Western Corridor NRL bid

[adamkungl]

Ipswich have not been at all positive since Brisbane2 was announced. Rubbishing other bids is doing no one favours but the CC Bears.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Ipswich have not been at all positive since Brisbane2 was announced. Rubbishing other bids is doing no one favours but the CC Bears.

Well I'd hate to tell alot of people I told you so.. but I told you so.

The Ipswich community won't support another Brisbane team if it means going up against an Ipswich bid. And the Brisbane community won't support an Ipswich team if it means going up against a Brisbane bid. What's hilarious is how the Jets bid is talking about being a community based bid... well where the hell is that community engagement? You'd think after the floods and the announcement of Brisbane 2, that there would be no more of a perfect time then to go out in the community and establish yourself within the community and get positive media coverage.. but a'las no not from this bid.

 

[applesauce]

The VAST majority of the Brisbane community won't support an Ipswich team fullstop (they might support the bid with BII but not an eventual team). The Ipswich bid would attract it's majority from it's area and surrounding cities/towns outside of Brisbane over many year with huge growth forecasts.

A 2nd Brisbane team will get a few Ipswich fans (like the Broncos have now) but will give a viable option for other Broncos hating fans in a much larger Brisbane market.

I think Ipswich are a little taken back by the BII bid and realise they are up against the wall.

 

[BDGS]

Apple's comments doesn't really paint a pretty picture for expansion into QLD at all really.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Cronk cranks up Ipswich's bid

• Local News

1 Mar 11 @ 02:30pm by Brent O'Neill

BIG CHANGE: Cooper Cronk would consider shifting from Melbourne Storm to play for the Ipswich Jets in the NRL.


The prospect of moving closer to loved ones could be enough to lure Melbourne Storm star Cooper Cronk to the Ipswich Jets if the club is accepted as the NRL’s 17th franchise.
With the Jets putting together a bid to enter the league should the NRL choose to expand - possibly as soon as 2013 - Cronk, who grew up in Brisbane before joining the Storm in his late teens, suggested he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a Queensland homecoming.
His contract with Storm ends at the finish of the 2013 season. His signature would be a major boost to the Jets’ bid to join the NRL.
``There’s a number of places that are vying for a spot and (Ipswich) is one of the areas. I’ve still got friends and family (in Brisbane so) I would consider everything,’’ the Souths Acacia Ridge junior said.
However, the incumbent Australian halfback said the NRL should be wary of attempting to expand the code too soon.
``My personal opinion is the game probably needs to take care of its own backyard first before it starts expanding. For the game to become a national game it needs to expand but to become a viable game it needs to take care of all the little things first,” he said.
``But I don’t know what’s going to happen in (Saturday’s) game, let alone with expansion bids.’‘
Cronk, alongside Storm players Justin O’Neill, Matt Duffie and Jesse Bromwich, visited St Edmund’s College and Ipswich East and Karalee State Schools on Friday ahead of the side’s pre-season trial against Brisbane at Redcliffe.
The players conducted Q&A sessions with students before running them through training drills.
Thirty-four flood-affected Ipswich Junior Rugby League (IJRL) players also travelled to Redcliffe on Friday to attend the Storm’s afternoon training session.
IJRL chairman Brendan Bowers said the players’ visit had made ``such a difference’‘.
``The kids just forget about (the floods). It’s great to see.’‘

http://ipswich-news.whereilive.com....er-playing-with-ipswich-jets-in-expanded-nrl/

 

[dangerousdave]

What's hilarious is how the Jets bid is talking about being a community based bid... well where the hell is that community engagement? You'd think after the floods and the announcement of Brisbane 2, that there would be no more of a perfect time then to go out in the community and establish yourself within the community and get positive media coverage.. but a'las no not from this bid.

Wow, the double reverse negative. Blame the flood victims for being lazy regarding an NRL bid...do you know what the recovery is like after a 5 billion dollar clean up?
Its not like I would consider myself pro-expansionist over pro-tradition...but seriously where is the Rugby League tradition in North Sydney?
Ipswich beats North Sydney (including the 'North Shore resistance,' so the Bears were branded by supporters of the REAL rugby league clubs in the REAL rugby league supporting areas prior to Manly's inception) and the central coast combined for Rugby League heritiage AND potential market...and easily.
This is not an attack at the Central Coast Bears bid, just a realistic comparison of the 2 bids after much negative campaigning from the CCB bid and emphasis on certain points.
YES I would like to see Central Coast team in the NRL asap but it is difficult to support the rhetoric connecting 'one of our great traditional clubs' with what is without doubt the major urban area in the 2 RL states with the least significant rugby league heritage

 

[bobmar28]

Go Jets. Good to see the bid is still alive.

