We’re on the eve of October, which of course in rugby league terms means that we’re on the verge of the grand final. It also means that we’re just over one month away from the formation of the Independent Commission.
These are very exciting times for the game and after an almost clean season off field, a record season crowd attendance and a local Sydney-derby grand final (let’s not forget Illawarra/Wollongong). The NRL should be proud and acknowledge a successful season on and off the field, thus far.
Once up and running the IC will have a heap of work to go through like the standard of refereeing, minor rule changes, player salary increases, NSW Cup overhaul and expansion.
Of course, this will all be examined after the most important tasks, the new TV right’s deal and anti-siphoning laws are set. With the NRL’s dominance in the TV market coinciding with an all-time high interest in rugby league, it’s safe to assume that the NRL will do everything to ensure the continuous growth of the game.
Expansion is a highly heated and debated topic. It’s not that the public think we shouldn’t expand. Public demand for expansion has never been greater than what it is currently but rather in which places will the NRL set up franchises and how many will they bring in.
As a Norths supporter, I admit that I am biased for the Central Coast Bears NRL bid. However that is simply due to the hard work and dedication that the bid team have.
The ground swell of community support, the vast numbers of sponsors both local and major, financial members which currently hovers at around 3000, the sustainability and equity and the approval of some of the most respected people in rugby league.
But one cannot disregard the equal hard work and emphasis from the other expansion candidates. Western Australia from the outside would seem to be almost guaranteed a license due to the lack of an NRL presence and the time factor.
A game played locally at 7:30pm would be shown live at 9:30pm on the east coast. Perfect for Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons but not so good for Monday nights.
The advantages still heavily outweigh the negatives. An announcement that the WA Government have taken control of NiB stadium is a further boost and really put the WA Reds bid in a prime position.
In Queensland, the battle for a license lies between the Central Qld NRL bid and the Ipswich Jets NRL bid. For Central Queensland, the lucrative wealth of Geoff Murphy and the major sponsor announcement of QR National, really solidifies the Central QLD NRL bid as a contender.
However, a lack of suitable stadia and infrastructure combined with a slim dispersed population would be reasons for concern.
Maybe 2013 is slightly too early for the Central QLD bid but if they fail to gain a license, then the NRL should do everything in its power to assure the founding of a team there before next decade.
The Ipswich Jets NRL bid has some merit but considering the infant stages of the bid and the lack of any real progression since the announcement for their intentions to gain an NRL license, one would have to imagine that unless a miracle happens then this bid is at the moment a mere dream.
With proposed games at Suncorp Stadium and giving Brisbane an NRL game each week in the process, there are benefits in having a team in Ipswich. But due to their, aforementioned, lack of progression and the fact the other bids are far more advanced, Ipswich would benefit in having more time and aiming for 2017/2020 would give them a better chance.
Other bids from PNG and Wellington are also worth looking into.
People have suggested in culling the weakest Sydney team in the NRL to bring in three new expansion franchises and also rationalize Sydney. Obviously by all reports that would be the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
However, losing a brand isn’t the way to go and the NRL has the obligation to at least preserve its competition to ensure we never repeat the sins of post-Super League/ARL war and segregate fans by eliminating their teams, their colours and their heroes.
The Sharks are in prime position to perhaps try a North Melbourne/Hawthorn-AFL-esque part relocation to say Adelaide or Wellington/Southern NZ and really expand their brand to harness new supporters, sponsors and of course much needed revenue. However, should the Sharks remain exclusively at Cronulla, then all the best of luck to them.
This weekend’s game will be great, St. George-Illawarra vs. Sydney Roosters. Out ever the outcome rugby league has been the winner.
Bring on the final! Bring on the IC! Bring on expansion!
Earl
Guest
Adelaide is a spectacularly bad idea, almost as bad as, say, expanding the AFL football code to, oh, Greater Western Sydney! Perth is a good move because it at least has a foot in rugby league. Central Coast is a cinch to suceed. Most any QLD could work. New Zealand is a gamble. Rugby league is probably the third football code there, it'll never displace RU or Soccer. Stay with the heartland, you're never going to convert AFL fans to RL...
Gary Magpie
Guest
How did I get involved in this debate. If the Independent Commission is created, the 16 current NRL clubs decide the future of Rugby League - and whether they want more competition or want expansion beyond Sydney. So this is a non-issue as they won't vote themselves out!!! They will also control the profits which will no longer flow the Central Coast and other regions around Australia to support the grass roots. They will keep an ever-growing portion of RL money for themselves claiming they deserve it. SAY NO TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION!
Gary Magpie
Guest
My son was born in North Sydney - he is a Bear. It was a shame the Bears were dudded by Manly - they had a good geography for support. My parents live on the Central Coast - they are not Bears. Rugby League people on the Central Coast hate the Bears - they want their own identity. If you listen to Central Coast radio on the weekend - you will know this to be true. The Central Coast deserve a team - and deserve their own identity. But the Bears will get up and be in the comp due to the cash inputs. We had a team in WA and a second in Brisbane 15 years ago - the contributors above that wonder whether these areas are ready to join the national comp are fools. Is Brisbane ready for a second team? Is Perth ready for a team? You idiots. The Crushers average crowd was 21,000 - stick that up your Rooser's bum. Nobody cares that the North Sydney doesn't have a team anymore. Nobody would care if Cronulla folds. Nobody would care if StGeorge played all games from Illawarra. Nobody cares that Balmain merged with Wests. We don't need to cling-on to old Sydney heritage. The QRL was established in 1908 too - althought the first comp was in 1909. But we don't crap on about the good ol' days and demand our teams' heritage be protected. Rugby League is for the people of a region - let them have their own identity.
