Should the NRL consider a roving team?

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.

Country Footy and binge drinking do go hand in hand. But we're not talking bout country Footy. We're talking about professional Footy. I highly doubt that after a game that team management would let the boys go and join In the mayhem at the local watering hole. Besides so many teams hav regional training centres like coffs harbour. Even visiting national teams of various sports train in regional areas.

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.

Ah, but I think that will come back to bite GWS. It really should have committed to GWS totally rather than try and be a bit of everything to everyone. It's not like they don't have clubs like Nth Melbourne who could have done with that cash. Either way, what Cronulla is doing (not sure on how the Bulldogs arrangement with the SA govt works out, I would assume it's similar), is not something clubs really do, which is what I am getting at. Maybe the NRL should take the lead and assist clubs in getting deals like this.

Don't know about not giving a hoot. Guys who I know have moved up there, and being big league men, have got into AFL while up there. Must be the heat. That said, I think the Cowboys really need to take 3-4 matches every year to Cairns. Would do wonders for there membership numbers as well, as they get to sell 3-4 matches pass in Cairns, while making it cheaper for those in Townsville to buy memberships. As well as there are a few less opportunities to see them in Townsville, people would be more willing to attend when the opportunity arises. Even taking 1 game a year to Darwin would be good for them, to tap into that market as well.

I'm pretty sure they would be seen to be another Sydney team if that was the case. With no real area I can't see it working. I think my proposal up higher would be a better way to go about the same thing, with the bonus that you can groom areas for a NRL team, which I think the Nomads idea would struggle to do.

I never said "average" but it was perhaps an overzealous and exagerated remark all the same. However I will point out that only 2 or 3 years ago that sharks captain Brett kimorley made a public plea to fans after posting a dismal 6000ish to a midseason game. But point taken. Besides, 7000 to an a league game? Crowds must be improving...

I talked about this point in my article. Since nearly half their games would be played in Sydney the players could live in Sydney. Part of the teams appeal is that they would train on the community and be a part ofthe community for the week in whatever town they are playing a 'home'game. Their travel commitmets would only be slightly more than that of the storm or warriors. Besides spending more time in regional areas may help some of the more troubled players keep out of trouble. Also, rugby league already has an invitational team. The NRL all stars.

Andrew. The Cronulla club is already doing such a thing ,with their 3 year deal in NZ (near Lake Taupo)and being paid for it.The point was made not at the expense of the taxpayer,which the GWS in the ACT as an example is in effect doing.

australian football. What a load of bollocks öne team on the verge of folding".As a Cronulla supporter(and no doubt where your "logic"was aimed) and one who attended the EGM where overwhelming support was given to the $300m development,and where the state govt has signed off on the 3A application,the only thing ATM is tightness of finance.The future for the club is a hell of a lot brighter,despite hurdles ahead,but using the dramatic verge of folding, shows ignorant AFL spin,especially as it appears you have no idea of what current negotiations are taking place with other licensed clubs in the Shire. I believe not only Souths but the Broncos also returned a profit,and there are 4-5 clubs in your code losing money,doesn't stop the game from expanding.In fact one of the expansion teams is going to be propped up for years,before it stands if ever, on its own two feet. Perth has just as much chance if not more of working than GWS.There are sponsorships,bid team,juniors and juniors playing in Sydney who would return.The under 18 side is currently playing aginst other NRL under 18 sides.The city has averaged 13,000 on trials and NRL games not even involving a home team.The WA govt is fully behind the move.Having a perth side ads value to the Tv contract negotiations ,an extra slot ,for an extra time.The WA govt also wants to get value for money ,in the stadium improvements.Having an NRL side will do just that. Central coast speaks for itself.Stadium in situ,sponsorship ditto,juniors en masse,crowds in place. Qld would have success with another brisbane team,the support would be there and the sponsorship is definitely in place,ditto Central Qld with a Govt promised new stadium. AFL expansion would not work in Canberra ,already too crowded market,Northern territory too small a population and rl is nearly as popular as AFL.FNQ population ditto,any case rl very strong there with the cowboys influence.Only possibilities Perth and Tassie for AFL. A roving team would not work long term.crowds would not be there.passion is something created with a team regularly attended by fans ina specific area.Although the Sharks will be playing a game once a year near Lake Taupo NZ and working with the surrounding communities. The game needs to exapnd in new markets,where groups want them,as currently is the case.

Growing up in Cairns, there was a considerable amount of frustration that the "North Queensland" Cowboys never played any games in Cairns. In their entire history, there have been two regular season matches played in Cairns, both at a cricket ground. Every year there is one trial match, where the crowds have been as big as 18K - played at a rectangular field. I cant believe a team like the Roosters havent moved one of their matches there, it would be a guaranteed success. Even the Suns are moving in on Cairns, and noone gives a hoot about AFL up there.

What I'm saying is a hypothetical but if the South QLD Crushers did end up surviving I envisioned them taking pre-season & regular season games outside Brisbane to places such as the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, etc by doing this they would be covering South Queensland geographically and not by name only. Too bad the Crushers failed at the time because this roving team would of being perfect for them as a true South QLD team oh well.

Andrew don't have a ready answer, but when you consider some of the very large population centres in NSW and Qld that are 100% League oriented, then you'd think this is quite doable, and there must be at least one council wanting to attract to their region all that comes with the presence of a national football comp game. Not only is it good for the region (boost in tourism and economic activity generally), but then there's the benefit of good ratings, and promoting the region to a bigger audience.

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.

It always surprises me why NRL teams don't do this. Is it because we don't get as many to a game? The money that a NRL club would seek, would be much less than an AFL team would be looking for (The Central Coast games I believe get underwriten for $100K by the NRL). So financially any area looking to get games shouldn't have as much of a problem with that aspect of attracting a club. Maybe it's the AFL admin who really get the ball rolling on these sorts of deals, leaving the finer details down to the individual clubs. Something the NRL really should be helping clubs with.

the trick is getting the government or local authority to pay for the games to be held so theres zero cost to the league and the club involved. You do that and your home free. For instance: The Northern Territory government pays $500,000 a game over 5 years to AFL clubs to play at TIO Stadium. (2 gmes/yr) The ACT Governement is paying $23.5 million over ten years for GWS to play at manuka (4 games a year) The Tasmainian Government is paying $17 million over 5 years for Hawthorn to play at York Park (4 games a year) Cairns is evidently paid for by the AFL.

I agree with the sentiments of a few above. Far better to have a relatively fixed abode, and to then play 1, 2, 3 or even 4 games in a secondary location. It's a model that is serving Hawthorn (and a few other AFL clubs) very well. Just as Tassie has done for Hawthorn, that secondary location will become very loyal with a few games per annum, also much better for sponsorship. Locations that might one day have their own team might go for this sort of model as an interim measure (think Rocky, or even Perth and Adelaide). But nomads travelling here, there and everywhere start to resemble a hobo of no fixed address.

how do many nrl teams only get 7k to a game epiquin? the nrl's crowds are actually very good compared to other sports and competitions around the world and is the highest drawing domestic rugby competition on earth. i know we will always be compared to the afl's crowds which are just freakish but we shouldnt need to be compared and just continue to work on our crowds and memberships and keep growing!

They are until the buyout is official.

Of course if NRL expands anywhere outside NSW/QLD it will fail again if given another go according to AF & others who share the same view expanison will come eventually but not for a few years til membership & attendances are a high enough number and clubs are sustainable.Now with the increase in membership reaching record levels for NRL clubs once can assume that attendances will increase but a certain margin from last year and hopefully be a positive trend as proven in AFL. Then expanison can happen never say never.