Expansion in the NRL is always a hot topic, and while talks have been called off until the 2017 season, it remains an ongoing issue.
In order to fully grasp the situation, the pros, cons and key discussion points of expansion need to be examined.
Today we will look at the pros, tomorrow the cons.
Tapping into new markets
The game of rugby league has become a commercial entity, with the NRL an extremely lucrative business.
First and foremost the games bean counters are licking their lips at the prospect of attracting thousands of new fans to the game, particularly those in rural areas and people in states or territories more supportive of AFL, rugby union or football.
A new market does not necessarily mean a proposed new team has to form in an unchartered area, it could be a simple matter of offering an alternative in an established rugby league area, like a second Brisbane side.
Those who might enjoy the game as a whole but don’t follow the Broncos might be become more involved in the game with a new team to support.
Creating a truly national rugby league
Following the super league war a re-branding of the game occurred and the ARL was renamed the National Rugby League in 1998. The 1998 season featured standalone St George, Illawarra, Balmain and Western Suburbs sides, along with now defunct North Sydney and Adelaide teams.
Three expansion teams – the Hunter Mariners, Perth Reds and South Queensland Crushers – directly felt the brunt of the Super League, as the NRL ratified a 20-team competition with a view to a 14 team comp by the year 2000.
These expansion sides did not die in vain. What we learnt from these teams was that the prospect of a truly national game is very real.
In their inaugural 1995 campaign, the Adelaide Rams enjoyed extremely healthy crowd figures, averaging over 17,000 throughout the season, with a club-high of 27,435 fans attending their first home match. While support dwindled in the following seasons, the Rams still managed to attract a season average of nearly 10,000 spectators by their demise at the end of the ’98 season – a time when the game was not in a healthy position.
The site of a perfectly timed Noel Goldthorpe pass to a flying Graham Appo is a memory rugby league fans will treasure, so why don’t we revive such scenes? As it stands, rugby league in Australia is at its healthiest position in the history of the game. Club memberships are at an all-time high, the new broadcast deal has ensured revenue for a number of seasons, and the demand for more and more rugby league is immense.
Ask Mark Geyer how much he treasured his time with the Reds, ask Clinton Schifcofske how important the Crushers were in establishing his career, or the Mariners to the careers of Brett Kimmorley and Scott Hill. Hell, ask the 24,392 fans who witnessed Perth’s first match at the WACA just how much they’d enjoy having a team to call their own again.
And who knows, in the future we could see the likes of the Darwin Vipers, Hobart Giants, Central Coast Bears, a team representing NSW’s mid-north coast known as the North Coast Hurricanes and maybe even one to tap into the vast resources and growing population of the Hills Shire – Hills Lions anyone? There is an appetite for growth of the game and I say we feed the hungry.
Strengthen surrounding international teams
There has also been serious bidding from Papua New Guinea to have a side in the NRL and I couldn’t welcome the notion more. The country is rugby league mad and players involved in the annual Prime Minister’s clash each year have spoken highly of the experience.
Papua New Guinea have also shown a steady improvement in the representative scene over the past few years and what is really positive is the amount of homegrown players playing for the national side. The time is ripe to seriously consider admitting a team to represent the country. My vote is the Port Moresby Pirates.
Of course there could be a serious challenge in enticing Australian players to relocate to the country, but there is a vast talent pool looking for first grade action and an equally large amount of players looking to cash in on the new broadcast deal. The new side would be able to throw some serious money at some high-quality players, while sourcing a large amount of the squad internally.
Having a team in the NRL would dramatically improve the Kumuls on the international stage, as well as potentially boosting Papua New Guinea’s economy.
And what of a second New Zealand team? It makes sense to feature teams representing both islands and after the Warriors’ recent match against the Bulldogs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington attracted over 30,000 fans, I say roll out the mats for the Wellington Wolves – there is clearly a serious fan-base for rugby league in New Zealand’s capital.
If not Wellington, a team could be situated in Christchurch to truly represent the southern island.
