NRL Expansion. Ideas and opinions.

[The Great Dane]

I do agree. But what’s the best option?
1. Put a club/s with history like Ipswich Jets or Redcliffe Dolphins.
2. Create some new brand that targets a bigger area.

In my experience option 2 is almost always the better option.

Every time this has come up in Canberra it's been a disaster to launch a new team in a higher level comp with the intention of appealing to the whole fan base with an old brand. Almost everybody I know from the early days of the Raiders (including myself) never would have attended any of their game or interacted with them at all if they had been allowed to stick with the Blues name, even if they were the Canberra Blues instead of Queanbeyan we all would have been out cause there's noway we were ever going to support the Blues, but launch the new team under a new brand and we were interested, even if realistically they are just an extension of the Blues.

The same is true of the Canberra Vikings, they are universally detested by every RU fan in the ACT that isn't a Tuggeranong Vikings fan. Their support could be at least quadruple what it currently is if they weren't connected to the Vikings.

 

[The Great Dane]

Best senerio would be to relocate a Sydney team west & Brisbane gets two new teams

Nah, we don't want to put to many eggs into the Brisbane basket like we have in Sydney.

The NRL's aim in Brisbane should be to replicate Man United/Man City situation as much as possible, cause two huge clubs is better than three or four smaller ones.

 

[VictoryFC]

Nah, we don't want to put to many eggs into the Brisbane basket like we have in Sydney.

The NRL's aim in Brisbane should be to replicate Man United/Man City situation as much as possible, cause two huge clubs is better than three or four smaller ones.

I agree Brisbane should have two teams, but this should have been done two decades ago. Are there tens of thousands of people in Brisbane that love RL but have never had an affinity with the Broncos? Despite being the little brother for so long, MC is only two years younger than MU, and both are 140 odd years old. They had the fanbase in place to take it to the next level before the investment arived.

 

[greenBV4]

Are there tens of thousands of people in Brisbane that love RL but have never had an affinity with the Broncos?

I hate this argument, it may be true at the moment the club is created, but let a few years pass and the new generations will start picking clubs to follow, not every kid follows a team just because their dad does, and I'd say this would be especially true for a kid growing up in Brisbane who's dad/family supported a non-Brisbane team

 

[Stallion]

Obviously apart from Jets and Dolphins fans, any RL fans in Brisbane that aren't Broncos fans also aren't Jets or Dolphins fans, and most will refuse to support them just as they do the Broncos.

If you want a new club to have broad appeal in a market with lots of history like Brisbane then it has to either have a new brand or it has be a long dead brand that can be resurrected, otherwise you'll carry all the baggage of the old brand along with you when you set up the new club and the NRL can't afford that at the moment.

? Think the Dockers seems to be a good model in Perhaps? Surely a well-marketest that isn't hijacked by bias News ltd interests would be a suchess. Sharing Lang Park would make sense. Hopefully something will get sorted. It's long overdue!

 

[Stallion]

Best senerio would be to relocate a Sydney team west & Brisbane gets two new teams

Don't think the Brisbane people will shine to a Sydney clone at all! It must be a Brisbane based ownership/concept if anything.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I’m no expert on Queensland geography but couldn’t the south Queensland crushers make a comeback based in either the city of Brisbane or the surrounding areas like Ipswich or Logan??

I’ve read articles stating that both Logan and Ipswich have populations above 300,000 and are expected to reach nearly 500,000 by 2030. One or even both could sustain a NRL club you’d believe.

I guess someone could resurect the Crushers but I think to take on the Broncos it would be smart to use a traditional QLD Cup brand like the Redcliffe Dolphins or Ipswich Jets. You are correct, Logan is a huge growth area also and is only 25 - 30 mins to Suncorp in ok traffic.

Brisbane doesn't need a geographic rivalry as it would seem artificial. The Broncos are a corporate giant, a traditional football club brand will nicely offset them, even if that is only the perception they should appeal to the working class and old QRL genuine footy club roots.

