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?
Flynny Poo
Guest
Diehards vs Cowboys... I like it. Has a nice ring to it.
Pool
Roar Rookie
The Roar weren't joking when they labelled this dude a pro. Something the NRL must consider to help the good of the game.
Gerard Tuffield
Guest
What a brilliant idea. I watch rugby league these days for a good game but outside of Origin I never find myself shouting passionately the way I did when I watched my beloved Valleys Diehards. Place a Valleys team in the NRL and I'll be a season ticket holder.
Bearfax
Guest
What ever. But a second team in Brisbane is needed in the League along with several other clubs. Lets expand not deflate.
Davo
Guest
Bump on a oldish topic I've grown up in Central Queensland and played in or supported the local Valleys teams in competition here for a long time. For us up here it would be great if the Capras did get into the league, but I'd be proud to see my old team in there, after all the blood sweat and tears of my young days on the field myself!
Wayne
Guest
Well funnier things have happened! When I was a boy in the 70's, Valleys was my team and they were legendary. This is the club where Wally Lewis and Ross Strudwick played and we all know how great players they were ( Strudwick was instrumental in the Kangaroos win at Wembley Stadium mesmerising the poms with his play making....and we all know the King of Rugby League!) How did I find this blog? I did a google search "Valleys for NRL" and look what I found!!! Diehards for NRL.......
Mark
Guest
Hi, I don't suppose you would be interested in selling that jersey?
Rellum
Roar Guru
You realize Chinatown is a mall right? It is not the home of the Chinese community. Not to mention how wrong it is for you to generalize what Chinese immigrants like or don't like in their sports.
Rellum
Roar Guru
That is a society wide problem with young people parting, it is not the result of the Valley being the heart of the drug trade. That would be more likely to be found on the gold coast.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
“It’s also home to Chinatown” – What has that got to do with anything rugby league?" Chinese are not the biggest fans of rugby league.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
" Drug injecting centre sought Peta Fuller, City News From: Quest Newspapers August 25, 201112:00AM COMMUNITY groups want medically supervised injecting centres to be put back on the agenda for the Fortitude Valley area. ... "You'd have to have it in the Valley where drug use is prevalent," he said. ... He said Fortitude Valley had two to three drug overdoses a week that resulted in ambulance callouts." http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/central/drug-injecting-centre-sought/story-fn8m0qb4-1226121040883
Rellum
Roar Guru
Just to finish It would be a Brisbane team that has a name taken from the rich football history of Brissy.
Rellum
Roar Guru
"Fortitude Valley is now a redlight district and the heart of the drug trade in south-east Queensland." - Hardly. It is the biggest night club district. All that other stuff disappeared many, many years ago. "It’s also home to Chinatown" - What has that got to do with anything rugby league? I don't think Paul is suggesting that the team would represent Fortitude Valley. It would be a Brisbane team that has a name
Matt_S
Guest
Same goes for Souths magpies. West End was black & White but those days long gone. I blame the QRL leadership for the demise of Brisbane Rugby League. They have been incompetent for decades due to an oldboys grip on leadership. That Livermore was a complete joke and only old age saw him go. The QRL could have ensured clubs continued to nurture their communities and improve facilities. Go to most grounds and there is no change. Only pokies money improved some facilities but not to the extent they should have. The fans were left to rot with incompetent management on all levels of QRL/BRL leadership, probably the most incompetent in Australian sporting history. The QRL lucked it with origin and they have rested their hats on that event ever since. Without it, Queensland Rugby League would have been dead, with only the Broncos holding things afloat. Nespotism & Corruption that should have brought a government inquiry.
Bearfax
Guest
Should be perfect then for a rugby league side. At least it wil have the financial reources ti survive
Leaugie
Guest
Reintroducing a League side (Valleys) to the Valley will bring back the area's soul!! I remember hearing stories of blue & white streamers hung outside shops in the valley as Diehard supporters would make their way (by foot or tram) from the various pubs in the Valley towards Alan Border oval. IF the Diehards DO make a comeback, in their traditional territory, I would definatel;y support them! Until then however, I'll keep backing my bunnies (I would rather die than be an Donkey (Broncos) supporter.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
The Western Suburbs Panthers are looking at re-entering the Queensland Cup.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
They never went any where. All of them play in the Queensland Cup. A huge crowd saw Wynnum Manly defeat the Norths Devils in a cracker of a game at Kougari Oval last Sunday. It was an honour to be there to see such a classic game.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
Fortitude Valley is now a redlight district and the heart of the drug trade in south-east Queensland. It's also home to Chinatown. The Diehards died in the mid 1990s because the changing demographics meant that semi-professional sport was no longer viable in Fortitude Valley.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
It's semi-professional. Most of the players have day jobs.