Everyone loves a good expansion article, and everyone seems to want to move teams all over the country to make it happen.
Need a team in Perth? No worries, let’s ship out the Sharks, nobody likes them anyway. Job done. Need another team in Brisbane? Excellent, Souths will work, we could just call them the South Brisbane Rabbits and carry on. Job done.
What people fail to take into account is that these ideas are all well and good, so long as it isn’t your team in the firing line. As a Sharks fan would I really care if they were moved so long as they stayed in the comp? Not really, but then again, I don’t live in the Shire so it doesn’t affect me as much as the locals. They would have strongly different views I am sure.
Therefore, in the name of out there expansion articles, I have created another idea for the direction of the NRL. I’ve posted this as a comment on a few articles but felt I really needed to flesh it out a bit more and submit it as my own article so that my point of view can be better appreciated and torn apart properly by the fine minds here on The Roar.
There a few major issues identified with the NRL as it currently stands. These are the catalysts used to fuel expansion or relocation articles.
1. There are too many teams in Sydney. This isn’t surprising seeing as the NRL is really the bloated former NSWRL.
2. The season is way too long at 26 weeks.
3. The talent pool doesn’t seem sufficient enough to support the 16 teams we have, let alone any expansion. Remember when we had 20 teams in 1998? Good times, except they weren’t. The top teams played on and the bottom teams were roundly flogged every week. Great if you supported the Broncos but not so good for a Magpies fan. So, relocation is for this point alone.
How do we fix this? Easy, start again.
While I believe this is what Super League was trying to do (ALA Super Rugby) it wasn’t done well, or right, or honestly, or with the best interests of the game at heart. SL was all about money and TV rights, not the good of the game.
Now I understand this is a radical concept that a lot of people can’t get their heads around. I hear lots of comments like “but RL is built around tribalism, you can’t build tribalism around new clubs” which is a really a load of garbage.
It also seems ok for these types to bang on about tribalism when it suits, but they think it doesn’t matter as much when it comes to relocating teams to a completely different state “It’s ok, they will get new fans”.
Yes, they will in time, but so would a new competition. The Big Bash started from scratch, so did the A League (but for very different reasons). It can be done if you have the will to do it.
Would I be sad to see great teams like the Bunnies relegated to history, sure I would because I have history with that club, as well as all the other clubs. I grew up with these clubs and they are as much a part of my life as anything else.
Would I be the same well rounded, slightly bitter man I am today without my love for the Sharks, or my loathing of Manly and, a bit later, Brisbane? Maybe, but more than likely not. Would I have the same resilience and ability to accept defeat if I didn’t support Cronulla and NSW? Probably not.
The question is, could I just pick a new team and start again? Yes, I absolutely could, as could everyone. It will hurt in the short to medium term, but over the long run, it will work.
So, the new competition looks like this. Pick four teams for NSW (two in Sydney, one in Newcastle and one in Wollongong), four teams for Queensland (two Brisbane, one GC and one Townsville), two teams for New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington), two Teams for Victoria (North and South Melbourne) and one team each for ACT, WA, SA and Tassie.
Jordan Kahu of the Cowboys runs with the ball. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Why Tasmania? Because the AFL has decided not to go there so why not? It makes about as much sense as putting a team in South Australia. At least the sandgropers follow league and rugby.
I have no idea what to name all these new teams, but at least this time let’s pick Australian animals ok? The reason I say to start again with team names is so there is no prior bias.
Let’s face it three quarters of the proposal for QLD are already in place so why not just keep the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans. Why not let the Raiders and Warriors and Storm keep their identity as well?
I guess you could but then fans of the Bulldogs, for example, will have a whinge as to why their team folded while the others got to stay. Even if you stated categorically over and over again that it’s a new team and a new comp, that will not wash with some people.
If they were renamed the North Melbourne Koalas for example, then everyone is equally annoyed which makes it all even.
