2013 has seen a gigantic influx of resources flooding rugby league, which demand proactivity and clarity from our new administrators.
We need no more than seven teams in Sydney to begin with, allowing for Perth and another Brisbane team to enter in 2018. The easy way to solve this is by asking which teams have the best brands and can be the most consistently competitive.
Based on that criteria, there are some clear untouchables: Bulldogs, Eels, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sea Eagles.
The Tigers are a terrific brand but, as we’ve seen recently, are a second-tier team economically.
The Panthers have a strong junior base but don’t have a national brand compared to other Sydney teams. They are also isolated geographically, making it difficult to move to ANZ Stadium.
Furthermore, the club’s crowds have been pathetic this year, given what a pleasant surprise the team has been.
Cronulla are still a question mark from every standpoint: their inability to compete for the premiership on a consistent basis (they’re yet to even win one since entering the competition in 1967), questionable support outside of the Shire and, like Penrith, they’re isolated – it’s hard to see the team’s fans making the trek to ANZ on a regular basis.
One could put Manly in that boat, however there are obvious differences.
Since the ’70s, the Sea Eagles have won premierships in every decade. The team has always been able to compete financially and its following in its local area is stronger than either Penrith or Cronulla – not to mention the power of its brand outside of Sydney.
It’s hard to see a justification for an 18-team competition based on the lack of parity and talent we’ve seen this year. That means relocation or mergers.
Let’s leave aside mergers for the moment (not that they should be ruled out) and focus on the advantages of relocation.
The NRL must be willing to invest in the NSW Cup so fans of any club relocated can still support their team locally.
Those teams can serve as viable feeder clubs for their NRL franchise. The primary objective here must be to retain every possible fan who loses their team at the NRL level.
The other advantage of relocation, besides having ready-made feeder clubs, is the retention of the history and identity associated with that club.
American sports franchises have been doing this successfully for 50 years ever since the Brooklyn Dodgers moved 3000 miles to Los Angeles – closely followed by their neighbours the Giants moving to San Fransisco.
It’s time for one of our Sydney teams to move almost as far, to Perth. And while this will infuriate and astound many readers, my vote would be for the Wests Tigers.
The Tigers’ brand would be exciting to Perth’s population. The team already has ‘west’ in the title; while this seems a triviality, the idea of a ‘western’ team becoming ‘West Coast’ is a transition that makes sense.
Wests Tigers would remain as a NSW Cup team, playing out of Campbelltown with an occasional trip to Leichhardt.
Remember, any choice will have a cost. The question is how to make a team in a new area profitable.
There may also be ancillary benefits from a club’s reduced presence in Sydney, with players pushed out of that market and into expansion teams’ rosters.
You may ask why not Penrith?
Unlike Cronulla, which cannot expand due to its adjacence to the territories of Souths and the Dragons, Penrith could expand its borders to encompass a larger region that, over the long term, could encompass Campbelltown and neighbouring suburbs as a west Sydney team.
The same could not said for a Tigers team trying to cover the north west – it’s hard to see Panthers fans showing up to Centrebet to watch the Tigers.
On the flip side, it’s important to remember Wests only moved to Campbelltown in 1987. The NRL must consider the possibility that current Wests fans (especially younger supporters) would support a new team covering both their immediate area and Penrith – especially if a new western Sydney stadium were built between the two locations.
Some might raise the apparent contradiction of fans supporting Wests Tigers at the NSW Cup level and the Panthers in the NRL. In the early stages, I’d foresee a western or West Sydney Panthers team playing maybe three games at Campbelltown, at the most.
It would be a gradual process. The priority would be to maintain the strength of the junior base around Campbelltown and proceed from there.
Moving bigger games to ANZ Stadium (and including a member-swap/discount system, whereby members of other clubs based at ANZ can attend at greatly discounted price) must be in the mix. This would be a reality if a west Sydney team covered a wider area.
