After recent talk about too many NRL teams in Sydney and who should be relocated, this is the best strategy for the game.
My ideas don’t have a budget to worry about so they may be good but it really comes down to what the NRL is willing to spend, however the cost wouldn’t be too great.
There doesn’t need to be any major relocation by sending a Sydney team to Perth as it wouldn’t work, it would lose fans, and Western Australia needs its own team.
My first proposal is that the Dragons should permanently move to Wollongong and take two games to Kogarah so they can become a regional team with a name change to Illawarra-St George Dragons.
The second proposal is to relocate Manly to the Central Coast as the Sea Eagles are the closest team to Gosford. Manly also have one of the worst grounds in the NRL and Gosford has a good stadium with a big catchment area.
The move would work, however it means there won’t be rugby league on the North Shore. But Gosford is not that far to drive and a train doesn’t take too long from the North Shore, while the Central Coast locals will also fill the stadium.
The third proposal is for Souths and the Roosters to share Allianz Stadium when they finish the re-build.
The fourth proposal would be to ban club games at ANZ Stadium, except for double-headers and finals.
Build a 25,000-30,000-seat stadium in Liverpool that the Tigers and Bulldogs could share, with the Bulldogs taking two games to Belmore and the Tigers taking two matches to Leichhardt. New A-League franchise Macarthur South West United FC could also use this stadium over summer.
My fifth proposal is to build a new stadium for Cronulla at Miranda as their current one is ugly, has no parking and is a few kilometres from the rail line.
An artist’s impression of Parramatta’s Western Sydney Stadium (supplied)
Parramatta is getting a new stadium but parking won’t be any better. Penrith will need an upgrade or a rebuild in the next ten years.
These proposals would help gain fans rather then lose them, and it would mean Sydney would have a range of top-class venues.
The NRL could also have a retro and heritage-themed round using the old suburban grounds with old jerseys and a brown ball. It would look great and have a feel like the good old days.
The NRL should have 20 teams and 20 rounds, each team playing each other once, swapping home and away games each season.
Each game becomes more of an event with fewer rounds and more teams. Knowing you won’t see the opposition at home for another two years might get more bums on seats.
The competition is also more even as teams don’t have to play hard opponents twice while other clubs play weaker opponents once.
The first of the four expansion teams that should enter the comp in the next few years would have to be Perth – nicknamed the Redbacks – because they want a team, they are a big city with rugby union moving out, and it’s the right time for league to move in with an aggressive strategy promoting the club and building a strong junior base.
The second team is a little tougher with Wellington, New Zealand the stand-out. That gives the Warriors a rival and locks up the Friday night 6.00pm slot, which is 8:00pm in NZ, with alternating home games.
(AAP Image/David Rowland)
It means no Sydney team has to play at 6.00pm at home, which is a silly time for any Sydney club as the time to get home, get the family and get to the game is mission impossible for people who finish work at 5pm in the city.
My third team is the Sunshine Coast Dolphins to make it a fourth team in Queensland. The Sunshine Coast is a strong league area and is a growing region.
My fourth team is Adelaide, which would cap off a truly national competition and could work if promoted right.
The Port Moresby Hunters and the Brisbane Jets could come in over the next 20 years to make a 22-team, 22-round comp.
With 20 rounds and 19 games, it leaves six weeks that could be filled with a range of representative fixtures.
One is a City vs Country Friday night game that only allows players that have not played State of Origin before or for a few years, so it’s a development game for the next Origin generation.
On the same weekend, the Pacific Cup could be played between Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
After the halfway mark, set aside three consecutive weekends for State of Origin. Then the Pacific Cup continues over two more weekends, with a final on the fourth weekend to play-off for the right to play a second-tier European team (Scotland, Wales, Ireland or France).
During the State of Origin weekends, New Zealand could play against England in the USA in three different cities to promote the game. USA, Canada, Jamaica and Latin Heat could play against each other as curtain raisers.
The winner out of England vs New Zealand plays Australia at the end of the season, while the loser plays the winner of the European second tier vs Pacific final. However, this could only work if Super League follows a similar format so their players can be released.
In the second tier, the NSWRL should expand the NSW Cup with teams from Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Central Coast as they all have universities and these towns will one day be cities in the future.
League is declining in these areas so bringing in a second-tier club playing against the famous Sydney clubs would surely boost interest in the game.
The Queensland Cup could expand to include Darwin, Perth (reserves), Adelaide (reserves), Toowoomba and Bundaberg added to the 14 existing sides.
