New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Matiunz]

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

Its nz license to lose

NZ2 seemed a lot more certain a couple of months ago, but seems to have gone pretty quiet of late

 

[Wb1234]

NZ2 seemed a lot more certain a couple of months ago, but seems to have gone pretty quiet of late

Perth and png will be announced after the grand final

Bids were only put in a month or so ago and were told to keep quiet

 

[Gobsmacked]

NZ2 seemed a lot more certain a couple of months ago, but seems to have gone pretty quiet of late

Yep. It's an NDA. No news is good news.
People here don't seem to get that, they think click bait from the Daily Telegaph is pulling the shot lol

 

[flippikat]

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.

A 2nd NZ team has basically 4 options

* Auckland 2 - nope, will cannibalise the Warriors base for sure.

* Waikato/Bay of Plenty (Hamilton/Rotorua) - might still be too close to the Warriors geographically.. maybe if we get a 3rd or 4th team but not the 2nd team.

* Wellington - a big centre but also a gamble. the stadium is a small oval, the local economy is being decimated by public service cuts under the current Government, not the strongest sporting culture & record too, being an arts-focused city. A chance to get the 3rd NZ team (if we get a 3rd team later on) due to sheer population size, but I fear now is a bad time to add something based around discretionary income in a weak local economy.

* Christchurch - new covered rectangular stadium being built, baked-in sporting rivalry with Auckland, big city, on a separate land mass to the Warriors, and under the boom that goes along with a rebuild after the earthquakes.

 

[Matt_CBY]

It’s gottta be the South Island whatevers. Based out of Christchurch and play a game or two a year in Dunedin.

 

[Wb1234]

Problem for nz3 is Wellington aren’t building a new ground so it’s stuck playing there but the regional grounds are good

Maybe eight home games at Wellington and the rest regional would be ok

A whole season at Wellington could be a huge worry

10k in that 30k oval looks awful

They really would needs crowds of 20k average for a good atmosphere

 

[MugaB]

Problem for nz3 is Wellington aren’t building a new ground so it’s stuck playing there but the regional grounds are good

Maybe eight home games at Wellington and the rest regional would be ok

A whole season at Wellington could be a huge worry

10k in that 30k oval looks awful

They really would needs crowds of 20k average for a good atmosphere

That's why I thought Waikato would be a far better idea, having a true base there, maybe 6-8 games then travel for the rest (Napier, Wellington, BOP)
Keep it a lower north island team, but close enough to Auckland that derbies would sell out in a larger venue

 

[Perth Red]

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

Its nz license to lose

There are 7 options for them to chose from. If the preferred one will be from somewhere in NZ will come down to if NRL strategically sees NZ2 as important, alongside confidence in the business case presented. Presuming Fiji submitted and can be discounted it really does seem a battle between Ipswich/Newtown, Easts and Christchurch for club 20.

Presuming 3 Christchurch bids went in, and the other 3 are as mentioned above, it does leave 1 submitted bid we havent heard about.

 

[Wb1234]

There are 7 options for them to chose from. If the preferred one will be from somewhere in NZ will come down to if NRL strategically sees NZ2 as important, alongside confidence in the business case presented. Presuming Fiji submitted and can be discounted it really does seem a battle between Ipswich/Newtown, Easts and Christchurch for club 20.

Four of the options are from nz

Four out of seven

 

[Perth Red]

Four of the options are from nz

Four out of seven

you don't know that.
And so what? if there were only 4 bids you may have a point, but there is 7 to chose from so just because 4 are form one country doesnt mean one of the other 3 doesnt win it.

 

[Wb1234]

you don't know that.
And so what? if there were only 4 bids you may have a point, but there is 7 to chose from so just because 4 are form one country doesnt mean one of the other 3 doesnt win it.