 

[applesauce]

The Ipswich Jets are just days away from finalising a business plan which could land them a prized position in the NRL.

As bid teams from Brisbane, Central Queensland, the NSW Central Coast and Perth prepare to go head to head with Ipswich in the NRL expansion battle, Jets chairman Steve Johnson said the plan, being developed by former Sydney Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan, was all but done and dusted.

``We have completed all our fact-finding information and we’re finalising the business plan to get behind the strategic plan. (The finalisation of the business plan) is in Brian’s hands at the moment depending on his other commitments but, hopefully, it will be done in the next 14 days,’’ he said.

The NRL is expected to announce two new teams will be accepted into the league when the current TV deal expires in 2013, but Johnson said the delayed formation of an independent commission meant the bid rivals were still in the dark as to when applications would be called.

``The (independent) commission comes in on the first of April and they will look at expansion, or if expansion will happen (so) the expansion date ... is unknown.’‘

http://ipswich-news.whereilive.com....n-says-teams-bid-to-join-nrl-done-and-dusted/

IPSWICH'S bid to become the next team in the NRL is another step closer to reality with the consortium yesterday finalising their strategic plan. Compiled by former Roosters CEO Brian Canavan, the plan has been given to a working committee. We hear there is no shortage of companies looking to get behind the bid.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-to-beat-maroons/story-e6frexnr-1226019415401

 

[Goddo]

Its a little late - they were saying mid Febuary late last year - but better they do it right.

If they expand, Brisbane II or Ipswich should get one of the spots. Perth is obvious for the other.

Which one is up to the ARL Commission - hopefully as part of the expansion process they develop a long term expansion stratergy; particularily for SE Queensland, which can support 4-5 clubs.

Otherwise, they bring in the Bears and try to get a current Sydney club to relocate to Queensland by offering $$$. Hopefully cool heads prevail, and a reasonable rational decision is made in line with Rugby Leagues best interests, and not those of individuals or small groups.

 

[clarency]

Really comes down to the IC... If they're sporting an all-business approach it will be a Brissy side coming in. Either way some of these bids are very low key and I can't wait to hear the public crying out when a bid gets accepted, that they've heard little about.

The ignorance will be hilarious.

 

[BDGS]

http://ipswich-news.whereilive.com....n-says-teams-bid-to-join-nrl-done-and-dusted/

Interesting that this comes 2 days after Gallop said Ipswich 'was only in the starting phases'.

Now they are finalising their document? Does not look good at all for this bid, having Gallop saying that days before the finalisation of their bid.

 

[Smiley]

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/03/15/brothers-nrl-campaign-ipswich-nrl/

Brothers' NRL campaign

BROTHERS Leagues Club is set to commit $3 million to set up a rival Ipswich NRL bid, The Queensland Times can reveal.

The Raceview-based club will partner with Brisbane's Easts Tigers Leagues Club to lobby the NRL for a ticket to the big show.

Both clubs are very successful but questions will be raised over how the partnership could effectively represent both Ipswich and East Brisbane.

“The discussions have become more formal,” a source told The Queensland Times.

“Brothers has $3 million to commit to the bid and is desperate for a foot in the NRL door.

“They'll go head to head with the Jets for an NRL berth.”

Brothers' general manager Mark Hennelly was tight-lipped when asked about the plans.

“We want to take our club to the highest level we can and we have made no secret about that,” Mr Hennelly said.

“I can't comment on those reports.

“What I will say is that we have been trying to do whatever we can to expand this club and that could mean getting into the NRL.”

Brothers currently has a successful team in the Ipswich Rugby League.

Mr Hennelly initially wanted Brothers to be part of the Ipswich Jets NRL Bid.

The Tigers' NRL tilt was announced last month.

Tigers' chief executive Des Morris flagged the issue with Tigers committee members.

“To be honest all I'm concerned about at the moment is the Queensland Cup,” Mr Morris said.

However, sources said the Easts and Brothers partnership was not far from being formerly announced.

Tigers has the support and sponsorship of business tycoon David Kemp.

Real smack in the face for the Ipswich Jets Bid. Brothers and Jets should be working together.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

No unity between Ipswich bids. No unity between Brisbane bids. They're shooting eachother in the foot and they're chances based on support and potential corporate dollars are dwindling due to this. They should be working together and utilizing resources.

 

[Goddo]

True, but it just shows how much demand and support there is for clubs in Brisbane. Given time to develop, each of these bids will be as strong as Perth and Central Coast are.