As for season length, it can work in a few ways. Keep it at the proposed 16 teams and play each other once, then play a top five final series and crown your victor.
Otherwise, drop the teams to 12 and play each other twice, then play a top four and crown your victor. Or you could keep it at 16, play each other once, then the top eight teams play each other again once and then the top four play a semi-final, then grand final. Kind of like a progressive knockout series.
After that, pick a Kangaroos team and play some international games that actually mean something. Bring on a cup to rival the Bledisloe, bring on a tour or the old country, invite over the USA and give them a good spanking.
The international league is a big thing, right? Make playing for the Kangaroos the ultimate prize, not playing for QLD or NSW, not lifting the as yet unnamed trophy, but playing for your country. That’s the dream.
Andrew Ettingshausen in Kangaroos colours on the 1990 Kangaroo tour. (Photo by Getty Images)
Wow, this is all so easy on paper, isn’t it? I now know why so many people write expansion articles, it’s a lot of fun playing God with the NRL. If only life were so easy.
So, what do we do when after five to ten years the Adelaide Numbats are still only playing in front of 25 people each week who thought they were the new AFL team in town?
What do we do if the Tasmanian Tigers end up just as extinct as their namesake? What do we do if it turns out that sports-mad (so long as it is AFL or one-off games that don’t clash with the AFL season fixtures) Melbourne just can’t keep two RL teams going? What if it turns out rugby-mad New Zealand just doesn’t want a new team?
Well, I think if the teams from NZ, WA, SA, Tas and second Vic end up not economically viable then they need to be folded after a period of time and those teams brought back to where the true passion for rugby league is in this country, namely NSW and QLD.
Then we could keep the league alive and enjoy it for what it is, a niche sport in Australia, enjoyed by a relatively small but passionate sector of the community. We could revive some of the old names like Rabbits, Dragons, Broncos and Knights.
We could even bring back the good old State Of Origin series and bag each other endlessly about our dubious parentage and inability to accept daylight savings, or our pest-riddled living environment and inability to win anything.
Or is that what we already have? Was this whole article just a massive waste of time, effort and energy?
You decide.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Super rugby does not work. You need an Evolution NOT a Revolution. You need to retain the Tribalism and the Leagues clubs with all those members and build from that. South Australia and Tasmania are not rugby or rugby league states in ANY way. So FORGET them. Too hard!. However Perth has a significant rugby population from South Africa, so that would be the experiment. There is a vulnerability with Rugby in NZ. They are picking kids from Elite schools, so there is space developing to pick up the kids that are disenfranchised. So add another Team. I would guess Wellington. League has always thrived in the Growth areas see St George after WW2. So have a team in Gosford. Put another Team in Brisbane and another one in Queensland. Now that is another 5 Teams. I would delay Perth and do 2 new teams per year, starting ASA Practical. There is talent in NZ so I would start Wellington first up, plus another Team in Queensland. The next batch would be Queensland again and then Gosford. I would put just the Sydney Teams on Promotion & Relegation, with the lowest 2 to just drop down (and no one up) in the first year. Thereafter it there would be promotion and relegation of one, with a playoff with the woodenspotoner in Sydney and the potential one to come up to achieve promotion.
greg mckenzie
Guest
a good merge or joint venture would be parramatta an penrith . both rich leagues club both have good support an a new stadium. Parramatta panthers. would free up 1 for spot Brisbane 2
Glen
Guest
If we had infinite opportunities for expansion I would love to see a Country team that has a home base somewhere (Wagga, Orange, Dubbo, Tamworth or wherever) but roamed around for their home games. The jersey and logo are all ready to go - just use the abandoned maroon and gold of the City-Country clash. This would be an olive branch to country people after ditching the annual clash, and free up the Sydney teams to make matches elsewhere. But I think there are higher priorities: Brisbane 2 Perth Adelaide Wellington/Christchurch Sunshine Coast Central Coast Heck even Cairns But it's a nice thought. We have so much potential
Glen
Guest
I don't mean to be a PC SJW, but wouldn't a name like Brothers be off putting to potential female fans. Makes it hard work to win over an important fan base. Sure an adult might be mature enough to deal with it (if not starting a petition to change it) but little girls aren't going to like it.
