In a week that has been about as exciting as a buck’s party thrown by NRL coaches Wayne Bennett and Steve Price, we need something to get us to Friday. So here’s something to get you talking, debating and arguing until then.
Every NRL bid, ranked from number seven to number one.
Yes, NRL CEO Dave Smith has said not until 2017 or 2018. But with almost $50 million profit in the bank from 2013 and the expansion war chest likely to grow year on year, looking at the contenders makes sense.
And honestly, what else do we have to talk about? City versus Country? Spare me.
Number Seven – The Adelaide Pandas
Even though we’d love a team to replace the long lost Adelaide Rams, this has been included for comedy value only.
It started out as a stupid idea from some guy on a forum a few years ago (no, it wasn’t me). They even had a mock jersey knocked up. It’s still better than most of the Warriors efforts.
Number Six – the Central Coast Bears
A team based on the Central Coast has been a dream of administrators for a long time now.
The usual arguments go that it would consolidate the game in NSW, while also giving Gosford its own team to follow, rather than having Manly blow in a few times a year. Also in favour is a fully functioning modern venue in Central Coast Stadium and some support from the man with the money, treasurer Joe Hockey.
Unfortunately, the model for expanding into Gosford and the surrounds has long been up for debate.
Fans would love to see a home grown team to call their own, but the relocation of other teams has also been mooted. The bid team has followed that path, with the defunct North Sydney Bears aiming for resurrection on the Central Coast. But putting the locals offside is no way to build a team, and establishing a supporter base on the Central Coast is hard – as is shown by the experience of the Mariners, who, despite a successful record, still languish with some of the lowest crowd figures in the A-League.
Number Five – Wellington
There have been scattered reports of not one but two interested parties putting together a bid to bring NRL to the Kiwi capital.
And the idea has some things going for it, with the iconic Cake Tin stadium, a strong business community backing it and an average Super Rugby team the only competition in town in the winter months. Well, that is apart from an occasional visit from St Kilda.
In addition, a Wellington-based NRL team could have the benefit of making inroads in rugby union territory on the South Island by playing at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. The university town attracts plenty of expat Australians and students, and preseason NRL games played by the Warriors there are well attended.
And speaking of the Warriors, there are plenty in New Zealand who are sick of the perennially under performing, infighting and frustrating Warriors tarnishing the rugby league brand there. Kids love the game, and the make up of NRL squads shows that there is no shortage of talented locals who could fill the ranks of a new team.
Website: we’re sure they’re working on it
Number Four – Central Queensland
The Central Queensland bid team may not have settled on a name yet, but their bid does have some big guns to bring out.
They represent a catchment area that encompasses everything north of Brisbane, all the way up to Cowboys territory in Townsville. That means Bundaberg, Mackay and league heartland towns like Roma and Emerald are all united under this banner.
Mining and gas wealth means the bid has some seriously good business credentials and people who can build a team on the shoulders of some of the most passionate fans. These fans are cut from the same cloth as those who drive for six hours or more to attend Cowboys home games. And the support is telling, with over 40,000 members and 150 corporate partners signed up before a single player is approached.
However, the huge geographic scope of the supporter base presents some issues. A team based in Rockhampton, which is the only real option, would struggle with attendances, and serious funds would have to be found to bring the stadium up to NRL standard. In addition, the prospect of merging with the crisis ridden Sharks has also been entertained. If the initial reaction from Queenslanders is anything to go by, such an action would go a long way to killing the bid before it has even played a game.
So there’s number seven to number four. Tune back in on Monday for the bronze, silver and gold medallists.
John
Guest
Rugby league is the highest rating sport on TV Bro
Brian S
Guest
81 paling going on last years stats Melboure 6th in average home crowds!!! 16,302!!! Manly av home crowd 13.522 have won a few premierships lately! Rd 25 last year Parramatta V StGeorge crowd a wopping 8,910 ? Canberra's biggest crowd 11,847 i'm pretty sure our Warrior's game would have been close to capacity! it was a sell out this year!!! i don't know why any of our players would want to go back to queensland they weren't wanted up there in the first place!!! Melbourne does have a LOT of sporting teams too follow 2 Soccer teams 1 Union team 1 basketball team 10 afl teams, what does brisbane have 1 League team 1 afl team 1 basketball team 1 soccer team? & the goald coast is really a suburb of brisbane & there home game average is about 12,000 in the heart of RL country???
81paling
Roar Rookie
Brian, Melbourne crowds are pathetic they average less than 13k per game despite there massive success. Melbourne are the only premiership winning club in the modern era i.e post 1996 to not have had an average home crowd attendance of over 17k, they are a waste of time in a city that prides it's self on massive crowd numbers. If you have not got the crowds by now you are not going to get them. Goodbye Melbourne hello Brisbane #2 team and let the players go back to their families.
