Nrl plans for a 20 team comp

[Perth Red]

Looking over the horizon, I see that Souths has announced that they'll be taking a game each year to Perth in 2025 & 2026 - which has been picked up as another hint that Perth (Western Bears) may debut in 2027.

With that in mind - if Souths are keen to keep playing a "home away from home" game each year, maybe they should be talking to the powers-that-be in Adelaide?

It strikes me as a cool pivot for Souths to go from "helping to keep the flame alive" in one AFL city to doing it in another - South Sydney in South Australia has a cool ring to it too... and you never know, could be useful groundwork for an eventual expansion team there - as part of the NEXT expansion phase (teams 21 & 22).

Souths are only bringing games as wa govt is paying them to do so. Unless the SA govt stumps up cash they won’t get games.

 

[flippikat]

Souths are only bringing games as wa govt is paying them to do so. Unless the SA govt stumps up cash they won’t get games.

Fair point - so they just need to make an enquiry with the SA powers-that-be, and see if they're willing to stump up.

 

[jim_57]

Fair point, and if many of the clubs had a consistant secondary market for one game a year, it'd be a great way to get the game out to places that don't currently have a team of their own - including some who might be gearing up towards an expansion bid.

Personally I’d like to see a regular season game in larger potential expansion markets like Christchurch, Adelaide, Wellington, Sunshine Coast & Fiji every year if possible. Until they get their own team of course and assuming they’re willing to pitch in.

Not to mention regional cities for regular season game or trials.

 

[jim_57]

Fair point - so they just need to make an enquiry with the SA powers-that-be, and see if they're willing to stump up.

SA have paid up for Origin previously so you’d think there should be some interest in other NRL events in years they can’t get Origin. A Double header at Adelaide Oval in particular should be somewhat appealing given its success in Perth.

 

[İzmir Zaferi]

SA have paid up for Origin previously so you’d think there should be some interest in other NRL events in years they can’t get Origin. A Double header at Adelaide Oval in particular should be somewhat appealing given its success in Perth.

I think the NRL needs to lean on Sharks to become a dual city / region club. Southern Sharks would allow them to start to branch out both in Sydney and in South Australia.

If the NRL gave an additional grant of say 1 million this would open the door to additional funding both government and corporate, and additional supporter base merchandising from SA fan base for the Sharks.

Even if the crowds in Adelaide were only ten thousand, this would be an ADDITIONAL ten thousand Sharks fans who would be buying additional merchandise. The broader casual supporter base would also be good for corporate sponsorship.

Given that TV coverage would also happen at times when home games would be away from one supporter base or the other, it could encourage higher TV ratings. For instance, the NRL could do a deal to show all Southern Sharks games on FTA when away from Adelaide.

They would only need to transfer 4 - 5 games. As with the Bears team, a Sydney based season ticket could be created so Sharks fans could see ALL Sydney based games, not just those at Shark park. (ps. There should be a Sydney season ticket created for all Sydney clubs)

 

[Perth Red]

I think the NRL needs to lean on Sharks to become a dual city / region club. Southern Sharks would allow them to start to branch out both in Sydney and in South Australia.

If the NRL gave an additional grant of say 1 million this would open the door to additional funding both government and corporate, and additional supporter base merchandising from SA fan base for the Sharks.

Even if the crowds in Adelaide were only ten thousand, this would be an ADDITIONAL ten thousand Sharks fans who would be buying additional merchandise. The broader casual supporter base would also be good for corporate sponsorship.

Given that TV coverage would also happen at times when home games would be away from one supporter base or the other, it could encourage higher TV ratings. For instance, the NRL could do a deal to show all Southern Sharks games on FTA when away from Adelaide.

They would only need to transfer 4 - 5 games. As with the Bears team, a Sydney based season ticket could be created so Sharks fans could see ALL Sydney based games, not just those at Shark park. (ps. There should be a Sydney season ticket created for all Sydney clubs)

For that youd need a proactive NRL, and we still havent got that. Lets be honest WA has only become viable in the NRLs eyes due to WA govt knocking their door down, and even then they forced the Bears partnership to give them comfort.

Ideally you'd have a pro active NRL negotiating with SA govt for upgrades to the stadium and jnr funding then make an offer too good to refuse for one of the smaller Sydney clubs to move 4-5 games a year there. Problem is now they have become so generous with the NRL grants no Sydney club actually needs to. That leaves the NRL proactively deciding to put a club there one day and working with the Govt to make that a reality, which again NRL has no vision or desire it seems to do. Or maybe the SA Govt isnt interested?

 

[flippikat]

They would only need to transfer 4 - 5 games. As with the Bears team, a Sydney based season ticket could be created so Sharks fans could see ALL Sydney based games, not just those at Shark park. (ps. There should be a Sydney season ticket created for all Sydney clubs)

The "Sydney Season Ticket" idea is certainly something that the NRL & Sydney clubs should look to develop.