3,601 readsCall me Captain Obvious, but the area that rugby league can see to right now is expansion, clearly a great need.
The two areas at the top of the list are the second Brisbane side, and Perth. Why?
These two areas will provide the game with the greatest amount of growth with the most certainty. Perth’s grassroots strength and growth potential can make the competition national; and Brisbane is under-utilised, being a large league city with just one team.
Both would be able to generate large amounts of TV revenue, as well as localised player talent and sponsorship dollars/members for the code. Which raises the question of how.
It’s my opinion these teams need to happen ASAP, in the life of the next contract – we cannot wait. Not when AFL is supposedly scooting ahead nation-wide. We have a chance here to move forward in a great bound.
I am thinking 2015 should be the year we announce the inclusion of a new team. We should not wait until the next contract. It’s my understanding that new Perth and/or Brisbane teams are being spoken of during the current TV negotiations. Could it be that the ARLC are thinking much the same as mentioned?
The benefits of moving on this now far outweigh the negatives. Yes, the competition balance may take a hit, with a few more lopsided results initially, due mainly to talent-spread. I think this is only a small concern in reality. Sport survives poorer contests all the time.
The other and more concerning aspect is any new team requiring funding, as well as falling over should trouble arise. I don’t know the finances inside and out, but I think the negatives associated with forming these new teams is outweighed by the gains in exposure and fan support additional teams will bring – entirely new dollars and fans from Perth and dollars from a reinvigorated market in Brisbane, for sponsors and fans who miss out on the Broncos either by choice or simple supply and demand.
The last question for inclusion is timing. I have nominated 2015 as a time when I think we can and should bring in new teams. That gives the game one year to make a judgement on the successful bids, and up to three years to get the new club in shape with a full roster of players and support. Surely this is enough time.
But the time to make a move would seem to be now. And as a contingency thought: if both teams cannot enter in 2015 for whatever reason, then the two could be staggered for inclusion across a couple of years.
If that’s the case, then which team should be allowed in first – Brisbane or Perth? How would you do it? And what benefits do you think it would bring? Maybe you do not think we can afford to support two extra teams just now – why so?
- Explore:
- NRL, NRL expansion, Rugby League
July 2nd 2012 @ 7:39am
Cameron said | July 2nd 2012 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Von Neumann
The AFL has already scooted ahead nationwide, no longer “scooting” since it has finished with new teams for the forseeable future.
The problem with expanding the number of teams too quickly is that you dilute the player talent base, and the new sides find themselves less than competitive, and this is certainly the case if 20 teams is on the cards.
July 2nd 2012 @ 7:57am
Im Obsessed With SBW said | July 2nd 2012 @ 7:57am | Report comment
A second NZ team in the next two years. Heard on the radio that ANZ cup netball is now second to union as most watched sports on NZ telly. A south island NRL team will put a stop to that.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:00am
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Just quietly, I don’t think that women’s sport being popular on TV is something we need to “put a stop to”.
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:14pm
Working Class Rugger said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
Yeah, I found that comment a little ill thought out. I think its a hell of an achievement for a women’s league to be making such inroads as a professional sporting entity. Should be encouraged not squashed. Strange sentiment.
July 13th 2012 @ 5:31am
MG Burbank said | July 13th 2012 @ 5:31am | Report comment
I’m happy for the netball folks, but I agree with the sentiment. League should never be outrated by a leisure activity like netball. Ever.
July 2nd 2012 @ 2:20pm
samsonite said | July 2nd 2012 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Heard on the radio that ANZ cup netball is now second to union as most watched sports on NZ telly..
That surprising this weekend’s Warriors game alone with 182330 views was about the same as all ANZ games combined 185150
July 2nd 2012 @ 7:57am
Im Obsessed With SBW said | July 2nd 2012 @ 7:57am | Report comment
A second NZ team in the next two years. Heard on the radio that ANZ cup netball is now second to union as most watched sports on NZ telly. A south island NRL team will put a stop to that.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:02am
Duecer said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:02am | Report comment
Have any of the posters touting a second NZ team in the South Island ever been to NZ?
There’s only two sizable cities – the first Christchurch which only has 350,000 people and is in disarray after the earthquake. The second is Dunedin, an extremely strong Rugby Union city which only has a population of 120,000 so no chance there. Add to that the fact that outside south and maybe a bit of west Auckland there really isn’t that much interest in League and all you are left with would be another side which would split the warriors base.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:33am
Rough Conduct said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Exactly! Talk of a Sth Island team is crazy, I can understand maybe a 2nd NZ team, but it would have to be in greater Auckland, there is nowhere else it could be. Having said this, the NRL is reluctant to let a 2nd team in Brisbane so what chance does a 2nd Auckland team have?
July 2nd 2012 @ 2:50pm
Boomshanka said | July 2nd 2012 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
Christchurch is right for a new team. It currently has a brand new stadium (18 000 capacity) on Rugby League Park (The old Addington Showgrounds). The people of Christchurch are looking for some positive action and a new league team may be just the tonic.
Over 20 thousand went to the Warriors vs Roosters game (Rd 16 in 2010) in atrocious conditions the last time an NRL match was played there.
Hell, I’ve even witnessed first hand a South Island team beat the Kangaroo’s in the early eighties therefore anything is possible.
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:04pm
p.Tah said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
One off games don’t necessarily mean there is long term interest. 15,500 people in launceston attended a game of Rugby between Namibia and Romania in 2003, but I don’t think they’re going to put a super rugby team there
In saying that a team in Christchurch would probably do well, but I’d put a team in Wellington before Christchurch.
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:34pm
Go warriors said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:34pm | Report comment
Wellington is actualy NZ seconds biggest city and they have been trying for ages to get a team in the NRL. They only just missed out to the Titans a few years ago. RL is so big in Auckland you could even a second team there but I agree that would probably split the warriors fan base. Wellington would be the best bet.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:18am
steve b said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Perth and asap their fan base is already their ,,and it wont take long for them to put a team together !!
