Rationalisation of Sydney

[The Great Dane]

I'm sick to death of talking about rationalisation, we've been talking about it almost non-stop since the 70s. . . Everybody with half a brain can see there's a problem and that delaying in addressing it is only making it worse, but still we do nothing about it because we are allowing 'fans', who utterly refuse to support their teams in any meaningful way anyway, cow us into doing nothing!

We finally had the perfect opportunity to rationalise after the SL war, we could have done what had to be done under the guise of the clubs being cut just being more victims of the the war, but instead of just getting on with the job we half arsed it through the mergers, which didn't solve any of the problems, only delayed the inevitable.

 

[flippikat]

We finally had the perfect opportunity to rationalise after the SL war, we could have done what had to be done under the guise of the clubs being cut just being more victims of the the war, but instead of just getting on with the job we half arsed it through the mergers, which didn't solve any of the problems, only delayed the inevitable.

1998-2001 was even worse than that. You didn't mention the illogical culling of long-term growth expansion markets (Perth, Adelaide), giving the Broncos a SE-Queensland monopoly (Goodbye Crushers, goodbye Chargers just as the Gold Coast team was getting good), and failing to provide adequate support for the ONE Sydney club (Norths) that had the guts to jump before they were pushed into relocation. (I'm convinced the whole sorry Norths relocation saga has put the fear of relocation into other Sydney teams).

The post war period 1998-2001 was rugby league's greatest failure.

 

[Stallion]

I can’t believe you’re allowed to work with children. This shit isn’t normal behaviour.

Nope. You are clearly the issue but are getting away with your utter bullshit! You are definitely not a guy the rugby league needs in the trenches when in battle. A total traitor and pest!

 

[Pommy]

Nope. You are clearly the issue but are getting away with your utter bullshit! You are definitely not a guy the rugby league needs in the trenches when in battle. A total traitor and pest!

 

[Stallion]

Don't like the truth and someone calling you out for what you truelly are :a union troll and pest. Cop it sweet Pommy. You deserve the description!

 

[Pommy]

Don't like the truth and someone calling you out for what you truelly are :a union troll and pest. Cop it sweet Pommy. You deserve the description!

Union troll, Lol I’ve never played the code and the only game I remember watching from start to finish was the World Cup final win which still didn’t entice me to watch more.

 

[adamkungl]

St George -> Wollongong (min 8 games)
Manly -> Gosford (min 8 games)
Cronulla -> Adelaide
Wests -> Perth
+ Brisbane 2
+ Southern NZ Orcas (Wellington-Christchurch split)

NRL in Australia solved. Done.

 

[taipan]

St George -> Wollongong (min 8 games)
Manly -> Gosford (min 8 games)
Cronulla -> Adelaide
Wests -> Perth
+ Brisbane 2
+ Southern NZ Orcas (Wellington-Christchurch split)

NRL in Australia solved. Done.

You left out Roosters to Central Coast. Crowds and actual juniors,a win win for humanity. Manly to become 3rd Brisbane side.
All the fans of the various relocated clubs,welcome to fumble ball or soccer land.

 

[T-Boon]

St George -> Wollongong (min 8 games)

This seems like the most obvious immediate term move. Play a couple of games at Kogorah each year.
Wollongong has been probably the only or at least best example that you can completely mess with a towns team and it can still stay interested and engaged in the game, even to the point of adopting/adapting to another essentially new team.

Play out of Wollongong
Call it Wollongong St George Dragons (which will just become Wollongong Dragons or Dragons or WSG Dragons)
Play in the one traditional St George Dragons strip

Badger the government for stadium upgrades.

 

[adamkungl]

You left out Roosters to Central Coast. Crowds and actual juniors,a win win for humanity. Manly to become 3rd Brisbane side.
All the fans of the various relocated clubs,welcome to fumble ball or soccer land.

No I didn't. Central Coast obviously isn't big enough for both Manly and Easts.
And I have no interest in moving successful clubs from the place they are successful in.

 

[T-Boon]

All the fans of the various relocated clubs,welcome to fumble ball or soccer land.

Oh this old threat? You cant hold progress of the game up for these types of fans who are probably flipping to AFL anyway.

 

[taipan]

Oh this old threat? You cant hold progress of the game up for these types of fans who are probably flipping to AFL anyway.

Not a case of an old threat .It's the reality.I have been following the ARL and NRL for ages,and have zero interest if my team is relocated.I will continue to follow Intnl RL, as I have always done.

No one's holding up progress ,if you increase the number of teams .

Last line is BS.What happens, some fans stay loyal, a decent number give it away following the relocated or removed club, and a few look for other forms of entertainment ,the latter happened when Souths were given the flick ATT.
Even rationalisation pundits on TV, note you relocate a team, you gain fans and lose fans, and you're back to square one.Adelaide ATM has SFA juniors.
Anyway you are hardly a RL supporter.

