Where could/should/will the NRL be in 10 years time?

[Perth Red]

In true NRL style we MAY have a Brisbane2 team back after a 24 year hiatus, looking likely thankfully. So where might the game be in ten years time. Will it have got the leadership to be national with Perth and Adelaide in, will NZ have a stronger footprint for the game, will the hopeful success of Brisbane2 mean we are looking at Brisbane3? will we still be stuck on 17 teams? Where will the money come from to pay for future expansion? Whats your thoughts on NRL 2032?

What Id like to see:
Brisbane2 come in 2023 and prove to be a great success.
NRL signs a new massive media deal in 2025 for 2027 onwards with key focus on 3 streaming providers as more and more audience consumes sport in this medium.
On the back of media deal Perth is announced in 2025 for admission in 2027 to give the game a new Sunday 6pm time slot for game 9.
2030 on the back of the success of the WC Pirates admission the game announces it is planning to relaunch itself under new marketing and branding with a 2 conference 20 team competition for 2032 with Adelaide and NZ2 joining the competition. Investment in PNG and Fiji is paying off with over 2 dozen first grade stars now coming from these programs.
Part of the rebrand will be brand and marketing alignment between north and south hemispheres with ESL effectively becoming conference three and the winner of conference three playing the winner of conference 1v2 in a genuine end of season world club title grand final for $1million prize money.
Club nines is locked in as pre season event in Feb every year with rotating hosts outside Qlnd and NSW.

Internationally
World Nines is huge success and a 4 year repeating international calendar for all nations is agreed
Year1 RL World Cup
Year 2 World Nines (held in Aus or NZ) and GB touring side down under. Pacific nations cup with two finalists earning spots in following years 6 nations.
Year3 6 nations with Eng,Fra,Aus,NZ and 2 PI qualifying nations rotating North and South hemispheres. PI tri-nations for three nations not making 6 nations.
Year 4 World Nines (held in Eng or Fra) plus Aus and NZ Europe tour. RLWC qualifying tournaments in Europe and Southern Hemisphere

You can but dream!

 

[MugaB]

2027 =18th team = PNG Pride
2032= 19th and 20th team = Nz2, Vic2

And in sometime between 2023- 2032=
2 clubs relocate to Adelaide and Perth
Being Roosters and Tigers

2 conference system starts in 2032,
10 teams north of ANZ (homebush) stadium in the northern conference, remaining 10 south of ANZ in the southern conference.

Northern Conference
PNG Pride, NthQLD Cowboys, SunStateDolphins, BrisbaneBroncs, GoldCoastTitans, NewcastleKinghts, ManlySeaEagles, ParramattaEels, PenrithPanthers, PerthTigers

Southern Conference
SouthSydneyRabbits, CanterburyBulldogs,
CronullaSharks, IllawarraDragons, CanberraRaiders, AucklandWarriors,
MelbourneStorm, AdelaideRoosters,
NewZealand2, Melbourne2

 

[This Year?]

Yes, you can dream but sadly rugby league in Australia has no desire to be on the world stage. Betting agencies, broadcasters, the NRL and CEO's only care about survival and not growth. The moment grassroots gets less funding, the slower the game grows. In the expansion target areas what is participation like? Is this the reason we see PNG and Fiji targetted more than Perth and Adelaide? Ideally every state and territory capital should have an NRL team with an aim for players being rep footy. Some players now are getting paid on average more per club game than a rep game which is ridiculous. The media should be focussing on the good in the game instead of muckraking at every chance. The game can grow but do the powerbrokers have the will and the wisdom to do it?
We can only dream.

 

[Pippen94]

2027 =18th team = PNG Pride
2032= 19th and 20th team = Nz2, Vic2

And in sometime between 2023- 2032=
2 clubs relocate to Adelaide and Perth
Being Roosters and Tigers

2 conference system starts in 2032,
10 teams north of ANZ (homebush) stadium in the northern conference, remaining 10 south of ANZ in the southern conference.

