I agree with Epiquin’s initial msg. The Commission was able to get over 1billion for 5 years, that is very very impressive and by no means an easy thing to accomplish. The Commission was also able to get out of Channel 9’s first and last rights agreement, which is another major issue that many people tend to ignore. I for one can put up with 5 years of a terrible schedule and delayed telecasts if we are able to have all this money and have the freedom to decide our own fate. I believe the real test will come for the Commission in 5 years time when we have to negotiate the new TV deal. Those in the Commission are smart people and do know what the mob want and issues such as scheduling/delayed telecasts/expansion/etc will be fixed. I think it is just a matter of biding our time and honoring our current agreements.

When the new negotiations come around I hope the schedule can look something like this:-

*Cut the rounds down to 24 Premiership rounds (Should take care of player burnout as season should start and finish the same as it is now).
*Add 2 extra teams (The extra fixture each round should make up for the 2 lost rounds for TV content).
*Cut the season in 2. So start with 12 Premiership rounds, suspend the competition for 3 straight weeks for SOO on Saturday nights, then commence the following 12 Premiership rounds.
*During the 3 SOO weekends, other rep games could be played (Tonga V Samoa/Fiji V PNG/Cook Islands), City V Country over 3 weekends played in the bush, potential QLD City V Country also played in the bush, Under 20s SOO.

Personally not a fan of a Kiwi Origin series or knockout comp.

All that this needs to kick off in Australia is for it to be played here. Expand to 3 or 4 clubs from each competition. Internationals generally start a month after the end of the NRL grand Final, so play it two weeks after the NRL grand final in the country that the Internationals will be played in. So if the 4 nations is played in Australia that year, the 3-4 super league clubs will come out here after their GF, the bulk of the English team is generally made up of the top teams anyway, so they can just stay out here. Also the teams will not be underdone, they have time to celebrate their respective premierships and they are the true players that played in the GF.

Give it time to build, sponsors, tv and fans will slowly get behind it. In 20 years time it shoud be huge! It also needs a ridiculously big trophy.

Lets do it before super rugby does it, I believe they could do it really really well, they could have teams from Ireland, England, france, nz, aus and sa, so lets get in first!!

WW2 was earlier than 1978…

State of Origin was never created by AFL that is the biggest misconception going around!! Prove to me where AFL created it? League has been playing State vs State since its inception, not to mention that in WW2 a game of Rugby League was played in Darwin, the teams were NSW and QLD, where you were born thats who you played for. So that is technically the very first ever SOO!

Sorry heres what I meant to write..

Disagree GC, the WCC should be played 2 weeks after the GF. Then 2 weeks after that the 4 nations should begin. Whatever country the 4 Nations is held in, that is where the WCC should be played. You would have known that the 2011NRL GF was played on the 2nd of October, while the 4 Nations began on the 28th of October. That is 4 weeks after the GF!!!! No way will it interfere with Test footy!! As for the WCC, the 4 games should be played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 2nd place played on Friday, 3rd and 4th place on Saturday (double header) and 1st place on Sunday. No interfering with anything, just more international club footy, 2 weeks before the Tests begin. It would also mean teams would not have to fly halfway around the world in the wrong season to play in a match with no match fitness or developed new combinations with the new players in the team, the same GF teams would actually play as players would not have moved on to other clubs or retired as yet, so its actually a real test between the best teams in the world and also the premiers will have a longer pre-season without all the travel. 2 weeks is enough for the Test teams to develop combinations, set plays, etc. Look at Origin, they only get 1.5 weeks to develop theirs. Too many benefits imo not to expand the WCC and move it to 2 weeks after the NRL GF.

Disagree GC, the WCC should be played 2 weeks after the GF. Then 2 weeks after that the 4 nations should begin. Whatever country the 4 Nations is held in, that is where the WCC should be played. You would have known that the 2011NRL GF was played on the 2nd of October, while the 4 Nations began on the 28th of October. That is 4 weeks after the GF!!!! No way will it interfere with Test footy!! As for the WCC the 4 games should be played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 2nd place played on Friday, 3rd and 4th place on Saturday (double header) and 1st place on Sunday. No interfering with anything, just more international club footy, 2 weeks before the Tests begin.

