I've just been laying in bed trying to get to sleep to no avail, and began brainstorming on where the NRL should eventually expand to in the next two years.
Let me get this out of the way right now, and people can claim it's bias but this is just me being realistic; Queensland should be the central focus of this coming expansion.
NSW already have a couple of clubs that are barely even keeping their heads above water, there's no need in my mind to add any more to a state that doesn't need them, which is why I believe the Bears shouldn't get it because they had their chance anyway. If I had the reigns, the Bears return to the League would be at the cost of another suffering club. Probably the Sharks.
Having said that, I would be very surprised if one of the teams is not in Brisbane. With Suncorp regularly sold out or close to it, a second team would give the Queensland Government an excuse to build another big Stadium. I'd like to see the Ipswich Jets get their license, because I think they've waited long enough. Ipswich is a rapidly growing city and where there's growth there is incentive.
The Brisbane Bombers are a mixed bag of emotions for me; for one, they're impeding on the territory of my side. However, for the sake of the code I will admit that there is a fair sized group of people in Brisbane who refuse to support the Broncos, so financially the Bombers are a smart move by the NRL. In my opinion, they would need their own Stadium to capitalize on that though. Using Suncorp for both would be a waste.
The Western Reds, I'm sorry to say it, aren't exactly high on my priority list either; Once again, it's been tried and failed (depending on your assessment). I really don't see any point in the NRL trying to move in on AFL territory when there is money to be made in Queensland or even the Sportless Northern Territory.
I have sympathy for Darwin; it must be a boring arse city to live in, so the NRL may as well try and see if they can build a support base up there, at least before the AFL do.
Which leaves me conflicted between the Queensland Central Coast (proposed name is the Cyclones I hear from friends in Bundaberg) and the PNG. Both could be massively profitable for the NRL, but from what I understand, only two Licences are going to be handed out. I couldbe wrong about that though.
So when it all comes down to it, I'd like to see teams on the Central Coast of Queensland and at Ipswich-Logan.
Sorry for the wall of text. Discuss where you would like to expand to and why.