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:29am
Will Sinclair said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:29am | Report comment
Surely we need to answer the following question before even thinking about expansion:
How many teams should be playing in the National Rugby League?
Before answering, remember that the current draw is an abject farce, that there is no time to stand-alone Origin weekends and the split rounds brutally expose the lack of depth in the competition. Also remember that several clubs are struggling to survive on the current NRL grants and the players are expecting a bump in pay from the next TV deal (limiting the amount available to fund new teams).
Can the NRL sustain 20 teams? Or do we need to cut existing teams first?
It’s not as easy as getting out a map of Australia and putting pins on the cities where you want a new team.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:48am
mushi said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Voice of reason Will.
I want to know what we think each expansion delviers in nubmers and levels of confidence.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:30am
cos789 said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
well said Will. Its a question of balance for the competition.
If we want/need to have Perth, Adelaide, Wellington, Brisbane 2, Central Queensland, HOW do we go about it? What is the ultimate target number of clubs, and WHEN do we expect to reach that? Under what financial objectives?
I think the game should not exceed 22 clubs, preferably aiming for around 20. Any more and you have to introduce conferences. Yet as outlined, we have 5 locations looking for expansion – Qld 4 & 5, WA 1, SA 1, NZ 2.
The NRL needs a realistic, achievable, measurable strategic vision for the games development.
We must also question what we do currently: – ‘are we getting the maximum dividend from the games resources as curretnyl distributed?’
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:12am
PeterT said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
If these regions are knocking on our door, as they are, we should have a plan in place for them to compete at least on some level. A “grass roots” approach is needed for them to produce an least some players to add to the overall system. We can’t just let them go on wondering. Secondly, We either go national or conference. We elevate to Sydney teams to NRL and we invite teams to relocate. Sounds harsh but that is the reallity. What did AFL do in the west? They put a team smack bang in Blacktown because Penrith does not identify with Blacktown & neither does Parramatta. What a great tactic! That should have been our ploy not there’s (AFLs). We lost our chance to win over those people. GWS should have been an NRL team representing the people of the west – but we’re too ellete for this aren’t we?
July 2nd 2012 @ 1:41pm
Jimbo Jones said | July 2nd 2012 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
If the NRL put a team in Blacktown we all would have boo hooed the idea. Another Sydney team we all would have said? As it is, Sydney may not be able to successfully look after the 9 teams currently located there
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:48pm
PeterT said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
Penrith & Parramatta need to make themselves more relevant to the western suburbs. I doubt there apeal stretches beyond there borders. If we had a GWS we would not need a Parramatta or a Penith.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:22pm
Big_Marn2000 said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
You clearly have very little understanding of the sporting landscape of Western Sydney if you think the appeal of the Eels is limited to the suburb of Parramatta, or the appeal of the Panthers is limited to the suburb of Penrith. The people of Parramatta and Penrith and the surrounding areas (St Marys, Blacktown, Mt Druitt, Michunbury, Greystanes etc) don’t identify with the term ‘Greater Western Sydney’. That term is only used by people who live in other parts of Sydney.
July 4th 2012 @ 1:26am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 4th 2012 @ 1:26am | Report comment
Parramattta and Penrith are not suburbs. They’re cities.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:03pm
Big_Marn2000 said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
Let me see if I understand what you’re saying. The way for the NRL to expand, become truly national, maximize the next TV deal and take its rightful place as Australia’s leading winter football code is to add more Sydney teams? Let me ask you, what purpose would a team in Blacktown serve? What would a Blacktown team add to the NRL? How would expanding into Blacktown benefit the NRL in any way, shape or form? Do you really think the people of Blacktown feel slighted by the NRL because they don’t have a team which directly represents their suburb? Blacktown is a rugby league stronghold. It is full of Eels and Panthers supporters. I mean, would you put a team in Coogee or Maroubra because the people in those areas “don’t identify” with the Roosters in Bondi or the Bunnies in Redfern? Of course not! And for the record, Blacktown is actually a significant part of Penrith’s massive junior rugby league nursery.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:52pm
PeterT said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:52pm | Report comment
So you agree! A team from Blacktown could replace both Penrith and Parramatta and be representative of the Greater Western Sydney.
July 3rd 2012 @ 9:49am
Big_Marn2000 said | July 3rd 2012 @ 9:49am | Report comment
If you read my comment you’d know that I obviously don’t agree…
July 3rd 2012 @ 3:37pm
matt h said | July 3rd 2012 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
No no no. You will end up with a team not follwed by either existing supporter base. Parramatta and Penrith simply need to continue to compete for the Blacktown supporter based like they always have. Having no specific Blacktown team so far has not made it any less of a Rugby League area. You cannot have a team in every suburb.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:24am
Pot Stirrer said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Why would you cut any teams, you will just lose any ground that the NRL has made, and get bogged down in court proceedings which will do more harm to the game than good. The game has got to where it is built on tradition and heritage and to take that away from the game would be catastrophic. The only attrition should be by clubs who can not afford to sustain themselves.
July 4th 2012 @ 1:28am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 4th 2012 @ 1:28am | Report comment
” The only attrition should be by clubs who can not afford to sustain themselves.”
Like the 9 Sydney clubs?
July 5th 2012 @ 12:19pm
Pot Stirrer said | July 5th 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Mate, the roosters,Dogs, Rabits, knights and eels have plenty of cash. Doesnt matter where it comes from. If it wasnt for the Stallions or what ever they are called the Broncos wouldnt be what they are. Theyd be just like the Gold Coast which is why they dont want a 2nd Brisb team.
July 7th 2012 @ 11:12am
Kim Hart said | July 7th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Roosters are struggling just quietly. Get rid of Cronulla first and foremost and possibly one other (Manly
just kidding sort of) I cannot fathom taking a side to Perth it failed before and will likely fail again. Another side in Brisbane is sustainable. I’m not sure what Pot Stirrers on about as the Bronco’s are doing very nicely.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:43am
Charles said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:43am | Report comment
The best comment on this issue for a long time Will!
