The Unusual Suspects - Case for Teams 21/22 in 2040 & Beyond.

[SirPies&Beers]

If either NZ 2 or Ippy are team 20 that means the losing bid will likely not be considered until 2040 earliest for team 21. If we go to 21, I say we end at 22 when population + juniors + target numbers hit the mark. So who will be team 21 & 22?

 

[jim_57]

20 - South Island - NRL owned to begin if none of the bids tick all the boxes.

21 - Ipswich - 2-3 games at Suncorp, 9-10 games at a new 25k stadium in Ipswich. Bonus points if they can get Easts’ money involved as Brisbane 4 will likely never happen.

22 - Adelaide - Lots of work to do here, hopefully it starts now. Most likely NRL owned to start.

 

[Wb1234]

20. Chch 2030 or so
21. Ipsiwch 2033 or so (post Olympics)
22. Adelaide 2038 (gives Perth ten years to get established before going into last afl market)
23. Fiji 2040 or so (gives png 12 years to get established)

24. Hawaii or Wellington

 

[Last Week]

Assuming NZ2 get the 20th licence, I really can't see any realistic expansion outside of another Qld team and maybe Adelaide in the next 20 or so years.

Commercially, another Melbourne team would be useful, and perhaps even a third NZ team, but unless there's a pretty significant shift in the sporting landscape and commercial attraction.

If the NRL are going to buy the Super League, expand that. Focus efforts into Europe. The rewards would be 10 fold what an Adelaide or Fiji would net you.

 

[Billythekid]

NZ2 will surely get the 20th license. I’m hoping they aren’t made to wait too long either, maybe 4-5 years after Perth but announced well in advance.

After that Adelaide and some SEQLD team seems the likely bets.

 

[Nuke]

After NZ2 and Qld5, all the others are going to need a LOT of work to get into a position to be included, regardless of who's next.

 

[T to the T]

What should happen:
20. NZ2
21. Adelaide
22. Brisbane3

What will happen:
20. Brisbane3
21. NZ2
22. Adelaide

 

[BuffaloRules]

What’s the fascination with Adelaide ? Hope it’s more than just dots on a map …

Perth makes sense because it is a big rich city, home to a lot of eastern staters , and also there is at least has an 80 yr RL history there that still exists to this day …Adelaide doesn’t tick any of those boxes

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Ipswich will be 20, then...

21 Christchurch
22 Adelaide

 

[cinders7]

What’s the fascination with Adelaide ? Hope it’s more than just dots on a map …

Perth makes sense because it is a big rich city, home to a lot of eastern staters , and also there is at least has an 80 yr RL history there that still exists to this day …Adelaide doesn’t tick any of those boxes

Expansion is about expanding the game to new areas, how else did RL get from the UK to Australia?

I feel like we sometimes forget RL is a fast, skilful and brutal sport that is easy to follow and fun to play. We're not trying to sell snow to Russians. We're not competing with the Premier League or NFL. The NRL's only real competition in a city of a million+ people are two franchises in a non-contact sport.

Adelaide equates to new sponsors, new fans, new players and state government support just waiting for the taking. Leaving it alone means the AFL can spend more in QLD/NSW knowing their source of $$/fans/players in SA is uncontested.

Once SA see the Perth Bears kick off against the Melbourne Storm they'll be experiencing astronomical amounts of envy/FOMO and be begging to join.

 

[axe&smash&crush]

What’s the fascination with Adelaide ? Hope it’s more than just dots on a map …

Perth makes sense because it is a big rich city, home to a lot of eastern staters , and also there is at least has an 80 yr RL history there that still exists to this day …Adelaide doesn’t tick any of those boxes

Agreed.

Would have to build a rectangular stadium (25000+) in the right city location, which is very unlikely, so no team likely anytime soon

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Ipswich will be 20, you can lock it in Eddie

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Ipswich will be 20, you can lock it in Eddie

Started working on some things this week.

 

[Jonty]

Ipswich will be 20, you can lock it in Eddie

Will they go with the name Ipswich?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Will they go with the name Ipswich?

Ipswich Jets? Probably not as the QRL didn't allow Redcliffe Dolphins. We'll have to see what the bid comes up with... Maybe The Jets

 

[Jonty]

Ipswich Jets? Probably not as the QRL didn't allow Redcliffe Dolphins. We'll have to see what the bid comes up with... Maybe The Jets

possible link up with Newtown?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

possible link up with Newtown?

We don't need or want them and they wouldn't be the same feel good story as the bears

 

[Growthegame]

Isn’t Newtown already joined and connected with this bid though?

 

[Jonty]

Isn’t Newtown already joined and connected with this bid though?

That’s what I thought too?

 

[Jonty]

We don't need or want them and they wouldn't be the same feel good story as the bears

Maybe but what if PVL likes the idea?