Having said that, I'm not in favour of any second Brisbane club not utilising Suncorp as it is a world class stadium and allows for growth of the new club. We don't need another suburban club in the NRL pulling max 15k. This goes against the Ipswich and Redcliffe bids, but I can see a scenario where the Redcliffe Dolphins (probably the QRL's most iconic brand along with the Ipswich Jets), play their big drawing games out of Suncorp (Broncos, Storm, Warriors, Cowboys for example) and the rest out of Dolphin Oval (which they own) with an increased capacity of 20k. This gives the Dolphins the best of both worlds, their traditional ground and maintenance of their Redcliffe identity but also the ability to sell more tickets, memberships and corporates for their event games at a world class venue just 50 mins down the road. I think the people of Ipswich would be less than pleased with the Jets playing at Suncorp... but, this might also work for them because maybe they would rather see the Jets in the NRL with four games in Brisbane than not at all.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I hate this argument, it may be true at the moment the club is created, but let a few years pass and the new generations will start picking clubs to follow, not every kid follows a team just because their dad does, and I'd say this would be especially true for a kid growing up in Brisbane who's dad/family supported a non-Brisbane team

I can tell you that a new club will be very well supported here. Perth and Adelaide both have two AFL clubs, Brisbane has just as many RL fans as they do, it will be a success and draw on average 20 - 25k to start with and build from there. Think about the following big drawing games that the club could play even without having a tonne of their own fans:

Broncos: sell-out
Cowboys: 30 - 40k
Titans: 20 - 30k
Storm: 25 - 30k
Warriors: 25 - 30k
Raiders/Dragons/Souths/Dogs/Eels: 20k +

Even at the lower end of the above scale, the club is averaging 25k and is instantly the second highest pulling club in the league which will only increase with time and some success. The Crushers averaged 21k in 1995 and they were bog average.

 

[Vee]

The Crushers were a massive opportunity blown by mismanagement.

 

[Foreign Legion]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...ItUe6zbmQZt-JLVoIrbRfNjt4PNY4dz4PO0vseDsh5wpI

FORGET relocating a Sydney club, NRL fans have spoken and they want to see the competition expand to 18 teams.

The Daily Telegraph asked fans about the biggest and most pressing issues in the game in our annual NRL survey. In regards to expansion, 31 per cent of supporters want to see the competition grow to 18 teams within five years.

But 28 per cent of people are happy with the current structure and don’t want to see any changes made.
ast week, The Daily Telegraph’s Sports Editor at Large, Phil Rothfield, revealed Channel 9 wanted to kill off an existing club to introduce a new Brisbane team and a Sydney club was in the broadcaster’s crosshairs.

After an immediate backlash to the proposal, Channel 9 backed down from the comments and our survey results further validate the lack of an appetite in the league community for such a move, and even tried to pinch the final-round blockbuster between Wests Tigers and Cronulla from Fox Sports.

Brisbane (29 per cent) and Perth (25 per cent) are the most popular locations to introduce the two new clubs.

A NSW Central Coast team (23 per cent) was also a popular choice.

Chris Ryan (ball) during Western Reds v Brisbane RL game. Rugby League A/CT 1996
Fans also took aim at the video bunker’s inability to rule on forward passes. An overwhelming majority (71 per cent) want to see forward passes referred to the bunker.


But this is one issue where people power might not be enough to force a change. The NRL’s head of football, Graham Annesley, has maintained the bunker won’t be called on to rule on forward passes.

“Under current technology, I am [opposed to the video referee ruling on forward passes],” Annesley said. “While you will see the occasional one that is clear, you see many more that you look at and say ‘how do you tell?’

“That’s what happened last time it was used. There were many referred to the video referee for a decision and that created more controversy than the pass itself.”
But relief might be on the way for fed-up fans.

The NRL is still actively seeking a company which can create forward-pass technology, which it is open to introducing as early as 2021.

“It’s not an option for next year but we are still talking to technology providers to see whether that is a reasonable option for us as early as 2021,” Annesley said.

“The software capable of doing that hasn’t been developed. There are a number of different parties that have contacted us and have told us they believe that they can develop that using a number of different techniques available.

 

[mongoose]

Not a comment on expansion but referring forward passes to the bunker. This is just going to mean every single try, EVERY single try will now go to the bunker where they will take even more views to check forward passes.

Fans need to get over it! Just accept that refs are going to miss forward passes and call some that are okay.

 

[Tigers1986]

Ideally in the next 10 years I'd love to see a 20-team competition. Expand into Brisbane, Perth, Central Coast and NZ 2. Plenty of time to sort out the dynamics of the draw, whether it be a conference system (2 leagues of 10, play every twice [18 games], then the other conference once, [27 games], top 3 go through to finals as a final 6, played under the NFL finals system.)

 

[flippikat]

Ideally in the next 10 years I'd love to see a 20-team competition. Expand into Brisbane, Perth, Central Coast and NZ 2. Plenty of time to sort out the dynamics of the draw, whether it be a conference system (2 leagues of 10, play every twice [18 games], then the other conference once, [27 games], top 3 go through to finals as a final 6, played under the NFL finals system.)

