With the announcement than Tony Sage is keen to give Perth a presence in the NRL again, the dream of actually having a ‘National’ Rugby League might be one step closer.
And despite thoughts that are already whirring in my head about Sage pooling all his resources under one banner and turning Perth Glory into some sort of amalgamated super club with teams in multiple sports (It’s done in Europe for example, such as Barcelona and Olympiakos featuring football and basketball teams as well as presences in smaller sports) I can’t help but think about the drawbacks.
For starters, there’s a big concern over the fan base. I know I’ll get shouted down for this but can anyone seriously envision a sustained presence of more than 10,000 after the original hoopla dies down?
When the Western Reds entered the competition in 1995, they got a crowd of 24,392 for their first game against St. George. The second against Cronulla again cracked the 20,000 mark. The next two home tilts at the WACA both yielded over fifteen thousand but after those four games, it all went steadily downhill.
Their fifth and sixth games barely exceeded ten thousand spectators. And after that, they only cracked five digits at the WACA another eight times out of 23 matches.
Their final game, when it was known or at least suspected that the Reds’ license would not be renewed, only 12,307 people showed up. A respectable figure for a regular season game – but barely half the amount that turned up for that first match just two seasons earlier.
Between 1995 and 1997, the public interest in Rugby League in Western Australia had halved.
The most practical way of solving this problem would be to package some sort of deal with the Glory, and introduce some sort of Superticket that the fans could use all year round, at a discounted rate of course.
I think it’s well known that rich guys don’t buy football clubs to make money, and if Sage is really passionate about sports in W.A then this sort of marketing scheme would be a no-brainer.
The Glory’s crowds (the real one, not the hypothetical NRL team) have dwindled since making the transfer from the NSL to the A-League and have gone from 35,000 fans at NSL finals to an nib Stadium that is often more than half empty – in one match a couple of seasons ago against the Phoenix the crowd was 4,433, less than 25% of the ground’s capacity. Which would be fine at say, ANZ Stadium, but not when the arena is only built for 20,000 people. The Glory have never sold out their new stadium, the highest being 16,019 at the start of last year.
So maybe in a strange way, a Rugby League team arrived on the scene could be fantastic for the Glory. The seasons don’t clash, there’s not nearly as much animosity between the codes as there is AFL and the NRL and judging from the random NRL games that have taken place in Perth in the last few seasons, crowds have been respectable. Again, I worry if this is sustainable as more than a novelty.
But perhaps I’m focusing too much on the drawbacks, and finding solutions to problems that don’t exist yet. Here’s why it would be fantastic:
The National Rugby League is not a national competition. It’s played mainly in two states, Canberra and sparingly in Melbourne. The AFL has multiple teams in every state except Tasmania, which gets several games in Hobart and Launceston each year. The NRL has never played a competitive match on the Island, although a trial in Hobart between the Storm and Broncos will take place later this year.
It’s been reported from multiple sources that the Penrith Panthers have struggled to find a new major sponsor since parting ways with Sanyo, whereas the Greater Western Sydney Giants have had no trouble finding a plethora of deals, including the aforementioned electronics company that for so long adorned the chest of that black jersey.
And this is factoring in that the Panthers are an institution out west and the Giants are an intruder, with an unproven fan base and no clue whether or not they will be a commercial success. How is this so? It’s simple – sponsors know if their team plays AFL, the brand will be seen all around the country – not just on the upper half of the East Coast.
Having a team in Perth will further stretch the NRL’s marketing power. Not only that, the time difference will allow for an extra live game, resulting in a potential quadruple header on Saturday – starting in New Zealand and finishing in Western Australia.
It’s become clear to the fans for a while now that getting us to the game is not the governing body’s priority and hasn’t been for some time; TV ratings are what matter and the more live games, the better it is for the NRL.
Who knows if any of this will actually happen; this is the same Tony Sage that just last month was abusing the Glory fans and threatening to quit the club and now wants to not only continue to play a huge part in football in Western Australia, but also Rugby League? It all seems a bit precarious to me.
Regardless, a well-run and financially stable Perth club is an absolute must for the NRL. I don’t want to turn this into a Central Coast v Perth expansion argument, because I think both are ultimately viable – but in terms of strengthening the game as a brand, one is clearly a better option than the other.
And of course, they might just stick with the Reds name even if Sage is involved. After all, there’s the WA Reds plugging away in the S.G Ball competition and formerly in the Bundaberg Rum Cup. That’s not to say the same ideas I talked about above can’t work even if the team names are different. In fact, I would argue that a partnership or at least collaboration between the Glory and Reds would be absolutely vital to the success of both.
Who knows, we might see the former Reds legend Mark Geyer announced as the new franchise’s first coach. A man can dream.
Rob
Guest
The Super League had the balls to do something the NRL can't / won't / still refuses to do, which is make REAL efforts to expand the game out of Sydney. Super League jumped into a gigantic hole in the market left by the lack of direction from ARL. Super League shouldn't have existed, the ARL should have taken those opportunities long beforehand. Super League was the symptom, of previous mismanagement, the same mismanagement that continues today.
Rob
Guest
"if you reduced the Sydney teams, and replace them with new “plastic” franchises, would you still have good tv ratings?" "The greatest game of all" would have great ratings wherever it's played. If you don't believe the game can survive without Sydney, then you don't have much faith for the code itself. After all, the game is the product, not Sydney. I watched the 2014 USA grand final the other day and it was pretty decent coverage and a good match, even if amateurish and enjoyed it quite a bit. I've watched quite a few Super League games, too. Guess how upset I am that the teams aren't from Sydney? Not one bit. If you can't enjoy a game with teams not located within 30 minutes from your house, then you aren't a fan at all.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Bold plan!
