What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

NRL2 Second Division

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,168
So its clear there will unlikely ever be enough places for everywhere that would like an NRL club.
So what could a genuine ft professional second division look like? Instead of throwing another $60mill a year at the current clubs start with a 10 team comp funded with each team receiving a grant of around $6mil a year and salary cap of $5mill a year (still more than SL) plus $2mill football cap. we could have a vibrant second tier comp drawing 5-10k fans to games.
Of course the issue of reserve grade for NRL1 would need sorting and the fight with NSWRL and QRL re their comps currently being second tier but we can but dream!
All of these clubs would have a 10k min stadium available and could be a development ground for future NRL1 promotion or just as vibrant professional RL clubs that give local players another career pathway as well as ageing NRL1 players somewhere to go other than SL at end of career to keep earning some coin.
Sell the rights to a streaming service for 3 games a week plus game of the week on ABC nationally. For an investment of around $100mill a year the ARLC could have a second FT RL competition across Australia and NZ! These clubs wouldn't really be competing with exiting NRL1 clubs for fans or sponsors.

NRL2
West Coast Pirates
PNG Hunters
CC or NS Bears
Brisbane Tigers
Ipswich Jets
CQ Capras
SC Falcons
Adelaide Rams
Christchurch Orcas
Wellington Keas
 

MrE_Assassin

Juniors
Messages
441
So its clear there will unlikely ever be enough places for everywhere that would like an NRL club.
So what could a genuine ft professional second division look like? Instead of throwing another $60mill a year at the current clubs start with a 10 team comp funded with each team receiving a grant of around $6mil a year and salary cap of $5mill a year (still more than SL) plus $2mill football cap. we could have a vibrant second tier comp drawing 5-10k fans to games.
Of course the issue of reserve grade for NRL1 would need sorting and the fight with NSWRL and QRL re their comps currently being second tier but we can but dream!
All of these clubs would have a 10k min stadium available and could be a development ground for future NRL1 promotion or just as vibrant professional RL clubs that give local players another career pathway as well as ageing NRL1 players somewhere to go other than SL at end of career to keep earning some coin.
Sell the rights to a streaming service for 3 games a week plus game of the week on ABC nationally. For an investment of around $100mill a year the ARLC could have a second FT RL competition across Australia and NZ! These clubs wouldn't really be competing with exiting NRL1 clubs for fans or sponsors.

NRL2
West Coast Pirates
PNG Hunters
CC or NS Bears
Brisbane Tigers
Ipswich Jets
CQ Capras
SC Falcons
Adelaide Rams
Christchurch Orcas
Wellington Keas
As much as I’d hate to say it, some of the underperforming Sydney teams would need to be in there and some of those expansion should be in the NRL to make it an National League…. Otherwise you’re just creating SL 2.0.
 

flippikat

Bench
Messages
4,365
So its clear there will unlikely ever be enough places for everywhere that would like an NRL club.
So what could a genuine ft professional second division look like? Instead of throwing another $60mill a year at the current clubs start with a 10 team comp funded with each team receiving a grant of around $6mil a year and salary cap of $5mill a year (still more than SL) plus $2mill football cap. we could have a vibrant second tier comp drawing 5-10k fans to games.
Of course the issue of reserve grade for NRL1 would need sorting and the fight with NSWRL and QRL re their comps currently being second tier but we can but dream!
All of these clubs would have a 10k min stadium available and could be a development ground for future NRL1 promotion or just as vibrant professional RL clubs that give local players another career pathway as well as ageing NRL1 players somewhere to go other than SL at end of career to keep earning some coin.
Sell the rights to a streaming service for 3 games a week plus game of the week on ABC nationally. For an investment of around $100mill a year the ARLC could have a second FT RL competition across Australia and NZ! These clubs wouldn't really be competing with exiting NRL1 clubs for fans or sponsors.

NRL2
West Coast Pirates
PNG Hunters
CC or NS Bears
Brisbane Tigers
Ipswich Jets
CQ Capras
SC Falcons
Adelaide Rams
Christchurch Orcas
Wellington Keas
Err.. Wellington Orcas & Christchurch Keas.

