The NFL is owned by its teams, why would it not work here??
Providing all teams are given an equal voting right, then we would certainly see things go the right way. Brisbane would not have any power to stop another SEQLD team, as they would be outnumbered at the table.
Sydney teams could not save each other from relocation, as the interstate teams are now equal to the amount of sydney-based clubs, and as such only a single vote would be required to force such decisions.
After a decade or so the teams would naturally spread out across the country until the balance of power for each faction (QLD, Sydney, Vic/SA/WA, NZ) would be equal.
It would all be driven by the clubs chasing the TV dollar. We all know that to gain $1 billion deals you need a true national presence. I really doubt too many sydney clubs would fight for the sharks to stay in cronulla if pushing them to perth or Adelaide would net them a few million bucks in their pockets.
Bravo. Thankyou, Danish.
Apart from the ethical implications, good old aussie rightfulness, and relief, the tactical advantages achieved by this up-coming overhaul are enormous.
And I believe it will be a part of an overhaul. This whole clubs owning the nrl thing is great, and its the exact direction that nearly everyone theorises, and phrophecies, and gut-level-feeling-knows that will enable rugby league to take off here like never before.
lets hope its the path they take.
In the SMH article (i have not recently, and will not again read RLW) Gallop said "The equity in the NRL would be an asset added to each club's balance sheet."
Money is exactly what we need. With money you can increase your operations and have a truly influencial reach. Stadium, juniors, memberships, community involvement on greater scales. Broke sydney clubs have no chance to do anything.
In regards to sydney teams, this is perhaps another nail in their coffin. They are like cane toads....you can kick them a few times really hard, but after a while they suck up their guts, forgive a broken leg, and hop away....except you actually want to send the buggers back to hawaii, or in this case, hell. Forgive the language, but the eventual even-spread of the competion from east coast to west coast (though the majority of teams will be east coast) is inevitable and highly lucratice thus allowing leagues influence to soar to great heights and make it the number one sport....but everyone is clammering away from the edge, as there can be only 12-14 of the current teams to 'make it'.
Hopefully there will be more details this season of a new structure. At the heart of any successful system would need to be a dash of interdependency. The NFL system sounds very workable. After all, the broncos are based on nfl clubs, and they command the greatest amount of power of any Australian football club (any code).
I came on here once suggesting things like the above, and every person thought i was trying to make the nrl american football, and got upset about franchises and cutting teams....but the reality is people "do you want a powerful competition that can influence a nation and make league the number one sport for the current generation and all future generations....or do you want to die a slow death and wither away before too long, and have people laugh about how you could have done things differently and then watch everyone play other sports (smudge all that up because it would be a complex and dark mess you dont want to live through)....
my vote is to let league live. and prosper.
