NRL Expansion. Ideas and opinions.

[Perth Red]

Bit of a pointless piece. Must be the off season!

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...0/news-story/c9c35f3e548cb23b9d1bb936dbf7351d

 

[Foreign Legion]

Bring'em back

 

[MrE_Assassin]

Bring'em back

Just not those god-awful jerseys. An Adelaide team (or any new franchise) needs it's own iconic colours... not a Newcastle rip-off.

 

[flippikat]

Just not those god-awful jerseys. An Adelaide team (or any new franchise) needs it's own iconic colours... not a Newcastle rip-off.

Get the Warriors back to 1995 (original) colours, and the Rams can come back in red & black.

It just makes sense.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Get the Warriors back to 1995 (original) colours, and the Rams can come back in red & black.

It just makes sense.

Not only that but get the warriors back to being the Auckland warriors.

 

[Rabbitoad]

I think the way the Tongan fans have come out to support their team is a big indication of how well a South Pacific team would do based out of Auckland.

It'd mean a game every week being played in New Zealand, which would help grow the game in NZ too.

They could draw players from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands, along with the Pacific population already living in New Zealand (there's more Tongans, Fijians and Samoans in NZ than in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa).

Then they could have a NSW/QLD Cup team that plays home games in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga to help grow the game there)

It really does seem like a can't miss option.

 

[Perth Red]

Would people really get behind a generic Sth Pacific brand? Surely the passion for Tonga is coming from Tongans getting behind their national team, not some hybrid multi island branded club?

 

[Rabbitoad]

Would people really get behind a generic Sth Pacific brand? Surely the passion for Tonga is coming from Tongans getting behind their national team, not some hybrid multi island branded club?

What makes it generic mate?

It'd be developing the game in their country and engaging the same fans (plus the Samoan and Fijian fans) that have bought tickets this time

 

[Perth Red]

What makes it generic mate?

It'd be developing the game in their country and engaging the same fans (plus the Samoan and Fijian fans) that have bought tickets this time

I think whenever you lump things together and come up with a non identity generic mish mash then you arent going to get the same enthusiasm and buy in. Would kiwi Tongans really get excited about backing a Sth Pacific team over the Warriors? It'd be like English following a European team. The Tongans are coming out in force because it is their nation that is being represented. I doubt many identify themselves as a "South Pacific'er": If the Warriors werent in Auckland it might work as it would be the only option to follow an NRL club but seems you would be cutting into the Warriors rather than attracting a different fanbase, look at the Kiwi crowd and how that has been affected by the Tongans having an alternative.

 

[Rabbitoad]

I think whenever you lump things together and come up with a non identity generic mish mash then you arent going to get the same enthusiasm and buy in. Would kiwi Tongans really get excited about backing a Sth Pacific team over the Warriors? It'd be like English following a European team. The Tongans are coming out in force because it is their nation that is being represented. I doubt many identify themselves as a "South Pacific'er": If the Warriors werent in Auckland it might work as it would be the only option to follow an NRL club but seems you would be cutting into the Warriors rather than attracting a different fanbase, look at the Kiwi crowd and how that has been affected by the Tongans having an alternative.

Totally disagree mate. There's definitely a Pacific Islander bond. Comparing that to Europe is a total false equivalency.

Again, if this hypothetical club was developing a pathway for players coming from Tonga they would definitely have an emotional bond to it.

Just look at how revered the All Blacks are for Pacific Islanders in Union. It represents a chance for them to create a better life for themselves and their families.

New Zealand and the Pacific Islands have a big enough population to support two teams. Plus the more opportunities for these kids to chase a career in league, the more the popularity over there will grow.

New Zealand and the Pacific Islands are also the biggest growth region in the sport when it comes to players.