Glen
Guest
This might sound horrible and counter intuitive to say, but in some ways we need less talented or committed players. So I'm not concerned about a lack of 'talent'. Many would argue the game is so rigid now, with defence barely making mistakes and too much structure according to the coaches instructions. If we have players that left yawning gaps or threw the rigid playbook out the window, the game could actually be more entertaining. Sometimes the QLD Cup, NSW Cup and Superleague are funner to watch than the NRL partly because the games are less structured. Same for the women's matches. The key is trying to minimise an obviously large difference in talent from the best to worst teams. We don't want the same teams giving up cricket scores every week.
josh
Roar Rookie
I’ve posted this before. But in retrospect, both the NRL and AFL should have ditched the suburban teams from the outset. A couple of heartland teams, at a minimum a team in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and maybe some major regionals. For the NRL – 12 teams allows a double round robin: 4 Sydney teams (North, South, West and East) 2 Brisbane teams 1 North QLD 1 Melbourne 1 Perth 1 NSW Central Coast 1 NSW South Coast 1 NZ team
michael holland
Guest
Doggs Boddy Putting a NSW cup team from Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo or Bathurst (Have universities + keeping the country kids close to family) playing against the famous Sydney clubs would be the preferred option as the population isn't big enough for a NRL team but if NRL teams take trials & 1 game a year to the country area's (Country round) then that should keep the locals happy & keep AFL out & places like Tamworth, Coffs Harbour could have teams relocate there one day maybe in the next 50+ years or so depending on the size of these cities & how strong league still is in the area
The Barry
Roar Guru
Below is a side made up entirely of bench players from round 2. Some of these players weren’t in the 17. That would be a competitive side and you can’t tell me would devastate the competition... 1 M Dufty 2 B Xerri 3 K Staggs 4 Z Lomax 5 P Sami 6 J Reynolds 7 J Luai 8 A Woods 9 B Smith 10 J McGuire 11 A Crichton 12 M Barnett 13 I Soliola 14 C Harawira-Naera 15 M Fotuaika 16 I Luke 17 C Welch
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed Don. Because the Dogs were battling last year I spent a fair bit of time at ISP games. Josh Cleeland is in the same boat. He’s regularly picked in the ISP team of the year, has been man of the match in two grand finals and is just a natural footy player. He can create and guide a team around the park or he can play what’s in front of him. He was at the Dogs for a couple of years and never got a start in first grade, apparently because he was outside the top squad and would have caused salary cap issues. I understand the same has happened at previous clubs It’s mind boggling to me that guys like Frawley and Marshall-King have got chances while Cleeland hasn’t. He’s now 27 and playing back up at Ipswich so it looks like opportunity has passed him by - which is a tragedy because he’s a gun. Rhyse Martin has payed at that level for a few years before finally getting an opportunity last season. Here’s a couple of stories about Cleeland if you’re interested... https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2018/04/08/cleeland-ready-willing-able/ https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/30/departing-bulldog-josh-cleeland-hopes-state-championship-blinder-keeps-nrl-dream-alive/
The Barry
Roar Guru
Even though the Bulldogs are battling at the moment it’s still the game each weekend that I most look forward to watching. If they were booted from the NRL I’d follow them in NSW cup or whatever and forget about the NRL. I spent a bit of time last year at ISP games because the Dogs were struggling at NRL and loved the experience. It’s more “pure” if that’s not too w@nky. It’s more like the rugby league experience from my childhood than sitting in a plastic seat with a plastic beer in a mostly empty 80,000 stadium
Beni Iniesta
Guest
You ask if this article was a waste of time. I'd have to say it wasn't. I like your thinking and you may be onto something here. I'd recommend the NRL try out this idea and see how they go. They definitely need to try teams in WA, SA and Tasmania as well as a second NZ, Melbourne and Brisbane team. This could be a big winner for the NRL and they'll never ever know unless they try it. So in that sense I think you're absolutely right. They need to think big and try some new things. What's the worst thing that can happen anyway?
