Western Corridor NRL bid

[Perth Red]

can't believe we haven;' used this line, Get the Reds in or AFL will take over Perth, oh hang on....

the two most used lines in RL expansion:
1. We are in the fastest growing area of the country
2. If we don't get a team AFL will take over

 

[thuggdogg]

^^^
i giv permission 4 da reds to use the thuggdogg line:

"let us in d comp or 8 pipe hittin' thugs be at your door at 2am ready to go medievil on yo ass gallop".

 

[Perth Red]

works for me

 

[simostorm]

haha..

 

[Smiley]

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/12/06/cameron-smith-on-radar-to-pilot-the-jets-nrl-rugby/

Smith on radar to pilot Jets

THE Ipswich Jets’ NRL bid team will target Queensland State of Origin star Cameron Smith as the club’s first marquee signing if they are granted a NRL licence.

The man at the helm of the NRL push, Jets chairman Steve Johnson, said Smith would be their ideal inaugural signing because he hailed from Logan, which is part of the corridor the club would represent.

In July, NRL CEO David Gallop is expected to grant a 17th club licence for the 2013 season.

Smith signed a four-year extension to his contract in December, 2008, which finishes at the end of 2012.

Before Australian representative Smith signed his current contract, there was intense speculation he would return to Queensland to play with either the Brisbane Broncos or Gold Coast Titans.

“Cameron wants to return to Queensland and is off contract when the new licence comes in so he would be our ideal first signing,” Johnson said.

“The person he is, not only as a player but as a leader, is exactly what we want here.

“In my discussions with player managers, I know there are a number of players who would love to come home to Queensland and be a part of a club west of Brisbane.

“Sam Thaiday is another player who is off contract around then that we would love to have at the club but whether he would be on a longer deal with the Broncos before then is another question.

“We want quality people, not just quality footballers.”

The case for an Ipswich-based NRL team is gaining momentum.

Reports from the NRL CEO conference in Byron Bay last week suggested the main rival to the Jets becoming an NRL club in 2013 is Central Queensland.

Sydney NRL clubs have reportedly baulked at the prospect the Central Coast Bears becoming the new club, fearing a piece of their market could be taken.

The Jets’ bid aims to represent the corridor west of Brisbane, comprising Logan, Ipswich and Toowoomba.

“There are 2.2 million people in Brisbane and just one NRL team and the corridor we will represent will have 9000 juniors playing by 2013,” Johnson said.

“You cannot ignore the figures. It’s us and Central Queensland which make the most sense.”

 

[Smiley]

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/12/06/ipswich-stadium-unlikely-hennelly-mark-brothers/

Ipswich stadium unlikely: Hennelly

LIKE most regional rugby league fanatics, Brothers Leagues Club general manager Mark Hennelly is keeping a close eye on Ipswich’s bid to secure a NRL team.

“From an Ipswich point of view, if there can be an NRL side that’s based or called the Western whatever, I think it’s great for the Ipswich region,” Hennelly said.

“As far as my personal thoughts are, we had one meeting with the Jets some time ago. I’m not aware of anything new to that.

“Ipswich is a tremendous nursery for rugby league and it would be wonderful.”

If Ipswich was to secure an NRL side, Hennelly said building a new stadium in the area was unrealistic – at least in the short term.

“At this point in time, I don’t think you can justify it,” he said.

“When you talk about a NRL bid, there’s a number of Ipswich people that travel by train to Lang Park to watch the Broncos or Cowboys or Parramatta.

“If there’s another NRL side in this region, it’s going to be hard to justify building another stadium, 35km from that one.

“That’s a reality point of view, not being a supporter or a bid or whatever, pure reality.”

Hennelly questions where a new facility would be built.

“North Ipswich Reserve to me is the home of rugby league in Ipswich and was the home of cricket. There is a lot of history there,” the former Brothers Reserve grade captain and premiership-winning player said.

“I really enjoyed playing over there. It was my second favourite ground (to Brothers).

“I think the North Ipswich Reserve is ideally located, close to public transport, not a long walk.”

Brothers applied some years ago to enter colts and Reserve grade sides into the then-Brisbane Rugby League competition.

