Rugby league must expand or risk extinction

Rugby League has always had the success by following the growth population areas. It also should provide the service to those areas that are traditionally already geared to accept it. That way you will get the most return quickest. Where should that be. Well i agree with the NZ sentiments. However i believe the other city should be Wellington. It has the next largest population and the strongest local derby possibility with Auckland. Next like St George after the second world war the growth area is Central Coast NSW. That is a must. Where to next? Queensland justifies another team. Look where the juniors are and that will be your guide. Now that makes 19 teams. If we start with that I believe we need to move on, an existing team. Whether they relocate or amalgamate we should keep to 18. What teams should be considered. I can think of 3. Roosters who have been great and have a lot of money. But they have little following and little upside of increasing that. The Tigers are another obvious choice as are St George/Cronulla where 2 clubs are squeezed into one area. These are tough decisions Can the NRL make them? Will the clubs let them make them?

I applaud your opinion to include another Kiwi team. However the game in New Zealand is strangled by the unforgiving television media that continues to rate our game as a mediocre entity. Having been an exponent of the Australian viewing I applaud also the efforts of chanel 9 to deliver some games free to air. New Zealand delivers free to air at the ridiculous times of midnight onwards and only the Warriors games. Half way through this year SKY sport offered to Kiwis the ability to purchase only those games they wish to see. I have no qualms about pay-to-view however to bring the game to a wider audience in NZ there must be a review show free to air say on a Tuesday night that exposes all the NRL highlights to New Zealand. We are fortunate that the internet delivers most of that. I have no doubts that the NRL could provide their own chanel that an enthusiast would certainly subscribe to. It is done for rugby union. I am sick and tired of the All Blacks as I am guessing many Kiwis are, we want to see league develop and grow. Sure bring in another NZ team but give its audience the freedom to watch.

Let's see: Brisbane - used to have a second team (South Queensland Crushers) - no reason why they couldn't have a second team, probably Ipswich Jets, if you don't make a clear distinction between the new team and the Broncos you'll get the NRL's equivalent of Melbourne Heart/City. Perth - used to have a team (Western Reds), could allow for games to be played at 9:30pm AEST Saturday or 6:00pm AEST Sunday because of WA's timezone, probably has more rugby league culture than Melbourne. Port Moresby - probably not worth the effort given issues with security and infrastructure, despite having heaps of diehards. Wellington - you could have a game in NZ's timezone every week, would have a genuine rivalry with the Warriors, but the greater Wellington area has a smaller population than Canberra. Central Coast - John Singleton wants this badly but there's too many teams in NSW as it is, too many issues with Manly. Sunshine Coast - this is an interesting one. Probably not able to support a team yet, but could Melbourne Storm play some home games up there, with Falcons games as curtain raisers? Given the Falcons are a feeder team for the Storm and the Storm are partners with netball team Sunshine Coast Lightning, you wonder why they haven't done what Hawthorn and North Melbourne have done with Launceston and Hobart. Heck, maybe they'll actually get a decent crowd...

how could a place like Rocky possibly support a NRL team? Whats the next idea? Moe?

duecer,now the code is actually able to get rl into the school system,they can develop and grow.A restriction hampering such efforts for 70 years. Getting the assets from rugby union another story ,which you ignore(ru inclined ) ,proving proceeds of theft is acceptable. Seriously comparing banning in the 20th Century involving a despised collaboration Govt and sport,with Edward 3rd banning ,is silly.It didn't involve one sport killing off another initially. Africans will indeed gravitate more so toward soccer.Comparing Nth African migrants in France (where they exist in large numbers)to a couple snared by AFL(where they are not) is a non comparison. The fact is, some are playing rugby league now in France,because of the new opportunities.These opportunities in schools were not available til now.Just as South Americans are taking up rl in this country and now in South America.

never read more complete rubbish in my life.

I have made no judgement call, indeed it was a sad indictment on the French authorities, but when does it stop being an excuse - 50 years, 100 years, 200 years? Soccer was banned in England by Edward 3rd and more famously by Henry the eighth - can you still bring that up as a reason for holding it back - seems to be going pretty well now. Think the vast majority of African migrants will gravitate towards Soccer, there may be a few that are targeted by other sports - AFL snared a couple of Sudaneese, but it's not a wave of migration that will make a difference to the sporting landscape.

Gary.Money has to be repaid,either by the club or sale of the club.See Sharks/Titans/Knights. The NRL has no strategy !!!. Currently Touch football :future players/fans/insce and ground rationalisation check(League tag booming already in some areas for make and female. Womens rl check. New stadiums check Financial stability of all current clubs check Financial support to Pi and PNG check Available money on current pie to grassroots (need more ) check Secure decent Tv deal $2bn est check Assist RLWC 2017 check U20 apparently to be scrapped from 2018 replaced by another competition/club recruitment strategy check Secure new merchandising deal with top US supplier of goods who service NBA/NFL etc check These are the ones I know of. Now what happens beyond that is I suggest a board matter, with data and supporting information provided by everyone from grassroots through to the Admin.But of course there is no strategy,the eve reliable ,truthful,media don't report it ,so it must be true. That may include expansion,playing NRL games in other states or overseas,where SOO to be played due to ANZ being unavailable. I doubt they are sitting on their rear ends,contemplating their navels.If they are and I'm sure they are not,they should be sent to Siberia.You'd recommend that no doubt?