Having a second team in New Zealand would further promote the game there and could conceivably uncover more talented prospects, helping their international team.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. For all the positives of expansion there are most certainly some potential negatives. Tune in tomorrow for the cons of expanding the NRL.
cr
Guest
Hunters dominate Source: The National, Monday July 28th, 2014 By PETER SEVARA Jr in Kokopo THE Papua New Guinea Hunters put on their best performance of the season blowing the Burleigh Bears off the park 56-12 on Saturday. The win was built on a committed defensive effort, which saw the hosts take an almost unassailable 34-0 lead by halftime in the Queensland Cup fixture. Hunters coach Michael Marum described the 10 tries to two romp as one of their best games. With incisive running and impressive ball control in wet conditions, capped off with solid tackling and an effective kicking game, the SP Brewery-sponsored side was a far cry from last week’s last gasp 25-24 victory over wooden-spooners, the Sunshine Coast Falcons. The instigators of the overhaul were none other than the halves combination of Roger Laka and man-of-the-match five-eighth, Dion Aiye, while captain Israel Eliab had a good day with the boot, slotting eight from 10 conversions. Marum said the side had put down the Bears match as the season-maker with the loser of the Round 21 match more than likely out of contention for a top five finals position. The side had ignored all the distractions in the media about their season so far and treated the match as a win-at-all costs task. “This game was our sole focus this week,” Marum said. “Our defence and attack was very impressive in the first half but we let our guard down in the second half, but it was still good. “A win is a win and I can’t ask for more than that. “We won it as a group, this is one of the best games we’ve ever played,” Marum said. The Hunters piled on seven unanswered tries in the first half. The Bears managed two tries in the second half in response to the Hunters four tries. Try-scoring machine Garry Lo, Adam Korave and Willie Minoga each baged a brace of tries. David Loko opened scoring for the day, stepping between Bears defenders to open the Hunters account. Eliab failed to convert but atoned soon enough when Hunters lock Adam Korave, sauntered in untouched and score for Marum’s side to take an early 10-0 lead after six minutes. The Hunters set up shop in the Bears territory in the first half and there was nothing the Bears could do to remove a revitalised Hunters outfit. “The halves combination of Laka and Aiye are working very well “They are good boys and our forwards were really on the go,” Marum said, in describing how his side did not take their foot off the accelerator. Some desperate Bears defence saw Wartovo Puara hack and chase in-goal, which saw the hooker regather and score for a 22-0 lead after Eliab’s conversion. A sweeping backline move in the 29th minute saw Korave claim his second four-pointer. Lo was rewarded for some enterprising play in the 37th minute, forcing his way over the line off an Adex Wera offload to have the home side in a commanding position at 34-0. The Hunters were the first to score in the second half as 165-centimetre wrecking ball George Benson laid on a try for raging bull Willie Minoga with a barging run into the Bears’ 20. At 40-0 the Hunters kept up the intensity with Minoga bustling his way over for his second. The Bears regrouped and showed some fight through winger Jamie Anderson and centre Brad Tighe, scoring back-to-back tries to stem the Hunters tide somewhat. But the Hunters made sure they let the visitors know who was boss with tries to Lo and Eliab in the final quarter to inflict Burleigh’s worst defeat of the season. Lo maintained his spot as the competition’s top try-scorer, lifting his tally to 21 tries in as many rounds. Match summary: Tries: Hunters 56 (Garry Lo 2, Adam Korave 2, Willie Minoga 2, Israel Eliab, Thompson Teteh, Wartovo Puara, David Loko tries; Israel Eliab 8 con) Burleigh bears 12 (Brad Tighe, Jamie Anderson tries; Khan Ahwang 2 con). Half time: 34-0
cr
Guest
50,000 students from 80 PNG schools will participate in Rugby League in Schools program .Date: 21/2/14 Working industry ‘mates’ is the next exciting step for the ‘Rugby League in Schools’ program. Rugby League in Schools program, together with the SP PNG Hunters, will undergo the Australian NRL’s Level 1 Coaching course this Thursday and Friday at Bomana Police College, which will include the entire Hunters squad. Up to 50,000 students from 80 schools will participate in the ‘Rugby League in Schools program, which is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the Australian NRL, over the next three years. The program targets girls and boys of all abilities and uses a range of in classroom and on field rugby league and related activities to improve the quality of education. The program also focuses on teacher training and increasing the capacity of the PNGRFL to deliver school based rugby league programs. The players will take time out from their busy schedule and preparations for the clubs opening game of the Intrust Super Cup Season to undertake the course said PNGRFL CEO Brad Tassell; “The Coaching staff and management believe it is vital that our players show the way, set an example and provide leadership both on and off the field. We expect them to give back to Rugby League in PNG and this is a