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In a week that has been about as exciting as a buck’s party thrown by NRL coaches Wayne Bennett and Steve Price, we need something to get us to Friday. So here’s something to get you talking, debating and arguing until then.
Every NRL bid, ranked from number seven to number one.
Yes, NRL CEO Dave Smith has said not until 2017 or 2018. But with almost $50 million profit in the bank from 2013 and the expansion war chest likely to grow year on year, looking at the contenders makes sense.
And honestly, what else do we have to talk about? City versus Country? Spare me.
Number Seven – The Adelaide Pandas
Even though we’d love a team to replace the long lost Adelaide Rams, this has been included for comedy value only.
It started out as a stupid idea from some guy on a forum a few years ago (no, it wasn’t me). They even had a mock jersey knocked up. It’s still better than most of the Warriors efforts.
Number Six – the Central Coast Bears
A team based on the Central Coast has been a dream of administrators for a long time now.
The usual arguments go that it would consolidate the game in NSW, while also giving Gosford its own team to follow, rather than having Manly blow in a few times a year. Also in favour is a fully functioning modern venue in Central Coast Stadium and some support from the man with the money, treasurer Joe Hockey.
Unfortunately, the model for expanding into Gosford and the surrounds has long been up for debate.
Fans would love to see a home grown team to call their own, but the relocation of other teams has also been mooted. The bid team has followed that path, with the defunct North Sydney Bears aiming for resurrection on the Central Coast. But putting the locals offside is no way to build a team, and establishing a supporter base on the Central Coast is hard – as is shown by the experience of the Mariners, who, despite a successful record, still languish with some of the lowest crowd figures in the A-League.
Number Five – Wellington
There have been scattered reports of not one but two interested parties putting together a bid to bring NRL to the Kiwi capital.
And the idea has some things going for it, with the iconic Cake Tin stadium, a strong business community backing it and an average Super Rugby team the only competition in town in the winter months. Well, that is apart from an occasional visit from St Kilda.
In addition, a Wellington-based NRL team could have the benefit of making inroads in rugby union territory on the South Island by playing at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. The university town attracts plenty of expat Australians and students, and preseason NRL games played by the Warriors there are well attended.
And speaking of the Warriors, there are plenty in New Zealand who are sick of the perennially under performing, infighting and frustrating Warriors tarnishing the rugby league brand there. Kids love the game, and the make up of NRL squads shows that there is no shortage of talented locals who could fill the ranks of a new team.
Website: we’re sure they’re working on it
Number Four – Central Queensland
The Central Queensland bid team may not have settled on a name yet, but their bid does have some big guns to bring out.
They represent a catchment area that encompasses everything north of Brisbane, all the way up to Cowboys territory in Townsville. That means Bundaberg, Mackay and league heartland towns like Roma and Emerald are all united under this banner.
Mining and gas wealth means the bid has some seriously good business credentials and people who can build a team on the shoulders of some of the most passionate fans. These fans are cut from the same cloth as those who drive for six hours or more to attend Cowboys home games. And the support is telling, with over 40,000 members and 150 corporate partners signed up before a single player is approached.
However, the huge geographic scope of the supporter base presents some issues. A team based in Rockhampton, which is the only real option, would struggle with attendances, and serious funds would have to be found to bring the stadium up to NRL standard. In addition, the prospect of merging with the crisis ridden Sharks has also been entertained. If the initial reaction from Queenslanders is anything to go by, such an action would go a long way to killing the bid before it has even played a game.
So there’s number seven to number four. Tune back in on Monday for the bronze, silver and gold medallists.
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