I'd also add Cairns & Hamilton NZ (maybe with a game or two in Rotorua) for a 12 team, everyone plays everyone home & away for 22 rounds competition.
 
Messages
12,192
As much as I’d hate to say it, some of the underperforming Sydney teams would need to be in there and some of those expansion should be in the NRL to make it an National League…. Otherwise you’re just creating SL 2.0.
Cronulla, St George and Wests should be dropped back to NRL2. Build the South Sydney Rabbitohs as the main team for all of Southern Sydney.
 

Diesel

Coach
Messages
19,812
It’s probably 25-30 years too late but dropping 3 underperforming Sydney clubs to NRL2 and replacing those three clubs with one Sydney super club would open another 2 spots into the NRL, therefore you could have Brisbane 3, WA and NZ2 without going above 18 clubs
 

Diesel

Coach
Messages
19,812
I get the QRL’s issue with the National RG. Regardless of the outcome , there will be short term pain for the greater good
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,168
It’s probably 25-30 years too late but dropping 3 underperforming Sydney clubs to NRL2 and replacing those three clubs with one Sydney super club would open another 2 spots into the NRL, therefore you could have Brisbane 3, WA and NZ2 without going above 18 clubs
Never going to happen, we are well passed Sydney rationalisation as an option to free up licenses, hence the need for another alternative. A second division of FT RL players.
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
5,858
Err.. Wellington Orcas & Christchurch Keas.

I'd also add Cairns & Hamilton NZ (maybe with a game or two in Rotorua) for a 12 team, everyone plays everyone home & away for 22 rounds competition.

So its clear there will unlikely ever be enough places for everywhere that would like an NRL club.
So what could a genuine ft professional second division look like? Instead of throwing another $60mill a year at the current clubs start with a 10 team comp funded with each team receiving a grant of around $6mil a year and salary cap of $5mill a year (still more than SL) plus $2mill football cap. we could have a vibrant second tier comp drawing 5-10k fans to games.
Of course the issue of reserve grade for NRL1 would need sorting and the fight with NSWRL and QRL re their comps currently being second tier but we can but dream!
All of these clubs would have a 10k min stadium available and could be a development ground for future NRL1 promotion or just as vibrant professional RL clubs that give local players another career pathway as well as ageing NRL1 players somewhere to go other than SL at end of career to keep earning some coin.
Sell the rights to a streaming service for 3 games a week plus game of the week on ABC nationally. For an investment of around $100mill a year the ARLC could have a second FT RL competition across Australia and NZ! These clubs wouldn't really be competing with exiting NRL1 clubs for fans or sponsors.

NRL2
West Coast Pirates
PNG Hunters
CC or NS Bears
Brisbane Tigers
Ipswich Jets
CQ Capras
SC Falcons
Adelaide Rams
Christchurch Orcas
Wellington Keas

NSW & qld cup work because teams are long standing. Adelaide & Perth would be money pits
 

Stinkfinger

Juniors
Messages
592
So its clear there will unlikely ever be enough places for everywhere that would like an NRL club.
So what could a genuine ft professional second division look like? Instead of throwing another $60mill a year at the current clubs start with a 10 team comp funded with each team receiving a grant of around $6mil a year and salary cap of $5mill a year (still more than SL) plus $2mill football cap. we could have a vibrant second tier comp drawing 5-10k fans to games.
Of course the issue of reserve grade for NRL1 would need sorting and the fight with NSWRL and QRL re their comps currently being second tier but we can but dream!
All of these clubs would have a 10k min stadium available and could be a development ground for future NRL1 promotion or just as vibrant professional RL clubs that give local players another career pathway as well as ageing NRL1 players somewhere to go other than SL at end of career to keep earning some coin.
Sell the rights to a streaming service for 3 games a week plus game of the week on ABC nationally. For an investment of around $100mill a year the ARLC could have a second FT RL competition across Australia and NZ! These clubs wouldn't really be competing with exiting NRL1 clubs for fans or sponsors.

