Since the ARU made its decision to remove the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition, rugby league fans have been screaming at the NRL to expand there, and on the surface, it makes total sense.
It’s a new market for the rugby league market to crack. Simply put, it would finally put the ‘N’ in NRL. Furthermore, it could help with the sliding TV ratings and scheduling.
However, this opportunity comes at a time when the NRL is at its weakest and quite frankly doesn’t have the resources to do it.
Firstly, there is the financial side, the NRL has just been rejected for another large loan, a big slide from the days of Dave Smith and the big spending that was going on.
How can the NRL expand and invest in a new franchise when it has failed to assist the Gold Coast Titans and finally, when it did invest with the Titans, didn’t do anything by growing its junior ranks and competitions?
Instead, the Titans decided to sign Jarryd Hayne in the hope it would bring in money. An attempted quick fix or what?!
That is the NRL’s biggest factor, the juniors. Ask anyone with knowledge of both rugby codes, rugby league is simply a better developer of its players at a junior level. It develops young talent like no one other sport and it’s a huge reason as to why Sydney has sustained so many teams for so long.
Both parents and kids are more than likely to be a part of a program if they know someone who has successfully gone through it. This is where passion and love for the game begins, are you really going to care for a team just because they stick it there and say here it is?
It hasn’t worked for the Gold Coast Titans, though, has it?
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Now you can say it’s the club’s fault and, in a way, yes it is. But a new club needs time to grow, it needs a backbone, one of which the NRL currently lacks. It’s too focused on telling us what it’s doing right and how it has improved the game, rather than listening to us, the fans.
Look at the bunker and refs, there have been no solutions other than we created that much-criticised review system. Have the fans, (or commentators for that matter) really welcomed any changes to the game after this technological development?
The answer is no. The criticism has been largely ignored by the current administration, or we get a “sorry we were wrong” and then it’s back to work putting out the next fire.
Say what you will about Dave Smith, he wasn’t the best by any means, but at least he tried to think ahead, and grow the game.
I’m begging the NRL to stay out of Western Australia. It will only do more harm than good.
If there are ever plans to expand into the Western Australian market, they need to make sure there’s a new crop of administrators and there is actually a solid plan to move forward.
The people of Western Australia and rugby league supporters deserve it.
David Baird
Roar Rookie
All very valid points. The Reds didn't fail your right the ARU failed them; any new team needs time and it's a long term investment. Gold Coast was always a dumb move; Perth with time could work extremely well and the NRL doesn't need a team there now; start at grass roots; get the juniors involved and build hell even a NSW cup team could be a short term investment. The problem is money the NRL has none; crowds are poor and let's be honest it's a dud code. This could be the greatest start it needs; along with key resignations at management level and a kick in the arse
Paul Chapman
Guest
Most Sydney based Clubs/Teams struggle to draw a great crowd as Sydney is saturated with so many teams. A solution could be for each Sydney Club to play at least one of their "home games" in Perth. The Rabbitohs for years have played a home game in Perth with great support. With so many NRL games a year in Perth the game would grow. Just a suggestion, maybe it could work & later expansion could occur??
League fan
Guest
If the NRL administration could get their act together and expand the NRL to include teams from Perth, PNG, 2nd NZ and 2nd Brisbane team then the NRL has the potential to be the biggest sport comp in Australasia. When you break it down RL is the number one code in NSW/QLD pop 12mill, PNG nearly 8 mill and is a very popular sport in NZ pop 4.5 mill. No other sport comes close to these figures. If the NRL could realise this and capitalize on this then the potential is huge.
Go warriors
Guest
Yeah well said Crosscoder the NRL has many new markets they can expand to. Perth, NZ2, PNG as well as strengthening existing markets the Central Coast, 2nd Brisbane etc. The AFL and all the other codes for that matter have really nowhere to expand to that will increase their market.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Thus the NRL has not saturated the potential Oz market as yet. Meaning of course there is plenty of room for the NRL to expand,as they have really only pushed the surface in 3 states and one territory.And judging by the people interested that will happen down the track.WA for a start. Also NZ people are interested in another NRL team.Another country closer to Sydney,than Adelaide or Melbourne is to Perth. The difference being Wollongong area doesn't get the largesse ,that the GWS doers in Canberra from a small territory Govt.So it really isn't apples with apples.Also because the Illawarra had a seperate rl club at one stage.
clipper
Guest
Although, it should be noted the A league and AFL have teams in 5 of the top 5 cities and the NRL has teams in only 3 of the top 5 cities. Technically the NRL has teams in 6, not 7 of the top 10 - there is no full time team in Wollongong. If you counted that you could also count Canberra for the AFL.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Um I'm serious, by looking at their end result,what they did with the money is a different kettle of fish.I'm reporting the result not the details.Love shooting the messenger. You've obviously never heard of the Jillaroos who were basically amateurs prior. I've spelt out what I've ascertained where the expenditure went.The AFL don't have a bunker,pehaps they could use one.Nor do they spend sums on supporting tests between Samoa.Tonga,Fiji,PNG etc at a loss.Not forgetting of course the Titans/Knights/Draghons/Tigers financial issues.Nor having to spend large legal fees on a Parramatta debacle, nor a huge increase in drug testing, plus provide an extra $1.5m loan to all clubs.Plus spend million on a Digital Dept which the AFL have had up and running for a time. What the NRL should have done in the intervening years, is lobby Govts like the ACT for large handouts day over a 10 year period at say $2m pa .But they were clueless in doing so. They spent SFA on grassroots, as the figures show. Anycase do your own research by checking the reports.You come here as the NRL expert
Fred
Guest
I forget how much but yes tickets were pretty cheap. I had the time of my life on the hill.