Pot Stirrer is also right we do not want to be cutting out established teams
We need to allow growth yet we cannot do that in one competition
Therefore we need to have a two tier competition with relegation or a State Competition as well as a National Competition
A blue print for the future of Rugby League is needed before any decision is made to include more teams in the competition
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:54am
Ian Whitchurch said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:54am | Report comment
The NRL can *easily* support 20 teams. Heck, it should be able to support 24.
Here’s how you do it.
Bring in 4 new teams – Brisbane 2, Central Queensland, Perth *and* the CC Bears. Go to your media partners and go ‘here’s a bunch more footy content. We want 20% more money’. Compromise on 10% more, with a 10% bonus payment depending on ratings/subscriptions.
Salary pool goes up. Salary cap doesnt.
Explain to the players there are now 4 new teams, all of whom will need 1 star on a million, 4 really good players on $500k, 12 journeymen on $200k and a bunch of minimum wage guys on about $100k.
If you’re a player who is overachieving and underpaid, one of these jobs could be yours.
The new clubs can take one on-contract player off every club, and that club gets an extra $250k in salary cap exemption for being nice to the new kids.
Explain to the clubs that the central distribution will fund the salary cap, and all other expenses are your problem.
Give everyone a copy of the AFL Sekrit plan, and tell them to cross out ‘AFL’ and write in ‘Rugby League’.
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:06pm
Will Sinclair said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
I think the problem with your plan comes here, Ian:
“Salary pool goes up. Salary cap doesn’t.”
I think you’ll find some very unhappy NRL players (and possibly more threats of strike action), with plenty looking to jump ship to other codes and countries.
The players and clubs are expecting a bump in the salary cap. The NRL will have to deliver this bump, or they will face some serious action from the players.
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:25pm
Ian Whitchurch said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Will,
Im going to dial the cynicism up to 11.
If it was the AFLPA, I’d be worried, but the NRL equivalent is a weak tame-cat union. If they wanted a real union, they’d join one.
We buy the elite for pennies on the dollar by agreeing to an increase in SOO payments to, say, $50 000 per player per game. We put SOO tickets up $10 each to help pay for that.
We buy the journeymen by pointing out we’re adding a hundred new jobs for rugby league players, and by adding cap discounts for veterans with 5 years at their team, or 10 years in the league $50k per player, capped at $500k per club).
We then add a token raise in the salary cap – say, 3% a year for each of 5 years, with a review after 3 years linking the cap to percentage of league wide revenues.
Its done.
July 3rd 2012 @ 5:58am
Mike said | July 3rd 2012 @ 5:58am | Report comment
Ian,
You have got absolutely no idea. 24 teams ? You’re dreaming buddy. Better stick with your GWS Giants mate, they need all the help they can get ! Leave the NRL to the real supporters.
July 3rd 2012 @ 4:16pm
Ian Whitchurch said | July 3rd 2012 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Mike,
Damn right Im dreaming.
Rugby league *can* grow, it *can* be a national success and it *can* support that number of teams.
Its got the cattle on the paddock. Its got the potential fan bases. It has the potential corporate support.
There should be a national compeition for rugby league, and rugby league should be able to support more teams in regional Queensland and regional NSW.
Heck, I can even dream that one day rugby league will control it’s own grounds.
Now, in reality, it probably wont happen. But I can still dream that the great game of rugby league awakes from it’s slumber.
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:41pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
18 teams Will.
There are expat players in the UK from which to draw some of the players,as one starting point .
Stand alone weekends for Origin wont happen.Leaves two to three days without NRL.It won’t work,the clubs would scream about loss of income,extending the number of weekends.
The Broncos and Sharks with numerous top liners out,produced a game worthy of 1st grade standard.The baby Bronocs have beaten the Sharks in the past.
The youngsters came in ,in both teams ,stepped up to the mark,and had decent completion rates.
You can view on occasions ordinary games,when the stars are involved
That is why the code has lower grades and u 20 ,there is a production line,jumping at teh opportunity to play 1st grade and get the experience..
Clubs have been struggling for yonks on piddling grants,the result of inept and skewed Tv negotiations.The code will get a big increase,the players will get a big increase,because expasnion teams such as Perth will assist in the new TV negotaiations.
One thing for sure Will,the NRL can’t be accused of putting pins on maps.The bids are coming from the areas involved,who have spent time in formulating their bids.No lobbing a team in an area,using a high profile player fron another code and expecting people to roll up.
And most important of all the ARLC will not be throwing millions, in order to prop new teams up.
July 4th 2012 @ 1:40am
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 4th 2012 @ 1:40am | Report comment
“Stand alone weekends for Origin wont happen.Leaves two to three days without NRL.It won’t work,the clubs would scream about loss of income,extending the number of weekends.”
There are 26 rounds over the season. Each team gets two byes and plays 24 games. If you have stand alone origin weekends then you can get rid of the byes. That would bring the NRL competition back to a 24 week competition without reducing the amount of games that each team plays. Crowds and television ratings for the clubs would increase a bit because the rep players will be available for all 24 games. It would add just one extra week to the rugby league season.
The stand alone rep weekends could involve 3 game series between England and New Zealand, PNG and Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, France and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, Queensland Residents and NSW Residents, and, Queensland U-21 and NSW U-21. That’s plenty of content for the networks.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:37am
The Greatest Game Of All said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:37am | Report comment
Perth first and foremost. I used to think a 2nd Brisbane team should be next, but now I’m thinking a south island NZ team should be next after Perth.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:35am
cos789 said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Any of those 3 would be a good outcome for the game.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:26am
Nate Hornblower said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:26am | Report comment
yeah Perth is a must, with all the cash in the West a team there has to be first cab off the rank.
