Just under 9,500 people attended the NRL pre-season trial involving the Roosters and Dragons at Members Equity Stadium last week, the second year in a row that paid customers attended a Rugby League trial game out west in big numbers.
Throw in a near 16,000 crowd for the match between Souths and Melbourne, and it’s hard to ignore local support for Rugby League in Western Australia.
But it’s not only the crowds that should have people involved with the Western Reds or the NRL excited. It’s also the fact their SG Ball side (under 18′s team) is mainly made up of local born and bred players. The plan was if they were admitted into the NRL in 2013, they would have ready made players who are locals to engage with the community.
On the television side of it, it also makes perfect sense. The time-zone helps the NRL beautifully with Perth home games on a Saturday shown at 9.30pm live on the east; a great way to finish the current Super Saturday on Fox Sports. And a Sunday afternoon home game starting at 2pm local time fits in perfectly into the current 4pm timeslot.
Big blockbuster games against teams like the Broncos, Dragons or Bulldogs would be a great start to the weekend of footy for the 2nd Friday night game, and it’s always a bonus to have the game live.
The current Reds bid is the silent bid at the moment, but with everything the area has going for it, it’s the most important bid the NRL has to consider.
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February 21st 2010 @ 1:27pm
oikee said | February 21st 2010 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
JF , this has probably never been considered under the mob we have running the game. All they seem to worry about is QLD and NSW.
Channel 9 wont promote the game down south, (neglected the last 12 years) the game down south could already be mainstream if we had people who cared.
Relegation would probably solve everything, but dont expect this to happen with our old dinosaurs running the game.
As i mentioned, they could not even get 9 to show the games down south. We need a t/v deal that at least is shown Australia wide, we do play rugby league.
In the meantime ,we all will just keep banging our heads against a brick wall, as they do in England. Until our game gets real businessmen in charge, who can push their weight around in Corparate circles, instead of taking the scrap’s that are dished out to our thickhead CEO’S and accepted like a dog’s breakfast. The game is doomed, doomed to be mocked.
They treat our game 19th century, and we sit back and except this because we have no push in the corperate world.
So another 2 items to add to our list above in my post.
Game not televised into all states, and the NRL not yet sold to a UK television station. ? No wonder our game is mocked. Our best product, NRL, and we cant even get it on tele in the UK.
February 21st 2010 @ 3:10pm
Realist said | February 21st 2010 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
Rugby league needs Perth and Perth needs rugby league.
February 21st 2010 @ 3:43pm
Bristler said | February 21st 2010 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
The question that has to be answered is ‘Where will the money come from?’ Perth is a very crowded market; people in league states have no idea how strong the two AFL clubs are financially. The West Coast Eagles had an operating profit of over $4.5 million last year from a turnover of $44.5 million (http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/tabid/7155/default.aspx?newsid=71098). Fremantle, in spite of their continued poor on-field performances, posted a profit of more than $500,000 from a turnover of $35 million (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/6829241/fremantle-ceo-steve-rosich-on-his-vision-for-the-dockers/; http://www.footygoss.com/index.php/main/club_news/fremantle/view/dockers_in_for_young_and_old/) To put these figures into perspective for NRL fans, in 2008 the Broncos generated a profit of approx. $1.2 million from total revenue of approx. $25.6 million (info. from annual report which can be accessed on the Broncos website). In addition, Perth also has a super 14 team, a successful NBL team (basketball is still relatively strong in AFL states) and a state-based aussie rules comp that is more popular in Perth than the Queensland Cup is in Brisbane. So, assuming the Reds need to generate approx. $18 million to compete in the NRL, where will the money come from? The two AFL clubs suck up most of the sponsorship dollars, and I don’t like the Reds’ chances of taking sponsors away from the Eagles and the Dockers; the Eagles have a waiting list for sponsors, even so, sponsors aren’t moving to the Dockers, so it is unlikely that they will move to a team playing a totally different sport. On the above figures, it appears that there is greater room in Brisbane financially than there is in Perth. In addition the Broncos could do with some competition to force them to lift their off-field performance.
It also must be asked whether there is a fanbase in Perth. Origin was screened in primetime yet games 1-3 generated ratings of only 83k, 94k and 66k respectively. The GF was live and attracted 66k viewers. On these figures, it appears demand isn’t that great yet. League fans rightly mock the AFL for the Western Sydney team and the lack of support, but the support for league in Perth is at the same level. The difference is that the AFL currently has a pile of money it can waste. Also, what happens when Subiaco is inevitably redeveloped of replaced? West Coast can remove the membership cap and will likely gain 10,000 extra members from the waiting list. Fremantle will also likely increase its membership tally as people will be more inclined to watch games at a new venue (Subi is the worst major stadium in Australia by a long way). Consumers only have a limited amount to spend on sports, if faced with the choice, the majority of Western Australians will pick the AFL team over the NRL team; what effect will this have on the Reds’ fan base and attendances in the future?