Fred
Guest
Yes but Adelaide/Port didn't grow AFL either. The Sydney Swans grew AFL. And given GWS has no genuine fans at all (maybe one), no they haven't taken any fans from the Swans. The other example people give is Western Sydney Wanderers, who have attracted a fair amount of fans, but Sydney FC crowds have been down since then, despite them being the best soccer team in Australia last year.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Fix the scrums. IMO club buyouts and taking over debts for Titans and Knights were large amounts, loans to Tigers and Dragons ditto.Money expended on legals re the Parramatta issue ,the Bunker,the Integrity unity increase, the Digital dept which will employ decent numbers of journos to handle the new technology/marketing/news for the game, costs for increased testing in drug matters. Anycase what i can drum up from the multitude of financials thrown around for 2016. Money available for distribution ie after all the above taken out. By comparing 2012 the end of the last Tv deal to 2016 year the 2nd last of the current Tv deal 2012 Available for distribution $106.8m less development 21.7m less to the states 13.5m less to the clubs 81m leaving a deficit of 9.4m if I've got my figures correct Available for distribution 2016 $217.36m less development 29.354m less to the states 30.473m less to the clubs 160.177m leaving a deficit of $2.644m $10m toward the new Nth Old stadium I understand $3m extra for Affiliated states for a National facilities fund 15 new ambassadors in addition to 40 who are former rl stars. 50 staff employed across the Pacific by the NRL. the 16 NRL clubs were provided loans of $1.5m each Now if you asked me whether all this expenditure was justified,that is up to those on the ground.Prendergast et al saw the figures as did others, and made no outward fuss or complaint. The players want 29% of revenue, what happens if revenue drops ?
AR
Guest
"Bring in more Brisbane clubs, and the Broncos will shrink." That's a very insecure and insular way to look at it. West Coast's crowds didn't shrink when Fremantle came in. And the overal footprint of football grew significantly in Perth. Same with Adelaide/Port. Same with Sydney/GWS. The NRL just needs some vision, a plan, patience and some guts.
AR
Guest
"The NRL lost money in 2016 as did I understand the AFL." You cannot be serious. The AFL purchased a stadium and launched a national women's competition. What did the NRL spend *its* dough on?
Nick Symonds
Guest
#1 It’s a new market for the rugby league market to crack. Simply put, it would finally put the ‘N’ in NRL. Furthermore, it could help with the sliding TV ratings and scheduling. However, this opportunity comes at a time when the NRL is at its weakest and quite frankly doesn’t have the resources to do it. #2 How can the NRL expand and invest in a new franchise when it has failed to assist the Gold Coast Titans and finally, when it did invest with the Titans, didn’t do anything by growing its junior ranks and competitions? The solution: The only possible place for the NRL to expand if they can't afford to by themselves is Tasmania. Relocate the Titans to Tasmania. The Tassie Titans. Creates a Bass Strait Derby with Melbourne Storm. Problem solved.
Fix the scrums
Guest
So where has all that big money gone? Maybe it costs more to run the game than we think. Stadium hire, marketing, club funding etc. Now the players want more money and the salary cap saga continues. This is a multi million dollar premium sport and they have applied for a loan and it has been rejected. Huh!! Work that out! It's possible that the big money won't be there for the next broadcast rights deal. What happens then? Something is not right and the NRL are keeping things close to their chest.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The Poms are paid decent amounts for starters, not sure about the other guys I guess a lot less. It was a decent crowd agree, but tickets were they high or reasonably cheap.?Remembering many on the hills, at either end. Think the code catered for that area which has a large Polynesian decent population. Also six teams involved.
Fred
Guest
Genuine question - was there really a gate shortfall at the recent Pacific Test? If so I don't get how - I was there and it was a big crowd!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The NRL has teams in seven of the 10 most populated cities in Australia. The AFL and A-League have teams in six, the BBL five Hobart has 3/4 the population of Wollongong. They are meaningless
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I'd say under the current contract which expires end this year they haven't the money to expand.The very reason they won't even entertain looking into it till 2020. I agree if you have a new club the grants from the Nrl would be at a minimum $12.5m pa just to cover the salary cap including the 130% Grants largesse.Plus the cost of the football dept anything up to currently $5m ,plus rent of grounds, plus marketing costs etc the list goes on. On that basis unless you can screw the Tv stations for one extra $40m pa for one more time slot involving an extra two clubs, there is little chance of that happening.
Fix the scrums
Guest
Have the NRL got the money to expand? They just got rejected for a loan. Even if a team got relocated, it would cost a lot and a minimum 20 year commitment.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
In 1994/5 the grassroots in both the rugby codes was not that much different between the two.Rugby union is certainly far bigger now, and so it should be.It's had little competition from rl. The Giants had no same code team in the West of Sydney prior to their arrival.In Perth the Reds were at least an ARL team in 1994 that decided to go to SL thereby starting its demise.So there is a history of a top division rl there ,should a new club be set up.A bid team is already in place and junior divisions such as entering the NSW cup are being planned. No need for a 20 year plan,but certainly a need for the NRL to have the money to expand.In any case the NRL have openly stated they will not be looking at expansion issues til 2020.