it now and let it become something a decade later

Australia has 16 teams and going well.. should we put another team in Australia- yes.
New Zealand has 1 team and going well..should we put another team in NZ- yes

That how comparisons work.
I've never advocated for another team in Auckland and saying it's splitting up a fan base is ludicrous.
Christchurch is on an entirely different land mass ffs and ask the people there how they feel about Auckland.
Did the Cowboys split up the Broncos fanbase or the Gold Coast?

Dumbest argument yet.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Me, I don't care where as I'll still support the Warriors.

Unless it's in Hawkes Bay .. which will never happen.

Fair enough.
Perhaps I'll phrase it differently.
Where do you think would be the most successful?

 

[Matiunz]

Games are selling out in chch

So the city should miss out because r there is a team in Auckland

I’m sure they could sell more if they had more seats but the stadium isn’t particularly big to sell out. Murmurs of getting a team will help too.
Key will be if they can sustain that week in week out- particularly if results aren’t favourable.
New stadium will certainly help as will a shiny new team.
However using history as an example Warriors averaged just off 27k in their first season (4 more k than this year incidentally) before dropping to a 10k average by 1998…
Early success will be important, win and they may convert some success hungry Warriors fans, lose and those fans might as well stick with the status quo

 

[Matiunz]

Australia has 16 teams and going well.. should we put another team in Australia- yes.
New Zealand has 1 team and going well..should we put another team in NZ- yes

That how comparisons work.
I've never advocated for another team in Auckland and saying it's splitting up a fan base is ludicrous.
Christchurch is on an entirely different land mass ffs and ask the people there how they feel about Auckland.
Did the Cowboys split up the Broncos fanbase or the Gold Coast?

Dumbest argument yet.

It’s the best natural divide having a team on each main island but at present most South islanders would have Warriors as their default team due to being the only NZ team- NZ 2 is going to eat into the Warriors fan base in some way regardless of where it’s based, will also attract new fans.
When Crushers, Titans and Dolphins came in I’m sure they ate into some of the Broncos existing fan base too

 

[Gobsmacked]

I’m sure they could sell more if they had more seats but the stadium isn’t particularly big to sell out. Murmurs of getting a team will help too.
Key will be if they can sustain that week in week out- particularly if results aren’t favourable.
New stadium will certainly help as will a shiny new team.
However using history as an example Warriors averaged just off 27k in their first season (4 more k than this year incidentally) before dropping to a 10k average by 1998…
Early success will be important, win and they may convert some success hungry Warriors fans, lose and those fans might as well stick with the status quo

Funny how much support the Warriors have without ever winning the competition. Winning isn't the only thing that pulls fans in and sometimes it can actually hurt long term when fans expect success and turn away the moment things go pair shaped.
The Warriors fan base has a certain resilience where just being competitive has them excited.
I think a Christchurch team would be a success by getting 1 or 2 noted stars, playing a good brand of footy and winning the od game against heavyweights.

So long as they're in the fight in other words.

 

[Matua]

Fair enough.
Perhaps I'll phrase it differently.
Where do you think would be the most successful?

No idea, Auckland should be the place of a successful team but they've been dog awful, and the Storm has shown you can have a successful team from a non league place.

I think Chch is the best option though, it could only ever be them or Wellington, and the game seems to be in better shape in Chch at the moment.

 

[Gobsmacked]

It’s the best natural divide having a team on each main island but at present most South islanders would have Warriors as their default team due to being the only NZ team- NZ 2 is going to eat into the Warriors fan base in some way regardless of where it’s based, will also attract new fans.
When Crushers, Titans and Dolphins came in I’m sure they ate into some of the Broncos existing fan base too

Real fans will never be cannibalised. They might flip a few casuals though for sure!
It's the new fans who get engaged!
A bloke in Auckland might watch the odd game but if the Warriors have a rival, they will be all in! And become full-time fans and vis versa .
There's no denying another team in nz will pull new fans to the game, especially on the South Island.
It will be a net positive for the Warriors like the Dolphins were for the Broncs and let not forget the excitement of having their very own team on the South Island will pull a tsunami of support!
The South Island has never had a regular show as big as the NRL before, Super Rugby isn't close, the salary are reach isn't even half that of the NRL.
Warriors vs South Island would be the game that stops a nation.

