Relocation now a fruitless annual debate alongside mooted Bears comebacks and Titans rebrands

The relocation talk will die as soon as people forget about off field but a few of the lads are due in court this month so undoubtedly it will bob up again.

The logical locations for new Teams are Wellington, Gosford and Brisbane. They should be setup asap. Gosford is the only location that would accept a relocated team. Who would it be preferable to relocate?.. Roosters because it has minimal supporters. But it is successful and politically powerful. Tigers or Cronulla maybe. In any event it should not hold up matters and these teams should be set up. I suggest the old Olympic stadium should be banned as a regular season venue as people don't like going there and the lack of spectators looks so bad on TV. I suggest that all the teams should share in the TV revenue based on the spectator numbers that watch their games including ground attendance. That way the weakest will be culled and the others will have the maximum incentive to increase followers.

It's already second rate in NSW.

I hear the NRL tried to relocate the junior base to China but the UN intervened, both on behalf of the children and on the basis that China had enough humanitarian issues without future NRL players immigrating.

We are not thinking big enough. We need to look for markets where there is no competing sports at all. The Antarctic Penguins, the Kangaroo Island Islanders, the Moon Lunatics, the Mars Damons. The fact that there are no (human) supporters means nothing. It’s all about eyeballs and time zones.

Joshua ! That's not a bad idea, I don't think it will have a big following to start with or might not ever, however it could be used for development purpose, it could be played over the 4 weeks maybe a different city host every week, it doesn't have to be popular either & the talent on the display at least for the first few years won't be any good but who knows when the NRL starts to expand & in a generation or so the contest might be a lot higher quality & be actually worth watching on tv

One addition I would make to the representative round(s), would be the Affiliated States championship (use venues in each city, either H&A, or every 4 years, assuming the competition remains between SA, Victoria, WA & NT (5 years if Tasmania is included) PS: IMHO, the big change that needs to happen with the so-called ARL Independent Commission, is to represent ALL STATES, NOT JUST NSW/QUEENSLAND

Why do you think history plays any role in relocations? That rubbish ended when NRL was formed and they culled/merged everything that rugby league had finally done to make it National. Manly need to move on or drop to NSW cup, and Roosters have no need to be in sydney (ironic as their name is) no junior's, no crowds, no fans, but well run, so be well run in Adelaide where league will need a strong club to be strong against the AFL media that will chip away from any other relocated struggling team or new branded franchise. Too many self interest clubs in sydney and apathetic lazy fans who would rather run the clubs into the ground, by not accepting a potential move, rather that branch out. Max power you should suggest a future for the next 20 years

It is such a massive relief that you hold no decision making position in RL administration

My preferences are for Relocations= *South Island Sea Eagles (3 games at brookvale) *Adelaide Roosters (3 games at Allianz) Then for the New teams= *West Coast Reds/Pirates (perth) *Northern Sydney Bears (Central Coast based, 3 games @NSO) *North Brisbane Dolphins (Suncorp based, 3 games in Redcliffe) * PNG Hunters (3 games in Cairns) These 4 are important markets to cover Aswell as expanding to new cities/countries, why have a successful lower grade PNG side but never have them part of the NRL? Central Coast won't accept the sea eagles Or roosters, but Bears will be a root in tradition that was lost by SL/ARL war and encapsulates the north far better than the other two selfish entities hoping to escape there (manly/roosters). Perth is a no brainer. Adelaide and Christchurch need a presence at some point, best to branch out to it with relocations, while other areas new can build from scratch, plus eases the sydney market, in that city area where souths/dogs/sharks/roosters are Dragons should be wollongong based (3 games in kogarah) My team Greater Wesrern Panthers needs to take 3 games to Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange annually. And Gold coast, to be the South QLD Titans and represent Logan/Ipswich Aswell as Gold Coast Lastly Sharks to play in Fiji/Tonga/Samoa annually

Very True. I say that as a Traditionalist, but until the game expands to pastures new it will never be The National Rugby League Competition. Let’s draw Line in the Sand now? Perth, Queensland and somewhere in NZ South Island or what about starting Christchurch ? Tell teams the who are successful this year & let’s get a grip. Perth is gagging for a GOOD Rugby franchise to be successful and they will clear up.. New beginnings new future in that part of the World?

Really great point Paul I was stunned by the timing. The off-season from hell...finally the footy starts and all the talk is about what’s happened in the field. Then immediately HQ comes up with this relocation talk and we get nothing but on the radio, social media and in the papers. Maybe the bosses don’t have the confidence that the game can stay in the headlines without the headlines...?

Hi Bearfax. The people running the league, when it was nswrl then arl. Both looked to shrink then Sydney numbers before Superleague opened.

Say what you will about Gus Gould but his is the most sensible take I've heard in the issue. Allowing any club to relocate or die at this point is walking away from the game's history and disenfranchising a fan base. Keep Manly, keep Cronulla. Expand by four more teams, then every market clamouring for a team gets one without losing part of Sydney to the game forever.

Peeeko ! It's a work of art mate ! I know in life there will be always be haters bro but you know this is flawless except i accidently left out the Indigenous All Stars & Country Trials. What don't you like other then the Dragons having more games in Wollongong & changing the name around as we have had this discussion before ?

Just astonishes me that with all this talk of expansion, its only seen by way of sacrificing a Sydney side to make room. This is SuperLeague mentality that almost destroyed the game and may yet make the game second rate in NSW within a decade. Get rid of Manly or Cronulla and you have a vacuum in the north and south peninsulas. Yeh that's a smart move isn't it...duh. They already made the Sydney north shore nothing but a union enclave. And of course I note the old Bears suggestions of relocating Manly so they can return...and that to an area that wants its own identity Australian Rules relocated two teams way back yet still have the same number of teams in the Melbourne area as League has in Sydney. They have expanded further without touching the Melbourne sides further and now have 18 sides with a potential of Canberra, Hobart and Darwin in their sights. But then Australian Rules think logically and that's why they succeed. By expanding they are increasing audience not only at grounds but on TV. This gives them the power to ask for more cash. Meanwhile NRL flounders about failing to add teams that should have been there years ago and talking of reducing the audience at grounds and more importantly on TV given the fans that will be alienated, and then wondering why they cant complete with the AFL when it comes to TV goodies. The answer as obvious, as demonstrated by AFL. Increase the number of teams, but leave the existing teams alone unless they go broke. The increased teams and audience, increases TV revenues and ensures a better deal when the next agreement is be negotiated. This relocation suggestion is totally counterproductive and a sure way of giving AFL a further chance to increase their influence in Sydney and NSW.

I know we have our toungs in our cheeks here but the fact that the NRLs most recent expansion club is in the state it is should be a point best not forgotten. Send the Bears to Perth and watch them die again.

its a very good thing that you are not on the NRL board

I don’t remember it ever being an ‘annual’ debate. I few article on here ‘every’ day. Half a dozen spots on the league tv shows with a guests opinion for the last few weeks. I think this has been bigger then any other time.

That's where Malcolm got his best thought bubbles; a lazy Friday afternoon off, waiting for the evening fotty to start, sharing a bottle of red with a few trusted enemies....er, I mean colleagues.