 

[Perth Red]

Dont the warriors already have pathway for players out of the islands? Again you would be eating into the Warriors not creating new fans or players. Would a Tongan choose a PI somethings over the NZ warriors? Would a fan who isnt currently supporting the Warriors or another NRL club? Might make sense if it was a Tongan NRL club playing mostly in Auckland and a few games in Tonga/Hawaii but would their be enough financial support for such a club? It wouldn't come from Tonga so would need to come from NZ or further afield like USA where there is strong links. Its not the worse idea Ive heard but I dot think a generic PI club would be all that exciting for the island nations who have such strong individual identities, thats what makes the Samoa v Tonga clashes something special.

PS there is no way in the world the ARLC is expanding with any other club in NZ anytime in next two decades so this a very hypothetical debate lol

 

[Rabbitoad]

Dont the warriors already have pathway for players out of the islands? Again you would be eating into the Warriors not creating new fans or players. Would a Tongan choose a PI somethings over the NZ warriors? Would a fan who isnt currently supporting the Warriors or another NRL club? Might make sense if it was a Tongan NRL club playing mostly in Auckland and a few games in Tonga/Hawaii but would their be enough financial support for such a club? It wouldn't come from Tonga so would need to come from NZ or further afield like USA where there is strong links. Its not the worse idea Ive heard but I dot think a generic PI club would be all that exciting for the island nations who have such strong individual identities, thats what makes the Samoa v Tonga clashes something special.

PS there is no way in the world the ARLC is expanding with any other club in NZ anytime in next two decades so this a very hypothetical debate lol

Well I disagree with that last part. It's the highest growth area for players in the sport right now, they'd be mad not to try to nurture that region.

Again, Pacific Islanders have a strong bond mate.

The more pathways you have for NZ/PI kids to play professionsl rugby league, the more it will grow interest in the region.

The Warriors might have some development there now, but there's still a finite amount of positions available.

You only have to look at how many kids jumped from Union to league when the Under 20s avenue became available for them to know that it wouldn't cannibalise the Warriors. It'd draw in new players and fans.

 

[greenBV4]

Playing out of Auckland wouldnt it just be another Auckland team with "Pacific Islands" slapped onto it? Auckland doesn't need another NRL team

I don't think the PI players need a loosely affiliated team based in a city that already has a club to be able to make it to the NRL, as mentioned the Warriors already have pathways options and most of the other 15 clubs all would have scouts through the islands, recruiting from both rugby codes.

Im not against a PI team, it could work (preferably not based out of Auckland - where else though?) but I think the NRL need a Perth team, 2nd Brisbane team, 2nd NZ team (wellington or Christchurch or both) and maybe an Adelaide team first

 

[MrE_Assassin]

I don't think the PI players need a loosely affiliated team based in a city that already has a club to be able to make it to the NRL, as mentioned the Warriors already have pathways options and most of the other 15 clubs all would have scouts through the islands, recruiting from both rugby codes.

Agreed! Majority of the Pacific Islands still manage themselves (loosely) on tribal lines and have a hard enough time having inter-tribal relationships work or not become corrupt. The Pac Is team might work for a rep match, maybe like an Indigenous Vs NZ Maori Vs Pac Is (a team created much like the 'World All-stars' with members from PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) Tri-series, but not as an NRL team.

It also falls into the same issue of Steve 'Blocker' Roach's idea of a mobile NSW Country team...... Where does it base itself? I know it was suggested that it be based out of Auckland but you're not really spreading the profile of the game if you're basing a Pac Is team out of NZ just to pander to the population of Expats there. Those living in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, etc probably wouldn't identify with it if they rarely get to see it... if ever.

 

[juro]

I don't get the argument that you need a team in an area to have a pathway for players from that area. Not all players for the Warriors come from NZ, just like not all Eels players come from Parramatta. If Tongan players want to play, they have 16 teams to approach.

If they brought a PNG team into the NRL, and they only picked local players, they would not be competitive. This is not the answer.

 

[jim_57]

I don't get the argument that you need a team in an area to have a pathway for players from that area. Not all players for the Warriors come from NZ, just like not all Eels players come from Parramatta. If Tongan players want to play, they have 16 teams to approach.

If they brought a PNG team into the NRL, and they only picked local players, they would not be competitive. This is not the answer.