Sorry for the long post but these are all questions the team needs to address before admission is even possible. It would be great to see a new team but we must live in the real world; if the NRL could afford to support the team like the AFL will be supporting GC and WS it would be fine, but the NRL simply is not in a position to do so at this point in time.
February 21st 2010 @ 4:13pm
Springs said | February 21st 2010 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
Yeah Perth is so crowded, 4 pro football teams! I’m glad Sydney and Melbourne aren’t adding to their 12 pro teams each, they are way too crowded.
February 21st 2010 @ 4:44pm
Bristler said | February 21st 2010 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
I assume you are being sarcastic and you appear to have have missed the point totally. West Coast and Fremantle are significanly larger than the Broncos, the biggest NRL club. From a financial point of view, the two clubs dwarf the Sydney clubs in revenue.The eagles have a turnover the equivalent of three NRL clubs. So, tell me, where is the money going to come from to support the Reds considering how large the two AFL clubs are? Of course, Sydney and Melbourne also have more than double the population of Perth so that also explains how the extra clubs can continue to exist in those markets – and note that some of those Sydney and Melbourne clubs are barely able to continue to exist. Of course, clubs in the two cities also have far greater opportunities to attract major sponsors due to the number of large firms that have headquarters in these cities.
Apologies if you are not being sarcastic.
February 22nd 2010 @ 10:20am
Springs said | February 22nd 2010 @ 10:20am | Report comment
The Reds will exist fine, the Eagles and Dockers don’t seem to be hogging all the money from the Force and Glory. THe first thing we need to do is try to make them work, can’t just give up before we have started because ‘the AFL clubs have lots of money’.
February 21st 2010 @ 5:08pm
Rod said | February 21st 2010 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Might get more people to the games than the Broncos, but the Broncos followed by Parramatta are the two biggest clubs on TV bar none.
February 21st 2010 @ 9:35pm
Realist said | February 21st 2010 @ 9:35pm | Report comment
Logan City needs a team of its own.
February 22nd 2010 @ 7:02am
Crosscoder said | February 22nd 2010 @ 7:02am | Report comment
JF
The WA have more juniors than Melbourne for rl,and the games have regularly year after year, they have been played in that state,have attracted the 9-16,000 mark.There is a consistency,no novelty factor.A large number of East coasters<NZedders and Poms and even the odd Sth African who may be interested (as Jarrod Saffy who plays for theh Dragons) was an ex Saffer and his dad was a mad union man.The old man is absolutely engrossed in rl now.
The NRL has already stated they will fish first"where the fish " are,that suggests CC and Brisbane.He at the same time,and no doubt an efficient commission will state that Perth is in the "plans".
You cannot equate Perth to Harlequins. Soccer is huge in London, even union has a strong presence,and Perth would have more of a numbers base.Why?,Simply because of past experience since trials and premiership games were held there.It never reached figures as low as 4,000.Rugby league has not had a footprint in London ,as to the number of years that Perth has.I don'tthink chopping and changing grounds in London helps either.
Funny about sponsorship BHP sponsored the Steelers for some time and Coal & Alied do likewise for the Knights.The PNG bid,has mining people involved in the bid. The backer behnd the A League GC franchise is a wealthy miner ,who played rl.
if we were in a p….ing contest with the AFL we would have another team in Blacktown.Having a team in Perth would assist in Tv contracts.Even Gallop and I don't understand why,undersells hids code by stating"the AFL gets a better deal because they are national"
February 22nd 2010 @ 8:35am
Crosscoder said | February 22nd 2010 @ 8:35am | Report comment
bristler.
I think most are aware of the size of AFL in WA.
You talk about ratings of 66k whatever,yet we get the Swans in Sydney getting 90k live,and they have been here I since 82 have had more monety spent on them than any sport I know.
The point was made by a columnist whose name escapes me,if the Storm can get 14-15,000 in an ordinary stadium in an AFL obsessed city,can get 28,000 for a semi on AFL G/F day a couple of hours later,get decent ratings when the Storm is in those semis/finals and still not shown at respectable hours on FTA,then establishing a team in Perth should not be any harder,despite the News Ltd largesse.More so when a local consortium is involved,with local knowledge.
It has also been emphasised that the presence of the Storm has added immmeasurably to the NRL contract(the NRL reckons 2nd after NZ) to add to the more national feel.A Perth side will further boost ,the selling power when negotiating TV contacts.TV contracts make up a big proportion of NRL clubs salary caps/budgets.
The other point to note,having currently News Ltd involved in the NRL partnership hinders at times other sponsors from wanting to get involved.The new commission without News involvement,would encourage new sponsors if anything.
Sponsors are keen on one thing and one thing only, getting their product or service to the maximum number of eyeballs.That is why a company like Harvey Norman(who has an NRL director Katie Page),is involved in the AFL,and Toyota,in addition to the NRL.Never discount the Pay Tv market,where rugby league reigns supreme,and no doubt sangropers do watch that medium.I have no idea of the numbers for NRL.
