Penrith look to play NRL games in Hobart

I know I'm alone here, but I think it's a great idea!! Why shouldn't the NRL make moves into what has traditionally been an AFL state? There is already a TASRL in place, and it's not going to grow any more if it (and the fans supporting it) are starved of live games for much longer. I would love to see a Hobart Devils NRL side one day!!

They are testing the waters to guage interest there to see if a pro franchise is viable down the road. If the numbers are good they will keep it going.as a statement of intent. The AFL are ruling out a franchise there in the short term so all other options should be on the table.

Australian Rules - do you really believe that figure has it been independently audited by any one credible with no ties to either the Tasmanian government or Hawthorn?I find that figure impossible to believe and question whether there would really be any net benifit to the Tasmanian economy. A football team is essentially being bribed by the state government to play a few games there as the State government think it will be popular to engineer some AFL in top flight football starved Tasmania.It is about Political populism not economics - scratch the surface hard enough and I bet Tasmania loses money on the deal.

Good on Gust Gold for doing this, How about merging the Eels Panthers and the West Tigers to form a super Western Sydney club to halt the inroads that the GWS and the WS Wanderers are having on NRL crowds. Better still let's send the Wests Tigers down there permanently. Yep only a small name change required. Tasmanian Tigers

AR, believes everything the AFL tell him. Tasmanian govt is full of AFL lackies by the way.

Geez have a whinge so what if penrith take a few games down to Tasmania it's about promoting the product and tapping into an area that doesn't really have an nrl footprint! And as for the members of the panthers being ripped off one home game well maybe they should turn up when they do play at home what's the average crowd about six thousand?!

Hawthorn has always had a large supporter base in Tasmania so it makes sense to play games there. But Penrith fans, what's in it for them? The club approached Tasmania so they must have an idea of the benefits to the club. Tassie would have to be close to getting it's own team of AFL or NRL given the amount they're pouring into out of town clubs visiting.

Edward - it's without the sponsorship component, so there wouldn't be taxpayer money involved, so can't see the harm. The level of TV coverage is commenserate to the interest involved - many other sports get virtually no coverage either, unless they can get a gig on the ABC - the commercial stations are there to make money, not promote sport.

I never said it was gospel. But hosting sporting events at stadiums, with buses, cabs, hotels, airlines, cafes, restaurants, tourisms offerings etc...= jobs. That's hardly controversial.

Just because you read a news article does not mean it is gospel. The TAS Govt also said 400 jobs would be generated - where is the data on these figures, or evidence of any raise in tourism revenue generated from Hawthorn's sponsorship? TAS contributes to the promotion of Tourism Australia. The fact is, Tasmania tax payers do not need to sponsor a football team to the extent it has. No one gives a damn about NRL in Tassie either.

Tasmania need Winter tourists because they all come in summer. No mention of the North Melbourne Hobart deal I notice. Odds on they will play Melbourne Storm so Melbourne get another away game at neutral venue - how biased is the draw... Not sure how many NRL tourists will come unlike the AFL which drags in quite a few...

I would be more concerned about the Panthers supporters in Penrith!

Estimated is correct. But estimated by a panel who had very vested interests in making the Tasmanian AFL taxpayer donation look like money well spent. Some very clever accounting was needed to get that $15 million figure.

What a joke. Tasmanian taxpayer money will be wasted, Penrith and whoever will end up playing on a round oval in front of a small crowd, most of who get free tickets, There are no Penrith fans in Tasmania. There are a few Storm fans but they are scattered far and wide. Tasmania is a NRL backwater mainly due to years of shockingly bad channel Nine NRL TV coverage (late night, delayed or non-existent).

It's estaimated that Tasmania collects about $15M a year into the state economy as a result of Hawthorn's 4 games a year, and those games = jobs as well.

Geez I'd hate to be a tax payer in Tasmania seeing my dollars getting blown on these types of deals. The poorest socio-economic state in Australia spends $18 million on state-funded sports sponsorship + win bonuses while their unemployment rate is no 8.3%.

"According to News Corp Australia, it is believed the deal would be similar to AFL premiers Hawthorn for four home games in Launceston, but without the sponsorship component, and would include growing rugby league in Tasmania." Really News Corp? So the Hawks have a sponsorship by Tas Govt worth between $15-20M over 5 years and play 4 games a year in Tassie. The Panthers are looking to play 1 game a year and for no sponsorship money. But apart from that, the deals are practically identical.

Considering the punishments that the NRL can dish out to cronulla, maybe they should be made to spend a year on the road. 4 home games to be played in Tassie, 4 Home games in Perth, 2 home games in Adelaide and 2 in Cairns. After all there is a limit the NRL can fine them and they can't take trophies away, at least this way they would be doing some good for RL. First time ever maybe but it might help.

I have never understood these deals. Oh sure I get it from the Tasmanian point of and it might be good for the Panthers financially at least in the short term but what does that do to panthers members back in Newcastle ? If I were a Panthers fan, I would be saying "hang on, you have now reduced the number of games I can watch every year from 12 to 8, why should I continue to be a member ?". Getting to Tassie isn't exactly cheap and I would not be happy about this arrangement.