The bid was rejected despite Brothers giving an assurance it would not detract from the Ipswich Rugby League.

Hennelly said Brothers’ long-term goals were still to get into the highest competition.

“Whatever that is. It may end up just being the Ipswich competition. Who knows what the future holds,” he said.

 

[flamin]

Isn't Logan south-east of Brisbane, not west. IIRC Logan is closer to Brisbane than it is to Ipswich.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Cam Smith as captain, Bennett as coach and Folau as the prodigal son.

 

[applesauce]

I hope when a 3rd SEQ team is added it is with the name along the lines of Brothers, Valleys or Diehards.

f**k the Jets! Not so much as a club (even though they are average) but the name.

 

[bobmar28]

I hope when a 3rd SEQ team is added it is with the name along the lines of Brothers, Valleys or Diehards.

f**k the Jets! Not so much as a club (even though they are average) but the name.

They have had the name for 30 years and it refers to the nearby RAAF base. Why would they dump it now? Why should they?

 

[Brutus]

Diehards, Diehards, Diehards!

 

[Lockyer4President!]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/07/3087377.htm?site=sport&section=rugbyleague

Ipswich steps up NRL bid


The man behind NSW's Origin overhaul has been hired to oversee Ipswich's bold NRL bid.

Former Sydney Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan has taken on a consultancy role for an Ipswich consortium that hopes to become the third NRL franchise in south-east Queensland by 2013.

Ipswich bid chairman Steve Johnson believed Canavan's recruitment meant their drive had "stepped up a gear".

He said Canavan would be put to "immediate use" conducting a feasibility study and devising a business plan for the bid team.

One of the game's most respected officials, Canavan recently cast his eye over the Blues' State of Origin set-up, resulting in the appointment of Ricky Stuart as the first full-time coach and the sacking of selectors.

"Brian's reputation speaks for itself and it's his excellent standing in the game combined with his extensive experience in sports administration that has us convinced he is the man to take us to the NRL," Johnson said.

Canavan said Johnson had convinced him the area that produced the likes of Allan Langer and the Walters brothers should be the NRL's next team.

"I asked Steve why he believed a western corridor team should be the next team into the NRL and his answer convinced me to get involved - 2.2 million people, 350,000 school kids and 18,000 junior rugby league players," he said.

"The area is an absolute nursery for the game and I'm excited about helping the group show the NRL what we already know - that the next team in the NRL must be us."

Perth are believed to be the favourites in the expansion race.

But another Queensland team - either Ipswich or Central Queensland - reportedly received support at the two-day annual conference of NRL club chief executives and chairmen in Byron Bay last week.

Perth bid project manager Ralph McManis also tried to keep momentum going on Tuesday, releasing survey figures he believed bode well for the return of an NRL team in WA.

Using indicators such as participation, match attendances and TV ratings included in a WARL survey, McManis believed Perth already had a strong case for inclusion.

"Grass roots participation in rugby league in WA has been growing ... from 16 schools in 2000 to over 100 schools in 2010," he said.

"With over 3,000 registered players across school, junior and senior leagues, WA already has the third highest participation rate in Australia."

- AAP

 

[Lockyer4President!]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...m-to-decide-on-candidates-20101207-18od0.html

Recruitment firm to decide on candidates
Brad Walter
December 8, 2010

Meanwhile, the push for a second NRL team in Brisbane gained momentum yesterday with the appointment of former Sydney Roosters boss Brian Canavan to oversee a bid by the Ipswich Jets.

Jets chairman Steve Johnson said Canavan had been appointed in a consultancy role to conduct a feasibility study and devise a business plan that would form the foundations of the bid team's strategy. "Brian's reputation speaks for itself and it's his excellent standing in the game combined with his extensive experience in sports administration that has us convinced he is the man to take us to the NRL," Johnson said.

Canavan said there were 2.2 million people, 350,000 students and 18,000 junior league players in south-east Queensland's western corridor, which includes Ipswich and Toowoomba.

