The report that many of the Sydney Club CEO’s are not in favour of a Central Coast Bears team in the competition is predictable and should come as no surprise to any follower of the game or the expansion debate.
It is the perfect demonstration of why a truly independent commission is crucial to move the game forward by removing blatant self-interest.
The report comes just days after glowing reports on the progress of the Bears bid – an underwrite guarantee of $10 million by Mortgage House, which ensures the bids financial longevity.
Add to this the exponential growth being achieved in membership numbers (over 4,100) and Facebook fan numbers (over 22,000), the Bears franchise would lay claim to being the fastest growing sporting entity in Australasia.
David Gallop has enthused openly about the prospects and appeal of this bid and therein lies the question – who is running the game?
The Clubs need to be strong and evenly balanced to have a viable competition. To achieve financial security they require funding to close the gap between NRL grants and their salary cap.
An enhanced TV rights deal will achieve this.
Add to this the soon-to-be-elected NSW State Opposition’s plan to reduce poker machine taxes on NSW sporting Clubs and projected cost savings of $10 million a year with an Independent Commission and there should end their demands on the administration.
It is the brief of the administration (and IC) to ensure the long-term viability of both the competition and the game. The competition will soon be in a healthy state and the NRL will look to expansion into regions that can increase revenues – broadcasting rights, merchandising, memberships, tickets and corporate support.
The main four license bidders can all lay a claim towards achieving increased revenues, and the NRL (not clubs) have consistently stated there are no preferred tender locations – the best bid will get the nod and there are three that have developed grassroots support – Central Coast, Perth and Central Queensland.
Of these, only one is ‘new territory’ and appears to be a favourite due to the TV timeslots and ‘national’ branding possibilities for sponsors (Perth). The NRL, like any business, needs to balance a short term costly Perth entry with a no risk, low cost heartland bid.
So out of Central Queensland and Central Coast, who is the most ready for a team? Both are financial secure and are bring new sponsors to the table, so how about the other criteria?
Central Coast has been the favoured NRL site for expansion due to these advantages:
– Its possibility to reconnect with old Bears supporters in Sydney and elsewhere.
– Two magnificent grounds.
– Its potential for merchandise sales due to a large population and generational support.
– Proven support with over 4,100 financial members, more than a few NRL teams.
– Ticket sales, as attracting away fans is a major attraction.
– The need to counter the AFL’s growing presence in north and north west Sydney following the announcement of the GWS Giants AFL franchise.
– The Bears were the second most watched team on TV in the 1990s.
The only question is then, would entry of the Bears weaken any NRL teams?
Certainly not in terms of sponsors as the Bears are bringing new sponsors into the game. An increase in interest in the game will increase the number of juniors playing, and so there will be ample supply for Manly and Newcastle to choose from – the Bears have no mortgage on every junior in the territory.
With Newcastle certain to sign up for the Tinkler rescue plan, their financial future will be secured and both Manly and Newcastle will benefit tremendously from the local rivalries that can be marketed and leveraged into increased memberships, merchandise and attendances for all three clubs.
Which brings us back to the crutch of the matter – why do some NRL clubs oppose the entry of the Bears? Two reasons, neither relevant to an IC:
– Ego.
– The requirement to become as professional as the Central Coast Bears and change a lifetime of poor business practice.
The IC will want strong, professional products. Central Coast, Perth and CQ can offer this. I would love to see a vision statement drawn up with entry in 2013 to the Bears and WA Reds, and provisional licences granted to CQ and a Brisbane model yet to be determined.
In 2015, these provisional licences can be reviewed as to progress and to see how the new teams have bedded down. This way new sponsors to the game will not be lost and the two teams that miss out this time can keep the momentum going and be all the stronger for it upon entry.
The IC cannot come soon enough!
beowulf
Guest
Exactly, to appear above all reproach, these first commissioners will be captains of industry with no club affiliations, beholden to no-one. Decisions on topics such as expansion will be done under the guidance of David Gallop, who has constantly referred to Central Coast and Perth re the next expansions, despite knowing quite well the Sydney Clubs would not welcome a Central Coast team.
Col the Bear
Guest
agree entirely CC..and don't worry I think David Gallop will have a say in this also even if some beg to differ..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
According to the SMH "Future commissioners will be chosen by the existing commissioners,so it is important to make the right appointments first up"' On that basis I suggest the 16 clubs will not have the influence some keep banging on about, as to preferred commissioners,after the intiial selections.
Col the Bear
Guest
maybe we could throw in Redcliffe as well.. :-) afterall they were the club that said they wanted to come in for 2016.. maybe they should have a crack again, wasn't that the reason why they stopped gold coast using the dolphins name..
Col the Bear
Guest
I'll beg to differ on this one. maybe if the qrl had their way yes there would be expansion but 4 teams in Qld.. Ipswich, Central Qld, Sunshine Coast and Souths Logan..
Col the Bear
Guest
oohh pressure mounts..