Please also bear in mind.having a game played 2hours later in WA,gives the NRL greater flexibilty in scheduling and the same for the Tv stations contracted.It happens in revers in NZ.
Perth and surrounds is growing at a fast pace,many from the East coast.Yes people have a limited amount of funds to spend.However in a population of 1million plus and( I don’t believe you need $18m ATM).There is already an established base of 10- 15,000 mark on which to build.
Where will the sponsorship come from?
Any national or intnl company who has a decent marketing budget and knows that the Sydney/Brisbane market is huge with exposure via the NRL on FTA.And even exposure to NZ.It doesn’t have to be a local company.
Without a presence of a code in a state,G/Fs really take on less of a meaning and a want to watch.There was little interest in VFL until the Swans arrived on the scene,and they had a later Super league war, to give them a leg up..
I do agree that the AFL is prepared to throw large sums at the GWS.,despite getting only 10,000.in a rl stronghold.Why? To maximise Tv revenue.And what does TV revenue do for a code? Give them the wherewithall to fund new probes into new territories.Perth should be no different down the line.
As you suggested another Brisbane side is a better option,anmd will probably happen beforehand.
Yet when Perth’s population growths further,it mean the cake is bigger,and the niche has a far better opportunity.It won’t be the next cab off the rank,but as they say it will happen.A new commission will see to that,with some of the high flyers whose names have been thrown up.
February 23rd 2010 @ 8:11am
Paul J said | February 23rd 2010 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Crosscoder
‘It has also been emphasised that the presence of the Storm has added immmeasurably to the NRL contract(the NRL reckons 2nd after NZ) to add to the more national feel.A Perth side will further boost ,the selling power when negotiating TV contacts.TV contracts make up a big proportion of NRL clubs salary caps/budgets.’
I think this is a very important point. If you asked the average league fan which were the 2 most important NRL clubs they would probably say the Bulldogs and the Broncos. I’ve heard that David Gallop and co would actually say the Storm and the Warriors.
I’m not sure why this is. I assume the networks look to the potential of a TV audience and this means how big it is. Is it that the networks would rather see a new NRL team in Perth where there is the potential for 1 million people to watch the game rather that a team in Central Qld where there are 400K people who will watch the game?
February 23rd 2010 @ 1:30pm
Ken said | February 23rd 2010 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
average league fan which were the 2 most important NRL clubs they would probably say the Bulldogs and the Broncos…. hmm i’m guessing you’re a Bulldogs supporter. I think most people would consider the Broncos with that question due to their status of being the only team in Brisbane. As a Dragons supporter, I would say that their history, fanbase and famous jumper elevate them also… but then again a Souths fan would say the ‘Pride of the League’ trumps all…. Manly fans say ‘what do you mean there’s life beyond the spit bridge?’, North Sydney fans believe the the most important club going around should be back in the comp any year now….
As for your more serious point about who’s most important in the corporate sector. That’s a toughie but I would have thought the Broncos would still sit on top of the pile as the sole team in a RL mad city. Considering that Melb get bugger all coverage in their own town I wouldn’t think that they contribute much (apart from possible future investment).
February 22nd 2010 @ 9:38am
oikee said | February 22nd 2010 @ 9:38am | Report comment
We can only dream of the IC, nothing but a dream, long live the mighty dinosaurs, the next name for our rugby league team, stationed in out back Queensland somewhere, somewhere over the rainbow Crosscoder. Tell me something, why is rugby league the only sport “NOT” to have a team in Perth.
Now i am not a rocket scientist, but the very first team for expansion has to be Perth. We are “walking amounst dinosaurs” a show made about rugby league.
February 22nd 2010 @ 10:27am
Dogz R Barkn said | February 22nd 2010 @ 10:27am | Report comment
I can’t help thinking that a League team in Perth is a much easier sell than an AFL team in Western Sydney.
Hard? Yeh, of course, nothing comes easy.
February 22nd 2010 @ 7:22pm
Johnnydragons said | February 22nd 2010 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
Mate come to WA, no one even knows what RL is here, they all think its union.
February 22nd 2010 @ 2:01pm
LT80 said | February 22nd 2010 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
How many more teams can we possibly sustain in a single division? With 16 it’s already stretched, personally I think 18 or 20 is too many.
If the overall quality of the competition declines and it there is less money to keep the best players in the league, then it’s not a good idea IMO.
Doesn’t it make more sense to move toward a second division? I think the the English rugby union competition has the right idea. They have a 12 teams in the Guiness Premiership, and then 12 teams in the next level down. They are moving the second division to a full time professional league.
February 22nd 2010 @ 7:31pm
Sam said | February 22nd 2010 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
Are they still doing that? Thought the recession killed that idea. The French have a second Div, the ProD2 with 12 clubs – but they seem to have a lot more money than everyone else.