So an extra 3 games is too many? The more RL games the better. A one off game every year does not generate enough interest, esp as it is played in England. If it was to remain just a one off game in England that is played before our season, I would rather have it scrapped. God’s country… mate you obviously have never been there!!!!!

If you loved it so much, then imagine that game x 4! If you leave it where it is nothing will happen with the concept, it has been played every season since 2000, it should have gained ‘traction’ by now. Time for a revamp fella.

If the WCC is expanded, which hopefully it does, to the four best teams from each competition every year, I believe that the English clubs will be more than capable of matching it with our Aussie teams. The positive thing that should come out of this is that the English national team will benefit immensely, as the myth that Aussie and Kiwi players are far superior will finally be busted. The International game can only get stronger from an expanded WCC as all the top quality English players are in top sides – Leeds, St Helens, Warrington, and Wigan. When these teams prove to themselves that they can compete and win against our best teams, the confidence this will install in their top players will be huge! Hopefully they bring it to the English side and the results of International footy will no longer be a given!

So tell me what is the point of having trials? If I was footy player I’d rather play in the All Stars game than play in a trial game out in woop woop!

Check out these guys, a group of expat aussies that have set up their own team in London, unfortunately didn’t get to play with them because of a broken leg. They set up the first iinternational game in Belgium against their national team. http://www.hillshoistsrlfc.com/about-us.php

Living over here, I personally think there is a long, long way to go, but we are taking baby steps which is what we need. Also need England to really pick up their game in terms of where the sport is heading, not looking to good in the south of England!

Yeah I never liked the Eastern Suburbs, I mean the Sydney City Roosters, I mean the Sydney Roosters, I mean the Bondi Roosters, well whatever they call themselves these days…

Oh you have changed tact, now your attacking my team! Haha!

Crowd figures have never bothered me but a bit rich coming from an Easts supporter. Hey hasn’t your club has been around for over 100 years? So what are you averaging this year? The generational support you must get from the good people in the east must be incredible! I bet you sell out SFS every week with that kind of “rich” history.

Nick Politis is like your own personal Pokie Palace hey mate, I would be a bit nervous once he is gone if I was you..

Oh you got me there, well done. Sadly the fans, like me, do not get to pick the colours. But I did like the jersey we wore in the 03 decider, want me to send you a picture?

Well lucky you are not picking the two new teams to enter the competition otherwise league in this country would be going nowhere pretty quickly.

Also could not really care if they do not have a team to call their own, they can pick from 16!

The standard will always drop with the addition of new teams, to think otherwise is just nonsense. I highly doubt that the toyota cup and Qld Cup can provide 75 players (the number needed for 3 new teams) and remain competitive in the NRL. Didn’t the Suns pack their team with the best 18,19yo’s in the country? How are they travelling? Did the standrad drop? And you want to do this with new 3 teams! Well that is nothing more than an EPIC FAIL my friend!

Want me to send you a video of the 2003 Grand Final?

Yep agree totally! Thanks Petrol, we def got more than 70 cents a litre out of ya!

HAHAHAHA! So the CCB supporters have changed their tune! It used to be “CCB must be the next team in!”, now it is, “why don’t we just admit 3 teams”. HAHAHA! Desperate maybe?

Anyway I am against expansion for the next 5 years, we just do not have the depth to make two new teams competitive, let alone 3!

Anyone else sick and tired of talking expansion? Leave it alone!

This idea has been floated before, most notably at last years Chief Executives conference, so it is nothing new, but I do hope it gets some legs. Interestingly, England have created an ‘origin’ series this year. It is called International Origin and it is the England national team v The Exiles. The Exiles are made up of expat Aussies, Kiwis and Islanders. They are only having one game this year and depending on its success will look to make it a 3 game series. I certainly hope that it is successful and helps the England team become more competitive!

