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Examining 25-year plan for future of NRL

Roar Guru
23rd January, 2012
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Roar Guru
23rd January, 2012
71
2558 Reads

I do not intend to fantasize, rather initiate a forward thinking look at, what shall be done to make NRL the number one sport in the country by 2037, starting with the NRL Independent Commission, which is a great change from previous administrations.

Fully independent, without prejudice, favouritism and corruption, the new body will oversee the development of the game to take us to the next step of rugby league becoming the pinnacle sport in the country.

The first thing the IC will have to do is negotiate a new TV deal which will make the sport/players a lot better off than the last one. Young athletes in the future will not want to leave our sport to find greener (more financially rewarding) pastures, but the opposite.

Other sportsmen want to come over and try their luck in the toughest sport on the planet.

First five years (2013-2017): The new TV deal enables us to increase the salary cap to match other sports and retain our best talents. Two new teams have to be created, one in Perth, the other in Brisbane during that time, say 2015 and 2016.

No need to hurry, rather than do it right. We do not want to dilute the competition so go slow, but steady.

Second five years (2018-2022): To make the RL a truly national sport, we have to include Adelaide in the next expansion phase. After that depend on the interest, either Wellington or a Central Queensland team shall make the first division.

Third five years (2023-2027): This is the hardest part because I think we have to create a second division. It will be almost impossible to increase the first Division teams due to administrative and logistic (travel) problems so there is no alternative.

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Initially a 12-team competition should be run. Teams can include (due to interest obviously) three from Queensland (one more one Brisbane, one from Cairns and the third either from the Sunshine Coast or Central Queensland).

Three teams from NSW (come ‘back’ North Sydney/Gosford Bears), second from somewhere at Albury/Wagga area and the third from say Coffs Harbour.

That leaves six more, so how about PNG, second Melbourne team, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand, probably Christchurch.

Fourth five years (2018-2032): We have to give incentive to the second division teams so let the top 2 teams from there move up to the first division in exchange for the last two from there.

Nothing wrong with that, anyway it is in 15 years time so the existing clubs by than will have to learn a new trick to escape relegation.

Fifth five years (2033-2037); By this time rugby league is the favourite sport in the country. Add two teams to the second division, one from Perth and one from Adelaide.

The administration is called Rugby League Commission by than, taking the game to the next phase of development. (Hopefully in the following five years the competition will be renamed to the South Pacific World Series League)

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