terrific way to do that. We have a responsibility to our youth and to be properly accredited is important so the players can pass on their knowledge and skills to the younger generation. We will ensure that the players are involved in the grassroots program such as ‘Rugby League in Schools’ where possible during the year. Involvement in the Rugby League in Schools program is a long-‐term goal for the SP PNG Hunters in growing the game of league in PNG. If players leave the Intrust Super Cup Program they will now have the proper accreditation to go onto junior or senior coaching in PNG. The more people we have at a Level 1 Coaching accreditation the better coached and prepared our PNG youth will be coming through the ranks.” Through the PNGRFL Team Kumul program we will be rolling out accreditation programs with the assistance of the NRL to Digicel Cup Coaches and Trainers and to Leagues Coaches across the nation during the year. It is fundamental to our goal of being a top four nation to ensure PNG coaches are delivering the right coaching to the many talented youth across the country. Mr Tassell added; “Getting the basic skills of the game right is best delivered at an early age and we thank the NRL for undertaking this initiative with the PNGRFL and the SP PNG Hunters players.” The NRL’s In-‐Country General Manager Mr Mark Mom added: “This is a great opportunity for the players to lead by example and continue their development as role models in PNG. Rugby League in Schools program teaches the importance of Education for a Papua New Guinean and the importance of Respect for all Papua New Guineans. We look forward to working with the Hunters players to be part of the program and help us achieve the educational outcomes and deliver the key messages. In footy, and in life, mates do better when they work together.” The Rugby League in Schools program, funded by the Australian Government is delivered through a partnership between the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian NRL and the PNG National Department of Education. The PNG Rugby Football League and the University of PNG are key stakeholders and supporters of the program.
Slain
Guest
PNG wants Rugby League Pacific Cup revived .Date: 1/5/14 PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Football League will be pushing for the revival of the Pacific Cup and an additional international match later this year in addition to the traditional annual Prime Ministers XIII clash against the Australian Kangaroos. Chairman Sandis Tsaka and CEO Brad Tassell will put forward PNG’s intentions at the two-‐day Rugby League International Federation meeting in Australia, which starts on Thursday, May 1. Both flew out on Wednesday for the meeting in Sydney and are hopeful of securing confirmation from a member RLIF country to visit PNG for a one-‐off international this year the week after the scheduled PM 13 match. Australia and PNG have been involved in the annual Prime Ministers XIII match for the last few years but Tsaka believes another match would be of huge benefit to PNG players and give them additional exposure to quality international matches, which is needed to improve the performances and competitiveness of PNG at an international level. The Pacific Cup was last staged in 2009 and hosted by PNG, which also doubled up as a qualifying tournament to decide the fourth country to join Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain in the Four Nations tournament. The PNG Kumuls won the tournament ahead of eventual finalists Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga to proceed to the Four Nations in 2010 in Australia and New Zealand. “We also want to push for confirmation of Papua New Guinea’s intention to host an entire pool for the 2017 World Cup,” Tsaka said. Australia and New Zealand have been confirmed as co-‐hosts for the next World Cup but while there have been reports that some matches would be played in PNG, “nothing has been set in stone yet”, Tsaka said. “We want to lock that in at this meeting so that we can start preparations in plenty of time,” he said. “We also want to bring back the Pacific Cup so that it provides Pacific islands countries an international competition that gives our players an opportunity to play Test standard-‐like football to gauge our standards before the 2017 World Cup.” Tassell said they would also hold discussions with participating countries regarding the Nines (9s) component of the rugby league competition at next year’s Pacific Games in Port Moresby. According to the itinerary released to delegates there is an Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation Annual General Meeting and Asia Pacific Rugby League Board Meeting on Thursday. On Friday is when the RLIF AGM is scheduled for the morning with its board meeting in the afternoon. Delegates will also have the opportunity to watch the ANZAC Test match between Australia and New Zealand that night. On Saturday delegates will watch the Under 20s Origin match between New South Wales and Queensland at 5.30pm before the Pacific Test between Toa Samoa and Fiji Bati. Meetings will also be held with Canterbury Bulldogs and the NRL on various issues and proposed initiatives over the next 12 months. Costs for the trip are being meet by the RLIF and Tsaka and Tassell said the trip has come at an ideal time, when they can maximize on the opportunity by confirming the PNGRFL international calendar for the next few years right up to the 2017 World Cup.