Along those lines, Parramatta and the Dragons must also move all their local derbies and games against the better expansion teams to ANZ, save for three or four games a year at Wollongong.
Despite the complaints of a lack of atmopshere, it is impossible to grow crowds at suburban venues. The complaint that “20,000 at ANZ is worse than 13,000 at Kogarah” must be put to rest for good. We need to raise the ceiling of possibility when it comes to attendance and there is but one way to do that.
So there it is: West Coast Tigers. West Sydney or Western Panthers; Souths, Parramatta, St George-Illawarra, Canterbury at ANZ, the Roosters at Allianz and Manly remaining as the sole full-time suburban team – at least until there is a high-speed underground rail that can get Sea Eagles fans to Allianz is less than half a day.
Will these changes alienate some in the short term? Maybe. But it’s a price worth paying – that must be paid – to improve our competition and move it forward.
Western Tiger
Guest
Bring them to Perth!!! Im a diehard. Unlike many making the comments here, I sat on the hill at Leichhardt when the Tigers played their last game as Balmain. I was also there in the mid-90's in crowds of less than 2500, staying faithful when Jones took them to the spoon. I live in Perth now, and we need a team. Not want, Need. The passion and the thrill only the Tigers can bring is the perfect recipe. The chance for the Tigers to thrive, not just survive. Its time for Sydney to let them go. Its time for the people running the club to take a leap of faith. Leichhardt may always be there home, but NIB is a brilliant new start, and it could be made a fortress. The team has endured numerous name changes; Balmain Tigers, Sydney Tigers, WESTS Tigers. Bring them to the real West, and give them a chance to reach new heights and grow the game for the good of everyone.
MM
Guest
Agreed - Why is Manly untouchable? I think they are a huge concern for the NRL. After making the finals for 8 consecutive years and winning two titles, their crowd averages and membership is mediocre and the club loses money. What would happen should performances begin to dip on the field? From a financial point of view, one would have to argue this is as good as it gets for Manly.
Spiritfree
Guest
The problem of traveling time to and from NZ needs to be considered. As it is, teams like the Rabbitohs are nominating their Perth 'home' game to be their home game against the Warriors, knowing full well that it is a very big ask to fly for seven or eight hours, endure a four hour time change and then play a good 80 minutes. Serious tiring in the second half has been a consistent and major problem in these circumstances.
Who Knows?
Guest
I would have to disagree. The amount of juniors having served their apprenticeship in NSW Cup and lingering there must be astronomical. NRL teams obviously need a large surplus (see the Tigers 2013) but number 27 doesn't have to be a ultra reliable veteran. Competition for spots I understand, a lack of marquee players I understand (although given opportunity guys like Fifita have developed)- but to say greater opportunity won't bring in that little bit extra is silly. Fiji, Tonga... all those here in NZ stuck playing the other code (poor guys). Besides, half the 'shortage' of players arises from being forced to move to England or Japan etc from lack of salary cap room or first grade chance. I realise he is more doing it for the injuries and the fact he wants to be a one club man, but Bowen springs to mind as someone who mightn't have had to retire were his spot not as threatened. But hey.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Talk of a second Brisbane team needs to stop. For a month or so of the year we have The Roar, The Lions, The Reds and The Broncos to choose from.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Watch a game of Under 20s
Jackytheripper
Guest
Just going on how names sound, you said west coast tigers sounded good, where in my opinion Perth Panthers sounds better and rolls off the tongue with superb ease
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Thankfully TITY, you're not running the game. We need an administration who is looking at the bigger picture and isn't concerned with immediate self-preservation, as fans of their clubs are (understandably). Dave Smith only cares about growing the game. If that means putting some current NRL sydney teams into the NSW Cup, so be it.
Tigers in Ten Years
Guest
"Goodbye Wests..." "Goodbye Benji..." You are an insidious rodent.
Tigers in Ten Years
Guest
Prediction. 2023 Tigers will be in Sydney, this website/writer will not.