Rellum
Roar Guru
It is the same in cricket now but at a whole different level. Instead of 16 teams scouring two States for talent you have one team scouting the whole country with no competition. If you haven't been noticed by 17 you can basically forget it....unless of course you come from the AFL draft then in you go.
Don
Roar Rookie
There are more than enough quality players Barry. I've watched my old club in the Brisbane comp over the past few years and saw Cody Walker get bounced around for a few years between the Titans, Melbourne and Brisbane Easts. The guy was stand out quality the whole time and signed with the only clubs who showed interest, but also unfortunately didn't really need him. Jake Granville tore up the Brisbane comp for a few years while Hook at the Broncos had his favourite, and the clubs second best hooker in McCullough, playing first grade. Tom Butterfield from Easts was better than at least half the Hookers in the NRL for some years. These examples exist all over the place. Recruiters are biased towards junior rep kids. If a guy is 21 they aren't given the time of day. It's easier for a guy who's never played the game from Fiji to get a run as a development prospect than a guy at 22 who's played all his life but has been passed over. Player managers make life easy for clubs now and if you don't get the (artificial) "buzz" around you as a kid then you are behind from the start. The players are out there.
Don
Roar Rookie
Out of all the Brisbane proposals the one that would get the most traction fastest would be a Brothers franchise. Don't call it Brisbane or QLD. Just Brothers. Play 8 or 9 games at Suncorp and take 4 to the regions where the Brothers clubs are big. Take trials all over the country. The iconic leprechaun and butchers stripes are a dream to promote. And in Brisbane most people under 50 don't have a lot of awareness of the old Brothers club at Corbett Park. They would just wonder why the mascot is the same as the Boston Celtics. The other option is a clean skin new side. I'd try to strike a deal with the QLD Govt to base training etc out of QE2 but play at Suncorp. Or a Southside Footy club like Carina so you get relatively easy access from the Redlands, Logan etc. Don't necessarily need a Leagues club. The Broncos Leagues club was put under outside management years ago after almost going under. Brisbane Easts were running it for a while. The biggest push we are going to hear in the media will be about Redcliffe. The Broncos and their owners (the News Ltd media) know that if Redcliffe were to be admitted it is almost as good as the Broncos still having Brisbane to themselves. This cannot be allowed to happen.
AE47
Roar Rookie
My point it’s “entertainment” first , Rugby League SECOND there in is the problem
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hello AE47. The NRL don’t care about selling out the stadium of a game. That money goes to the club. The NRL want the tv money. The game wins or does ok in the ratings, is what the station wants, thus the NRL can get a higher pay deal. They want tv fans, turn up game fans are not there number one.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hello there Don. From a ‘marketing’ point of view, what is a good idea? Don’t make it short, write my man, you have actual education and experience in this.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Wow fish, a billion dollars. I dream the NRL did that.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
No The Barry, don’t just walk away. I would find it tough if the eels were no longer in the televised national league. But it like you and your kids, you don’t want your kids to ‘take his bat and go home’. You want him to continue, talk to him about good times and bad times, the love of the game and all that mumbo jumbo our grandmothers taught us. No team is bigger then the game. Yes it would suck, cause your kids wanted to stay at the crease for ever and didn’t think it was fair. Not ever game but most weeks I am keen to watch a game not involving my team. ‘The game!!!!’
Rellum
Roar Guru
If there are any Broncs fans saying that they are doing the game and their club/franchise a disservice. Can you imagine a real Cows/Broncs style rivalry in the city itself.