If they joined together, they would dwarf the Bears bid. Concidering they have 4 months until the NRL makes its mind up if it will expand (now 2013 is looking unlikely, 2014 or 2015 more so), this new bids hope lies with the decision being delayed. If expansion happens in 2013 and the NRL want a team there, they will be looking at Ipswich Jets and Brisbane II.

There is what, 3 bids, possibly 4 from SE Queensland now (Brisbane II, Ipswich Jets, Ipswich- East Brisbane), and several Qld Cup sides who would also like to have a crack in future (Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast)...

The area is screaming out for another club. The ARLC should listen.

 

[BDGS]

True, but it just shows how much demand and support there is for clubs in Brisbane. Given time to develop, each of these bids will be as strong as Perth and Central Coast are.

If they joined together, they would dwarf the Bears bid. Concidering they have 4 months until the NRL makes its mind up if it will expand (now 2013 is looking unlikely, 2014 or 2015 more so), this new bids hope lies with the decision being delayed. If expansion happens in 2013 and the NRL want a team there, they will be looking at Ipswich Jets and Brisbane II.

There is what, 3 bids, possibly 4 from SE Queensland now (Brisbane II, Ipswich Jets, Ipswich- East Brisbane), and several Qld Cup sides who would also like to have a crack in future (Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast)...

The area is screaming out for another club. The ARLC should listen.

You lot are really banking on that. There are other areas that have been screaming constantly for longer.

 

[Smiley]

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/03/16/beetson-backing-for-our-nrl-bid/

Beetson backing for our NRL bid

THE WESTERN Corridor NRL bid team has taken its expansion plans into overdrive with the release of a new logo and a stellar list of former greats as bid ambassadors.

League legend Arthur Beetson heads an array of stars who are set to explain the benefits of the bid to residents and stakeholders in the Western Corridor catchment area.

Steve Walters and Kerrod Walters (Ipswich), Mark Hohn and Steve Price (Toowoomba), Jason Smith (Logan) and Beetson (Roma) have all come forward to promote the bid to have a team in the 2013 NRL competition.

The new logo shows a football landing on a field with the Southern Cross above it and a trail blazing behind the ball like a meteor.

“The message is that we've landed,” Western Corridor NRL bid consultant Brian Canavan said when asked about the significance of the logo.

“That is our bid logo and we'll work out our name down the track – but we have an identity now.

“As the population shift to the western corridor occurs, people are going to form their own identities so we didn't want to focus on a particular part.

“But Ipswich is a key area at this point of time because of its population base and the fact that it is the heartland of rugby league.”

Ipswich fans will like the green and yellow on the logo that retains a link to the local Jets side.

But the Western Corridor includes Toowoomba, Logan and Ipswich and stretches right out as far as Roma. That is what has attracted Beetson to the bid.

“He has always believed that kids from the regions need an opportunity to stay in the area and should not have to go all the way to Sydney or Brisbane to chase their dreams,” Mr Canavan said.

“That is consistent with everything he has said throughout his career and post-playing days.

“In the past guys like Steve Walters, Mark Hohn and Steve Price grabbed opportunities in rugby league that have taken them outside of the area.

“We want to provide them with opportunities within the area. That is why we have gone to the local blokes.”
The South East Queensland Regional Development Plan predicts Springfield will expand to 105,000 by 2030. That is just one of many centres in the corridor set to quadruple in size.

“Those sorts of figures demand a team,” Mr Canavan said.

“The game is obliged to give the people of the western corridor an NRL team. It really has gone from an opportunity to a demand.”

Western Corridor bid boss Steve Johnson said a strategic plan would be released to add extra momentum to the bid.

“Beneath that we'll have a full business model and football model,” Mr Johnson said.

“The other Brisbane bid isn't based on a football. It is about how to make a dollar out of rugby league first.

“But our model is the reverse. We've put our football model in place first.”

Mr Johnson said Beetson and company's involvement was vital.

“Several of those guys are personal friends and once they understood our vision they all wanted to be involved,” he said.

“It tells us that we are going about things the right way when people of that standing want to volunteer their time to promote our vision.”

 

[applesauce]

So I take it they won't be (or will give a choice) of using Jets as their name. Good idea.

 

[adamkungl]

Interesting that they've stopped calling it the Ipswich bid, now the Western Corridor bid. A terrible name for an actual team, but the wider focus is definitely good for the bid.

 

[joshreading]

I noticed that as well. The perception difference between Ipswich and Western Corridor (adopting Gallops words) is huge

 

[adamkungl]

Brisbane 2 would have the advantage over an Ipswich focused bid imo.
But a Toowoomba-Ipswich-Logan bid is possibly more appealing than a second Brisbane city side.