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The AFL is slowly creeping into rugby league’s heartland, and the time has come for the NRL to repel the challenge or risk being a second class sport in Australia, much like its rugby union cousin.
The NRL needs to expand, and a possible way to do it would be to take already struggling clubs like Cronulla and have them form an association with an area that is yet to have an NRL team.
For example, you could have the Adelaide/Cronulla Sharks, the Manly Warringah/Darwin Sea Eagles or the Sydney/Geelong Roosters. These teams give up five home games to take the game to these areas in conjunction with NRL promotion.
With current attendance they could at least match the revenue they make now. If it is a success, they can look at relocation, if not, they haven’t lost anything.
In the meantime the bids can be chosen on their financial benefit and demographic demand. If the clubs are doing their jobs in their area, they should be able to attract sponsors and members anyway, and those that can’t would have to take a long look at their product.
With Newcastle financially guaranteed for the foreseeable future, it’s up to other clubs to make sure that they pull their weight rather than wallow in mismanagement while ventures like the Bears do it right from the start.
I make absolutely no apologies for being a one-eyed, dyed in black and red Bears fan, despite never having lived in the area and growing up in Queensland. Remember that if nor for an exceptionally wet time during construction the Bears would have already been on the Central Coast before Super League, and it would have been other clubs fighting, although I bet not as passionately, to be back in the NRL.
As for the Queensland bids, what bids?
I live in Queensland and about the only thing I have heard about any Queensland bid in recent times was the announcement that Billy Moore had joined the second Brisbane team push – and that he wholeheartedly supported the efforts of his former teammates at the Bears.
The Sydney teams could do a lot more to support themselves, too. Can you imagine the turnout in Wagga Wagga to a Bulldogs home game? The Tigers could give up a game or two to Dubbo, or Parramatta could adopt the Tamworth area. Memberships would soar, interest in the game would increase and clubs do something they rarely do in regional areas anymore – promote the game!
Similarly, the Broncs or Titans could take a match out to Roma, Mount Isa or even the areas currently looking to put forward a bid like Rockhampton. PNG could get the occasional visit from the Cowboys or either of the other teams.
The whole reason so many areas are so keen to have their own teams is that they are so starved of rugby league as it is. Yes there is a cost associated with outside broadcasts etc, but I guarantee that would be easily recouped in ticket sales and merchandise sales. It isn’t rocket science.
While the Sydney clubs fight about how the expansion clubs take their slice of the pie from their mouths, the AFL continues to grow and populate those areas that are traditional rugby league nurseries.
Failure to admit such stronghold areas like the Central Coast or Ipswich could see a swathe of young talent go the way of Karmichael Hunt of Israel Folau… to the dark side.
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