After that, I’d be happy with either a 2nd Brisbane team, Central QLD or the Central Coast Bears. Maybe in 10 or 15 years, would love to see a team out of PNG.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:59am
Gaz said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Hey Von,
How can you expand into Brisbane, where already here. Totally agree with Perth however but need another new horizon.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:57am
Ian Whitchurch said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Because Brisbane averages a terrible, awful, shitful, hopeless less than 20k rugby league fans through the city each week.
Sure, crowds are better than that when the Bronco’s play, but when they are away, Brisbane’s rugby league crowds are worse than what GWS get.
Brisbane needs more rugby leage teams – personally, I think the city should be able to support three, plus Gold Coast.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:26am
Mantis said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
“Perth’s grassroots strength and growth potential can make the competition national”
Is grassroots RL in Perth strong?
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:38am
Matt_S said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Mantis, there are about half a dozen WA players running around the NRL already. The WA SG ball team is doing well, junior numbers up, and the ARL schools development is doing well in WA after a dip when the Reds went. Lost ground is being regained. The Force crowds aren’t going great so there is a lot of potential for fans to follow a real team!! I feel the trolls are fearful and why should league let all those expats moving across to potentially follow the force, or as i said about force crowds, follow no professional sport at all.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:16am
Will Sinclair said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Hi Matt,
Who are the half a dozen NRL players from Perth, if you don’t mind me asking?
Not questioning the facts – would just be interested to know.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:54am
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Cory Paterson of NQ Cowboys (formerly of Newcastle) is one.
Urk, well, I just saw a note on his profile that he’s now signing for Hull KR in the ESL, so maybe a bad example
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:58am
Ian Whitchurch said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Nathan,
No, he’s a good example of why the NRL needs more teams.
There arent enough jobs for the number of good young league players.
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:43pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
Jon Green playing with Cronulla is another.
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:05pm
Matt_S said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Curtis Rona (Sydney Roosters), Bryson Goodwin (Canterbury Bulldogs) Bronx Goodwin (St. George Illawarra Dragons) Cory Paterson (Cowboys) Jon Green (St. George Illawarra Dragons) Lee Te Maari (Parramatta Eels) plus a couple in Super league Daniel Holdsworth (Salford City Reds) Matt Petersen (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats now Gympie Red Devils)
Any questions on grass roots?
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:10pm
Will Sinclair said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
OK – according to Wikipedia – they are:
– Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs);
– Bronx Goodwin (Dragons);
– Cory Paterson (Knights);
– Jon Green (Dragons); and
– Lee Te Maari (Eels).
Given that the Goodwin boys (ascendant from the great Lord Ted) would have been playing rugby league in Timbuktoo if that’s where they grew up, it’s probably more like three genuine products of the region (although, I understand that Paterson is a born & bred Queenslander? Can anyone confirm?).
Does anyone know Jon Green or Lee Ta Maari’s heritage? I would just be interested whether they played rugby union at school (reasonably common in Perth) and then transferred to league?
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:20pm
Matt_S said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Will, it’s the same old story, league is actually played in a few senior & primary schools in Perth but not in the private school system, so those players probably played league in a WA school.
July 2nd 2012 @ 12:57pm
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Private school system has a very strong sports network and as you say, does AFL, Union, football and hockey extensively in winter but not league. A problem for the WARL to try and address but I’m not entirely sure how they would go about resolving it. Certainly I’m not sure where they would try and fit another rugby pitch onto their grounds.
July 2nd 2012 @ 1:07pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Rugby League in the West at grass roots level is extremely weak, and that is understating it.
I have not commented before, but people who think RL has decent grass roots in the west are kidding themselves
Basically it is run by transient kiwis.
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:00pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:59pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Well Brewski there must be a lot of transient Kiwis in the Pilbara.There are 800 registered junior players there for starters.Plus the numbers playing in Perth metro.
Apparently no one from the East coast with any attraction to rugby league has moved to WA.Better inform the mining companies.
And since when does having not a strong junior base.preclude expansion teams.we have seen expansion happend ,when this is the case,without mentioning codes.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:08pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
Well, CC, feel free to link me to these 800 juniors and the results and ladders etc.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:38pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
Always a pleasure Brewski.And after I provide the link (following,please refute the facts with facts:-
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/nrl-strikes-it-rich-out-in-the-pilbara-/story-e6frg1wu-1226353338028
And if further in doubt .spend some time on the WARL wbesite.Look at the names of the people on the WARL board,and tell me the transient miners among them.
I try very hard not to make a statement ,unless I have a source to back teh comment up.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:47pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
CC, it says 800 players not juniors as you stated, and FWIW its crap, there aint 800 RL players in the Pilbara, maybe development officers saw 800 people/kids at schools visits or some kids played league tag etc.
Show me a link that has some ladders, results, fixtures, normal club stuff, you can’t show me, because it does not exist, you are really kidding yourself.
July 2nd 2012 @ 5:02pm
Australian Rules said | July 2nd 2012 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
CC, you’ve been caught out here mate.
Here’s the quote from your “source”:
“Nearly a continent away from NSW and Queensland are five rugby league clubs and 800 players.”
First, this a Daily Telegraph article, not an independent link from a Pilbara comp or a club.
Second, it refers to players, not “registered juniors” as you suggest in your ealier post.
Third, it says there’s 5 clubs…and 800 players..??!!! (that’s 160 players per club)
There is, of course, a grassroots presence in WA, but there’s no need to inflate the figures.
July 2nd 2012 @ 5:26pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
Junior or seniors 800 players Brewski,if one wants to be pedantic.Prove the WARL figures incorrect champ,prove it.
Go to the website and get the teams involved .
Let me remind you the Sharks in Sydney have over 2,000 registered juniors,and when we talk juniors we include all registered players,so cut the crap.There are no official table results for the lot in the local press.and the code does not include someone who has picked up a ball for a couple of minutes,like another mob.
Have to laugh at an AFL flag waver disputing links.Then again i understand the discomfort ,one might feel at the thought of an NRL team coming to town.