Slain
Guest
The bid program was started in 2010 after world cup in australia. They started the PNG NRL Bid Team comprising of MAl Maninga, the CEO Gold Coast Titans (forgot his name). Now its the PNG NRL Bid is professional entity being run professional managers with Nathional Government puting $20 million a year.
Slain
Guest
Chanel 9 Fox both broad cast into PNG and all NRL cup games are shown live or replayed - as in Friday nights.
KiwiBear
Guest
That would work but the big question is will it ever get off the ground
KiwiBear
Guest
The Bears are not in the NRL which is the premier league competition no doubt but that doesnt make them defunct. And they are a partner club with Souths I think the phrase "feeder" diminshes a proud foundation club even further.
James Preston
Roar Guru
Cheers for the feedback everyone, some interesting points raised. Just further touching on what I discussed in the article in relation to PNG, to appease Australian based players/WAGS would it not be possible to base the training camp/accommodation of these players in northern Queensland? A short and relatively cheap flight back to PNG for home games would certainly be viable and the PNG based players would be quite happy to check out sunny Queensland particularly given the fact that NRL contract's make for pretty pockets far beyond the norms of their home land. The fact they are still branded as a PNG side AND playing their home matches there I believe would be enough to satisfy PNG locals and the NRL even if camp was set in Queensland...thoughts?
James Preston
Roar Guru
As a top tier side they are indeed defunct. They are essentially a Souths feeder club and have been for some time. They may have a league's club etc but to put things in perspective a majority of kids born on this side of the millennium would struggle to tell you who they are. This is coming from a Balmain fan. Balmain is defunct as a top tier side, the WESTS TIGERS however are alive and well.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Except that Port Moresby is consistently rated as dangerous as "an Indian city". Those 25,000 Australians live in gated communities and fly back to Cairns for R and R on a regular basis. I wish PNG the best and love their national team, but the NRL will not be going their this expansion...
The Bush
Roar Guru
PNG is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Until they get their house in order they are never gonna get an NRL team...
KiwiBear
Guest
Still leaves questions un answered . Does Ch 9 or Fox sport broadcast into PNG and is there a market for advertising and marketing revenue? isnt that where commercial TV get their income and there fore the NRL has to sell the game where it is profitable. I read a article that says 30 million per annum just to run a NRL team. The PNG economy may be growing but it us along way from being a strong economy. It would be a risky proposition
john badseed
Guest
One head good, two heads bad.
KiwiBear
Guest
I think you need to Check your dictionary as to the definition of defunct, the North Sydney Bears are not defunct they are still operating and running a football club like they have been since 1908. If it weren't for some dodgy calls and questionable criteria set back at the end of the league wars then they would still in the top grade.
KiwiBear
Guest
That is irrelevant did Dave Smith not emphasis that he wanted NRL clubs to be less dependant on the TV income. The game should grow and if more clubs get in and get less of the TV income so be it but the offset would be generating more overall revenue.
JiwiBear
Guest
I think there is room left in NSW as there is always room in Leagues heartland. But even if your opinion were to hold true what should be considered is what is the state of league and its clubs in NSW. Why is the status quo being held in place? There are clubs that are on financial assistance from the NRL like the situation in Newcastle, then there is the Balmain side of the JV that got help from the NRL. And didn't St G/Illawarra get financial help? Then there are clubs that are in a mess otherwise like Cronulla and Parramatta. What my argument is that these clubs shouldn't have their NRL franchaise taken as granted they should be held accountable and if they aren't up to scratch then some other entity should have their chance to compete in the top grade. And these other clubs should sit out and get their house in order. The CC Bears are a ready and should be restored.
Joel
Guest
In 1997 the Broncs quit the NSWRL comp and played in the SuperLeague comp a national comp
Joel
Guest
It is in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Cup Former Teams in the NSW Cup Sydney Roosters (1908–2005) Brisbane Broncos (1988-1996†) St George Dragons (1921–2000) South Sydney Rabbitohs (1908–2006) etc.
Joel
Guest
In 1988 Broncs did join the NSWRL (a state comp), and in 1998 they join the NRL (a national comp) I don't know where you are getting things confused it is pretty simple.
Joel
Guest
It didn't change its name as the NSWRL comp still exists? In 1998 a "National" competition "started".