A New Zealand comp could have a team from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji to create a direct pathway to the NRL. The rest of the ten or 12 teams would come from NZ.
The World Club Challenge should be played two weeks after the Super League and NRL grand finals, and the Nines should become an annual event that could be played at the end of November to finish the year.
Then eight weeks later in February, we kick off the year with the Indigenous vs Maori All Stars.
There is a lot more to discuss such as having fixed scheduling for the home grounds but each team having one Thursday night a year, as some teams are more suited to play certain times.
For example, Canberra would get the best crowd on a Sunday as a night game in Canberra in the middle of winter is not inviting to the average supporter.
So a 2pm Sunday kick-off would be the best time for them and they could alternate with Melbourne as 2pm is before the 4pm AFL game at the MCG next door to AAMI Park.
Supporters could watch both if they are a duel fan or even have a deal that can get fans to watch both games with the one ticket.
I’m not the biggest fan of golden point – a draw is much better during the season. It should only be used during the finals series after extra time.
Footy101
Guest
Bang on about the Dragons. The Illawarra Dragons should be based in Wollongong. Simple
michael holland
Guest
Representative Rugby League (1- 8 rounds) Rep Week 1 Fri City v Country England v Exiles Sat Tonga v PNG Ireland v Wales Sat Fiji v Samoa Scotland v France Sun A League Grand Final (Rounds 9 - 10) (2 weeks later) Rep Week 2 Sat Fiji v Tonga Ireland v Scotland Sat Samoa v PNG France v Wales Sat New Zealand v England (USA - Denver) (Canada v Jamaica- USA v Latin Heat) Sun NSW v QLD u20's Sun NSW v QLD WNRL Sun NSW v QLD (Rotate Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide) Rep Week 3 Fri Tonga v Samoa Scotland v Wales Sat PNG v Fiji France v Ireland Sat New Zealand v England (Canada - Toronto) (Canada v USA - Jamaica v Latin Heat) Sun QLD v NSW u20's Sun QLD v NSW WNRL Sun QLD v NSW Rep Week 4 Fri Top 2 Pacific Cup Finals Top 2 European Cup Finals Sat New Zealand v England (USA - New York) Sun NSW v QLD u20's Sun NSW v QLD WNRL Sun NSW v QLD (Round 11 - Round 20 + Finals) (Post Season) European Winner v Pacific Winner (New Zealand v England) loser v Winner (European v Pacific) (New Zealand v England) winner v Australia Week 1 Rugby League World 9's Week 2 Rugby League World 9's Finals
terrance
Guest
Mick from Penrith, You said: ''for example Manly took 4 games to Gosford, the influx of visitors from the away Sydney teams & the people from the Northern beaches making there “first” trip to Gosford to watch their team play into the town centre give the business a small boost 4 times a year'' Are you actually ''Mick from Penrith'' or an impoverished Gosford shop keeper looking for a little loot from those hard working northern beaches Manly fans a few times a year. Shame, shame shame! So instead of those hard working class folk from Pittwater, Warringah and Manly (and surrounds) spending their hard earned on game day around the legendary Brookvale Oval establishments such as the Brookvale Hotel, McDonalds, the Golden Chicken or the legendary Mimmo's Pizza you want to exploit these salt of the earth individuals to go shopping on your sullen impoverished Gosford shopping strip? Sad Mick from Penrith (or Barry from Gosford), very sad. I knew there was an indigent desolate sedition behind your posts. Shame.
terrance
Guest
Mick from Penrith, Yes, you are wrong. And go on too long. Way too long, without saying very much. Manly are happy at Brookvale, so are their fans and the majority of NRL supporters and more importantly, the . And the damage tonight due to the massive rain/hail storm post the Tahs/Reds game, for TV I'm hearing Gosford might be the venue tomorrow night for the Souths v Chooks game (or a double header at Newcastle). The Swans want the rugby codes off the SCG, and they might get their way. Roosters to Gosford for the next three to five years (maybe 10 years plus if ''Labour'' win the upcoming NSW state election. You've done it Mick from Penrith, the Central Coast is saved (bar those pesky Mariners jerseys...).