July 2nd 2012 @ 5:58pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
@ CC, you made the claim of 800 RL juniors in the Pilbara, thats some claim !!, i have seen you post that claim around 5 to 6 times before i called you.
Its absolute crap, if there was such a competition the results, fixtures, ladders, news etc would be available to see over the internet, like every other junior comp.
It does not exist.
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:22pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
Brewski LOL.
It the story is also on the official WARL website ,sorry my friend,I have not been caught out.You were given a link,and you cannot handle it.Typical trolling effort.
Prove the figures provided on the link are incorrect.You have blatantly failed to do so ,except go into a lather of blather.You asked for a link,I also said spend some time on the official WARL site,instead of shooting the messenger,when the news is not what you want to see.
And whilst we are at it there are an additional couple of teams you may be interest in.
http://warugbyleague.com.au/ekeagles/
And throw in the Goldifelds as a growng source
http://warugbyleague.com.au/rugby-league-flourishes-in-the-goldfields
Nowhere have I inflated any figures except pass on links.Open your peepers for once.We are not talking auskick LOL.
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:54pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
@CC,
Are you actually living in the real world ?, now you are making claims about the Goldfields, just link me with some fixtures, results, ladders etc, not some spin article from a RL website.
You can’t link any of that, because all these comps that you claim exist don’t !!.
All these articles tell us is a couple of development officers are out and about, every sport does it.
Give it away mate, you have been caught out.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:15pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:15pm | Report comment
Brewsk i Great deflection my friend..
Sorry to report ,if there are no rl teams or players in those places as you appear to suggest please elaborate,without the use of your favourite adjectives.Stop putting the blame on DOS FFS.
You are given links and i am caught out,well based on that we are to assume that a fair perecentage of your code’s reporting sis pie in th esky stuff.
I repeat one more time prove the Pilbara story is wrong.I will wait till hell freezes over if necessary.Spend a fair amount of time on teh WARL site,you may learn something,if that is possible.
July 3rd 2012 @ 12:09am
D Maaga said | July 3rd 2012 @ 12:09am | Report comment
thanks for that Brewski i had a feeling it was misleading as well. played in perth for the cowboys a few years back and the grassroots level in wa wasn’t great and i remember my nephews school aramore high had to play rugby union because they had no other schools to play league against.
July 3rd 2012 @ 8:54pm
Rob C said | July 3rd 2012 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Brewski, try this link…..
http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2012/05/rugby-league-in-the-pilbara.html?site=northwestwa&program=north_west_wa_saturday_breakfast
Looks like cc was not lying afterall. Maybe an apology is in order… There’s a thought…
July 3rd 2012 @ 11:28pm
D Maaga said | July 3rd 2012 @ 11:28pm | Report comment
rob c, two things came to mind when i heard that interviews on that abc website you provided or should i say three. the first was there was no mention of any 800 register juniors and second i remember someone post on here saying the growth of rugby league in the pilbara is huge since there was no rugby league in the area ten years ago. but listern to that interview the guy mention a very successful rugby league comp in the 80′s and a matter of fact is that rugby league has decline and number of teams from ten to just four.
there is also fact that all three people interviewed had nz or very much maori accents.
July 4th 2012 @ 12:14am
D Maaga said | July 4th 2012 @ 12:14am | Report comment
Karratha Storm Junior Rugby League Club began its training in earnest with a large turnout of Juniors converging at Millars Well Oval on Tuesday.
Junior Development Coordinator, Kerry Draper, said it was great to see so many youngsters out on the first day of training. She hopes that this is an indication of things to come after the 2011 season, when barely three Junior Rugby League Clubs were playing against each other in the Pilbara.
doesn’t sound like 800 register junior players if only three clubs were playing against each other in 2011 unless gina rhinehart has brought over 750 child labours from nz.
July 4th 2012 @ 9:35am
Brewski said | July 4th 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
You are correct D Marga, there is some grass roots RL in the Pilbara, never though there wasn’t, but these guys are just in cuckoo land with the way they carry on, the first half a dozen times they posted this rubbish i said nothing, but when they were told the truth, they couldn’t handle it and started with their abuse.
The grass roots RL in the Pilbabra is very transient, and has been there since the 80′s, and depends on how many kiwi miners are there at the time.
July 4th 2012 @ 9:48am
D Maaga said | July 4th 2012 @ 9:48am | Report comment
brewster i know what you mean but don’t get your hopes up that CC will admit he was wrong. i’m still waiting for my apology when i caught him lying about a super rugby team in nz who was in financial trouble but when i told him otago rfc don’t play super rugby he quickly went off topic and blame the mayor of dunedin.
July 4th 2012 @ 10:10am
Rob C said | July 4th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Guys,
There was more than an a Kiwi spoken to in this interview (not that it matters based on comments from Brewski in this thread, which said that any English or Kiwis would be union sporters anyhow… another myth debunked). The reference of the interview was focused on the senior comp, which is expanding from 4 – 5 clubs. It notes in this interview that there is a strong junior comp, however more development is needed (hence the NRL players turning up to assist). The decline in league as mentioned is linked to the fly in fly out work force. Nothing to do with any other factors (i.e. AFL taking over the world…) as Brewski has repeated countless times in this thread.
Brewski has been arguing all along that there is no league in the Pilbara or Goldfields. His view was to show me evidence that it exists (i.e. “fixture lists, tables etc..). I have proved it thorugh this link. Maybe you should be a man for once and not hide behind your keyboard Brewski and admit when you have been found out. For the record, I have no idea whether there are 800 rejistered players in this area or not, but if I see a link from the governing body and then get further evidence to support it (which I have provided), then I tend to think CC is more right than yourself.
Afterall, your words are just that of a keyboard warrior. No credibility there mate…
July 4th 2012 @ 10:21am
D Maaga said | July 4th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
fair enough rob c but i also like to mention that CC said 800 register junior players in this case i have provided a paragraph from a pilbara website which state that only three clubs were playing juniors against each other which go against what CC have post.
