Apart from their fans, would anyone care if the Eels were cut?
or insert name of any other team
Absolutely. A whole bunch of people would hate to see Parra go.
We're a club with a history in the glorious 80s.
We're in the centre of Sydney.
We have a bunch of Western Sydney rivals.
We have a big fan base.
Plenty of people love Parra even if they don't support them.
Other teams?
Brisbane - Everyone hates them. Everyone would scream if they were cut. Need the big Brisbane team.
Melbourne - Everyone hates them. Most people would scream if they were cut because we need a team in that city.
Penrith - Need the westie team. They absolutely have their own identity.
Souths - Tradition. Do not cut.
Roosters - Tradition. Do not cut.
Dragons - Tradition. Do not cut.
Cowboys - Like Penrith, have their own bogan identity. Also, have their own region. No one would want them cut.
Manly - Everyone hates them. No one wants them cut.
Warriors - Like Melbourne, need a team in that area for the good of the league.
Newcastle - Have their own identity and their own region. People would spew if the NRL tried to cut them.
Tigers - Have the whole Leichardt feels bullshit going, which gives them an identity. I personally couldn't care less about them but a lot of others do.
Dogs - Respected team, even when down in the dumps. Would not be anywhere near anyone's first choice.
So, who would cause the least fuss to cut?
Sharks - No one gives a shit about them except the Dragons.
Titans - No one gives a shit about them. Some would be against it because you need as many Qld teams as possible to counter the Broncos dominance.
I think Canberra sit in the middle, but are probably closer to Newcastle (important regional team) than the Sharks.
So, basically, if there has to be one Sydney team that goes, it's the Sharks. Not that i want them gone - I'd prefer an expansion to 16 teams with Brisbane 2 and Perth - but if it has to happen for whatever reason, then f**k the Sharks.