West Coast Pirates Bid News

[hutch]

We can now add womens AFL to sports that are more national than the NRL.
Its getting a bit ridiculous now.

We can add rugby league as one of the few sports whose national team has played on free to air tv, something the afl will never be able to achieve.

 

[gallagher]

We can add rugby league as one of the few sports whose national team has played on free to air tv, something the afl will never be able to achieve.

So that's a reason not to expand?

 

[alien]

We can add rugby league as one of the few sports whose national team has played on free to air tv, something the afl will never be able to achieve.

international rules football

 

[gallagher]

international rules football

Yeah, kicking a round ball into the back of a net is AFL.

 

[Pommy]

international rules football

So IRF not AFL?

Plus who gives a f**k? Its like hybrid games between league and union nobody cares.

 

[alien]

International Rules Football is technically a different sport to Australian Football, but it still gives their best players the opportunity to rep their nation. Plenty of people watch it. I don't mind it myself. The AFL doesn't need other nations to play Australian Football anyway. As long as the AFL continues to have a good national comp, that's all that matters.

 

[Perth Red]

lol, AFL are spending more launching a womens national league than it would cost NRL to become national! Our game is screwed. As for using a pss weak international profile as some justification for not having a league that reaches all capital cities, geez that is a long stretch.

 

[adamkungl]

lol, AFL are spending more launching a womens national league than it would cost NRL to become national! Our game is screwed. As for using a pss weak international profile as some justification for not having a league that reaches all capital cities, geez that is a long stretch.

I can't wait for the NRL to piss money away on a Women's League with the quality of local under14s because it looks better for their image than actually expanding the main comp.

 

[dogz08]

lol, AFL are spending more launching a womens national league than it would cost NRL to become national! Our game is screwed. As for using a pss weak international profile as some justification for not having a league that reaches all capital cities, geez that is a long stretch.

well lets hope adelaide, and another brisbane team come into the nrl in the next 10 years

 

[Perth Red]

Hope all you like, ain't going to happen.

 

[RoosTah]

Hope all you like, ain't going to happen.

I wouldn't be so defeatist really... the NRL recognises the pitfalls of expanding without solid foundations - just look at the mess Union is in with the Force and Rebels - and so they're getting their house in order now and sorting out the dependent clubs, but it's obvious to all and sundry that they're busy preparing the ground for expansion just with how they're expanding the lower tiers.

The game has $2bn for its current rights deal and some good people at NRL HQ now, so I'm personally pretty confident.

 

[flippikat]

I wouldn't be so defeatist really... the NRL recognises the pitfalls of expanding without solid foundations - just look at the mess Union is in with the Force and Rebels - and so they're getting their house in order now and sorting out the dependent clubs, but it's obvious to all and sundry that they're busy preparing the ground for expansion just with how they're expanding the lower tiers.

The game has $2bn for its current rights deal and some good people at NRL HQ now, so I'm personally pretty confident.

You make good points - and expanding the base via a bigger, more regional 2nd tier is the key step here. (The Queensland Cup has already made great strides by creating regional teams in Qld, and expanding to talent bases like PNG. By Comparison, NSW Cup is still pretty Sydney-heavy, but there is a bit of the regional approach in there with Wyong & the Warriors reserves)

On the NRL front, it's a challenge to get all 16 teams financially strong - but the NRL is doing it's best to try - setting up key performance indicators (KPI) and getting the funding to give all clubs their best chance at achieving them.

The crunch will be in a few years time - if a club proves to be continuously incapable of meeting the KPIs. THAT is the true test of this strategy - especially if some of those second-tier clubs put forward a good argument for promotion.

 

[alien]

i heard there will be a new nrl ceo soon. maybe that new ceo will want expansion

 

[BuffaloRules]

You heard?

From whom?

I find it hard to imagine you know any NRL insiders..

 

[Perth Red]

WA affiliated state champions, seventh year in a row.

 

[flippikat]

WA affiliated state champions, seventh year in a row.

Yep. That, and the extra scheduling slot that Perth offers have made it a "no brainer" for a long time for all expansion-minded NRL fans - but the NRL have their heart set on making sure all the existing teams are on solid ground first.

I honestly think that's wishful thinking - given the over-saturation of the Sydney market, the long history of failed sports teams on the Gold Coast, and the sheer mismanagement that seems to be endemic in some clubs that should be powerhouses (*cough*Parra*cough*).. but hey that's just one expansion-minded fan's opinion.

Given that the NRL is more focused on expanding 2nd tier competitions, maybe the question needs to be "How can Perth establish itself as a solid 2nd tier club, and make an even more compelling case for NRL entry?".

Doesn't matter if it's NSW cup or Qld cup - if the NRL want to increase their footprint underneath the NRL, then maybe that's what WA need to do.

 

[adamkungl]

The NRL are waiting for a solid foundation to be built. They're happy to expand when all 16 teams make the top 8 every year.

 

[siv]

Maybe they need to challenge the winners of the SOO series

For the right to be national champions

 

[Perth Red]

Surely world champions ala superbowl winners?

 

[BuffaloRules]

I think more people in Perth will watch Origin 2 than the whole NRL season combined...

WTF?