July 4th 2012 @ 12:03pm
Rob C said | July 4th 2012 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
No worries. No one is under any illusions regarding the investment that will be needed to make league an excepted and sustainable sport in WA. I just think it is a bit hypocritical of Brewski to make stuff up to support his arguments when GWS is arguable coming off a similar base in WS. I would even go further and say their longer term growth will be a lot more difficult to achieve than any NRL team in WA. Just my opinion, but a large proportion of WS are one eyed leaguies and the negative publicity that has been around AFL in Sydney this year is going to make this a huge task to make sustainable. WA on the other hand have a ready made market with the expat population, which gives them more time to win over the locals through gras roots development and promotional activity. WS does not have this demographic split to a large degree which means direct compeition with the NRL (hence the code war antics….). Cheers
July 4th 2012 @ 3:20pm
Brewski said | July 4th 2012 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
@Rob, what have i made up ?, and what does this have to do with GWS ?……. i never stated there was NO RL, what i stated was, if there was 800 juniors playing, there would be evidence in the form of a website, ladder, fixture etc, like every other competition, there’s not !!, and CC could not provide anything other a couple of puff spin articles.
Facts are, there are not 800 juniors or seniors or even conbined RL players in the Pilbara, and another fact is that the Darling Downs Aussie rules competetion in QlLD is about the same size as the Perth Rugby league comp, that puts Perth RL in perspective, whether or not a WA RL team in the NRL can survive is another question.
I am not making it up, I am not being a hypocrite , and he posted this nonsense a stack of times before i spoke up., the only person under any illusions apperas to be the bloke who posted the article regarding 800 juniors.
Further to that after reading your comment, i have never stated tha AF is taking over the world or even Australia, grow up !!
July 4th 2012 @ 6:09pm
Rob C said | July 4th 2012 @ 6:09pm | Report comment
Brewski, I refer you to one of your comments above…
“Its absolute crap, if there was such a competition the results, fixtures, ladders, news etc would be available to see over the internet, like every other junior comp.
It does not exist.”
It seems you can’t keep trek of your own spin… Comments like this are riddled through this thread.. All I have done is prove your nonsense spin wrong. The reason I referred to GWS is I think it has less chance of success than a WA league team and I was wondering why an AFL lover like yourself could not see the similiarities and the hypocricy in this.. Especially when you bfeel the need to come on a league thread and bag out league wanting to expand into an area with a niche but credible presence.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:30pm
Big_Marn2000 said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:30pm | Report comment
Everyone else has pretty much covered all the Perth born NRL players, but off the top of my head, I know Joel Reddy, Justin Poore and Sam McKendry were all born in Perth. Not sure about how much (if any) junior rugby league they played in WA though. I think that there are also a few genuine Perth rl juniors, who played SG Ball for WA Reds, in the Toyota Cup. I can’t remember where I read that though.
July 3rd 2012 @ 1:42pm
Sledgeandhammer said | July 3rd 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
Force not a real team?
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:15am
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Well, WA is the top of the pile for the Affiliated States. Of course, the gap between affiliated states and the big two states is obviously going to be vast, but a professional conduit and the increase in mindshare brought on by a new top-tier team might help WA reach its potential in that regard.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:39am
Redb said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
What RL grass roots in Perth?
How does it compare to the grass roots for AFL on the Gold Coast for example.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:56am
mushi said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:56am | Report comment
I think it is the same type of grass roots you see on one of those cattle stations the size of the UK.
July 2nd 2012 @ 1:44pm
Col Quinn said | July 2nd 2012 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Redb,
There is a strong RL comp in and around the Perth and in other West Australian centres. There are currently 7 West Australians in playing in the NRL. The WARL has a side in the SG Ball cup feeding from 2 junior academies. Considering the number of Queenslanders and People from the north of England now living in Perth, then, yes the grass root support is higher than for the AFL on the GC.
However, if the NRL were to expand strategically the teams should be West Australia and Central Coast in 2013 and a 2nd Brisbane side and a 2nd NZ side in 2015. For those who will scream that there is not enough support for a 2nd NRL side in NZ. I disagree and the research carried out by one consortium and the ARL indicates that there is more than enough support in the Wellington region. The population in the South Island is too small, although RL is played on the west coast of the South Island.
July 2nd 2012 @ 2:39pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Col, the aussie rules comp in the Darling Downs of QLD is bigger than RL one in Perth.
RL in Perth is very small and amatureish, don’t take my word for it, how would i know, i just live here and am just involved in kids sport across a wholle range of sports.
July 2nd 2012 @ 2:46pm
Col Quinn said | July 2nd 2012 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Is Perth that big? Darling Downs junior RL is bigger than NZ and Papua/New Guinue combined. (joke joyce, it is pretty big though). I was going off info that an old work colleague, whose grandson is in the Western Reds SG Ball side.
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:02pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Your colleague is obviously excited about his grandson, and good on him, but in all seriousness, RL will struggle to have any lasting impact, the vast majority of people interested in the rugby codes prefer RU by a very big margin, and thats whose juniors RL will be targeting.
IMO, longterm it will not work.
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:09pm
JVGO said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
This is a bid by West Australians, the WARL in fact, on behalf of West Australians (or maybe expats living there) to enter teh NRL. This is not an attempt to plant something where there is no demand. I’m sure they have the actual facts, and if the bid is viable than I expect it will be accepted.
I think the NRL is very wary of building a bonfire for $100 bills in the west the way the AFL has done in WS, (we have one in Melbourne already i believe) and then having to commence a concerted campaign to undermine every other sport in the region. If it is a loser let them enjoy their AFL and go elsewhere to a better bid.