 

[taipan]

No I didn't. Central Coast obviously isn't big enough for both Manly and Easts.
And I have no interest in moving successful clubs from the place they are successful in.

Manly to Queensland based on your spread.
When you have a decent junior base, have big crowds ,own your own ground or a decent stadium and have the financials in place, then a club can be called successful.Just being successful on the field is only one of the KPIs.Bear in mind, clubs can one year be world beaters, the next years world losers.

The Sharks at least have a big junior base, own their own ground, are now debt free with $18m in the Bank,will have a new Leagues club in situ in 2 years and plans for the ground to be upgraded to NRL requirements.If that's grounds for relocation, good luck with the after effects.

No one has any interest in moving a successful club, when it's the team they follow.

 

[flippikat]

If the NRL had done the right thing, and bailed-out Norths and given them a stand-alone guaranteed license in recognition of their relocation to Gosford, it would've sent a clear message to other Sydney teams that "The NRL has your back if you willingly choose to relocate".

 

[adamkungl]

Manly to Queensland based on your spread.
When you have a decent junior base, have big crowds ,own your own ground or a decent stadium and have the financials in place, then a club can be called successful.Just being successful on the field is only one of the KPIs.Bear in mind, clubs can one year be world beaters, the next years world losers.

The Sharks at least have a big junior base, own their own ground, are now debt free with $18m in the Bank,will have a new Leagues club in situ in 2 years and plans for the ground to be upgraded to NRL requirements.If that's grounds for relocation, good luck with the after effects.

No one has any interest in moving a successful club, when it's the team they follow.

Juniors are irrelevant in professional sport and owning your own ground is an anchor not a benefit.

 

[taipan]

If the NRL had done the right thing, and bailed-out Norths and given them a stand-alone guaranteed license in recognition of their relocation to Gosford, it would've sent a clear message to other Sydney teams that "The NRL has your back if you willingly choose to relocate".

If a club is in deep financial shyte ,and has no other alternative,I agree relocation is the only way to retain the name.
Clubs that are financially viable regardless of support, should not be penalised.

 

[adamkungl]

If a club is in deep financial shyte ,and has no other alternative,I agree relocation is the only way to retain the name.
Clubs that are financially viable regardless of support, should not be penalised.

I dont believe the NRL should force anyone to move, unless they fail financially.

BUT some of the suburban clubs would be doing themselves a favour by moving. Perth and Adelaide will be the next Melbourne/Brisbane.
Suburban park football has an expiry date in professional first grade and we're approaching it rapidly.

 

[taipan]

Juniors are irrelevant in professional sport and owning your own ground is an anchor not a benefit.

If juniors are so irrelevant ,why are the Roosters involved in the CC juniors? Why are the GC pushing to sign up their local juniors from there big junior base? Why are local juniors a decent selling point for a club ala Turbo Bros?
Ground signage income to the owners, sponsors' boxes income to the owners,Leagues club next door further income.
Then maintenance costs and security v rental costs and security.Yeah not a benefit.
Oh and the ability to offer the ground to other rectangular codes if need be.Yeah such an anchor.

 

[adamkungl]

If juniors are so irrelevant ,why are the Roosters involved in the CC juniors? Why are the GC pushing to sign up their local juniors from there big junior base? Why are local juniors a decent selling point for a club ala Turbo Bros?
Ground signage income to the owners, sponsors' boxes income to the owners,Leagues club next door further income.
Then maintenance costs and security v rental costs and security.Yeah not a benefit.
Oh and the ability to offer the ground to other rectangular codes if need be.Yeah such an anchor.

Mate your club itself has publicly stated it isn't sustainable.
No other rectangular code wants to play professionally in the back of Wooloware
The gameday break-even is higher than all but 1-2 crowds per year (source: your club)
The government will never bother upgrading it because they don't own it and it's not central.
Anchor.

Local juniors are nice to have but aren't an indicator of success of a professional club.
Roosters have built a pathway with the CC without needing to play anywhere near them.
Brisbane don't directly run any of their junior areas.
Melbourne pull juniors from QLD and all over.
A number of clubs with huge junior nurseries have been rubbish for years despite having first shot at them.

 

[taipan]

I dont believe the NRL should force anyone to move, unless they fail financially.

BUT some of the suburban clubs would be doing themselves a favour by moving. Perth and Adelaide will be the next Melbourne/Brisbane.
Suburban park football has an expiry date in professional first grade and we're approaching it rapidly.

Then we agree on the financial issue.If the Sharks were in deep shyte and had no chance of getting out,I would accept it ,not like it, and still have difficulty following them from afar.

If clubs are able to bring their suburban grounds up to a 20,0000 NRL seat standard,I see no reason for any relocation.
Perth might be the next Storm, but Adelaide will be struggling .The Storm had many millions poured in by News ,then the new current owners.Whilst they have been very successful on the field, the crowds have remained fairly stat icdespite a great stadium, and they have not been tested when they have a couple of years of very poor performances.This in a city getting to Sydney's population.