Col the Bear
Guest
Uh humm I don't think I ever said the areas of winston hills, baulkham hills, I know they are Parra,but I did say Pennant hills, Hills Hawks but these are part of the North west of sydney, and hey they are North sydney junior clubs.. well they do wear a bear logo on their right side of their chest, so yes they are Bears juniors, I did mention areas of Dural (hills hawks home ground) glenorie, arcadia , which are in the north west of sydney, but not the greater north west of Sydney like windsor, ,etc I know those areas are Penrith. yes we will represnt the areas I mentioned as they will continue to be Bears juniors, and this is our catchment area..always has been and always will be.. all the junior clubs of the norths have come out endorsing the Central Coast Bears..including Berowra, Asquith, Penno and Hawks..Bears..areas.. you know you can just look on our official website and you can see our map and catchment area..www.centralcoastbears.com.au :-)
Col the Bear
Guest
ahh not all nrl clubs babybear ;-)
Col the Bear
Guest
Thanks for your support Mick h ,Central Coast Bears are doing some incredible things for a team not even in the NRL the community is getting behind it in a big way now... I just saw our members xmas email/video sent to all the 4200 members..amazing stuff.. inspiring..afraid I can't put it up, but if you want to see it, hey become a financial member of the Central Coast Bears.it's amazing what we have achieved in 1 year..can't wait for the enxt year, this is only getting bigger and bigger just go to . www.centralcoastbears.com.au and you too can get excited as we as members are now so inspired to try and bring in the last 800 members by xmas , 5000 was our deadline by March.. maybe xmas or new year we can do it.. with 4 events booked this weekend, 5 counting thursday night at best &less Erina from 5pm to 9pm , we have also passed 50 of our 100 foundation memberships at 5.500 each..thats people putting their own hard earned cash into making sure the CCBs get up.and we will make it happen for 2013, no matter what some detractors may think.. GO THE MIGHTY CENTRAL COAST BEARS
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Beowulf, your understanding of the Independent Commission is naive. The current proposal was written by some of the privately owned clubs and seeks to remove power from the ARL body and give it to the 16 existing NRL clubs. The 16 clubs will have the power to remove any commissioner that acts outside their wishes - and therefore they may remove any commissioner who, for example, wants to admit the Bears into the NRL. You need to understand the proposal. While the current status is unknown, all league fans should realise what the IC means for the future of RL - and it certainly is NOT independent!
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
The proposed ARL IC is not the same as the AFL IC model. While I assume you are an AFL fan, most RL fans do not understand the proposal either. The current Rugby League model has two aspects - the ARL stewards of the game (who are independent) and the NRL competition (which is seen to be not independent due to its 50% ownership by News Limited). The independence of the ARL can be seen in the expansion efforts of the 90s - consolidating Sydney clubs and expanding the national comp into Queensland, NZL and WA. Under the proposed IC, power is taken from the "leagues" and given to the 16 existing NRL clubs. This is actually counter-productive to the aim of independence. As a result, the current 16 clubs can remove any independent commissioner acting against the wishes of the existing clubs.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
You keep quoting Gallop - but he is merely the CEO - not a director (ie. Independent Commissioner) - and not an owner (ie. the existing NRL clubs under the proposed IC model). So Gallop can just shut up and do what he is told!
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Ahh, Ken, but the club officials are able to vote out any Independent Commissioner who doesn't follow their wishes (under the current IC proposal). And, as you correctly point out, the club officials are paid to look after the interests of their clubs - not the interests of the game. This differs from the AFL IC model.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
No no no no no, Col, you are waaayyyy wrong.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
What are you talking about, Col? The IC (the current proposal) doesn't give any independence to the "IC". The clubs are able to vote out any commissioner that doesn't do what they want (under the proposal written by the GC Titans CEO and supported by the NSWRL). It is only the QRL that is supporting a truly independent model - but I'm not sure they will get up...
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Ahh yes, the Independent Commission - that's what this thread was about wasn't it. 'Somehow' it reverted to yet another discussion about the pathetic Central Coast Bears bid. Ref your point, Wookie, you should note that no details of the current IC proposal have been announced - and it is not clear who or how the commissioners can be overruled. Please also note that the current IC proposal is not from the same basis as the AFL IC. The AFL clubs are true clubs - however NRL clubs are a mix of clubs and privately owned businesses (and one publicly owned business) that are profit-driven. Therefore the AFL IC is directed in the interests of their game whereas the ARL IC will be directed in the interests of profits. What we do know is that the current proposal, written by an owner of the privately owned GC Titans, wanted the clubs to be able to remove commissioners - however the QRL have pushed to ensure that the clubs cannot act without the agreement of elected officials from the QRL or NSWRL - a much much better model. But we aren't being given much info from the current negotiations - I just hope the QRL can hang in there for the sake of RL.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
To suggest that the Central Coast Bears will represent Norwest Sydney is beyond a joke - it is a sad reflection of the Bears management team's dillusion.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Yes, Col, there will be more Auskick. And Auskick has a "non-contact" feel about it that mummies love. Auskick is a big advantage for AFL to recruit at young levels and it will have an impact in RL heartlands.
Jeff
Guest
Hey Dosate. Believeth not anything you read in the Daily Tellalie!.
Ken
Guest
I accept your points guys and will say I'm not against the Bears. Beowulf it would be good to have more involvement with schools in the area, I went to Baulko High in the 90's and we never once had a visit from any team. You can bet the AFL have probably already been there though and will be back again and again. Col - Most of the suburbs you've mentioned are either in Hornsby shire or are split on the border of the Hills and Hornsby shires (these are 2 distinct areas). No argument that the leagues there are part of the North Sydney comp, in contrast the clubs from Baulkham Hills, Winston Hills, Kellyville etc (most of the population centres of the Hills Shire) are in the Parra comps. My point was only that these affiliations don't really transfer to support for the top level teams. Growing up in Baulko didn't make me feel any connection to the Eels or the Bears, and in my experience that's common in this area. While interaction with the community here would be great, I don't think it's ever going to be a stronghold of support for the team