July 2nd 2012 @ 5:20pm
Australian Rules said | July 2nd 2012 @ 5:20pm | Report comment
1) Bonfires are fun
2) “If it is a loser let them enjoy their AFL and go elsewhere to a better bid.” – so in other words, if it doesn’t work immediately, bail out and search for the next billionaire.
I would have thought that is exactly the kind of thinking that the NRL can NOT afford to have.
July 2nd 2012 @ 7:30pm
jamesb said | July 2nd 2012 @ 7:30pm | Report comment
great comment JVGO
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:28pm
Col Quinn said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Dear Brewski
I rang old Al and he said that RL was better placed than you are making out. The comp around Perth isn’t run by transient Kiwis. WARL has been setup on business model, with a board of directors. Al’s son is one of directors and his company is a major supplier to the WA oil and gas industry. The WARL has a CEO and 8 full time staff. There are over 150 junior school teams (WA wide), as well as a growing high school comp. The membership of the WARL is now over 7,000. Al, also, pointed out that when NRL games are played in WA there crowds are bigger than the Super 15. The WARL surveys all indicate that a NRL would be more than viable and would have considerable business backing. Considering that Perth is actively bidding for the “neutral” SOO, then I think you have underestimated the support for RL in WA. I know this is small compared to AFL but then the AFL has put a team in Sydney, in the wrong spot, that has only about 4,000 regular supporters. If you check the Aus census you will find that there are over 30,000 people in the Perth/ Freemantle area that were born in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. In these counties RL is a way of life. Don’t you think that at least a third may be interested in attending an occasional match? And then there are the Queenslanders. I was going to put this in bold but as SOO is on Wednesday I don’t want to start a war.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:06pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
Dear col,
Believe what you want, aussie rules in bigger, and has more REAL teams in the Darling Downs of QLD, than the entire RL comp compettion in Perth (senior , juniors etc ) which includes Kalgoolie and Bunbury, and the Darling Downs is no hot spot of Australian football !!.
Good luck, the respective web sites, results and fixtures are all available to those who want to find out whats what.
WARL will need a lot of luck and good management and planning, something RL has lacked for 100 years, IMO it will not work, how ever good luck.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:07pm
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
Solid comment, Col, great to see some information from the source there.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:35pm
oikee said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
Col, i replied to Brewski below, i have seen first hand the AFL darling downs, trust me, it is not that big at all, has been around forever in a day .
Again, they mainly compete with rugby union Private schools, the only people to suffer are union, again,.
They opened the door to AFL being a private school game, now AFL is quickly taking over as they offer the school kids more cash at a earlier age. .
July 5th 2012 @ 11:33pm
Jack Russell said | July 5th 2012 @ 11:33pm | Report comment
What is this rubbish? RL Is a way of life in Yorkshire and Lancashire? Yeah, minor sporting organisations like Manchester United and City, Liverpool, Leeds United and Everton have no profile at all. Soccer is by far the biggest sport in those areas. Whilst League is has a sizable following, it’s nowhere near the soccer juggernaut.
Now – on the WARL. There are 2 divisions of 8 teams each at the mens level, covering an area of approximately 2 million people. At 20 players a team, that’s a whopping 320 players. Gaelic Football and Gridiron have comparable participation levels in Perth. That’s not to put the kybosh on the NRL’s chances of success in Perth, but there is no grassroots base. You bring up the AFL in Sydney – where the grassroots base is small. But it’s at least 10 times bigger than RL in Perth. Probably much more.
I wish the NRL all the best if they decide to go with Perth, but they’re going to have to work hard to make it work, and spend a lot of money. They need to be prepared for that.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:01pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Been to the Pilbara of late Brewski?
July 3rd 2012 @ 9:42am
Redb said | July 3rd 2012 @ 9:42am | Report comment
The Pilbara can hardly support a team in a National Comp.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:24pm
oikee said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Brewski, mate , your making things up now. Last year we had a AFL ozkick up the road, this year nothing.
Darling Downs has a AFL comp, not that big mate. You do realise Toowoomba only has 100 thousand people, now stop being silly mate.
I think Toowoomba Clydesdales even beat a British touring side. Steve Price is from Toowoomba, a Origin legend to you, maybe you have not heard of him. Anyhow, Nathen Friend playing for the Warriors is also a Toowoomba boy.
You wont get any love from Toowoomba mate with your argument, Toowoomba poeple are the salt of this earth, hard as nails yet honest as the day is long.
They and the Darling Downs are league through and through, Webke and Wanye Bennett are from just up the road.
If you dont know what your commenting about, why bother making things up.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:39pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Oikee, not having a lend mate, lol, there are 9 senior teams in the Darling Downs AFL, with possibly Chinchilla and Kingaroy joining next year, there are 8 senior RL teams in Perth including Kalgoolie, which is 4 hours away.
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:35pm
oikee said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:35pm | Report comment
You do realise the Darling downs covers a area the size of France, from Toowoomba to St George to Texas and as far as Kingaroy.
Having 8 or 9 teams is normal for most codes. Union is bigger in Toowoomba than AFL.
When i was a kid, our under 10 league team played in towns of Dalby, Warwick, Roma, St George and Gatton. Along with every small town big enough to support a league. ( Clifton, Pitsworth, Millmerrin Gundiwindi etc) Shane Webke has a property just down the road and runs a pub.
Their are only around 150 thousand people in this area,.
The largest congestion of teenagers is at the Uni here in Toowoomba, and they are students from other countries.
We have a population of Polynesians and Indians, along with some Sudanese, anyone who is half decent gets put straight into the Broncos or Titans youth squads.
League people are used to travelling 4 hours by car. Billy Slater drove himself to Melbourne.
You read stories all the time of country league players travelling huge kilometres to play league when they were young.
Some of our round trips as kids was 4 hours or more. In the car with 6 to 8 team mates. Back then we also got billeted out, that might bring back some memories for some guys on here. How often you get billeted these days. (Billet=overnite stay).
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:43pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:43pm | Report comment
Oikee, why so serious all of a sudden !!, i never stated that the Darling Downs was never a RL area, calm the farm buddy !!.
