NRL expansion into Queensland is needed now

Those comments could not be those of a true-navy-and-white Brothers person, and if it is true that the regional Brothers clubs mentioned do not support a Brothers bid it is a very great shame indeed. That it could be detrimental to the game in Brisbane is inconceivable, and in fact the opposite is far more likely. Although a strong Broncos supporter - as all loyal Queenslanders became in 1988- I would welcome the return to prominence of my old club, the last club to win the real Brisbane premiership, in 1987, and while there would be many many thousands of similar bent ensuring Brothers' success, that would leave plenty for the Broncos. Had Crushers been smart enough to affiliate openly with Brothers - having set up on Brothers' old headquarters at Corbett Park - they would have attracted the large Brothers' support base, and almost certainly been extremely successful instead of folding after a couple of seasons.

Agreed. The Titans have potential to grow. They are brand new and need 20 yrs to generate generational fans. with the right support and a winning culture they will be a strong area for the NRL. Sydney City with marquee players and a winning team can't draw a crowd unless it's a derby against a strong team with a good membership ie souths and saints.

Brothers would be a terrible option, a step backwards and highly detrimental to the game, especially in Brisbane. They harp on about history and an established base of fans, which is great, and i don't think anyone would argue with that, but what else do they have? Those things, whilst important, don't sustain an NRL team. Every one of the biggest Brothers clubs don't want anything to do with the bid due to the fact that they are already aligned with an NRL team. i.e. Ipswich Brothers with Western Corridor Bid, CQ Brothers with CQ Bid, Townsville Brothers with Cowboys, Logan Brothers with Broncos. What do they have left? All of the struggling Borthers clubs that already can't support themselves and you want them to bandy together to form an NRL team? Ridiculous and ill-conceived with all hopes pinned firmly on 'history' and 'fans'. If none of the big Brothers clubs believe in the bid then what does that say about it? It's a flawed undertaking at best. Brisbane needs something fresh that inspires people to come back across to League because whether any of us like it or not, our sport is getting smashed by AFL and Soccer. I want to see something different and there are some emerging bids that I hope deliver on this.

Rubbish. Competition is always good. Lower prices more variety. Look at afl perth and Adelaide markets. Expanding to two teams in each has strengthened the crowd numbers and game significantly. The Broncos don't want it but Coles would prefer woolworths and Aldi didn't exist as well. Brisbane brothers bid looks fantastic based on what I have read and would only be positive for the games growth.

Rubbish. If that was the case, even more reason to cut a Sydney team or two from the NRL.

No comment on the low Sydney crowds though right........

oh' dear Pat, Townsville dwarfs any city in CQ???? rough Population stats Townsville : 180,000 Cairns : 165, 000 (Cairns has a larger City + Regional Population of around 235,000 to Townsville 225,000) Mackay : 145,000 (Fastest growing in the last 10 years, Cairns fastest growing in the last 20 years) Rocky + Bundy: 165,000 Dear 'o' dear Pat ...... all these cities are fast aggressive growing & estimates for pops of 250,000+ in next 30-40 years I am now a member of my QRL team I have swapped from the N(SW)RL I still support the Cows but I go to QRL games, I know who looks after me as a supporter and I convince many in my region to do the same, this may be the reason for the Cows falling in attendance numbers in the last 6 years. See you in SOO 2015! with no Shayne Hayne to win you the series will be interesting to see who will be the next N(SW)RL poster boy ....

there is only 180k in Townsville

A bit like the 2011 RWC kick off at 9.30pm eh. TV rights rule unfortunately and with anti siphoning laws in this country, dinosaur networks like Channel 9 are getting the game cheaper than a free market would dictate. One would say that its so cheap, they can afford to play about with the integrity of the game and pay lip service to the real fans of the sport.

It's easier to get around NQLD than it is Sydney.

Just one small point, there are actually two NFL teams in the San Francisco Bay metropolitan area (49'ers and Raiders).

Every supporter of the Central Coast Bears knows that the CCB could join the NRL and be financially stable from day 1. They would increase the average crowd attendance and service a market beging for a team on the central coast of NSW whilst stopping the erosion of the Northshore of Sydney to AFL. However every supporter of the CCB knows that whilst Brisbane are blocked from having a 2nd team they will never allow the CCB to exist. Therefore QLD you should be aware that the CC of NSW & the small League community that still survives on Sydney's Northshore desperately want to see that extra expansion club in Brisbane. When John Grant was put in charge of the commission there were cheers because it was thought not even NEWS and the Bronco's could stop it now but, how wrong we were. The sad fact is that Grant has done nothing to help the state of QLD rugby league representation in the NRL but, ironically there are so many here in NSW who wish that he would do something to increase the number of NRL teams from QLD.

It's not even every fortnight they would do the travel. And some may even travel to Sydney to follow their teams. There's much talk about up-grading the Pacific Highway that would encourage travel. Mining copping a hit isn't helpful though for some of these areas. But I'll tell you what is more ludicrous, the constant big crowd city of Brisbane can go 3 weeks without an NRL game during the season. If the Broncos miss the eight or are eliminated in the 1st week Brisbane is finished top rugby league in early September!!! Now that's a real problem!! Quite frankly I don't care what crowds the Reds etc get. I'd rather crowd them out with local NRL or other rugby league teams

That's why you go to conferences, as I suggested. To minimise cost as far a possible, a Queensland/northern conference with New Guinea & northern NSW, promotion and relegation. Restrict the top teams and make the lower levels stronger through competition. Businesses TV want a product that is promotable and earn them income or market position. Also encourages patronage by business, subject to economic circumstance. My old club Valley Diehards are fighting their way back to the top. Playing a BRL comp, it will cost them $70+ for the season. They now have a goal to get stronger & a path [sadly through Norths] to play NRL or become stronger as a club themselves. I'm a member of both Broncos & Titans, have been to interstate games & northern games. The Titans are struggling but that's partly about performance as well as other considerations. Local commercial $$$ follow the crowds. It's called a return. Sometimes you'll get a patron. I've seen poor crowds at Sydney and Titan games.

Melbourne came 8th in crowds, in 2012 they came 13th

Interesting,

it was live in NZ and the week before, they've all been live here! 8.30pm kick off, I believe, saturday night, what an odd time for NZ, that's gotta be for NSW ratings ( 6.30pm and QLD 5.30pm ). I can handle it though. Better than the late (9.30pm?) GF or SOO 10pm B/S in NZ. But I suppose it's not NZ game either. But we did kick start the NRL with the money from the All Golds/Roos' 3 tests in 1907, which were near sell outs in 2 states!!!!! It is looking pretty silly or gangster like, that Brisbane only has one team!

Titans pull in low crowds, Melbourne pulls in great crowds. Cowboys fans drive from all over North QLD to watch their team play, whilst all we hear is excuses from Sydney fans. Any thoughts on the low Sydney crowds, or are we just pointing fingers? Ignorance won't help rubgy league thrive in Australia. The AFL and A-League supporters shames the NRL supporters.

Id love to see a two tier system. It's the only way to reduce the Sydney ratio without alienating huge chunks of fans like when the bears were lost. It would also improve the quality of competition with a 10-12 team top tier, and would be more sustainable in fostering profitable football clubs which can keep elite players The logistics would be hard to get right, primarily keeping tier two relevant and getting it a self funding tv model. But the risks involved means it will never happen

you want to check the crowds of other teams? titans, melbourne etc?