Northern Conference
PNG Pride, NthQLD Cowboys, SunStateDolphins, BrisbaneBroncs, GoldCoastTitans, NewcastleKinghts, ManlySeaEagles, ParramattaEels, PenrithPanthers, PerthTigers

Southern Conference
SouthSydneyRabbits, CanterburyBulldogs,
CronullaSharks, IllawarraDragons, CanberraRaiders, AucklandWarriors,
MelbourneStorm, AdelaideRoosters,
NewZealand2, Melbourne2

Tigers will be representing Sydney's third city by then. There are current clubs with much smaller fan bases & catchments. NRL need to look at data

 

[Pippen94]

Yes, you can dream but sadly rugby league in Australia has no desire to be on the world stage. Betting agencies, broadcasters, the NRL and CEO's only care about survival and not growth. The moment grassroots gets less funding, the slower the game grows. In the expansion target areas what is participation like? Is this the reason we see PNG and Fiji targetted more than Perth and Adelaide? Ideally every state and territory capital should have an NRL team with an aim for players being rep footy. Some players now are getting paid on average more per club game than a rep game which is ridiculous. The media should be focussing on the good in the game instead of muckraking at every chance. The game can grow but do the powerbrokers have the will and the wisdom to do it?
We can only dream.

What about the super league in UK which kicked out Toronto, then got reduced TV deal?! Probably will sabotage Toulouse & London & wonder why game can't catch a break

 

[MugaB]

Tigers will be representing Sydney's third city by then. There are current clubs with much smaller fan bases & catchments. NRL need to look at data

Tigers cant even represent concord, let alone, Balmain, Ashfield, and to fk all extent campbelltown... where they should be permanently if they want to grow, i reckon let backdoor benny Elias take the reins and float them to Perth, the dogs can service the Macarthur area, especially since they have Gould as their GM, they'll be poaching the good ones in and around that area, way before Tigers could even sign them just to again lose them as they always do

 

[This Year?]

What about the super league in UK which kicked out Toronto, then got reduced TV deal?! Probably will sabotage Toulouse & London & wonder why game can't catch a break

The Toronto thing sounds more like a promotion experiment which has been bled dry by greed. Surely Toulouse and London will have the strength to survive. What avenues in the UK are there for expansion? How popular is rugby league in other European countries?

 

[Pippen94]

Tigers cant even represent concord, let alone, Balmain, Ashfield, and to fk all extent campbelltown... where they should be permanently if they want to grow, i reckon let backdoor benny Elias take the reins and float them to Perth, the dogs can service the Macarthur area, especially since they have Gould as their GM, they'll be poaching the good ones in and around that area, way before Tigers could even sign them just to again lose them as they always do

Gotta to look at TV ratings & other metrics. My gut feeling is the tigers are among the 3 most popular brands in Sydney. Afl relocated teams with small catchments with nowhere to grow. Move tigers would be opposite

 

[Pippen94]

The Toronto thing sounds more like a promotion experiment which has been bled dry by greed. Surely Toulouse and London will have the strength to survive. What avenues in the UK are there for expansion? How popular is rugby league in other European countries?

Don't know, but product which corporates area greater small northern area (particularly when London is far & away the biggest market) would be more lucrative for tv deal.

 

[Chief_Chujo]

I don't think 20 teams is feasible in 10yrs. My hope is an 18 team comp, NZ2/Perth added with NZ2 being a relocated sydney club. Further expansion should only be through a relocated/culled Sydney club. In that case Adelaide or Vic 2 would be the main canidates.

 

[flippikat]

-----Where COULD Rugby League be in a decade?

**Realistically**, 18 teams - current line-up plus Brisbane 2 & Perth (VLandys caves to the pressure to change his "rusted on AFL" sentiments or is replaced by someone who sees the benefits of WA), with regular games around NZ & in Adelaide to pave the way for expansion/relocation there - most likely expansion.

With the 2nd tier, NSW Cup & Qld Cup having the same number of teams, with ONE cross-over round during the season.