In fact Gary the Sharks are currently operating under their salary cap,and will have more room to move next year.I do spend a little time there . The $1.5m ,is the same funding to be provided to all clubs in addition to their grants.No so called surprises there. I've already responded to your lame moment about Shark's purchasing experienced players earlier.You completely ignore the young players for 2017 such as Lutele,Feki,Townsend,Holmes,Bird,Capewell,Graham.And some good local up and comers.The Storm have snatched one BTW. Any monies lent to the Sharks by the NRL is repayable ,other than the usual grants all clubs receive.Just as movies lent to the Dragons. And to all the clowns who bagged the Sharks ,suggesting they would get about 20,000(because they have few supporters) at the Allianz last Friday night,chew a very grissly humble pie and remain conspicuous by your absence. And as for the Broncos in a city of 2million who are as you suggest " hero worshipped" get about 30,000 average and the Sharks near 15,000.On a population basis the Sharks(area 226,000) leave the Broncos for dead.One can spin it any way for effect.Very strong corporate support for the Sharks also. The Sharks have been through tough expensive times,a no brainer,thus have been unable to provide the funding for juniors needed.The local junior League is hardly thrilled.So it"ain't no scoop". That will change in the near future . Oh and you will be very pleased to know a a steady stream of people coming into the Leagues club all the time,buying merchandise in truckloads,having to secure extra deliveries throughout this week.All extra profits to the Shark;s coffers.Enjoy the grand final Gaz and I hope Brisbane get a 2nd team,to stick it up the Broncos.

Gary The Shark's bought experienced players , all unwanted by their last club L Lewis by Penrith Ennis ex Canterbury and the Dogs poached a Sahrk's junior Lichaa to replace him Barba ex Broncos Maloney ex the Roosters Prior from the Dragons And regained their local junior Townsend. They have developed Lutele,Feki,Holmes and a Dragons junior Bird all exciting talent. That smacks to me of good coaching and talent ID. Penrith Bought Merrin rep,Mansour experienced ,Wallace rep player,Peachey a Sharks product. They(Penrith) have the biggest junior league in this country.The bigger the local pool the better the chance for locals, It's a pro sport players go for opportunities or the loot,with the Shark's you seem to begrudge them this fact.

You mean the Broncos, one of the profitable clubs... Well actually I think they're a company aren't they? But that wasn't my point. I was highlighting that some clubs claim they need more NRL money to stay afloat - and I'm calling BS on that. Irrespective of club, they take most of the game's money, give nothing to juniors let alone CRL juniors, spend their entire cap as quickly as they can and perpetually want more. The management of our game is terrible. No strategy for now - and none for later. Stagnant, despite having more money than ever.

Wow, if members are unhappy they must be knowledable... Here's a management idea, spend less than you take in grants and $6 pies... Maybe purchasing a team of rep players to win a comp in 2016 isn't good for 2017...

Thanks, The_Wookie, noted. This is similar to some of the other clubs. Importantly, this demonstrates my point that you cannot actually tell from the reports the full profits and losses for the FOOTBALL club, as distinct from the combined group. It is very easy to "share" some expenses and revenues. I note the Chairman gloated about successfully lobbying the NRL for another $1.5M. Well done, add that to the other millions... Oh, and thanks to the Sharks for their generous $50k to juniors (that's sarcasm fyi).

Third party deals are legal if legitimately third party. In a one-team city it is pretty easy to get them - Broncos would be the easiest team from which to get a third party deal and supplement a player's in-cap salary. You only have to visit Bris to notice the one-eyed hero worship and player endorsements. Not just the Lockyers - half the team! They may not be squeaky clean, I don't know and wouldn't bet my money on it, but they're always under the microscope and there is so much community support you'd have to be nuts not to sell endorsements if you were a player. Inuendo doesn't make Broncos salary cap cheats. Back up your claims or accept that they have a massive cap advantage due to their unrivalled community support.

I have no probs with teams busted of salary cap breaches being heavily penalised. Should be more of it! But the anti-Storm people in Sydney are just one-eyed NSW fans crying over a decade of Origin embarrasment. The Storm have raised the bar in many facets of the game and I admire them greatly. But still happy for their breach to be penalised. The Sharks could win this year and that will look good on the headline. But they've bought an experienced team of quality rep players and, guess what, they're good together. I'm a bit disappointed in that approach from a rugby league heartland. I love the Penrith model! Storm develop new players every year and are a serious club. Sharks are just a boom-and-bust model buying a premiership...

Sorry, mate! Diddo for Logan! Squawk!

Pratley you are showing me how to suck lollies. The NRL maximise viewers with Sunday nights(using marketing nouse),the AFL does not.Who is the dummy? And 28,160 at the Storm game.Most Storm fans,all good.They are in the G/F ,maybe the Hun and the Age get out of the one eyed bubble hey what

Your kidding is appropriate moniker.Know the history of the Storm and what followed instead of using the tired old AFL boogie man description. Masters is his own man,and I'm not kidding. Ciao

If you think personal shots are groovy Clip,be my guest.We know why you tread these tiles,not for contributions,but agendas.

Oh Eastern Suburbs no doubt,the demographics tell us so.