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Expansion is a hot topic in rugby league, especially in Queensland. If the NRL expands from 16 to 18 teams, Queensland will get at least one new side.
So far there has been interest from Central Queensland, Ipswich and a second Brisbane team called the Bombers.
Now, I like the idea of a second team in Brisbane but I’m not so sure on the name. Besides there is already a team called Brisbane.
One thing that lets rugby league down is that tradition and history means little to the marketing and advertising officers employed in our game. Of course the game needs marketing and advertising to survive but not at the expense of history.
We have already witnessed great clubs like North Sydney, Western Suburbs and Balmain disappear or reinvented under merged entities. A second Brisbane team in the NRL has a golden opportunity to bring back to life a traditional rugby league name. It is about making something old new again.
One of the greatest ever rugby league clubs in Australia’s history is the Valleys Football Club. Nicknamed the Diehards, they were the oldest club in Queensland. Valleys won 24 premierships in their 86-year history. That’s four more than South Sydney in the NSWRL premiership.
Before the Broncos entered the NSWRL in 1988. Brisbane had a strong competition. Valleys was a major part of that competition but as years went by, the Broncos got more popular and great clubs like Valleys and Brothers faded into oblivion.
If a second Brisbane team were to adopt the Valleys name, it would give the club history and a fan-base right away. Old fans from the Fortitude Valleys days could dust off their beloved Royal Blue jerseys and get to the games once again. Not only would the name be popular in Brisbane but also all throughout Queensland with many regional clubs known as Valleys in their respected areas.
Fortitude Valley Diehards had some great names represent the jersey with the most famous being Wally Lewis. Other names include Chris Close, Bryan Niebling, Grant Rix, Vince Fawcett, Duncan Hall and Mark Murray.
It would be great for the game in Australia if the NRL could tap into some of the traditions of the past once again. The Central Coast bid team could apply the same case with the North Sydney Bears, but unfortunately I can’t see them getting back into the NRL anytime soon.
Who knows which teams will get the green light when it comes to expansion, but one thing is for sure, Queensland will have at least one new team when the time comes.
What do you think, Roarers? Could Valleys be bought back from the dead?
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