NZ - The Forgotten Frontier?

[Usain Bolt]

the people who run the NZRL are full of fail. Didn't even have a parade when the Kiwis won the World Cup and playing numbers have dropped to 16,000 and they were basically bankrupt and got bailed out from SPARC

 

[Smithtown]

the only problem i can see would be around the stadium.... you can only have a certain amount of games played at certain times at the caketin. the Phoenix & Hurricanes/All Blacks/Lions take up all the slots at present.

so they would have to get resource consent to play there... but with our new govt stripping those laws right down it may not be a big hurdle anymore...

It's a great ground the Caketin - arguably the best in NZ.

All those teams though don't play at once do they Shiznit? I think the Lions start once the Hurricanes finish, and as summer is a soccer sport the Phoenix don't really become an obstacle. And the All Blacks would only play there once or twice maybe per season.

I couldn't see that an added RL team would give it that much more traffic than the SFS.

Agree with Goddo as well - one expansion and one heartland team. The CC Bears are the feel good story and would be correcting a massive wrong - the general support would be huge.

That would then leave Wellington facing the opposition of Perth for an expansion team. Taking parochialism out of it, you'de have to decide which one was more important for the future of the code as a whole. Pretty easy decision in the end.

 

[taste2taste]

I was pretty disappointed the NRL didnt expand into Wellington last time.

League could have made enormous inroads on union in the last few years.

If we dont expand into Wellington in 2012 it will only be because our current lilly livered administration bows in to local pressure from the outspoken locals who want a team on the central coast.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

That Waikato prop is so out of the front rowers club. Scoring a try is a cardinal sin!

 

[Lockyer4President!]

I was pretty disappointed the NRL didnt expand into Wellington last time.

League could have made enormous inroads on union in the last few years.

If we dont expand into Wellington in 2012 it will only be because our current lilly livered administration bows in to local pressure from the outspoken locals who want a team on the central coast.

The CC Bears have a pretty decent club already assembled. The juniors are there, the stadium is there, the support is there, the demographics are there and they've already got a $1m/yr sponsorship deal. They're doing what the Gold Coast Titans did, making it impossible for the NRL to ignore them.

If Wellington wants a team they need to beat out the WA Reds or a 4th QLD team. Both of which have more people and more money behind them.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see Wellington in the comp but expecting the NRL to 'do the right thing' is what the CC did last time, look where it got them.

 

[fourplay]

I don't want the NRL to expand into Wellington if it means playing on an atmosphereless circular ground.

 

[RedVee]

Why is Wellington the pea for a next NZ team? Would Christchurch (or somewhere else) work?

 

[Smithtown]

Wellington historically has had more RL influence than Canterbury. You could say that generally the North Island is more receptive to League than the South Island. Plus it is the countrys Capitol.

As for the caketin, whilst it is round in shape it's reasonably small, with the dead ball line corners very close to the fence, and the stands are at a very good incline ie it's a good viewing ground. It's not the same as playing at a big cricket ground like the MCG or WACA

The website gives a reasonable feel for it:

http://www.westpacstadium.co.nz/

 

[Lockyer4President!]

I don't want the NRL to expand into Wellington if it means playing on an atmosphereless circular ground.

It's not that bad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Westpac_Stadium_Crowd.jpg

 

[Te Kaha]

The biggest obstacles, if you dont include the money available are the lack of any practice grounds in the city... the only decent one, ironically Rugby League Park, has been taken over by the Hurricanes and the other BIGGER problem is they cant play ANY night games...
When the stadium was built, the agreement with the locals was that only a certain number of times a year can the lights be on... The NZRU/WRU have most of them, the NZC has a certain number, two are set aside for concerts and the rest have now gone to the Phoenix. With it getting dark midwinter in Wellington around 3-4 oclock, then games will have to be FINISHED by 2PM Sydney time... which broadcaster would want that? And that doesnt take into account the crowds who are tradditional MUCH better on Friday night games.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Other then a shortage of playing talent. Why cant we expand 4 teams in 2013? Perth, Wellington, Central Coast and QLD4. An extra 2 games a week and giving the TV channels what they claim to be important, a fresh market share.

