Why News Ltd is eager to quit the NRL ahead of time

[strider]

Especially after 11 years in the comp and 3 premierships.

... and 4 GF appearances in a row

 

[TheRam]

If the Sharks could do like what South Melbourne did here in Sydney, and stick at it, I can see them being SA's team quite easily.

Spot on Mark. They are a perfect fit aren't they? I really hope they look at relocating down there, it makes so much sense.

 

[Mickyd39]

I think the storm should be made to stand on their own two feet.
If they can't survive when News ltd limited pull out, so be it.
i don't think the new independant NRL should prop them up.
Would they do it for a Sydney club that was going under, i don't think so.
Anyone remember the North Sydney Bears!

 

[TheRam]

The Way I see it

A team in Melbourne = Storm
Team in Perth = Red's
Team in Adelaide = Sharks (if only to get Joey Grima away from our juniors :lol
Team in Central Coast = Bears
Team on The Gold Coast = Titans
Team in Brisbane = Broncos
Team in Newcastle = Knights
Team in Canberra = Raiders
Team in New Zealand = Warriors
Team in North Queensland = Cowboys (Would love for them to have at least a game in Carins and Maybe in Rockhampton once a year)

The NRL, be it the NRL commission or News Ltd, should always ensure we have these outposts, and that they are run for and as close to a profitable status as possible.

18 Teams, a national competition, then it is up to the Sydney Teams to survive against these others.

The teams inside of Sydney, catch and kill your own.

Add Port Moresby to that list and I think you are pretty close to where we should be heading.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

I don't know if the assumption that News would spend 5-6 Million a year on league elsewhere if the Storm were not in Melbourne is correct.

Hey I have said for a few years now, that the Storm should have been started on the Central Coast, (when it took all the players and Staff from either Hunter Mariners or The Western Reds). But if we could crack Melbourne for a self sufficient club, it would be a boon for league no doubt.

Their new Stadium, would be a boost, but so would getting them and the Game on Prime Time TV in Victoria.

 

[TheRam]

IMO we need an Oceanic Rugby League. Apart from Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart, a team in every Australian Capital plus 2 in NZ plus 1 in PNG. If we ever get that, Rugby League will be going great.

I would also eventually include Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart and then we are basically there. The number one sport in the whole South Pacific. Now that is a plan to work towards.

 

[Avenger]

The Way I see it

A team in Melbourne = Storm
Team in Perth = Red's
Team in Adelaide = Sharks (if only to get Joey Grima away from our juniors :lol
Team in Central Coast = Bears
Team on The Gold Coast = Titans
Team in Brisbane = Broncos
Team in Newcastle = Knights
Team in Canberra = Raiders
Team in New Zealand = Warriors
Team in North Queensland = Cowboys (Would love for them to have at least a game in Carins and Maybe in Rockhampton once a year)

The NRL, be it the NRL commission or News Ltd, should always ensure we have these outposts, and that they are run for and as close to a profitable status as possible.

18 Teams, a national competition, then it is up to the Sydney Teams to survive against these others.

The teams inside of Sydney, catch and kill your own.

That's crap. This is what Super league thought and they severely underestimated the tribalism and strength of Sydney teams.

Parramatta Eels
St George Illawarra
Canterbury Bulldogs
Wests Tigers
Sydney Roosters

will always survive, and to a lesser extent South Sydney who may relocate .


If you think the Warriors, Melbourne or Adelaide have more importance then the 5 teams that I have mentioned collectively, then you have rocks in your head.

You always maintain your strengths before investing in untested outposts.

 

[Belly in Brisvegas]

I don't know if the assumption that News would spend 5-6 Million a year on league elsewhere if the Storm were not in Melbourne is correct.

Hey I have said for a few years now, that the Storm should have been started on the Central Coast, (when it took all the players and Staff from either Hunter Mariners or The Western Reds). But if we could crack Melbourne for a self sufficient club, it would be a boon for league no doubt.

Their new Stadium, would be a boost, but so would getting them and the Game on Prime Time TV in Victoria.

This is a quote from a mate of mine in our Melbourne office who loves most sports and goers to quite a bit down there....I would hardly call him ignorant btw.....

I can only speak for myself, but I suspect I’m typical of the vast majority…we just don’t care about the Storm winning the GF. If it wasn’t being pushed in the news, we wouldn’t even know they’d got it, let alone won it.

And besides, I can only remember the name of the coach, Bellamy. The only player name I remember is the dick that whacked his woman, Inglis wasn’t it?

I suspect that Billy Slater is a Storm player but I wouldn’t bet on it.

That about says it all.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

That's crap. This is what Super league thought and they severely underestimated the tribalism and strength of Sydney teams.