Check it out http://www.internationalorigin.com/

I am a Panthers fan and I have absolutely no Idea what our colours are, something like black, teal and rust, who knows! I always get embarrassed when I hear someone say ‘what are your colours’ or when I hear that Cyndi Lauper True Colours song! I just cannot accept teal and rust as my teams colours and for this reason it is why I refuse to buy a jersey. But our heritage jersey this year is an absolute cracker and I am hoping that we adopt this one full time (like a lot of other people), similar to what the Sharkies did a few years ago. I guarantee that this jersey will sell out all other jerseys from the last ten years hands down! It has even got our old logo on it! Happy days! Something which I desperately want back! If I had a choice, I would want our colours to be Black, Brown and White. Black for the Panther and Brown and White for our Heritage! No more bloody rust and teal!

For me nothing can beat the Centenary Test in 1977 where the Aussies won by the same score, 45 runs, as they did in 1877 against the poms. Now talk about freaky!

Hi, I have a few questions, can you please answer them for me to clarify a few things about the bid.

This crucial element entitles the Bears, as the bookies agree, to favouritism for inclusion – Does it matter what the ‘bookies’ agree? Didn’t the bookies have Parramatta as favourites for the 2010 title? Out of curiosity can you please provide links for these bookies.

Simply put, unlike the other bid locations, it’s now or never. – Why is it now or never? Surely if the league knocked back the bid it would apply again in the future. The Central Coast is not going anywhere and it appears the Bears will still be around as well.

The ownership model proposed by Ken Sayer of Mortgage House eliminates most of the arguments. – Have you got a detailed copy of this ownership model that I may read? Is it proposed or guaranteed? What happens if the proposed model falls through? Have you got a plan B?

It’s the story of being involved with possibly Australia’s greatest team sporting comeback that is inspiring corporate support. – Greatest in your opinion not mine.

the Bears can say their bid has no question marks – Well I think there are plenty of question marks

As the bid is so advanced – So it is not yet finalised? When will the bid be finalised?

the Bears will be added at the first opportunity to increase the TV deal currently in the initial stages of negotiation. – Are you sure the bids will be added at the first opportunity, imo I dont think teams will be added before 2015, and it is a bit arrogant to think that the Bears are an automatic inclusion if expansion does occur.

The Bears are driving the agenda and forcing themselves into the TV dialogue. – So are Brisbane (they have been getting a whole lot of headlines lately) and Central Queensland.

A decision to delay expansion would be a signal to the Bears that the Central Coast is not a priority and almost the same as a rejected bid. – The NRL should put the game as a whole before any bid.

Rejection for the Central Coast means the administrators of the game will likely never admit a team from the region, as no bid will ever be presented as comprehensive and mature as that proposed by the Bears. – That is entirely your opinion.

As a Bears fan, I have confidence in the outcome, as the NRL continue to encourage the bid team, – They encourage all bids.

urging them to increase their membership base, approving of their merchandise sales and clothing range at Best and Less. – Have these encouragements been made publicly by the NRL? If so please provide a link/s.

The Bears have been on standby twice now for teams in difficulty, which tends to signal the Central Coast Bears are perceived to be of strategic value. – I find this very difficult to believe! It would be much easier for the NRL to prop up a struggling club financially then admit a bid team that has no playing roster, no coaching staff, no support staff, and in your own words ‘with a staff of just four and a band of about 15 volunteers’. I have read from bears supporters like yourself that the bid has been put on standby twice, first for Cronulla then for Melbourne. This I just cannot accept as fact. The NRL can prop up the Sharks financially and for the Storm, seriously? A team that is owned by News Limited? The same News Limited that owns half the NRL? Please!

Besides, the NRL would know fully well, the ramifications of rejecting a franchise which will have, by decision time, around 8,000 financial members. – The NRL cannot legally stop you from selling memberships and as I understand it they are a fraction of the cost of actual NRL teams. Can you please outline the ramifications?

One interesting spin-off of the increasing media focus on Bears’ bid and manly attempts to secure support in the northern suburbs is a large spike in junior player registrations this year in northern Sydney. – This is a positive, what actual growth has occurred? have you got a link?