Four out of seven means it’s a very strong chance

As usual when it comes to expansion you are talking bollocks

Fiji is no chance
Brisbane is very unlikely at this stage too

 

[Perth Red]

Four out of seven means it’s a very strong chance

As usual when it comes to expansion you are talking bollocks

Fiji is no chance
Brisbane is very unlikely at this stage too

It doesnt matter how many bids there are if the NRL doesnt see NZ2 as strategically important. Im not saying they dont, just that it will be the determining factor for team 20, not how may bids they got. Given the lack of chatter about team 20 in the media its just as likely they will defer a decision for a few years. If they do Brisbane3 comes back into stronger contention in all likelihood.

My preference is CChurch over another heartland club.

Perth, PNG and Chcurch is a ballsy expansion plan and I hope they have the courage to do it, and do it properly.

 

[Wb1234]

Will it be Christchurch yes or no @Perth Red ?

 

[Maximus]

Higher number does not necessarily mean better. If their best options are the crowd funding, or a team that wants to be based out of 4 different cities, they don't have a viable bid.

If you want to be the afl and just put teams in cities to say you've got a team there, stick to supporting afl.

 

[Matt_CBY]

Just create a website called team20ofNRLwillbeChristchurch.co.nz and he will believe it.

 

[Perth Red]

Will it be Christchurch yes or no @Perth Red ?

Hard to say, Id say yes if they make a decision now and one of the bids has funding sorted, if they defer Id say Brisbane3 comes back into contention once Dolphins have had a few years under their belt. The rumours are inclusion for 2030 or 2032/33 for club 20. Another 5 or 6 years under Dolphins belt and the SEQ clubs may be more amenable to another competitor coming in, especially if the comp goes to conferences.

We havent seen the NZ bids they were pretty sketchy early on in how they would fund it, if that hasnt changed its hard to see a financially risk averse NRL just taking a punt that they'll be alright. If one of the NZ bids has a strong business case and can put $20-30mill cash on the table for start up and security then they are a very good chance Id say.

 

[Wb1234]

Hard to say, Id say yes if they make a decision now, if they defer Id say Brisbane3 comes back into the picture once Dolphins have had a few years under their belt. The rumours are inclusion for 2030 or 2032/33 for club 20. Another 5 or 6 years under Dolphins belt and the SEQ clubs may be more amenable to another competitor coming in, especially if the comp goes to conferences.

I’d say the odds it’s nz are currently around 70 percent

2030 is too soon for Brisbane 3

Team 21 and around 2033/4 would be Brisbane 3 imo

 

[Perth Red]

I’d say the odds it’s nz are currently around 70 percent

2030 is too soon for Brisbane 3

Team 21 and around 2033/4 would be Brisbane 3 imo

Depends on a lot of factors. Lets say they decide to defer and call for club 20 in 2028 for KO in 2030. If the Dolphins continue to perform well and if the SEQ clubs have seen a positive effect on their business then Brisbane3 comes into contention. Its the least risk for the NRL and arguably the most likely to generate better revenue for them.

But if NRL is serious about growing the game in NZ (which it rarley shows any honest signs of so far) and one of the NZ bids stacks up then it could well be announced now. Too many unknowns to be confident which way club 20 will go Id say.

 

[Wb1234]

Depends on a lot of factors. Lets say they decide to defer and call for club 20 in 2028 for KO in 2030. If the Dolphins continue to perform well and if the SEQ clubs have seen a positive effect on their business then Brisbane3 comes into contention. Its the least risk for the NRL and arguably the most likely to generate better revenue for them.

But if NRL is serious about growing the game in NZ (which it rarley shows any honest signs of so far) and one of the NZ bids stacks up then it could well be announced now. Too many unknowns to be confident which way club 20 will go Id say.

Remind me again who has been saying the dolphins crowds have fallen off a bit lmao

Its nz lincense to lose

Nz were the favourite before the wa and fed govt stole the next two spots

And warriors crowds have held up despite a poor finish

2030 start with the stadium coming in 2028 is perfect timing

 

[Wb1234]

'An enormous market': NRL boss backs New Zealand for 18th team

Andrew Abdo says the traditional case against such a move is now moot.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Nothing has changed since he said that if anything the case is more compelling now