michael holland
Guest
QLD Cup Port Moresby Hunters Darwin Destroyers Northern Pride Townsville Blackhawks Mackay Cutters Central QLD Capra's Gladstone Gladiators Bundaberg (Polar Bears) Sunshine Coast Falcons Redcliffe Dolphins Norths Devils East Tigers Wynnum - Manly Seagulls (Sea Eagles) Souths - Logan Magpies Ipswich Jets Toowoomba Clydesdale (Wolves) Burleigh Bears Tweed Heads Seagulls Adelaide Rams West Coast Pirates NZ - Pacific Cup Suva (Fiji) Nuku'alofa (Tonga) Apia (Samoa) + 7 - 9 NZ teams
michael holland
Guest
Terrance! "Yes, I can see hoards of northern beaches folk winging their way to Gosford, to watch soccer and rugby league. Happens now, eh." During the summer months the Central Coast is already busy so soccer would have minimal impact on the businesses in the area however during winter there is no sport & the place is quiet & if for example Manly took 4 games to Gosford, the influx of visitors from the away Sydney teams & the people from the Northern beaches making there "first" trip to Gosford to watch their team play into the town centre give the business a small boost 4 times a year wouldn't hurt anyone. "Most northern beaches folk only know that Gosford exists because they see a sign on the M1 as they are flying past it at 110kms/hr to get to other places further north." Well their team playing would give them a reason a few times a year to turn off the Gosford exist wouldn't it ? The Manly fans that don't want to make the trip can watch it on their big plasma tv's at home
michael holland
Guest
Terrance! "Looks like the Waratahs and Roosters will be playing quite a few games out of Gosford over the next few years after the SCG Trust will outsource games there to protect the SCG surface for the Swans. Problem solved." Well what the Waratahs & Roosters gain is Manlys loss I guess no skin off my back. "Next time you’re in Gosford driving past a Mariners game, you might not only see a kid in a Mariners jumper, but maybe also a Queensland Reds jumper and a Roosters jersey. Don’t be scared." My concern wasn't about how many soccer jersey's there were but the lack of League supporter wear in other areas that I went considering it was the start of league season however I realize it's not a huge deal or a real indication of league on the Central Coast, The Waratahs & Roosters playing games is not bad but with every kid that is wearing a Roosters jersey because they attended their games is a loss to the Sea Eagles still a win for Rugby League & TV in the future but that's the point I'm trying to make I agree with most things you are saying & arguing is not easy but at the end of the day by Manly taking a few games up there a year won't hurt anyone & maybe gain a few Sea Eagles fans it's no game changer & won't lose Sea Eagles fans & over time the area could become a Sea Eagles stronghold as I said before it's more about Manly gaining territory & another Junior catchment that is strong, you have outlined that it doesn't matter in terms of gaining more juniors & I'm not going to argue but my point is this, I don't see Manly losing anything by starting a connection with the Central Coast & gaining more then what they already have, moving up there & changing the name is a different matter & that would depend on some factors like Manly financial situation etc but my point is if Manly had no choice but to relocate you would rather see them at Central Coast then Perth or New Zealand for example or am I wrong
terrance
Guest
Peeko, I don't think Mick from Penrith is trying to make make sense.
terrance
Guest
Mick from Penrith, There has never been a correlation between junior participation and TV viewers. Junior NRL participation has been decreasing for 25 years whilst NRL viewing on TV has been increasing for 25 years. If there was a correlation between junior participation and TV viewing, soccer would have the 50 highest rated shows on television, but it doesn't. It dosen't even have a free to air TV deal.
terrance
Guest
Mick from Penrith, Looks like the Waratahs and Roosters will be playing quite a few games out of Gosford over the next few years after the SCG Trust will outsource games there to protect the SCG surface for the Swans. Problem solved. Next time you're in Gosford driving past a Mariners game, you might not only see a kid in a Mariners jumper, but maybe also a Queensland Reds jumper and a Roosters jersey. Don't be scared.
michael holland
Guest
Terrance ! "Redevelop Rat Park in Warriewood, good luck with that. The Pittwater folk couldn’t handle the B-line bus going past Mona Vale to Newport. Knocking down a Rat Park and creating a rarely used concrete bowl and car park 500m from the beach? No chance. The local Lib pollies would run a mile." This is why I never mentioned it in the article about putting a stadium there because the site also doesn't have restaurants around or any night life so the benefits would be minimal to the local economy long term.
michael holland
Guest
peeeko ! I didn't ignore the finance side of things I clearly mentioned I didn't have a budget to work with, I proposed 2 mid size stadiums which would be costly but everything else I mentioned wouldn't cost a lot, shifting 2 teams outside of Sydney & 20 rounds with 4 representative weekends & another cost would be expansion teams. The cost is not the biggest factor the biggest factor is if the money invested will make a return in profits.