Parramatta Eels
St George Illawarra
Canterbury Bulldogs
Wests Tigers
Sydney Roosters

will always survive, and to a lesser extent South Sydney who may relocate .


If you think the Warriors, Melbourne or Adelaide have more importance then the 5 teams that I have mentioned collectively, then you have rocks in your head.

You always maintain your strengths before investing in untested outposts.

I would say the top 3 are important to league.

The Tigers to my mind are fashionable when they win, and the same can be said of the Roosters. I think the top 3 you mentioned command at least 75% of Rugby League fans in the Sydney.

I think Souths are at the point where they don't expect to many new members, but want to convert up Non-Ticketed members to Ticketed Members.

On Super League, I am of the belief that if Parramatta and St George, went to SL, SL would have won hands down.

 

[Avenger]

I would say the top 3 are important to league.

The Tigers to my mind are fashionable when they win, and the same can be said of the Roosters. I think the top 3 you mentioned command at least 75% of Rugby League fans in the Sydney.

I think Souths are at the point where they don't expect to many new members, but want to convert up Non-Ticketed members to Ticketed Members.

On Super League, I am of the belief that if Parramatta and St George, went to SL, SL would have won hands down.

I agree with you re: your last point and Super League. I remember that meeting well.

Wests Tigers have already merged and are somewhat protected in the short term, however their geographical heritage is somewhat obsolete. The Dogs could easily absorb Campbelltown and we could take Balmain.

I actually forgot about Manly. I believe that if they do not get Brookvale up to scratch then they may indeed relocate.

 

[SCoops]

It is an absolute must to have a team in Perth. I would also try and get a team in Darwin by 2015. Darwin is what Perth was 10 years ago. It is a sleeping giant.

A team in Adelaide will not survive.
I lived my very early years in Adelaide and all my family/rellos still live there, I go there a lot due to work commitments as well.
Every time I have been there it is always SAFL or AFL. Every time you talk about RL you get laughed at. I have had customers from SA over here in Sydney and when I ask if they would like to go to a game they flatly refuse.

I have discussed with them what they think about having a team in the NRL, again the answer is NO WAY. They would rather a 3rd team in the AFL (not going to happening for a while either).

They just would not get the sponsorship needed to keep the self sufficient.

I know a lot of you have said no to Darwin.
However I have lived in Darwin for 26 years and I can tell you that you would get great support for a local team. During the Dry Season (Winter here) they only play Union and League. NTFL (AFL) is played during the Wet Season (summer here) so there is no conflict of the two codes.

When we had NRL games played in Darwin there was away a large turn out.

Not to mention that over time, you can get some very good local talent there as well.
They would need a team to relocate there as they don't currently have suitable players to be competitive in the NRL YET. But they are coming.

There are a couple of good kids just now starting to make it in the NYC, It wont take long if there is the motivation for them to get to the NRL standard.

Coops

 

[ElectricEelMan]

I've got one question for the all the "we must have ...." statements .... Why?

Why does league NEED a team in melbourne?
Why MUST it be a totally national competition?
Will melbourne ever be a truely self sufficient league franchise?

NRL definitely needs a team in Melbourne. They now a solid fan base and potential for a much larger one. It will take time to overcome the prejudices, but the fact those prejudices are slowly being torn down is a good sign. It is all about the future of rugby league, not only in Australia but the world. Cut away Melbourne and you are cutting a large client base both potential and current. That is just bad business. All we need is a broadcasting partner willing to show games into Victoria.

A truly national SUCCESSFUL competition will bring in a LOT more revenue. It is all about the future of the game.

With a new stadium, increasing sponsorship and revenue streams the Storm can and will be self sufficient.

Melbourne is at an absolute peak in terms of onfield performance NOW - 4 yrs of the highest success possible (making a GF) .... can't see there being alot more success for a club - superstars, super coach, SOO players, international players .... will the supporter base grow in melbourne? will they get more corporate support in melbourne? ..... what will happen when they drop off the wave of success? - will current support levels be maintained?

Supporter base, corporate support will grow in time. We just need to be patient but in the end the rewards will be great for the game. We have to get rid of this short-sighted western business mentality.

The Swans had a few periods of struggling in sydney - but that was mostly when they were unsuccessful .... melbourne are doing OK at the moment (altho they still need News Ltd to keep them alive) - what if they were to fall off and News bailed?

And the AFL nearly got rid of the Swans. That would have been a short sighted decision in hindsight. But the AFL fad has lost steam in Sydney and we will see the Swans lose lots of support due to stupid decisions by the AFL i.e. including another Sydney team when there isn't support for one. The NRL can benefit greatly from these ill conceived decision.

