Would you be a big supporter of...

[Knight87]

a country team in the NRL? like, when the next expansion occurs int he NRL, would you support a country NSW team, playing their home matches at Apex Oval Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Parkes, Griffith, Wagga Wagga etc.? Would it be a success (if enough funding is obtained to upgrade the grounds in those major country towns?

 

[yobbo84]

Two words. Commercial viability.

 

[tommytomlin]

I'm sure it would be a smashing success, with crowd averages well into the ...........4000's.

 

[cronker]

WA needs to come in next, then I would personally love to see a SA/NT team. Not gonna happen but....

 

[Marshall_magic]

no the crowds would be too small



But i would be a big supporter of you if you didn't start the question for the thread in the topic name.

 

[Raider_69]

this thread has intrigue, mystery and a solid arguement... and then i opened it up.

 

[[furrycat]]

this thread has intrigue, mystery and a solid arguement... and then i opened it up.

I'll pay that :lol:

 

[kia ora storm]

It would be great for the game but not great from a commercial view...

 

[lockyno1]

No thanks.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Maybe not a country team but I'd like to see every team give up a home game to play at a neutral country venue. I know we play our trials out in the sticks but I think a premiership match would be a better way to reward these country towns that have produced so many of the League's best players.

 

[eloquentEEL]

i'm surprised no-one's mentioned the CC in this thread yet

 

[C.P]

I've often thought that if they could build a proper small type stadium there (say 15-20K)that Bathurst would be a good addition to the NRL, its a big town and fairly central as far as "the country" goes for fans.
But i'm afraid that i cant see it ever happening as those 2 words of commercial viability will always stick a fork in it.

 

[CowMan]

Build RL is South Australia and then Bring Back the Rams

 

[Phillips]

a country team in the NRL? like, when the next expansion occurs int he NRL, would you support a country NSW team, playing their home matches at Apex Oval Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Parkes, Griffith, Wagga Wagga etc.? Would it be a success (if enough funding is obtained to upgrade the grounds in those major country towns?

Forbes Magpies would carve up in the NRL

 

[Knight87]

Build RL is South Australia and then Bring Back the Rams

Soz, Rugby League in Adelaide is gooooooooone. They had their chance and failed to deliver the goods. Western Australia, on the other hand, had a strong growth in Rugby League before the Perth Reds got cut from the comp. Teams need to be established in strong league areas (eg Central Coast), before other expansions will come into consideration

 

[Balmain_Boy]

Maybe not a country team but I'd like to see every team give up a home game to play at a neutral country venue. I know we play our trials out in the sticks but I think a premiership match would be a better way to reward these country towns that have produced so many of the League's best players.

We got a winner.

 

[Raider_69]

i concur with walt also
each team should give up a home game to play in sticks, that gives NSW Country 11 games a year, QLD country 4 (ive included melbourne for QLD)...

 

[Knight87]

Yep, I agree with the idea that it would be good if each team takes 1 of their home games to another venue.

 

[hillbillyjazzer1954]

....yep good idea JT, but to take it one step further i woild like to see a club that combines players from different groups into one club that represents all the country areas....and playing out of a permanent arena in a country area

i would be very supportive of this idea, up here a Taree we have some brilliant players that will never get the chance to step up to the NRL......but deserve it, if somthing like this was to happen the club would have to have a policy that 85 per cent of the playing roster was picked from current clubs in the current various groups to give all the future superstars a chance to step up

to all the people who have bagged this idea open your minds and think outside the square

 

[Raider_69]

so hillbilly, where is this club going to get sponsors from? what about ticket and merch sales?
almost all rural leagues that ive met have a team and are extremely passionate for that team, i cant see too many of them dropping their long time team to jump aboard a new franchise... finacially its just not viable and probably never will be...