As a Brisbane Broncos fan, it would be great to see the club develop a genuine rivalry in the NRL. It makes sense to set up another club in the city.
There’s enough talent in Australian and South Pacific rugby league to support two more NRL teams. And as Suncorp Stadium is an under-utilised world-class stadium, a new team could easily set up base there.
From a sponsorship point of view, a second Brisbane team makes a lot of sense. From many reports there are companies lining up to sponsor another local team.
The main problem is attracting enough fans to support another team. There is already an existing rivalry within Brisbane and this is a chance to capitalise on that.
Much has been said about the northern and southern suburbs rivalry, for instance, or the divide between Brisbane and the western suburbs/Ipswich.
However, naming a new club Moreton or Moreton Bay could capitalise on a growing, new rivalry between inner city Brisbane and regional Brisbane.
Moreton Bay Regional Council is a new council area formed in 2008. It’s located to the north of Brisbane and includes the previous regions of Redcliffe, Pine Rivers and Caboolture, with a population of 425,000 in the 2015 census.
In addition, many local residents would consider the Redlands council areas south of Brisbane, including the Southern Moreton Bay Islands like Russell and Macleay. And even parts of Brisbane ‘on the Bay’, like Wynnum and Manly to the south and Sandgate and Shorncliffe to the North, are considered part of Moreton Bay.
Even Ipswich, which is in the health district West Moreton and has a school called West Moreton Anglican College, despite being some 40 kilometres from the Bay, seems to consider itself part of the Moreton region.
Greenberg should look to expand in Brisbane. (NRL.com)
My plan for a new team would capitalise on this rivalry by making use of the existing regional facilities, attempting to bring together rugby league fans from north and south and potentially west of Brisbane to cheer for a team that represents their regions, rather than the inner city.
This new club could make arrangements to base itself at both Redcliffe Dolphins and Wynnum-Manly Seagulls Leagues clubs, with players coming from both teams, and fans and members being able to gain entry and cheer for their team at both clubhouses.
Training grounds for the new side would probably have to be chosen from between the above clubs, with my choice being Redcliffe as its facilities have recently been upgraded. Basing the club there will probably increase the chance of state or regional government funding.
There may also be some potential for Ipswich Jets to also get on board and supply some players to the new team. Admittedly, this link between Moreton and Ipswich is more tenuous and so may only work if one of the above two clubs was not amenable to this idea (and the Broncos may not be too keen on losing three of their five feeder teams).
As for the team’s name, I would choose to call it the Moreton Muddies. Mudcrabs are a famous south-east Queensland produce and are fairly representative of the region. Keeping a fairly coastal/aquatic mascot and logo is best, too, given the team represents a Bay region.
Club colours could be maroon and white, maroon with thin black stripes or maroon with pale blue (like Central Queensland or striped like North Brisbane Rugby Club). Other suggestions are Moreton Mudcrabs, Moreton Bay Manta Rays (for those who like both rhyming and alliteration) or the Moreton Dolphins.
The latter would be best to strengthen ties to the existing Dolphins club (if the team was not able to utilise facilities from the existing Seagulls or Jets clubs).
Lastly, Moreton Coast Crushers could provide a link to a previous club that had good support in the region (average crowds of 21,000 in the first year). However, this does not capitalise on the coastal nickname/mascot.
With the club having support across both sides of the river and potentially to the west as well, and with all of these areas having existing rail links to the inner city, playing out of Suncorp Stadium would make sense.
Trials and pre-season games could take place at Dolphin Oval, North Ipswich Reserve and BMD Kougari Oval, and even regional grounds like Stradbroke Island (which hosts a Queensland Cup game annually).
This new club would have immediate success, as instead of trying to convert casual fans or existing Broncos fans they could make use of supporters of existing, local clubs.
There are still many local supporters of Queensland rugby league who do not support the Broncos. They support local rugby league clubs, or support out-of-town teams like the Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys or Canterbury Bulldogs due to a perceived lack of representation, or issues with the Broncos’ structure.
This new club, if handled correctly, would easily gain attendances from fans who are looking for a new club, looking for more games in their region and are looking for a club that better represents them.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Why would the Storm and the Warriors be in the Northern Conference? I actually think promotion relegation is a great thing for the NRL, but I would want some more Brissy teams and Perth and Adelaide.
elvis
Guest
This is something I don't understand, sitting down hasn't changed too much from the 80s... Surely it can't be too hard to add some more toilets and food outlets around the grounds. I'd like some more details before believing this argument, having been to both in both eras, I just don't see how the smaller grounds are that terrible.
elvis
Guest
Not a bad idea, but I would add something. After say 5 years to bed the new clubs in, introduce promotion and relegation. The bottom two teams in each conference play off to be relegated every two years. A tournament is held of RL clubs wanting to get into the top grade, the top one plays the bottom NRL one for the right to come up. Make the clubs real things for the supporters, not just marketing exercises. Like the English soccer. Imagine Newcastle playing the Ipswich Jets for a spot in the comp.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well CA doesn't care about them, sometimes I think I am the last one left who cares if they win or not.