It is perhaps a sign that the Bears-Sea Eagle rivalry will in fact assist both teams through increased interest in the game in northern Sydney. – It may well be a sign I agree.

I think and expect questions harder than mine will be asked of this bid and all bids for that matter when they are presented to the NRL, if expansion does occur.

Thanks.

I just read that and it seems very negative but I am passionate about my club and tend to judge them harder than other clubs because I expect more and love the place!

Rip in boys!

My beloved Penny Panthers! At any other club, Matt Elliott would have been sacked a very loooooooooong time ago, besides Wayne Bennet he must have the safest job in the league! But I am keeping my fingers crossed he does get the axe, but then again I want us to make the 8! Hmmmm rock and a hard place! I would also like to see the board go as well, cannot stand Mick Leary! Would actually like Nathan Tinkler to forget about Newcastle and come buy the Panthers!

I don’t know why but we never buy and players, If we do buy them they are no names or rejects and quickly get shuffled out the door (Dane Laurie), so on the back of not buying any players and losing the likes of Big Franky Pritchard, I am not that confident that we can emulate last years efforts. Especially when we pretty much only score off kicks from Luke Walsh, which imo is his ONLY attacking bow! We should not have gotten rid of Wade Graham, I think that will come back to bite us, but hopefully Arana Taumata may finally settle and start to reach his potential.

Anywaaaay anyone else excited about the our heritage jersey this year!!! I hope they make it permanent, coz we seem to have a new jersey every single year, don’t even talk to me about our away jerseys! Seriously I would love to meet the people that come up with that rubbish! I guarantee that our heritage jersey will outsell all our jerseys from the last ten years combined. I just want one jersey that is constantly the same like the Dragons, Rabbits, Roosters. Strong jersey = Strong club imo. We should also bring back our old logo like Parra and the Dogs, they are onto something there! We have purple in our logo… why? One last thing before I go, the Panthers really need to work our their colours, I think we have an identity crisis! Black, Teal and Rust, seriously!!! We have gone through that many colours I don’t know who we are anymore! I think we should just have three colours and that is it, full stop no returns! BLACK, WHITE AND BROWN! Black to symbolise the Black Panther, and White and Brown for our original colours (Chocolate Soldiers) that we wore from 1967-1990. It is that easy people! Marketing experts…pfft!

Good luck in 2011 boys!

Unfortunately there is a massive culture of drinking and country rugby league, but your right lets not talk about that.

Why wouldn’t club management let the players out on the town? They cannot expect them to be locked up in their hotel all the time they are playing at their ‘home’ games out in the regional areas.

Noted on Coffs, but are all regional centres at the same professional NRL standard? Highly unlikely.

Anyway, as I said its a nice romantic idea having a club with no home, but, it is highly unlikely to be successful on or off the field. Therrefore, I would give this idea a miss and focus on something more feasible. Cheers.

Is the NRL all stars a true invitational team though? Compare it to the Baa Baa’s, I don’t think so..

I am sorry but the club and the players would need a home, it simply could not work. Would they be training at the local RSL, while a team like the Titans have a 30 million + Centre of Excellence? Not really something you would attract a player with, no real appeal imo. I know it sounds romantic but not feasible if you want to be competitive in the NRL. I also do not know how it would keep players out of trouble, country football and binge drinking go hand in hand my friend.

If you want more games to be taken to regional centres, simly scrap City/Country and create a 4 team round robin at SOO time, teams including NSW A, QLD A, NZ A and PNG. These games with the addition of NZ vs a combined Pacific island team (mooted at the CEO conference late last year) will create 4 games a week, so SOO can be moved to the weekends.

Where would the players live and train? It simply could not work.

I am, however, in favour of a Rugby League invitational side, similar to Rugby Unions Barbarians. I would love to see one of those teams potentially playing the State of Origin winners, could be captained by Benji Marshall and include the likes of Burgess, Ellis, Mateo, and others not selected in SOO…

I would call them the Nomads or Rovers or something similar.