Slain
Guest
McBatt Raj has ranked PNG # 1.....
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Interesting angle Brian, an afternoon game for the Perth locals would be a twilight game for the east coast, making it perfect for a Sunday fixture to add to the Ch 9 Sunday footy line up. And hopefully move the delayed 4pm game to a live match at the same time.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
There's links to each one below the name, except for the NZ ones which don't seem to have a formal bid or site yet. Same goes in Part 2 of the article.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Definitely a joke, though given the amount of interest in league in the City of Churches maybe someone should look into it?
Slain
Guest
John - have you seen "part 2" of this article?? please check and you will see that PNG has been ranked number 1....
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
It's not bad is it??
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
There is no such thing as a one game country, just like there's no such thing as a one code state in Australia
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Haha Bugs isn't too bad, definitely no danger of being copied
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Like any start up, all the clubs that start out in the NRL from a low base will need support and grants to get themselves going. What proof is there that the Bears would be financially viable straight away?
One Born Every Minute
Guest
In fact this means the NRL is an international competition instead of just a national one.
The Realist
Guest
Smartest comment on the roar to date. Depending on your views of CvC...... As for Adelaide and location of games, AO would not be used, in all likelihood it would be Hindmarsh stadium as it's already the right shape and earmarked for improvements due to the A-League soccer. As for no one watching the games, if they were on before 12:45 in the morning they'd probably get a few more viewers.....
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
There is no shortage of talent in the QCup and NSW Cup, I don't think depth would be a problem for any new team. Seems like the perfect solution given the amount of talented players but the restrictions on squad sizes and payments imposed by the salary cap.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Interesting hybrid idea there, marrying those two sets of supporters guarantees probably the most engaged supporter base in the gam doesn't it?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The Barry.As a Shark's supporter I can assure you relocation,or flicking is the last thing I want for any Sydney club. Adelaide is a long way off. Perth and Banana 2 are the obvious places. Melbourne is a long term effort,you cannot ignore Australia's 2nd largest city.
McBatt
Guest
It would be fantastic for the Hunters to be part of NRL, hope you have watched them play, I went & watched them put the Dolphins away in their first game & couldnt believe they were in their first season. They are a TEAM, wonderful word isnt it, my mouth wouldnt shut from the best game I have watched for many years. This is what is needed in NRL big time, raw talent & handling skills far better than most NRL teams, no dirty tactics & a attitude towards opponents that was true sportsmanship. I travel far & wide to watch them now but dont bother going to any NRL games that have become boring over reffed predetermined games.
McBatt
Guest
Great stuff here I go getting myself all worked up again. Ok dont expand until you fix the comp first. As a Kiwi this may shock readers, Dump the Warriors asap, dont let another team enter the comp from NZ Promote a couple of teams from local comps, say the PNG Hunters in Qld, a new team with an awesome attitude & ability that is unbelievable, dont hook teams with heavy affiliation to existing clubs, eg Redcliffe Dolphins. Have them enter for an initial 3 yrs & make it performance driven, a system much like English Soccer where clubs can get relegated to the lower grade for a season or until they achieve viewer worthy game results Why dump Warriors, no contracted playing Home site, poor management, lack of player commitment to delivering their best week in week out, lack of ability & a support base draining faster than the kitchen sink with plug out. Not even coverage on free to air NZ TV until after midnight for them so the free to air NZ stations are manipulating fan pool very deliberately & NRL doesnt even help to get games on delayed free to air so in my point of view NRL lacks support implying it doesnt care about the game in NZ becoming bigger for supporters. As a Kiwi I will also add it should be an Aussie comp not an international comp, but if it is why cant there be a combined Pacific Islands team based in Aus, if Warriors are to stay in comp make them relocate to Aus. It is the National Rugby League comp isnt it. I am going to get some replies that will amuse me for sure, but its just my opinion.
Jack
Guest
Have you watched the Queensland Cup? There is a heap of talent out there. For that matter, watch the NSW cup. Luke Capewell is running around in that for Penrith and has been NRL-ready for years, but only played a handful of NRL games for Titans and Broncos because of injury and being behind more established players. Far better player than Wallace when they were both up here. There would be dozens more out there ready for NRL. You should watch the PNG Hunters side, they are doing well and their main aim is to bring more PNG players to NRL talent scouts' attention. They don't care if they lose a few players because they've got hundreds more in PNG. Based on these competitions, I'd say we could easily stock a Perth team and another QLD team with players from QLD, NSW, PNG, perhaps UK and perhaps from Union with the new salary cap laws and the money the game has.