 

[Lego_Man]

More teams is better whichever way you slice it, but only if they have sustainable supporter and sponsorship bases.

The demand for players to fill the new slots will go up, meaning we can hold onto every last drop of talent that crops up. We will also be able to leach more players away from Union at an earlier age, and more money will flow into the code from TV money etc. It will be a positive spiral.

 

[Goddo]

Simple. Money. It doesn't look good if we introduce 4 new teams and in 3 years time 2 teams have failed, possibly in Sydney.

We need sustainable growth. We need to go to 18 teams, and be sure there those tams will still be there in 10 years.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Other then a shortage of playing talent. Why cant we expand 4 teams in 2013? Perth, Wellington, Central Coast and QLD4. An extra 2 games a week and giving the TV channels what they claim to be important, a fresh market share.

Yes four new teams BUT not all at once.
Thankfully our next TV deal should be a massive improvement from the last one (unless Gallop f*cks it up again but he is, and will be, getting LOTS of pressure not to screw it up)

Two new teams should be announced within the next year for inclusion in 2012 or preferably 2013: Central Coast and Perth

AND

And at the end of 2013, the NRL will decide that two more teams will be introduced in 2016. By that time the NRL will be siginifcantly stronger than it is now.
The two new teams should be in Queensland and New Zealand

By 2016 we will have 20 teams, perceived by the media and general public to have the best sporting comp in Australia, and have even more areas clamoring to enter the NRL (Adelaide, more QLD, PNG)

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I can truely see the game, under and independant commission, getting a better TV deal so that the NRL club grant totally covers the salary cap (as high as possible).

If we can sell the game properly to TV stations, Sky's TV deal in NZ could cover both Auckland and Wellington.
The Central Coast and Qld 4 are virtually guarenteed to be successful and self sustaining (apart from the NRL grant), so the TV company that wins our rights would know that games involving these teams are going to get good ratings in comparison to normal NRL ratings.
So only Perth is the one who could possibly need propping up from the NRL if needed.
Im sure there is a reason why that would work out like that, but its not an unattainable goal. Well, it is for our leaders anyway.

 

[weasel]

Just relegate Cronulla to the NSW league and we'll have three spots available- Perth, Wellington, Central Coast. Too easy.

 

[bobmar28]

The next franchse should go to Wellington, as well as a QLD team.

 

[Goddo]

Just relegate Cronulla to the NSW league and we'll have three spots available- Perth, Wellington, Central Coast. Too easy.

I agree, but if Cronulla were booted, they should then be given the oportunity in the future to get back into the NRL if they relocate or get a good francise bid together. Thats how it should work... getting kicked out of the NRL shouldn't be the death of a club, rather a relegation until they can sort themselves out like the Bears are doing now.

 

[Goddo]

The next franchse should go to Wellington, as well as a QLD team.

Where in QLD? Nowhere is really ready for a team. Sunshine Coast isn't big enough yet, Central QLD is even less ready.

Brisbane is a one team town, so Logan Ipswich is only option, but they have no infrastructure at all, and establishing sponsorships may be hard.

QLD isn't really ready, and the Titans deserve a bit longer to establish themselves. It should be reserved as relocation options for Sydney teams or new teams in the longer term future.

 

[Dogs Of War]

With it getting dark midwinter in Wellington around 3-4 oclock, then games will have to be FINISHED by 2PM Sydney time... which broadcaster would want that? And that doesnt take into account the crowds who are tradditional MUCH better on Friday night games.

But League could schedule the Warriors and a new NZ team to play home games each Sunday at 2pm in NZ (Midday in Australia), which is a good thing. NRL then has a time in NZ which it is always on featuring a NZ team. While the other NZ team is travelling and playing in another timeslot. I don't think it's such a bad situation, and playing during the day also makes the game more family friendly, which is something I am sure League needs in NZ.