-----Where the game SHOULD be?

Allow me to indulge in some fantasy ideas here (within a 10 year timeframe)

18 or 20 team competition, with Brisbane 2 & Perth added. Teams may have been relocated to NZ and/or Adelaide, if not there's concrete & public plans to expand to both SOON.

NSW Cup & Queensland Cup have same number of teams (possibly Adelaide/NZ 2 in the run-up to NRL status), maybe some NSW Country clubs added too.. 3 "inter-league" rounds per season, played on same weekend as stand-alone Origin, when the NRL takes a break.

NZ & Pacific Islands play tests or some meaningful competition during those 3 weekends - maybe a Pacific premiership tri-series with NZ Tonga Fiji in the top tier and Pacific championship Samoa, PNG & Cook Islands as 2nd tier, with promotion/relegation.


-----What I think WILL happen:

Redcliffe added as Brisbane 2, Christchurch or Wellington added as NZ 2 once everyone is sick of the weekly bye, no change to NSW or Qld Cup structure, Origin goes back to all games midweek & players miss NRL rounds.

 

[ash the bash]

Okay interesting.

In ten years I don't think we will have more than 18 clubs.

1. NQ Cowboys
2. Canberra Raiders
3. Brisbane Broncos
4. Gold Coast Titans
5. Newcastle knights
6. MW Sea Eagles
7. Parra Eels
8. Wests Tigers (7 games Campbelltown/Liverpool, 1 country, 4 Leichhardt)
9. Sydney Roosters
10. South Sydney (SFS based)
11. Canterbury Bulldogs (Liverpool or upgraded ANZ)
12. Penrith Panthers
13. Cronulla Sharks
14. St George Illawarra
15. Melbourne Storm
16. NZ Warriors
17. Sunshine State Dolphins 2023 (8 Suncorp, 2 Dolphin Oval, 2 Sunny)
18. WC Pirates (WA) or Southern Orcas (NZ2)

Its a toss up between WC & SO for the 18th spot I see the benefits of both.
Now looking ahead to 2040 I would like to see the Bears back in first grade in some form. I see the sentimental value of having the Bears based in Gosford playing 2 games at North Sydney but I doubt the NRL will go down that road.

19. WC Pirates/Southern Orcas
20. Adelaide Bears or Northern Hunters (Based in Cairns, 8 games in new Cairns rectangular stadium & 4 games in PNG).

2 conferences with all teams playing each other at least once.

I can't imagine the NRL with over 20 teams before 2050.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

NRL 2031:

North QLD
Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Dolphins
Gold Coast Titans

Auckland Warriors
Christchurch Bulls

Newcastle Knights
Northern Eagles (Brooky & Gosford)
Sydney Roosters (SFS)
South Sydney Rabbitohs (SFS)
Cronulla Sharks (new Southern Stadium)
St George Illawarra Dragons (new Southern Stadium / Wollongong)
Penrith Panthers (new Penrith Stadium)
Parramatta Eels (Bankwest)
Canterbury Bulldogs (Liverpool)
Wests Tigers (Liverpool)
Canberra Raiders

Melbourne Storm
West Coast Pirates

Meaning:
Add Redcliffe in 2023
Add Perth in 2025

Add Christchurch in 2030
Announce new Adelaide team will kick-off in 2032

 

[ash the bash]

NRL 2031:

North QLD
Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Dolphins
Gold Coast Titans

Auckland Warriors
Christchurch Bulls

Newcastle Knights
Northern Eagles (Brooky & Gosford)
Sydney Roosters (SFS)
South Sydney Rabbitohs (SFS)
Cronulla Sharks (new Southern Stadium)
St George Illawarra Dragons (new Southern Stadium / Wollongong)
Penrith Panthers (new Penrith Stadium)
Parramatta Eels (Bankwest)
Canterbury Bulldogs (Liverpool)
Wests Tigers (Liverpool)
Canberra Raiders

Melbourne Storm
West Coast Pirates

Meaning:
Add Redcliffe in 2023
Add Perth in 2025

Add Christchurch in 2030
Announce new Adelaide team will kick-off in 2032

I really like this especially NZ2 being Christchurch based Bulls over the Wellington based Orcas.
Just a few changes mostly in Stadia and teams to what you have suggested.
- Manly remains Manly its too big a brand to drop from name, anyone that refers to them does so as Manly not Sea Eagles. Also famous landmark beach etc..
- Sharks won't ever move from Shark Park so feel the Southern Sydney stadium won't happen.
- Adelaide Bears in 2032 ? Will bring back a famous brand for RL.