 

[Perth Red]

Will come down to A) Is the NRL interested in expanding in NZ B) Does CChurch have a compelling bid out of the 7 options they have received.

 

[Wb1234]

I’m sure they could sell more if they had more seats but the stadium isn’t particularly big to sell out. Murmurs of getting a team will help too.
Key will be if they can sustain that week in week out- particularly if results aren’t favourable.
New stadium will certainly help as will a shiny new team.
However using history as an example Warriors averaged just off 27k in their first season (4 more k than this year incidentally) before dropping to a 10k average by 1998…
Early success will be important, win and they may convert some success hungry Warriors fans, lose and those fans might as well stick with the status quo

Super league war would’ve had a huge impact on warriors crowds

They missed out on making the finals after john monie made a mistake then it was all super league war until 1998

The decline of super rugby is also a factor now for the prospects of a team

Potentially I can see Wellington coming in around the middle of the next decade once the South Island team is grounded

The amount of money that is coming into the nrl will be a game changer

Salary cap could end up at 20 million with clubs receiving 30 million grant

 

[Wb1234]

It’s the best natural divide having a team on each main island but at present most South islanders would have Warriors as their default team due to being the only NZ team- NZ 2 is going to eat into the Warriors fan base in some way regardless of where it’s based, will also attract new fans.
When Crushers, Titans and Dolphins came in I’m sure they ate into some of the Broncos existing fan base too

How many warriors games would South Island fans go to a year ? None or one

Warriors have always been an Auckland side since inception paying lip service to the rest of nz

The code is strong enough there now to look beyond Auckland

 

[Wb1234]

Will come down to A) Is the NRL interested in expanding in NZ B) Does CChurch have a compelling bid out of the 7 options they have received.

3 of those bids are from nz

And two have already been accepted

 

[Wb1234]

Real fans will never be cannibalised. They might flip a few casuals though for sure!
It's the new fans who get engaged!
A bloke in Auckland might watch the odd game but if the Warriors have a rival, they will be all in! And become full-time fans and vis versa .
There's no denying another team in nz will pull new fans to the game, especially on the South Island.
It will be a net positive for the Warriors like the Dolphins were for the Broncs and let not forget the excitement of having their very own team on the South Island will pull a tsunami of support!
The South Island has never had a regular show as big as the NRL before, Super Rugby isn't close, the salary are reach isn't even half that of the NRL.
Warriors vs South Island would be the game that stops a nation.

Dolphins have 35k members and around 25k crowds and have helped the other qld sides grow

 

[Matiunz]

How many warriors games would South Island fans go to a year ? None or one

Warriors have always been an Auckland side since inception paying lip service to the rest of nz

The code is strong enough there now to look beyond Auckland

Yes the Warriors have always been Auckland centric but they have also always been the default NZ team also. It’s similar to say a NSW team based in Sydney but having supporters in Newcastle or Canberra (yes I know ACT), it’d be sydney centric but if it’s the only option for nsw then it’s pretty much their default team.

I grew up way to far from Auckland to go to Warriors games but 95% of league fans I knew the Warriors were the local team, same was true of the other provinces away from Auckland I lived. I had to go to palmy to see my first live league game (kiwis vs GB). Not being able to go to games didn’t effect my support
Often hear of Warriors being an ‘Auckland team’ but find it interesting when this question was asked in a Warriors forum a little while back most respondents were from outside of Auckland as was majority if the ip addresses of the posters, just from personal experience the expats I go to games in Sydney none are from Auckland and some are South Islanders

 

[Matt_CBY]

Oh don’t start with IP addresses again…

 

[Perth Red]

3 of those bids are from nz

And two have already been accepted

9 bids were received, 2 are allegedly locked in. Leaves 7 bids for nrl to chose team 20 from.

 

[Wb1234]

9 bids were received, 2 are allegedly locked in. Leaves 7 bids for nrl to chose team 20 from.

3 of which are chch and one may even be from Wellington

Its nz license to lose