Owen Glenn pushes for second NZ NRL franchise

[TheDMC]

Of course NZ can have another team in the NRL. Anyone against the idea who is a kiwi should be shipped to Canberra for purgatory, because this place sucks.

 

[Robster]

Out of all you wellington people who would support a wellington team more then the warriors?

 

[Micistm]

I reckon if the junior warriors win again and the warriors win or even make the final, league political animals in Aus will want a second team in NZ to weaken the power base and divide the nursery. This could be a really good thing and the Warriors can go back to being the Auckland Warriors instead of the confusing NZ Warriors. Great if Owen Glenn wants to fund that too, shesh he must have deep pockets! What if a second team are the Southern Somethings as in south of Bombay or Hamilton and unite in their dislike of Auckland, with home games in Welly Chch Dunners and West Coast

Be nice if the NZ Warriors did live up to the name occasionally and took a game or two on tour...the 'Real' home teams are the Tigers, Roosters and Bulldogs, who have all bought their home games over here;-)

 

[armchaircritic]

Out of all you wellington people who would support a wellington team more then the warriors?

I would support the Warriors no questions asked (Wellington is my home-town & I am not particularly fond of Auckland). I have grown up watching them play - I couldn't imagine changing my team.

I think most Warriors fans in Wgtn would continue to be Warriors fans first, but would get behind a Wgtn team.

I might be wrong, those actually living in Wgtn may have a different point of view.

 

[hitman82]

I grew up in Auckland and have always supported the Warriors, but I'd definitely have a Wellington club as my "second" team and attend their games. The clashes between the two would be epic!

 

[Warmess]

I don't think I could ever truly switch away from the Warriors. Maybe after a few years it could be a close call, don't really know. I'd be down there every home game though!

 

[NZ Warrior]

Out of all you wellington people who would support a wellington team more then the warriors?

I'd always have a soft spot for the Warriors, but a Wellington team would always come first.

I'd probably follow them both, but if they were playing against each other, I'd be barracking for the Welly side.

 

[hitman82]

^ I'd fight you in the stands

 

[Revelation 3:20]

Local clashes would be Epic!

If there is a financial backer for a team there is no real reason why it can't happen.
Warriors won't be affected at all. 90% of their NZ players are from Auckland.
Warriors never play anywhere else other than Auckland anyway.
Both Wellington and Christchurch have a good population base.

Christchurch - 380,900
Wellington - 393,400
Townsville - 185,768
Perth - 1,696,062

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I can honestly say I'd support both, whether it was Wellington/Chch whatever, and would side with the Warriors in the event of a clash.

 

[NZ Warrior]

^ I'd fight you in the stands

I'd tell King Ukuma that you called him a n****r, and that would be the end of you, my friend.

 

[hitman82]

I'd tell King Ukuma that you called him a n****r, and that would be the end of you, my friend.

No way. You know why?

Coz I'm the motherf**kin Cult Leader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpmgHQbpbvM

 

[Micistm]

I'd always have a soft spot for the Warriors, but a Wellington team would always come first.

I'd probably follow them both, but if they were playing against each other, I'd be barracking for the Welly side.

Be the same for me with a local team, and most fans I'm sure would switch as well. They'd still cheer on the Warriors when not playing them...but if it came down to it, it'd be the local. Which is why the Warriors are quite spoilt for fanbase. Having another team in NZ would mean lost loyalty- especially in regard to merchandise dosh.
Jeez- we may see them down here a little more to drum up business!;-)

 

[NZ Warrior]

No way. You know why?

Coz I'm the motherf**kin Cult Leader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpmgHQbpbvM

Brilliant!

 

[MKEB...]

Wellington was supoposed to put their bid in soon weren't they?.

Please let it be Wellington.

and build a stadium at Whakatiki Park too
*in fact Trust Park in POrirua would work a treat*

 

[_addict]

Owen Glenn had quite a few things to say about his motivation when he bought into the Warriors and some of those key reasons lay outside the club. There should be no surprise therefore that he's looking at a national picture. We're enjoying a time of good profile, on-field sucess and well run admin, but we must use this time to get more buy-in,involvement and loyalty from the famously fickle general sporting public.
We do need to think about getting more top-flight teams representing key regions. Glenn does well to get things in motion now, because admittance is not an over-night jobn

 

[Lossy]

Glenn does well to get things in motion now, because admittance is not an over-night jobn

He's 73. He needs to.

The odds are pretty low on pushing up daisies before a 2nd team is admitted.

 

[gutterfax]

A second NZ franchise would be great....but not in Auckland.
The Warriors are building nicely....2 Toyota Cups, all three finals last year and tipping 10,000 members in 2012 (2,000 away is great,.....must thank John Key for shipping all those fans to Australia), but I believe a second team should be based 50/50 between the Central (Wellington) and South Island (Christchurch) Regions.

Having attended a few local Wellington RL comp games here in Petone and in Poirua, I reckon that a 6 game Season ticket, priced at about $200 would fly here. I can't comment so much on the south Island, but surely if both centres could attract 7 or 8,000 ticket members, then it would be one of the best supported teams in the comp?
The Southern Orcas v The Auckland Warriors would fill Eden Park and/or The Cake Tin......I reckon 12k would be about average for regular season games here and with a bit of success, 20k is achievable.

I am not for one moment having a pop at Mr Glenn (or his millions), but I don't think the supporter base is there for Auckland to have 2 teams.........I reckon that, as others have said, you tap into that "we all hate JAFA's mentality........

If Mr Glenn doubts my theory, he could always take a couple of regular season games on the road to Wellywood and Christchurch to see what the demand would be like.

 

[hitman82]

^ great post.

I am not sure on the "split" team approach, but when you talk support figures it starts to sound a bit better.

I really wonder if Mt Smart is holding the Warriors' crowd numbers back. Both Eden park games have been extremely well attended. We really a dedicated league field in an accessible part of town.

 

[gutterfax]

^ great post.

I am not sure on the "split" team approach, but when you talk support figures it starts to sound a bit better.

I really wonder if Mt Smart is holding the Warriors' crowd numbers back. Both Eden park games have been extremely well attended. We really a dedicated league field in an accessible part of town.

Mt Smart as a location was picked because of where it is......and the demographic of the "supposed" NRL fan.....ie, Maori Pacifika....and I have to say, it works OK, but what the powers that be don't see is people like me...white european and bored with Union (WEABWU's ).......

If the Warriors played 1 game down here a year in Wellington, we'd fill the Tin........can't understand why teams like the Sharks and Roosters don't take their "home/away" games v the Warriors here....

22k for the England 4 nations game....then.....NOTHING :crazy:...wet windy weekends in Wainuiomata are all we get down here...and for a skinny white boy, it ain't much fun