 

[Quidgybo]

The 18th team will be another Brisbane based team, either Firehawks or Jets. The 19th and 20th teams will be NZ2 and a fourth Brisbane team. If you’re still fighting the Perth battle, you’re simply not listening to what the people that count have been saying.

Fish where the fish are…
No desire to fight in a rusted on AFL city…
Rebuild tribalism and suburban rivalries…
Secure QLD’s Origin competitiveness…
Promote clubs with strong player development

I’m not and never have been against a Perth team in the NRL. But it simply isn’t HQ’s top priority. It’s all about filling out the gaps in Queensland that have long festered after downgrading the original Brisbane Rugby League first grade comp to a feeder league and replacing it with just one first grade team.

Read the room folks.

 

[jim_57]

The 18th team will be another Brisbane based team, either Firehawks or Jets. The 19th and 20th teams will be NZ2 and a fourth Brisbane team. If you’re still fighting the Perth battle, you’re simply not listening to what the people that count have been saying.

Fish where the fish are…
No desire to fight in a rusted on AFL city…
Rebuild tribalism and suburban rivalries…
Secure QLD’s Origin competitiveness…
Promote clubs with strong player development

I’m not and never have been against a Perth team in the NRL. But it simply isn’t HQ’s top priority. It’s all about filling out the gaps in Queensland that have long festered after downgrading the original Brisbane Rugby League first grade comp to a feeder league and replacing it with just one first grade team.

Read the room folks.

The people in the room will change 14 times before we get to a 20th team.

 

[Perth Red]

The 18th team will be another Brisbane based team, either Firehawks or Jets. The 19th and 20th teams will be NZ2 and a fourth Brisbane team. If you’re still fighting the Perth battle, you’re simply not listening to what the people that count have been saying.

Fish where the fish are…
No desire to fight in a rusted on AFL city…
Rebuild tribalism and suburban rivalries…
Secure QLD’s Origin competitiveness…
Promote clubs with strong player development

I’m not and never have been against a Perth team in the NRL. But it simply isn’t HQ’s top priority. It’s all about filling out the gaps in Queensland that have long festered after downgrading the original Brisbane Rugby League first grade comp to a feeder league and replacing it with just one first grade team.

Read the room folks.

Fortunately rooms change, by time next expansion comes along in 5 years or so hopefully Vlandys and his hand puppet will have moved on and we will have some visionary leadership.

 

[Cactus]

Maybe the Dolphins inclusion once implemented & successful will mean that Melbourne-2 will be the 18th team & solidify the whole east coast before a conference system is then truly planned for.

 

[MugaB]

Fortunately rooms change, by time next expansion comes along in 5 years or so hopefully Vlandys and his hand puppet will have moved on and we will have some visionary leadership.

This is where your argument falls over, this expansion only happened BECAUSE of V'Dog and Abdo, any other possible future candidates for NRL HQ will procrastinate as the leadership has before V'Dog... im all for bringing in more expansion teams, and this will be the admin to do it, unfortunately they aren't looking at creating expansion teams from scratch, just happy to promote an existing 2nd franchise, which in the current sporting climate probably is the best option, as it is bringing in extra cashflow from the broadcasters just for existing.

 

[Pippen94]

Maybe the Dolphins inclusion once implemented & successful will mean that Melbourne-2 will be the 18th team & solidify the whole east coast before a conference system is then truly planned for.

There's going to be a new rectangular stadium in Tarneit