Do you realise what sort af an area Joondalup to Bunbury to Kalgoolie covers, and what sort of a population is involved.
I was simply pointing out some truths, RL in Perth is tiny, so tiny in fact that it can be compared with the DD aussie rules comp – thats all.
July 3rd 2012 @ 7:08am
oikee said | July 3rd 2012 @ 7:08am | Report comment
And i just pointed out that the Darling Downs AFL comp is minute, rugby league in W.A would be 10 times bigger.
They have over 2 million people in W.A, Toowoomba and Darling Downs has 150 thousand.
W.A would have more NSW and Queensland Expats living over their than Darling Downs population, those poepl follow rugby league mate. Just like the Gold Coast is supported by mostly Victorian expats. And the Goldie team is already on struggle street.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:44pm
Ian Whitchurch said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
By the way, this is interesting to look at.
Its the list of AFLQ development officers.
http://www.aflq.com.au/index.php?id=72
Heres the WARL contact page
http://warugbyleague.com.au/contact/
Heres the WARU contact page
http://www.rugbywa.com.au/HQ/StaffContacts.aspx
You can see what code is putting an effort in to grow.
July 3rd 2012 @ 9:40am
Redb said | July 3rd 2012 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Col,
When you say strong what do you mean? bigger than other footbal codes in Perth? what numbers.
July 2nd 2012 @ 2:59pm
Boomshanka said | July 2nd 2012 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
Many expat and exiled New South Welshmen, Queenslanders, South Africans, Kiwis and Pom’s are looking for something other than the Victorian code which has up till recently been the only option.
The Grand Final rematch Warriors vs Sea Eagles will be played in Perth in a few weeks whilst the Waiting Around (WA) State is to suffer a two hour delay for State of Origin this Wednesday yet still have approx 80k watching the game.
Build it and they will come. Perth is a no-brainer.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:09pm
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
“which has up till recently been the only option.”
Apart from football, union, basketball and a number of other options – we’re not completely provincial Boomshanka, we just lost our NRL team after the SL fiasco.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:22pm
samsonite said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
WA CEO was on the wireless in NZ last week saying there are 20 other sports from WA with teams in a nation league…WARL is the next cab off the rank
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:30pm
p.Tah said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
2 hr delay into Perth is still showing it at 8pm. If SOO was shown live on a weekday people would still be on their way home from work!
July 2nd 2012 @ 6:36pm
Brewski said | July 2nd 2012 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
You are correct, although i was loathe to point it out, as it would have fallen on deaf ears.
Its as though he posted that SOO had 2 hour delay to make people think that another conspiracy was befalling RL.
July 2nd 2012 @ 7:54pm
Boomshanka said | July 2nd 2012 @ 7:54pm | Report comment
No conspiracy implied. I note even the AFL E J Whitten game is also shown on a 2hr delay this tuesday as well.
Just demonstrates how in this age of “live sport”, those dependant on channel 9, are effectively living in the 80′s.
July 3rd 2012 @ 3:45pm
matt h said | July 3rd 2012 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
Grassroots on the Coast for AFL can;t be too bad. Southport have been playing in the QAFL for years.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:34am
Tigranes said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Not enough players for two more teams.
Plus we need to stop Channel 9 setting the season draw.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:43am
Gaz said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
We need to stop Nine altogether.
Plenty players in England to bring home if the money through the new TV deal is good enough.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:03am
Nathan of Perth said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Sort of like how you need to spend money to make money, you need to create player berths to make players. This is part of what I think is hampering association football in Aus since they went from 20+ teams in the NSL to 8, now 10, teams in the A-League; less opportunities for players, even if the “standard” gets improved.
July 2nd 2012 @ 11:05pm
JVGO said | July 2nd 2012 @ 11:05pm | Report comment
Nathan, expansion is a threat to heartland Sydney clubs, so supporters of vulnerable clubs get nervous. That is their first priority and this is something the commission will need to deal with. Are the Sharks viable? Can Rusty still afford it? What does the battle in the boardroom at Manly produce? Gold Coast are broke? Perth may be further away than you thought. This is why Grant is hosing down expectations. The AFL is absolutely burning money in NSW & Qld at the moment to the extent that they are already slashing costs and scamming govts and councils left right and centre for cash. How long can they keep putting all these development officers on the ground while there are still clubs struggling in Melbourne. At least there are two bidders in Perth who could maybe bail each other out. i wuold go with the WARL and if they get in trouble maybe Sage could step in. But I think it is several years away at least. Probably more.
July 3rd 2012 @ 4:28pm
Ian Whitchurch said | July 3rd 2012 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
JVGO,
You answered your own question. They are slashing costs *in order to* continue funding the development officers.
Unlike the NRL, the AFL has a plan to help marginal clubs become viable, and is following through on it.
I’d also argue that expansion isnt a threat to heartland clubs at all – a national competition means national brands will want to advertise with the NRL. At the moment, if you want coverage outside NSW and Queensland, then you’re better off spending your dollars in the AFL.
Rugby league should expand nationally, and should help struggling clubs become viable. This help should come with strings, to make sure it isnt pissed up against a wall.
July 2nd 2012 @ 4:03pm
Crosscoder said | July 2nd 2012 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
You have an idea of the numbers of expats /NRL playing in teh ESL and below?
Ch9 will be lucky to have the NRL contract ,judging by unfounded rumours.
July 2nd 2012 @ 9:35am
Rabby said | July 2nd 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Now that Gallop has gone, we finally have a chance of getting this expansion on the road. A 2nd NZ team is a nice idea but the numbers are just not there. The last thing we need is another Sydney team and if anyone wants another NSW based team, well it should be a Sydney relocation period. So we end up with Perth and Brisbane 2. These make a lot of sense and would have been on track for inclusion next year had the big G not put the mockers on it. 2015 should be considered the latest date for achieving this. With David gone, we now have a chance.