Gary Magpie
Guest
The mighty Souths-Logan Magpies cover the river to the Gold Coast. I'm not sure the Broncos will like sharing the city though.
Gary Magpie
Guest
The NRL clubs' proposal is on-track - and the NSWRL officials have been told by the clubs to be on-track - but fortunately the QRL is looking after RL in Australia now and every non-Sydney region and team will benefit. As Roy Masters said - you can want a republic, you can want carbon trading and you can want an inependent commission - but that doesn't mean you should accept a bad model. This IC is a commercial grab-for-cash by Searle & Co PTY LTD. It is not for the game's benefit.
Beowulf
Guest
To answer your Bear questions in order, yes, yes, all, yes! Probably the strongest part of the Bears bid is their diversified income stream that will ensure they're around for the next 100 years. The plan is to have a reserve of equity around 5-6 million. Central QLD will also be financially viable - the only problems I see are that they are less diversified than the Bears re income generation, but compared to many other NRL teams, like the Bears, they will have a much stronger balance sheet. The main issue I think is population (and lack of stadium!) - only 300-400,000 in an area spread out over the size of Victoria, with less than 100,000 within easy drive of a Rockhampton stadium. Which is not great for expanding TV revenue or merchandise or away fan numbers. WA Reds is all unknown, hence the greatest risk but the potential for good reward in a 'new' market which offers advertisers a national profile. You've hit it on the head re SEQ - News are not going to relinquish their Broncos share, hence any new team will struggle initially or be vetoed access for a time. Also, no new market there, hence high risk of a Crushers2 for little reward. So in summary from NRL comments this year, they state they have no set agenda for points on a map, but will take the best bids wherever they come from. If they want to go with Perth (which they seem keen), they will balance with the safest heartland bid - the CC Bears. If they don't go Perth, it would be Bears and CQLD I feel (but only if the incoming Lib/Nat Govt build a stadium which they are not committing to at present), as the NRL are looking for areas demanding a team.....Central Coast and CQLD are the two areas screaming the loudest.
Chook-Man 10,000
Guest
Do the Bears have a HQ on the Central Coast? Is their anymore sponsor announcements? How much of the NRL "criteria" have the Bears roughly met? Central Coast Bears seem good but are they strong enough financially to go season for season? Central QLD have a multi millionaire as their chief an also QR National. That's a very lucrative deal but will they be able to go season for season if things get bad? Do they have the population? WA.Reds seems like the most logical but is it? No NRL presence is a good thing as is time difference like article mentioned but will the Reds brand sell? Will they be competitive? Can they go season for season financially due to extra costs via. flying from Perth. Will the NRL have a concession for players who want to play in WA? Ipswich, well where to begin. They have the population but will they be financial viable? If News LTD do leave the game but keep their interests in the Broncos, will they then put a notion that no team can appear in south qld for an x amount of time to protect their earnings and stocks in the Broncos dominance in the south qld?
maurice of dubbo
Guest
I read the other day that cronulla are in the crapper and are merging reserves with the storms. what a crap idea. bring on the dubbo destroyers as the next team along side the orange orangutans.
QLDerDave
Guest
Central Coast Bears are a must have. Peth/Central QLD/Ipswich/Wellington can fight over the next place. Cronulla should stay where they are.
Terry
Guest
Central coast bears have to be in the comp while so should Perth. Central qld doesn't have anything except dirt and bush
ac
Guest
The all new king of the gorganites has got it right to a tee i think. Look at the proposal he says and it is hard to find fault,
butchcassidy
Guest
So excited. Let's go the teddys! The other team can be Wellington!
AshyLarry
Guest
exactly. bears and reds have done alot of hard work. central coast and perth deserve a team!!
CentralQueenslandNRLBid2013
Guest
Drovers? I dunno I think Bulls is better and more appropriate. There might be problems with the cricket team but maybe we could have some sort of deal arranged. If not I also like the names CQ.CUTTERS, CQ/CAPRAS, CQ.COBRAS, CQ.CRUSHERS, CQ.MIGHT, CQ.CROCODILES, CQ.GENERALS, CQ.CROWS.
david
Guest
Carn the bears.
Fez's are cool
Guest
Yeah, I've seen District 9.... the aliens are out of control in Jo'burg
Fez's are cool
Guest
Central Queensland lacks people. Biggest town is Rockhampton at 80,000. Do you expect 1/4 people to turn up each weekend? Before you make a Cowboys comparison about travelling fans, have a think about the differences between Townsville/Cairns/Mackay and Central Queensland. Its a plaything for rich minning companies and QR. Sorry, its not going to happen. Maybe in 20 years, but not big enough now. Toowomba / Ipswich / Logan / South Brisbane on the other hand.....
Revolverlution
Guest
For many of the same reasons that Ipswich won't be able to use Jets (Newtown), AFL's Gold Coast's Suns couldn't use Sharks (Cronulla) and Gold Coast Titans couldn't use Dolphins (Redcliffe). I don't think Central Queensland will be able to use Bulls (Queensland Bulls Cricket). The name Drovers is an awesome pitch. Drovers heard animals. They lived in Rockhampton for a good century droving cattle and bulls. Central Queensland Drovers or Crushers (associated with trains, QR National is Central QLD's major sponsor) is also good. But Central Queensland Drovers get my name.. however Central Coast bears and Perth Reds get my vote this expansion round.
max
Guest
I don't think it will. If we put off progression and evolution because of every scandal then we would be dead set going backwards with our game. I think those sorta cases deserve to be judged on their own merits and shouldn't hamper other issues. Go the Central Coast Bears and Ipswich Jets!
Tembavj
Guest
Does anybody know anything about these betting scandal rumours going around? 6 players will be band for life next Monday? Thats two very big scandals in one year for NRL, does this hamper their expansion?