NSW already has 10 teams, I can't see there being an 11th one - regardless of the merits a Central Coast team may have.

If there's going to be a team based in Gosfotd, it'll be replacing an existing Sydney club, or a relocation. If the competition is going to expand to 20 teams (big if), Brisbane2, Perth & NZ2 will be three of them.. and the final spot will be either Adelaide or a 3rd team in Brisbane.

 

[Stallion]

NSW already has 10 teams, I can't see there being an 11th one - regardless of the merits a Central Coast team may have.

If there's going to be a team based in Gosfotd, it'll be replacing an existing Sydney club, or a relocation. If the competition is going to expand to 20 teams (big if), Brisbane2, Perth & NZ2 will be three of them.. and the final spot will be either Adelaide or a 3rd team in Brisbane.

You know when you are wrong when an idiot 'likes' your comment. NSW is Australia's highest populated state. Canberra is the ACT. With Newcastle ten clubs is not enough to adequately cater for the foundation rugbyleague state of NSW which is now under attack from other codes in recent decades. You rightly mention the Central Coast Bears and it's clearly not a gamble. It will consolidate and improve relevance for the competition which has been eroded away since the superleague fiasco.

 

[Bojackhorseman]

You know when you are wrong when an idiotv'likes' your comment. NSW is Australia's highest populated state. Canberra is the ACT. With Newcastle ten clubs is not enough to adequately cater for the foundation rugbyleague state of NSW which is now under attack from other codes in recent decades. You rightly mention the Central Coast Bears and it's clearly not a gamble. It will consolidate and improve relevance for competition which has been eroded away since the superleague fiasco.

Pissed bro?

 

[greenBV4]

If there's going to be a team based in Gosfotd, it'll be replacing an existing Sydney club, or a relocation. If the competition is going to expand to 20 teams (big if), Brisbane2, Perth & NZ2 will be three of them.. and the final spot will be either Adelaide or a 3rd team in Brisbane.

Depending how far down the line it is and whether the Storm hit there growth targets, a 2nd Melbourne team may become a preferred choice for the 20th team for the NRL, it'll at least be thrown around

This is the problem though, In 20-30 years time there will be so many more viable locations for teams, but no space to include them

Realistically by 2040 we could have Melbourne 2, Adelaide, Perth (maybe even Perth 2 if Perth 1 makes it in earlier) Brisbane 2&3, NZ 2&3, CC, and Various Pacific and regional areas all being financially/supporter base viable locations

 

[Slater1]

You know when you are wrong when an idiot 'likes' your comment. NSW is Australia's highest populated state. Canberra is the ACT. With Newcastle ten clubs is not enough to adequately cater for the foundation rugbyleague state of NSW which is now under attack from other codes in recent decades. You rightly mention the Central Coast Bears and it's clearly not a gamble. It will consolidate and improve relevance for the competition which has been eroded away since the superleague fiasco.

Of all of Stallion's bizarre rants about New South Wales needing MORE teams-- this MAY be my favourite.

 

[Stallion]

Of all of Stallion's bizarre rants about New South Wales needing MORE teams-- this MAY be my favourite.

You are misguided if you think their is no need for a club such as the Central Coast Bears. In one swoop it gains back lost Bears fans and gains the Central Coast supporter base. But you can't see the merit of this in Australia's highest populated state. Some call it rants . Others call it common sense!

 

[Slater1]

You are misguided if you think their is no need for a club such as the Central Coast Bears. In one swoop it gains back lost Bears fans and gains the Central Coast supporter base. But you can't see the merit of this in Australia's highest populated state. Some call it rants . Others call it common sense!

There's already 10 teams in NSW--- do you really think that there's that many people in Northern Sydney & the Central Coast that currently don't watch NRL but will if the Bears are returned? How big would their potential market be Pony boy?

 

[The Great Dane]

You are misguided if you think their is no need for a club such as the Central Coast Bears. In one swoop it gains back lost Bears fans and gains the Central Coast supporter base. But you can't see the merit of this in Australia's highest populated state. Some call it rants . Others call it common sense!

I am/was a Bears fan, and I'll tell you now that you won't gain the vast majority of Bears fans back!

Nor do you want most of us Bears fans back anyway, we're all geriatrics with one foot in the grave. What you want is young people, they are the future.

And the CC can't support an A-league team, so they've f**k all chance of supporting an NRL team!