Well if platinum league looks like this, i think it will all be ok..
1. Wyong Roos /Central Coast (ROOSTERS)
2. Penrith Panthers (PENRITH)
3. NZ Warriors (NZ)
4 . Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (DOGS)
5. Manly Sea Eagles (MANLY)
6. Newcastle Knights (NEWCASTLE)
7. North Sydney Bears (SOUTHS)
8. Newtown Jets (SHARKS)
9 .Illawarra Cutters (STGEO)
10. Wests Tigers (WT)
11. Wentworthville Magpies (PARRA)
12 .Riverena / ACT (RAIDERS)
13. Albury (STORM)
14, Orange / Western (RAIDERS)
15. North Coast (TITANS)
16. Tamworth / Armidale (NEWCASTLE)
SORRY MOUNTIES ITS BEEN FUN, STICK TO POKIES
I just dont understand why independent brands would be such a tragedy...
Rather than just having a second, much shittier verison of a team you like, why not give these Platnum League teams a chance to establish their own identity as a community based, amateur/semiprofessional league of suburban teams.
Thats exactly what everyone asks for when they say the NRL has become too corporate/the players dont have real jobs/they play in the big central stadiums.
You are dilusional if you think the NRL will ever go back to that 1970s idealistic vision, but this League could do that easily and to great effect.
I think the other issue is that they plan for the U1 U18 U20 and NSW Cup to have same non NRL Brand
Sounds god on paper, but in practice, take Newcastle for example,
Do you let the mega rich wests newcastle team have a team in the platinum league, and get to use all their a grade facilities , or do you set up a brand new franchise like illawarra cutters, and have it based out a tin shed, with no history, no brand etc
Looks like a working group meeting occured last week
Statement from the Newtown RLFC Board of Directors
Season 2016 Dec 21, 2015
Newtown Jets wish to continue their rivalry with fellow foundation club North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup for many years to come.
Newtown RLFC Director Terry Rowney and General Manager Stuart McCarthy attended the NSWRL pathways working group meeting held at Homebush with Mr Shane Richardson (NRL Head of Strategy) on Thursday, 17th December 2015.
Arising from the proceedings of that meeting, the Newtown RLFC welcomes an increased focus on pathways at junior and senior level, particularly the proposed commitment to Centres of Excellence in country areas. However, we confirm our opposition to the specific Platinum League structure proposed by Mr Richardson.
We acknowledge the proposal is still a work in progress and that nothing has been agreed upon with the Australian Rugby League Commission. The consultative process regarding the current NSW Cup competition is ongoing, with input from the NSWRL, the NSW Cup clubs and the Country Rugby League. We welcome the opportunity to be a part of that process.
The Newtown RLFC agrees with the North Sydney club?s assertion that the NSWRL has an primary role to play in the composition of any future second-tier competition
To that end, we welcome the NSWRL?s recent comments that ?Mr Richardson has indicated that the second-tier competition is to remain a state-based NSW competition in the future, and that he also indicated that the future participants and any possible expansion of this competition would be decided by the NSWRL.?
The Newtown RLFC also notes the staunch advocacy taken last Thursday?s by the CEO of the NSWRL, Mr David Trodden, in protecting the interests of the current NSW Cup clubs and the integrity of the NSW Cup competition.
We also thank those other NSW Cup clubs who openly acknowledged at Thursday?s meeting the important role played by the Newtown and North Sydney clubs, and their right to remain as participants in the any second-tier competition.
Cutters are backed by West Illawarra or someone similar. The only reason they arent the Steelers was because that Steelers Club stopped backing them....
Yes, i would say give the licence to a strong Leagues Club (maybe even the ones that are currently backing the NRL clubs, to get them away from First Grade).
No, they were named the Cutters because St George didn't want the Steelers name to be associated with the side.
The NSW Cup could be expanded to 16 teams (the 12 existing, plus regional centres). Add 20's, 18's and 16's to the mix and you'll have tremendous growth flowing through to the NRL level, plus a great spread for those who don't make the grade of firsts.
I agree, NZ has nothing to do with the NSWRL, let the NZRL develop their own players.
No, they were named the Cutters because St George didn't want the Steelers name to be associated with the side.
The NSW Cup could be expanded to 16 teams (the 12 existing, plus regional centres). Add 20's, 18's and 16's to the mix and you'll have tremendous growth flowing through to the NRL level, plus a great spread for those who don't make the grade of firsts.
As long as the NZRL put their hands in their pockets I'm fine with it.