Nat
Roar Guru
I believe the breakeven at Suncorp is around 25k. I have a bit to do with the Reds admin via work which is located Ballymore Stadium. Unfortunately the stadium is an 80's relic these days only suitable for premier grade and school boy games. Think Concord oval as a Sydneysiders reference.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Ahh yes, shows how much I care about them ... ?
Beergardener
Roar Pro
I like it, but don't think the Queensland Bulls would let their nickname go to a rival code from the same city
Paul Chapman
Guest
3Hats your Anti-Bronco slip is showing. From 1988 the Broncos & Gold Coast had to pay all the travelling expenses of all visiting team. This was a late condition placed upon the two clubs by Arthurson & Quayle as temporary measure as some Sydney suburban clubs, namely Wests couldn't afford the Plane fares & expenses. The temporary measure lasted from 1988-1996. No wonder the Gold coast changed hands several times in its early existence?? The Southern conference looks like a return to the old NSW/Sydney competition??
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Venues need to be settled a fair way ahead especially when there are different codes using them. Hard to predict what the Roar and Reds will pull much of the time, even just 2 months ahead. Very hard to know what they will pull in 2 years time - Reds have had a shocker of a year, they might pull 25k soon enough.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Brisbane Bulls has a good ring to it. Play the odd game in Ipswich, Tmba, Rocky etc to pull the regional fan base. I could see it working.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Costs a lot just to open the gates at a big inner city stadium. I don't know what break even crowd is for Suncorp but you can't compare it to a small suburban ground in Sydney on the basis of costs.
Birdy
Guest
Brothers had a bid team in with plans for 8 games at suncorp and 4 on the road in regional qld each year.
RM
Guest
Don't mind the idea of an Ipswich/Logan team - both big catchment areas for players and I'd love to see the Walker brothers' all out attack coaching style get a go in the NRL. Even if it didn't work it would be bloody entertaining and a nice point of difference to the similarity of so many current NRL teams. They should call the team the Brisbane Brothers to help cement support in the Logan region and also a nice link back to the old BRL days.
Jeff dustby
Guest
No they are not
Jeff dustby
Guest
They don't
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
A 20 team 2 conference system in the NRL is the way to go. I actually think that eventually, I would like to see a club play out of Central Queensland, Ipswich and at least 1 more club in Brisbane. Gold Coast to Merge with Tweed Heads 6 NRL Clubs in Queensland sounds right 8 and a half clubs in Sydney are way too many. 6 Clubs in Sydney sounds right. NORTHERN Conference North Qld Central Qld Broncos Ipswich Gold Coast/Tweed Dolphins, (an example) Auckland Warriors Wellington Perth/Tigers Melbourne Storm Each team plays all other clubs in the conference home and away for 18 games Play 4 clubs in the other conference for 22 games per season. As there is so much more travel in KMs and Costs minimum 6-day turnaround plus more funding for travel expenses. Except for the Broncos, they are rich enough, lol NO 5-Day turnarounds SOUTHERN Conference Canberra Newcastle Wollongong/Dragons Central Coast/Roosters Panthers Eels Rabbitohs Sea Eagles Bulldogs Sharks Each team plays all other clubs in the conference home and away for 18 games Play 4 clubs in the other conference for 22 games per season. TOP 3 from each conference makes the playoffs plus the next best 2 clubs for a Top 8. State of Origin 3 stand alone games Pacific Tests play on the same weekend NZ, Samoa, Tonga, Papua.
elvis
Guest
I used this link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Queensland the statistical area doesn't include Mackay. Food for thought that a Central Qld team could be competitive, definitely enough supporters. you are out by 100k on your Cairns population btw
elvis
Guest
Yes, there are lots on expensive houses on the beach, but go back a street.. Brisbane median house price 655k, Redcliffe Median house price 430k.
Thomas C
Guest
my anxiety about expansion is mostly concern about them messing with the competition, and having existing clubs with issues (uncompetitive, broke, and in the case of the sharks a scourge on mankind). I might try and solve existing problems before adding new complexities.
Wayne Lovell
Roar Guru
The roar and reds are getting crowds on par with sydney league clubs, how is that not viable?