Unusual solution to expansion problem: an NRL Invitational

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I have been thinking about all of the expansion bids for the NRL (including the unlikely ones) and the idea of P&R in the NRL...

P&R has a lot of benefits (smaller teams are just happy to compete, so the comp has a happy whipping boy; includes weird locations even for just a short time; dilutes the bigger power of the clubs, "be careful or you will be relegated"), but I think we all agree that P&R wouldnt work for us.

BUT!!!! what if we made a new concept of P&R through an NRL Invitational? We guarentee the spots of the our central 16 clubs but we open 2 spots that go to new clubs every year or so. (Imagine the United Nations Security Council, but with NRL teams)

- Improbable locations (Central QLD, PNG, Pacific Island) would get teams, even if it was only for one year every decade, growing the game better than we ever could now.
- The comp has a happy whipping boy (just happy to be competing) and the rest of the clubs get to feel above average. And just imagine the fairy tail of they even made it to the finals
- We loosen the grip of the current 16 on the game; if a club cheats, the ARLC could threaten to give their place to a Invitational team, but for just one year. Then they are back (like ManCity in the Premier League)
- If one of the current 16 teams does collapse, the ARLC could think about offering 3 Invitational spots instead of just 2.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

This sounds like Amco Cup.

 

[MrE_Assassin]

Not sure that this needed it's own thread. Plenty of other opinions, ideas, and thoughts threads already exist that this fits into, but oh well.

 

[Perth Red]

Who is going to fu d them to the tune of $25millin for one year in the big league every decade? How would they sign players, coaches etc?

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

This sounds like Amco Cup.

Honestly, the Amco Cup would have been a far better foundation for a national comp that the NSWRL Premiership

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Who is going to fu d them to the tune of $25millin for one year in the big league every decade? How would they sign players, coaches etc?

Well player salaries would obviously come from the ARLC club grant...

For the rest of the money, sponsorships and local government grants. Just a guess, but having a local NRL team even for just a season would be great for local tourism and being the first sponsor would be a big deal.

If SL clubs can organize promotion from Champions League to SL with 6 months notice, I reckon Australian organizations could do it with a 1-2 year lead in

 

[Perth Red]

Well player salaries would obviously come from the ARLC club grant...

For the rest of the money, sponsorships and local government grants. Just a guess, but having a local NRL team even for just a season would be great for local tourism and being the first sponsor would be a big deal.

If SL clubs can organize promotion from Champions League to SL with 6 months notice, I reckon Australian organizations could do it with a 1-2 year lead in

Difference is they are aiming to go up and stay up!
I'm not sure you've thought this one through lol.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Difference is they are aiming to go up and stay up!
I'm not sure you've thought this one through lol.

It seems like this certainty of knowing when they will enter and leave would make the finances of this form of P&R MORE stable...

The thing to remember is that the majority of event-management is dealing with one-off events (and even for regular things, they are treated like one-off events).

And this isnt foreign to RL or sport in general. RLWCs do pretty well, yet each organising governing body will only host once each 8-12 years. The only difference is that this is an event over 20-something weeks that is supported by the NRLs established brand

Here, I imagine we would have some lower level clubs or united groups throwing in for a short-term stint in the top grade. They would get brand exposure and NRL gets into new locations without any unsustainable long-term commitments (think the PNG Hunters or a Pacific Islands bid).

Really, the biggest issue would be getting the player together. But we would see a nice blend of lower graders/locals getting their shot at first grade, journeymen bringing some experience and a few big-names getting a big payday.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

This would be the chance to see the Bears, Jets, Glebe back in the NRL without wasting a permanent expansion spot on another Sydney club.

We could see expansion locational around Aus (Perth, Adelaide, Tassy, etc.) get seriously tested for support and RL would see some proper promotion.

And the distant spots (PNG, NZ South Island, Tonga, Indonesia) that would have great short support but probably couldn't maintain a team in the long term would get some exposure

 

[MrE_Assassin]

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

View attachment 37313

They won, didnt they....