 

[juanfarkall]

hope Canavan is getting paid up front or weekly.
The Jedi have a reputation for sometimes not paying up....
reminds me of a very funny moment when they won the Runaway Bay pre season comp years ago and the cheque was presented to them by a former Jedi who was still owed money....

 

[bobmar28]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/07/3087377.htm?site=sport&section=rugbyleague

It's Looking like Perth Reds and Ipswich Jets for 2013.

 

[PaulyTom]

Central Coast Bears might not be as assured as people might have been 6 months ago.

It is almost like a world cup bid. Looks like there will be 4 decent bids and 1 or 2 no chancers like PNG.

Can't seeing them bringing in 2 teams at once through. Think it will be done over a 3 year time period.

 

[PaulyTom]

ODDS- Next team to be in the NRL-
WA Reds $1.20
Ipswich Jets $1.85
Central Coast Bears $1.90
Central Queensland $2.00
PNG $1000

Should be interesting

 

[babyg]

ODDS- Next team to be in the NRL-
WA Reds $1.20
Ipswich Jets $1.85
Central Coast Bears $1.90
Central Queensland $2.00
PNG $1000

Should be interesting

Put a few dollars on the Reds, they make sense.
Not sure about Ipswich, Ipswich/Logan Maybe, Brisbane West Jets/Diehards Maybe.
Central Qld does not makes sense. Too small. A combined CQ/Sunshine Coast team makes more sense.
Central Coast is losing steam. Might be a good time for the Bears to be looking for merge partners - Central Coast Cronulla Sharks. East Coast Sharks.
Don't forget that Wellington or South Island team would bring in TV $$ plus players.

 

[bobmar28]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...m-to-decide-on-candidates-20101207-18od0.html

That's why the Jets have to be considered the #1 team for expansion.

 

[Smiley]

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/12/09/springfield-nrl-side-stadium-proposal-home/

Springfield to house NRL bid

SPRINGFIELD is planning a multi-million dollar sports club facility in a bid to secure an NRL team. The facility will only be built if the Jets NRL hopes are successful.

Consultant to the Ipswich Jets NRL bid, Brian Canavan, said he was finalising details of a high performance centre that would become the club's home if they were granted an NRL licence.

The facility would be similar to the Broncos' Red Hill base, but whether a leagues club would also become part of the centre is undecided.

Mr Canavan, Sydney Roosters chief executive for five years until 2008, said it was critical to establish a home for the Jets NRL club which hoped to be granted the league's 17th licence for the 2013 season.

“We will likely be playing out of Suncorp Stadium for the first few years so we need a true home base in the corridor and Springfield is the best option for where we want to represent,” he said.

“We have not defined the club's boundaries yet, but it will roughly be Ipswich and Toowoomba, then out towards Logan.”

Springfield, on the border of Logan and Ipswich, is the fastest-growing region in Australia.

A passenger train line connecting the city to Brisbane will be operational in 2013.

Jets chairman Steve Johnson, who hired Mr Canavan to conduct a feasibility study for the bid, said Springfield was the heart of the western corridor.

“Our club will be a community-based club so you want to be where the fans are and Springfield is right in the middle of our patch,” Mr Johnson said.

“We will also be looking to strengthen our ties to Logan and Toowoomba plus you will have the Jets in North Ipswich.”

Mr Canavan said the amount of support for rugby league in the western corridor should help the region be granted an NRL club.

“Gallop (NRL chief executive David) loves facts and numbers and the fact is this region has the best case based on numbers,” he said.

“In Ipswich and Toowoomba alone you have 5500 junior rugby league players, that is far more than just about every Sydney rugby league club.

“When you add in some Logan areas and the outskirts of Brisbane you are talking about 9000 to 13,000 juniors.

“Juniors mean families and families mean generational support.

“The Penrith Panthers have the biggest league junior base in Sydney with just 5500 juniors.”

Ipswich City Councillor for Springfield, David Morrison, said he would support a multi-million dollar training facility being built in the region.

“We have 12 rugby league fields in Springfield Central,” Mr Morrison said.

“Springfield would work very well as a base especially because of the access through the new train line.”

Some impressive junior numbers there.

Wonder if Maha Sinnathamby has anything to do with them being based in Springfield.