"Pathways" is definitely more of a junior and semi-pro level thing. An NRL team is the end of the "path".

For Pacific Islands pathways would be more along the lines of getting partnerships with semi-pro clubs and NRL juniors to get the best locals and youngsters recognized and giving every player a clear way to be identified by NRL clubs if they have the talent.

 

[Perth Red]

I don't get the argument that you need a team in an area to have a pathway for players from that area. Not all players for the Warriors come from NZ, just like not all Eels players come from Parramatta. If Tongan players want to play, they have 16 teams to approach.

If they brought a PNG team into the NRL, and they only picked local players, they would not be competitive. This is not the answer.

In theory, but in reality very few players make it to the NRL unless they are in systems directly linked to the NRL club. In 5 years of having a SG Ball side we have only seen 2 players make it into an NRL side from WA, Curtis Rona and Waqa Blake. That is partly to do with the WA SG ball kids not being in a NRL club system that progresses them after SG Ball.

 

[Tigers1986]

Any truth to the rumour that WA would start to play Flegg and/or ISP? Sure I read about it on the Fijian expansion side somewhere.

 

[Perth Red]

Any truth to the rumour that WA would start to play Flegg and/or ISP? Sure I read about it on the Fijian expansion side somewhere.

We have a plan! Not quite as ambitious as the WARL old 2020 plan which had us a WARL HQ, league club and NRL team by 2020 but still.

NRL WA 2020 Pathways Vision
· 2018 – Maintain Cash Converters West Coast Pirates involvement in Current NSW RL SG Ball Under 18’s Competition

· 2019 – NRL WA to introduce High Performance Pathway role to support all development programs

· 2019 – Proposed entry into NSW RL Under 20’s Competition

· 2020 – 2022 – Proposed entry into NSW Intrust Super Premiership.

**Please note that NRL WA will be aiming to align Female programs similar the above objectives

https://nrlwa.com.au/pirates-we-are-wa-vision/

WARL old plan
By 2020, WARL has community participation at every level equivalent to the leading AFL team brand with: • Participation of 10,000 senior and junior players; • An SG Ball Premiership team; • The capacity and support to host a State of Origin or a National Team representative match in WA; • Our own competitive State of Origin team; • A successful, profitable self-sustaining competitive community integrated NRL team with secured funding of $300 million dollars to establish a purpose built training facility and Licensed Premises and Clubrooms; and, • Developed self sustainable regional hubs in the North West, Mid West and South West.

https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2012/06/WARL-2020-Vision-Strategic-Plan.pdf

 

[titoelcolombiano]

We have a plan! Not quite as ambitious as the WARL old 2020 plan which had us a WARL HQ, league club and NRL team by 2020 but still.

NRL WA 2020 Pathways Vision
· 2018 – Maintain Cash Converters West Coast Pirates involvement in Current NSW RL SG Ball Under 18’s Competition

· 2019 – NRL WA to introduce High Performance Pathway role to support all development programs

· 2019 – Proposed entry into NSW RL Under 20’s Competition

· 2020 – 2022 – Proposed entry into NSW Intrust Super Premiership.

**Please note that NRL WA will be aiming to align Female programs similar the above objectives

https://nrlwa.com.au/pirates-we-are-wa-vision/

WARL old plan
By 2020, WARL has community participation at every level equivalent to the leading AFL team brand with: • Participation of 10,000 senior and junior players; • An SG Ball Premiership team; • The capacity and support to host a State of Origin or a National Team representative match in WA; • Our own competitive State of Origin team; • A successful, profitable self-sustaining competitive community integrated NRL team with secured funding of $300 million dollars to establish a purpose built training facility and Licensed Premises and Clubrooms; and, • Developed self sustainable regional hubs in the North West, Mid West and South West.

https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2012/06/WARL-2020-Vision-Strategic-Plan.pdf

Considering that the new TV deal starts in 2023 and Beattie's comments about new NRL clubs being promoted from the second teir, you would have to summise that this bodes well for a WA Pirates entry in 2023.