Michael
Guest
why is it that once again west and Balmain fans get screwed over Gus ????? merged once now move altogether while souths who refused to help the nrl and are now going well aren't mentioned . rooster get no crowds and there first !!! how can they not be merged and how can Cronulla not be merged with the st George teams . instead the poor cousin and poorer areas of Sydney lose their teams again . I am over nrl and u will lose me and my kids to this sport . u may no care about a few ppl but those few could generate the next immortal who instead will go to a league or afl . no respect for history of rugby league which what makes it so great . yes the tigers had a bad year but pls how many have Souths had in the past 20 years if it wasn't for the gladiator they would be screwed . wow I hope the nrl make the smart decisions moving forward or goodbye nrl it's been fun
Blaze
Guest
To hell with looking after supporters and having a home ground advantage huh?
Dane
Guest
Wouldnt it make more sense to relocate a sydney team that has a 'national brand' so they actually already have supporters in Perth etc Leave the panthers alone ; )
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Oikee - so you have provided 1 example being ANZ stadium in Sydney? The SFS is more than capable of hosting the crowds the it currently gets and ANZ is used for big occasions (ie Lions Test, Bledisloe Test, State of Origin, NRL Grand Final, Swans big games etc). Parramatta Stadium is also the perfect size for its current tenants the Wanderers and Eels. So in your mind it is a smart move by the government to build a 50K seat stadium in Sydney when they already have the Skoda Stadium at 25K, SFS at 40K and ANZ at 83K? Lets look at the other cities quickly: Melbourne - MCG, Etihad Stadium, AAMI Park - perfect mix for the current sports considering AFL is king in that city Adelaide - Adelaide Oval and Hindmarsh Stadium - perfect mix considering AFL and Cricket are the biggest sports and Adelaide United are the only professional team that use Hindmarsh Perth - Paterson Stadium (to be replaced by Burswood Stadium) NIB stadium and The WACA - again an AFL and Cricket town and NIB is fine for the crowds that the Glory and Force get Brisbane - Suncorp and The Gabba - perfect mix for the teams in that city Gold Coast - Skilled Park and Metricon Stadium - perfect mix for the teams in that city Newcastle - Hunter Sports Stadium - perfect for the teams in that city Canberra - Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval - perfect mix for the teams in that city Geelong and Townsville are one team towns so their stadiums are also adequate. So asking again - Which governments in which cities are building round white elephants?
mick h
Guest
i totally disagree the tigers should ditch allianz and move the sydney derbies eg parra bulldogs souths and st geoge to anz and play interstate teams at leichardt and campbelltown.
mick h
Guest
the wests tigers have been one of the most well supported teams in sydney over the last ten years averaging between 16,000 to 18,000 . having games at leichardt on a fri sat night does not work it needs to be sunday afternoon to maximise the attendance. monday nights are killing crowds yes it rates on tv but lacks amosphere at the grounds
mick h
Guest
what are the melbourne demons averaging
balthazarb
Guest
you sir are an ignorant buffoon! if an AFL team had an average of 17000 they would be killed off, and quickly! Considering the outstanding onfield performance of storm (and Ruperts money poured down that particular drain), it is a pathetic crowd. Sure, in Sydney where sports crowds are smaller, it would be a fine number, but in Melbourne it is not good enough. Without continued financial propping up by Murdoch and the consequent stellar success, Storm is doomed.
Wozza
Guest
I'm in wa and I'd love to see the chooks relocate .... The reds had a good following here and there are still many western reds number plates on cars today. There are thousands of eastern staters (me ) here also tons of poms ,kiwis,sth Africans , Freo and the weagles both have good followings but I think the roosters would get better crowds here than in Bondi on any other day .. As long as the NRL didn't parachute them in like Rambo in Vietnam and abandon them I think they would be a success in two or three years ...and this place sheets on Sydney for lifestyle so it would attrack good talent ...
Wozza
Guest
The rams and the reds were nrl teams ....it was the super league that splintered the comp and saw their demise ...