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Why do AFL fans always have to jump in and put the Storm down? How would they like it if some one pointed out the Brisbane Lions' woes? Let's find out! The Brisbane Lions are losing millions of dollars each year. They've taken the underhanded move of setting up a social club in Queensland's gambling capital, Logan, in order to minimise their losses. Despite this, they're still losing $2,000,000 a year.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
There was only one Super League season. 1997. Reds played in the ARL in 1995 and 1996 before playing in the Super League in 1997.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
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Maroon Blood
Guest
I can't see how crowds from 1995-97 could be compared with probable crowds of a Perth team in, say, 2013/2014-ish. The massive difference between now and then is the mining boom in the West and the huge influx of interstate workers from the Eastern seaboard who now call Perth home, myself included. The game at a junior level has gone ahead leaps and bounds in the last five years with numbers nearly tripling in that time which is indicative of the increase in League followers over here. Another positive attendance-wise would be the newly re-developed Glory home ground being used as a dedicated rectangular field ground, not the hugely distanced from the play WACA. As for the team wearing purple......what the?? Call them the Reds and have them wearing the same colour of the Storm...pfft. One thing the Reds would have over the Storm though is the high likelyhood of WA-bred players in the team with our SG Ball team developing young players and the number of WA-bred players in the NRL over the last few years. How many Victorians play for the Storm I wonder??
Renegade
Guest
Perth will have a team in 2015. I think the battle will be between Brisbane and Central Coast for the second spot.
clipper
Guest
tiger, one could easily say that your opinion that the reds team would most definitely have been successful if not for the super league was wrong as well. The point is no one knows what would have happened. That's why it is an opinion and not a fact. The facts are that the league Reds struggled when there was no Rugby team in Perth, for whatever reason, and now there is a Rugby team there. If it will be harder for a new NRL team now is a matter of opinion, but I can't see it being easier.
Jaceman
Guest
You still need West Aussie newspaper and Stokes support and he would want the TV rights split up...
Jaceman
Guest
Are you forgetting the News Ltd $6m subsidy and Crown casino (Packer) sponsoring them who may withdraw if the NRL doesnt split up the TV rights (although it might be a joint bid with Nine)
Jaceman
Guest
IW, Arent the British tax laws more lenient here making the UK a nice retirement home for NRL players at superficaily lower wages (Channel Islands tax havens) - this may be changing with the GFC fallout. You would have to pay players a lot to get them to move fronm the east to perth. There was a go home factor in the reds time I recall as there is with the AFL.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Ourimbah Magpies, A Perth team will help all NRL teams attract national sponsors. A Central Coast team wont. That said, I think if the NRL keeps acting scared and being on the back foot, the AFL will continue to eat it's breakfast and lunch (cf sponsors, Penrith vs GWS). If I was the NRL, I'd shock everyone and bring in a Perth side, the CC Bears and a second Brisbane team. The flip side is I'd stare down the clubs and leave the salary cap exactly where it is until there is $50m in the NRL's war chest.
Ourimbah Magies
Guest
Lachlan, you are exactly right, would the NRL or Independent Commission be willing to admit another side that they would have to prop up as they have to do with the Melbourne Storm ?.
Ourimbah Magies
Guest
Ian, that Exiles side were a bunch of has beens in a match that really showed where English rugby league is at the moment.
Ourimbah Magies
Guest
Totally agree with you Mark, my sister comes from a mad league family and moved to Perth over twenty years ago, she continually says "the day that you see rugby league played on Subiaco Oval is the day that they are serious about rugby league in WA. She works in an office thats staffs over 300 people and not once has rugby league been on peoples lips on a Monday morning or during State Of Origin time whereas when she worked in the Sydney CBD thats all you ever heard. I agree Perth does need a team but the Sharks relocating would be the ultimate fit.
Beowulf
Guest
I see the Sage bid is 100% separate from the Reds bid. The WA Reds were completely unaware I believe. Its too late to start a new franchise from scratch now, just 6 months from a decision time, so unless the Reds fold and hand over control of their infrastructure to an opportunistic entrepreneur, this can only be a relocation bid. Otherwise, like has happened in SEQ, two bids in an area with only luke warm interest in a team will cannibalise each others limited support/sponsor base. The Bombers engines have fallen off after 1 year - the Jets can't get off the ground after 2 years. It takes many years of community grooming to get a stable bid together. It took the Bears 5 or 6 years to get support on the Coast, despite the historical linkages. People think its easy - look at a map and just plonk a QLD and a WA side in......It takes many, many years and dedicated and passionate RL people to put a case forward that can prove sustainability. Bears and central QLD may indeed be the last men standing.
tiger
Guest
thats awesome, his opinion is wrong!
Ourimbah Magies
Guest
Perth Sharks has a really good ring to it, lets face it the development that the Sharks are banking on will not happen, Sage is a Sharks fan and could be their only lifeline. My guess is Sharks to Perth, Central Qld and the Central Coast Bears for 18 teams. We have the Stadium up here which has been drawing on average 10,500 for the A Leagues Central Coast Mariners, not bad for soccer as rugby league is our main sport on the Central Coast. With 23 junior clubs which includes strong local clubs Wyong and the Entrance from Milsons Point to Lake Munmorah, the CCBears will cover a huge neglected area. Local derbies between the CCBears and the Knights will make last seasons Sea Eagles v Tigers crowd pale in comparison. I knew the Northern Eagles joint venture was never going to work especially when I saw the colours and logo. The league/soccer combo seems to be the in thing at the moment, Tinkler has done it with the Knights/Jets, Sage rumoured with Glory and imagine the CCBears /CCMariners.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
WA Reds has a team in the SG Ball competition.