peeeko
Roar Guru
The fact you ignore finances shows how little you understand
peeeko
Roar Guru
You make no sense at all
terrance
Guest
Mick, after last weeks flogging and sacking of another coach, I'd doubt you'd see many Mariners jerseys this week. Either way the A-league is too scared to compete against the NRL and AFL head-on, hence their summer comp. They can't even get a free to air TV deal, the A-league and the Mariners (for how much ever longer they survive) are not a threat to anyone. Redevelop Rat Park in Warriewood, good luck with that. The Pittwater folk couldn't handle the B-line bus going past Mona Vale to Newport. Knocking down a Rat Park and creating a rarely used concrete bowl and car park 500m from the beach? No chance. The local Lib pollies would run a mile. There is plenty of satisfied NRL interest outside of Sydney, it's called a TV screen or a mobile device. Like they always have and will be happy to do in the future, I've never seen or heard of someone being so knock-kneed about seeing one Mariners jersey in Gosford. Concerning.
michael holland
Guest
terrance! I think your wrong if you think the TV networks don't care about attendance although I realise it's not their priority that is obvious as the majority of money is generated by TV I understand all that many years ago. "Pie in the sky stuff that stadiums will be built here and there, new teams will come in on masse, teams will relocate, etc. It’s just plan rubbish that only a fool would believe in or think possible." TV I think is up slightly but junior participation is down - attendance is down expansion to even just outside of Sydney seem troublesome & expansion to parts of the same country look doubtful your option of doing nothing & leaving things as is, is short sighted & the declining trend will impact on TV rating & with digital devices people are viewing games differently so just relying on TV ratings for income will have it's day as I stream my footy (that I can't watch on free to air) for free only pay for connection however I am stilled exposed to adds.
michael holland
Guest
terrance ! I'm from Penrith & drove around all of Sydney Metro for the past 20 years so I know Sydney pretty well in term of geographic. "A new stadium in Narrabeen? Where?" Where the Warringah Rugby play there is a big piece of land that could fit a stadium would have room for carparking & have Warriewood shopping centre has parking also "Narrabeen is a bottleneck at the best of times. If the Northern Beaches Council struggles for funding for Brookvale Oval, I don’t know who is paying for a new stadium(s) all across Sydney." This is why the compromise of shifting to the Gosford is a cheaper option for Manly & for the tax payer. "The Central Coast is not the North Beaches and visa-versa. Central Coast league supporters have plenty of options north and south and don’t need a team. Never will get one either." Well it would be a shame as last time I went up there last year in March I only saw Mariner jersey's (there was a game on though) but not many league jerseys or supporter gear in the other area's that I went & that is what I'm worried about the Sea Eagles product is safe around the northern beaches & they still deserves NRL games so a slow transition is the best way. "Never will happen" perhaps & maybe the sharks are a better option although not sure about that, even more arguments but the sharks might not have a choice so I'm not saying your wrong I feel you bring a lot to the table & we could argue all day but at the end of the day Manly & the NRL makes the decisions weather they do it this way or that way it's up to them I just like to throw ideas out there that try to have some feasibility for a way that improves the overall image of the game & generates more interest outside of Sydney.
terrance
Guest
Yes, I can see hoards of northern beaches folk winging their way to Gosford, to watch soccer and rugby league. Happens now, eh. Most northern beaches folk only know that Gosford exists because they see a sign on the M1 as they are flying past it at 110kms/hr to get to other places further north.
michael holland
Guest
Terrance ! I would like to touch on this but with Gosford town centre is pretty average looking & a boost from the wealthy people from the Northern Beaches - North Shore areas + Sydney Siders hopefully making the trip up the coast would help boost economics in the area I believe and with regular visitor for soccer & league through out the year would be good for the town
terrance
Guest
As I said earlier, ''I’m not sure which BFI/BFT bush towns those who write these ”Sydney team” relocation articles come from, but the have minimal to no understand of the Sydney basin geography, demography, history or rugby league.'' A new stadium in Narrabeen? Where? The main road is not much better than a carpark even on the weekends. Narrabeen is a bottleneck at the best of times. If the Northern Beaches Council struggles for funding for Brookvale Oval, I don't know who is paying for a new stadium(s) all across Sydney. The Central Coast is not the North Beaches and visa-versa. Central Coast league supporters have plenty of options north and south and don't need a team. Never will get one either.