Channel 9 won't show them ... I can only imagine its because its not worth it for 9 financially - which means they don't get viewers ... 9 no longer has AFL to show, why wouldn't they show league more? political maybe? .... why would you cut off the presentation of the GF? - 9 must think its not important in melbourne???

NRL needs to get rid of Channel 9. They are sh*te. They are hindering the progress of NRL. But NRL games shown in Melbourne outrate AFL shown in Sydney, but why can Ch10 and Ch7 show AFL every week into the northern rugby league states but Ch9 refuses to do likewise with rugby league? It largely has to do with the ignorance of Ch9 Melbourne who can't understand why anyone woukld want to watch the NRL.

I have lived in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and there is just as much NRL support in Melbourne than AFL support in Sydney and Brisbane. And another thing the AFL is at its peak in the northern states. The Lions and Swans have been largely successful in states that have been overwhelmed with AFL propaganda yet support for these teams have dropped over the years AND with two new teams being introduced into these areas expect to support to drop even further.

This is not an anti-Melbourne rant - its more a case of i think we should throw money at places where it WILL definitely make a difference before we miss the boat rant.

Throwing money at Melbourne will make a massive difference in the future. It has a HUGE potential fan base, corporate support, and future. We just can't be so short-sighted.

 

[parra-matters]

i think league has a better chance of success in the US than in Victoria to be honest.

 

[TheRam]

This is a quote from a mate of mine in our Melbourne office who loves most sports and goers to quite a bit down there....I would hardly call him ignorant btw.....

Yeah right, not ignorant, sure. His statement says it all. Look there are mostly two types of Melbournians. The first type are anti-league and make a point of ignoring it on purpose and making out that they have no clue or idea of who the players are or even what sport it is. There words and actions show this time and time again. E.g. Is it err...Rugby?

Or they fall into the second category, which genuinely don't know to much about it because they really don't see it on television or in the papers mainly due to being stitched up by the unofficial blackout job those arse hole Melbourne media types have done on league down there. The Melbourne media truly fears league and its potential to the max and rarely ever mention it in a favorable light, but loves sticking the boot in when ever possible when scandals occur.

The only way around this is to persist with a team in the NRL. The new stadium will create, I believe, a new average of around 20000 at least if not more, which will be the envy of most of the rest of the NRL teams. There junior development is going great and getting better every year(NYC Premiers).

What the new Commission, if it ever gets of the ground, should insist on when negotiating the next TV rights, is that whoever wins them is contractually bound to show all Storm games live or within 1 hr of the game being played and all other free to air games shown no later then 9 pm. This should be demanded. If league were shown continually on free to air then slowly but surely melbournians(more so youth) will start to understand it and accept it as part of THEIR sporting landscape and or an alternative to AFL.

When you consider what the Storm have done so far virtually without any support through the print media, radio or television, I believe that it will astound us all how popular and successful they can yet become if they get the same opportunities afforded to the Swans.

 

[TheRam]

]i think league has a better chance of success in the US than in Victoria to be honest.[/B]

You are entitled to your opinion, but it is wrong.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

lol at Adelaide, it wont work hahaha, an AFL mad state with the pop of Canberra ( there abouts ) Perth however may well work and work well, still is AFL mad, however with the introduction to super 14's over there, plus an in general higher interest in RL there it may well work

Adelaide, and the Adelaide Sharks idea makes it even funnier hahaha

hehehehee

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

One reason that we need Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth is for increased media rights deals.

But that kinda works both ways. We can't force stations to show league in Prime Time and then demand they pay the big bucks because the competition is now shown nationally at a good time. I mean, we forced them to make it a Prime Time competition.

On the other hand, if we don't force the issue then we don't have leverage to demand a larger deal because the viewing in WA, Vic and SA is not on at a good time and so not able to generate advertising revenue.

So, we force the issue and then turn to sponsors (not media rights holders as much) and tell them that the game is now worth more because their advertising (via jerseys etc) will be shown Prime Time across Australia.

That is why we need teams across the country - because we will make money from it and the game will grow because of it.

This whole Sydney-centric version of league is ridiculously outdated and will eventually be the end of the game (or at least see the game fail to meet its potential).

 

[strider]

why will media pay more if no decent amount of ppl want to watch it in other cities?

 

[The EELiminator]

I would also eventually include Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart and then we are basically there. The number one sport in the whole South Pacific. Now that is a plan to work towards.

what does everyone think of hobart as the next expansion is there any afl or rugby played there? it seems like an open market to me

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

why will media pay more if no decent amount of ppl want to watch it in other cities?

That's what I said - we couldn't claim a nationally significant competition because Prime Time was forced upon them.

However, it would work differently for sponsors. They'd often be signing multi-year deals and the forced coverage would see viewership grow over time and that could be used. We could use this as leverage to increase the value of our product and ask for more from sponsors.