I love the narrative gaining momentum around expansion and I love the game finally being aggressive about growth. There are a couple of things that concern me though.
1. The proposed Pasifika idea, I can only see it ending in tears no matter which format it takes. Instead of pouring money into an NRL team, pour the money into pathways for each Pacific nation. A QLD / NSW Cup team for each with U21's, U19's and U17's in the respective system. That will do more for the NRL in terms of developing Pacific talent and will do more for each countries national team moving forward than a combined NRL team would.
2. I hope we aren't doing a 1995 and expanding a bit too quickly because we are entering a new golden age.
3. I actually like the idea of the Bears bringing a traditional brand back to the NRL, but it can't be at the expense of a currently untapped big city market, they can't be some hybrid model of 11 games in one city and one game at NS Oval and they really can't be based in Sydney as we have got more than enough teams there which makes it tough to bring them back considering the stance of the Bears' management.
My thoughts on who we should bring in are:
18. Perth - no brainer
19. Christchurch - presence on the South Island and has a natural rivalry with Auckland
20. Adelaide - big city market, needs to happen, will complete the national footprint in Australia
Other options:
South-West Brisbane Fire Jet Hawks (QLD is then a closed shop at NRL level). Will be successful but I think we need to wait until the comp is ready to go past 20 to do this.
Central Coast - this is our Tasmania and will have to wait for a team to voluntarily relocate there or until the NRL goes to 22 teams.
Pasifika - See above, best to spend money on giving them world class pathways and funding those teams to play in the QLD or NSW system.
Bears - give them the opportunity to bid as any of the above expansion teams, make it clear that they are to base themselves out of the bid city if they are successful and play 100% of their Premiership matches in that city and that the licence is tied to them remaining in that city. They either agree to the terms and re-enter the NRL or they don't and they stay in the NSW Cup.
Lets temper the excitement.
1. It was an idea put forward by a club chairman in a club/NRL meeting a few weeks ago
2. NRL has no plans, strategy, data or seemingly intention up until Politis mentioning it to move to 20 clubs in a 10 year period
3. Straight away its being denigrated by other clubs and the media
On the plus side
1. Vlandys seems to agree its a possibility
2. The feel good around the Dolphins (please keep winning!) has made people think differently about expansion
3. Theres obviously been some discussions are a Pacifika team with Aus Govt hence the 2025 rush job before election
4. For all his faults Vlandys is probably bullheaded enough to push it through
5. We have WA primed for a team, we have Aus govt seemingly willing to fund a team, we have Firehawks who could confidently set up a club and we have those pesky Bears who'll go anywhere. We have at least 3/4 location options that are all looking viable in a short period of time.
6. Vlandys is under enormous pressure to do something before AFL deal kicks in 2025
