The Wellington NRL bid team have revealed they are creating a joint consortium with Fiji known as the South Pacific Cyclones.
The bid team hope to boost rugby league in both the pacific islands and southern New Zealand with home games to be split equally between ANZ National Stadium, Suva, and Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
The announcement comes on the back of a rugby league boom in Fiji. The nation has become one of the most competitive teams, while producing stars such as NRL top tryscorer Semi Radradra, Penrith Panthers sensation Reagan Campbell-Gillard and rugby league legend Petero Civoniceva.
The joint bid has gained significant strength, arguably pushing ahead of the Perth bid as the preferred 18th NRL franchise after a second Brisbane team, as it will develop the game in New Zealand, Fiji and other islands in the region including Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Niue.
As it will not be solely based in Wellington, the Warriors’ supporter base isn’t likely to be diluted, yet the Cyclones are will provide healthy competition to the Auckland-based club.
The bid team’s spokesman Robert Picone made the announcement saying, “This is a great development for our bid as it satisfies the NRL’s plans of expanding into the Pacific Islands as well as New Zealand.
“It grows our catchment area of support and does not put too much competitive pressure on the Warriors.
“Added to this is the enormous talent pool of players in the Pacific Islands and New Zealand, being largely untapped and therefore not diluting existing talent in the current clubs, particularly in the mid-to-long term.”
It comes after David Smith resigned from his position of CEO earlier this week, and with the NRL hoping to increase the value of their broadcast rights deal, expansion appears to be back on the agenda.
Not only will it help expand the domestic product, the club could also be a huge asset to the international game by unearthing talent from the region and providing them with a regular taste of top-flight rugby league. This could lead to more participation at the game’s highest level.
Suva lies only 70 minutes flying distance from Auckland, making it accessible for NRL clubs, and three quarters of an hour closer to Sydney than Perth.
NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson will decide whether the NRL expands or not with the release of his report.
Other expansion areas on the agenda include Brisbane, Central Queensland, Perth, Central Coast and Papua New Guinea, with Adelaide also being viewed as an option despite no current bid team in the area.
With Richardson keen on first expanding second-tier competitions the New South Wales Cup and Queensland Cup, the South Pacific Cyclones will have to wait until at least 2018 to be admitted into the National Rugby League.
Only two more franchises are likely to be welcomed, however struggling Sydney teams may be forced to relocate offering more opportunity to expand.
Representatives of the bid team will meet with the NRL to discuss the proposal.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I can see it working. They play out of Wellington with maybe a home game in Fiji. A second Kiwi side and Perth should be a goer. The problem will be the NRL. Grant has said no new sides. His main reason is lack of players but look at the number who have gone to ESL because of salary cap issues. The other issue is that the NRL needs to stop propping up teams. If teams go under, let them go.
slane
Guest
Fiji is closer to Sydney than Perth is. Fiji has a bigger population than Tasmania, NT or the ACT. Since the GDP of Fiji is only about 1/5th of the states I just mentioned a full-time team probably isn't feasible. But 6 games underwritten by the Fijian government is definitely within the realms of possibility.
Mangrove Jack
Guest
who or what NRL club will play games in Fiji? What number of spectators will attend the games. Will they have the money to pay at the tickets to earn a profit for the NRL?. For goodness sake, Fiji is too small a place and economy to support 6 NRL games in a year. In Saying this....the Cyclones (or what the name is) should look at PNG. Big population. RL Country. Big economy and bigger facilities. Note, the talent follow the money, as the saying goes so recuit and merge with the PNG NRL Bid.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Just wouldn't work.The tyranny of distance plus the financial backing needed is too much of an obstacle, to overcome for NRL sides..I understand the goodwill and thought behind the idea from the Wellington consortium. The Fijians are at this very moment trying to get into the lower tier NSW cup .That is where the groundwork needs to begin. I realise and have seen the growth of rugby league in Fiji,due to Tv and the exploits of the Peteros,Lotes,Radrada et al, but the country is basically a tourist economy ,and the money is just not there.Their athleticism and ability with the oval ball is amazing. By all means expand the NRL into Perth and another Qld side,and introduce more of these athletic committed Fijian youngsters .Then if needs be expand once more into another Qld side and a wellington based side. Play a trial game in Suva or an NRL one for that matter,expecting half a season to be economically justifiable is pipe dreaming.
3 Hats
Guest
There is no money in Union either in Fiji, it is easy, throw cash at the locals and they will convert to League. The financial workings of the Club will be in Wellington not Suva. Fiji is Primarily for the talent not for the sponsorships.
Mangrove Jack
Guest
where will the Money come for this new NRL club? The income levels in Fiji is too low and the corporate sector support will struggle th economy of Fiji is really nothing....Its tourist town!. 3 weeks ago the Top team in Fiji and Top Team in PNG had play off for the Melanesian Cup. The PNG side put 48 points to Fiji side's 2 points. The local talent in Fiji is all Union not league. it will be difficult to get the finance ad support base sustained.
3 Hats
Guest
NamerTamer, you must be a roosters fan then! lol
Wayne Lovell
Roar Guru
This is a fantastic idea, and one that capitalizes on a real growth area of our game, the pacific islands are demanding inclusion, they are where we are strong. Coupled with Perth, expansion would actually be improving the value of our game as opposed to expanding to dilute success or maintain mediocrity.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I like the romance of it but alas, that will never happen. Human nature will see to that.
Chris
Guest
lets all go back to semipro Rugby and every area can have a team.
lao hu
Guest
the easy option would be to expand the QLD Cup
NamerTamer
Guest
Wellington...hmm...maybe. The NRL has too many basketcase clubs, we need to get those alive and kicking first. Titans, Knights, Tigers and Raiders (my team has plenty of cash, but no fans and no TV games)
lester
Guest
I like wellington and want them to see them get a team, but i would be happy to see any team be outright rejected on the basis of a stupid name.
Rarojuice
Guest
There have been talks about having the QLD/NSW cup team for this side based out of Christchurch. That should result in games being based in Chch and Dunedin if that happens.
Renegade
Roar Guru
There's no way in the world this bid has moved in front of Perth within the pecking order however it's a good move to involve Fiji just not sure if its the right move. Would be better incorporating the south island of NZ and sticking with the Southern Orcas brand - 6 games at Wellington and 6 across the south island (Christchurch, Dunedin, etc) I think they've actually gone slightly backwards... great to see rugby league just surging in Fiji though - it's growing at an enormously fast pace over there.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
It would be good when they play the storm, I can see it now "the weather derby"
Gurudoright
Guest
So you are going to have the Hurricanes (rugby) and the Cyclones (league) both playing out of Wellington. Hmmmmm.