Oh, so now Melbourne’s a failure because of weak TV ratings and juniors? Tell that to the four premierships, consistent top-tier performances, and the fact they developed tonnes of rep stars. Juniors and TV numbers didn’t stop them from becoming a powerhouse.
It’s just facts—14 of 17 teams are in NSW and QLD. The NRL knows it needs to expand its footprint, which is why Perth makes sense. You can cry about ratings all you want, but the game doesn’t grow by staying in a bubble. The sooner you accept that, the better.