NRL2
West Coast Pirates
PNG Hunters
CC or NS Bears
Brisbane Tigers
Ipswich Jets
CQ Capras
SC Falcons
Adelaide Rams
Christchurch Orcas
Wellington Keas
Needs more than one NSW team or it won't get bums on seats. And it would need a lot of those just to pay the airfares.

And you haven't indicated where this $60m is coming from, the most important detail I'd suggest.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,168
Needs more than one NSW team or it won't get bums on seats. And it would need a lot of those just to pay the airfares.

And you haven't indicated where this $60m is coming from, the most important detail I'd suggest.
Why would it make any difference? I'm no more interested in a nsw club than from anywhere else when my team plays them. NSW clubs in NRL1 dont have more bums on seats than from other states so no difference there either. The idea is not to compete with NRL1 and as all the main areas of NSW are covered by NRL1 teams no point putting NRL2 clubs there.

Money comes from not continually putting up NRL1 grants and increasing revenue.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,652
Why would it make any difference? I'm no more interested in a nsw club than from anywhere else when my team plays them. NSW clubs in NRL1 dont have more bums on seats than from other states so no difference there either. The idea is not to compete with NRL1 and as all the main areas of NSW are covered by NRL1 teams no point putting NRL2 clubs there.

Money comes from not continually putting up NRL1 grants and increasing revenue.
Put country teams in there, Western Rams, Toowoomba Clydesdales, that can represent those 2 states, then fill the comp with perth, Adelaide, fiji, png ..etc, that would even the areas unrepresented around Australia, instead of just areas/states that "aren't in NRL" besides country teams would be in the same boat in regards to funding as the all the places mentioned in this thread
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,168
Put country teams in there, Western Rams, Toowoomba Clydesdales, that can represent those 2 states, then fill the comp with perth, Adelaide, fiji, png ..etc, that would even the areas unrepresented around Australia, instead of just areas/states that "aren't in NRL" besides country teams would be in the same boat in regards to funding as the all the places mentioned in this thread
We do keep hearing that the game is dying in regional Australia so that might be a way to help revive it? Needs some city teams thought to help attract sponsors.

Maybe with a more regional focus

CC Bears
Western Rams (Bathurst etc)
CQ Capras
CC Falcons
Cairns Cyclones
Ipswich Jets
Toowomba Clydesdales
Geelong Thunder
PNG Hunters
Fiji Silktails
Wellington Orcas
Christchurch Keas
WC Pirates
Adelaide Aces
 

Stinkfinger

Juniors
Messages
592
Money comes from not continually putting up NRL1 grants and increasing revenue.
Can they get $60m from broadcasters for it? Those are the bums on seats of which I speak. It's a nice vision but lots of hurdles to overcome. There was a second division when I was a kid. There was some interest but not a lot, and it was Sydney only so they didn't have to fly teams all around Aus/NZ on a weekly basis. The cost of flights would be a killer.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
65,168
Can they get $60m from broadcasters for it? Those are the bums on seats of which I speak. It's a nice vision but lots of hurdles to overcome. There was a second division when I was a kid. There was some interest but not a lot, and it was Sydney only so they didn't have to fly teams all around Aus/NZ on a weekly basis. The cost of flights would be a killer.
Probably not that shouldn't be a deal breaker. Part of the ARLC's remit is to grow the game, not just make money. There is currently a $200mill revenue gap between NRL and AFL, close that gap and use the money to grow the game. And what better way to do it than a new 12 team professional second division across Australia and the pacific that brings a decent level of RL to currently unexposed markets? It also gives a development pathway for officials as well as players opportunities and chance for clubs to develop prior to moving up to NRL1 when the game is ready to expand the top.

All up it'd cost around $85mill with $5mill grants and then running costs for the comp inc travel. Pre covid game was making a decent surplus already.
 

Diesel

Coach
Messages
19,812
So it doesn’t compete with NRL, when would the 2nd division be played? Monday to Thursday or the same times as QLD/NSW cups
 

Latest posts

Top