Yes, it’s another article about NRL expansion – but don’t hit the panic button just yet.
The latest idea comes courtesy of Stephen Williams, who’s involved in USA Rugby League. He tweeted his own idea for NRL exapnsion, which moves a little away from where the debate currently sits by dividing the competition into two conferences, Provan and Summons:
| Provan Conference | Summons Conference |
|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos | Newcastle Knights |
| Gold Coast Titans | Canberra Raiders |
| North Queensland Cowboys | Melbourne Storm |
| A second Brisbane team | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| St George Illawarra Dragons | Cronulla Sharks |
| Sydney Roosters | Manly Sea Eagles |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | Parramatta Eels |
| New Zealand Warriors | Wests Tigers |
| A second New Zealand team | Penrith Panthers |
| A new Perth team |
There are 19 teams in total, but the format of the finals – whether it’s still a top eight or becomes a top 12 – is undecided.
Teams would play each of their conference rivals twice and each team from the opposite conference once, totalling 25 home-and-away matches.
As for the finals, weeks one to three will be conference finals and Week 5 will be the grand final between the winners of each conference. It will be rather like the NFL, with the AFC and NFC conference winners facing off in the Super Bowl.
From what I can see, there are three potential opinions with the fans of the NRL. Some will like it, some won’t be keen on it and some simply won’t care, but it sounds awesome and I find it refreshing. What I like about the conference system is that it keeps some old and new rivalries alive. Souths vs Easts, the Queensland derby and a potential new rivalry with two New Zealand teams. The Newcastle Knights vs Manly Sea Eagles rivalry will stay alive, as will the relatively fresh Melbourne vs Cronulla grudge.
I hope this truly goes ahead, but I can guarantee not everyone will agree with me – and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a fresh look that many have been hoping for. Not only does it look different, but it’s giving the game some expansion, and I know many have been calling for it.
I’ve said my bit, so now you say yours. In doing so, I’ll ask you a few questions:
Hepcat
Roar Rookie
Kick Roosters out and let Central Coast have a team and let Souths own the Eastern Suburbs while playing out of new SFS.
Hepcat
Roar Rookie
Twiggy need to stop wasting his money on Rugby Union and invest it in a NRL team.
Hepcat
Roar Rookie
Both Rugby Codes are not enemies now so let's work on that as united we stand divided we fall ( to Aussie Rules and and more so soccer ).
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Always been a fan of a conference system. Here, I would put Norths(out of Gosford) into the Provan conference so there are no byes. You have gtwo options for the end of season. Yours of the conferences playing out to a winner then the two winners face off. A second optionb may be to have the existing 8 team finals made up of the top four from each conference, competition points anf for and against to decide placings. Should not be aproblem for the broadcasters as there would be 10 games a week instead of the current 8. A problem could be the season length with 18 rounds overall as against the current set up. This woiuld allow free weekends for SOO, etc.
Kick n clap
Guest
Hey Superspud, I wasn’t here. I too busy watching the Burgess Boys, Whitehead & Bateman develop at the Bradford Bulls, but what I lead to believe that the Western Reds weren’t a failure? In fact crowds were good considering where they played? Two far better options now- HBF & Optus stadium. A lot bigger Ex-pat population ready to follow the new club? The Farce are just Circus now, so we need the NRL to release their plans sooner,so we can start to build from the ground up. Finally Melbourne Storm took a lot of the Reds player and look what happened to them?
duecer
Guest
Josh - you do know RU and RL are different games? There would be only a percentage from UK or SA (obviously more from SA) than would even follow Rugby, and then even fewer who would then follow RL just because the follow RU. Having said that, there probably are enough people to support a team, but don't expect it to be bigger than the Force
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Josh were all these people living in Perth in the 90s when a team there proved an expensive failure?
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
thats a good one Max, exactly. How could these poor old players who are making hundereds of thousands of dollars a year, some millions not be able to endure a four hour flight once a fortnight, absolelutely terrible.
josh
Guest
There are so many people in Perth who have absolutely no interest in AFL it's not funny. East Coasters, kiwi's, expats from the UK and South Africa - the potential is big for a team. Since they'll be playing out of the same stadium as Perth Glory it could be a great opportunity for both clubs to work together, NRL and the A-League aren't enemies here.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I at least made it as far as Connie!
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I don't know if soccer in Australia are doing it are they?
Superspud
Roar Rookie
So why specifically would it be different This time around? What's changed?
Winnie the Pooh (Emperor of China)
Guest
Promotion and relegation. 12 teams in top league, whatever is left in the 2nd. Straight up and down. it will allow all comers to join the competition. Then we can get Norths, Newtown, Wollongong, Gosford and whoever else wants in to come on down. Maybe even three divisions. This league at the moment is a 'club' not an open democratic league. If soccer can do it in Australia with it's minuscule budgets then league most certainly can.
Max power
Guest
The 90s vision was pure BS and never going to happen
Max power
Guest
Yeah, business class seats for 4 hours is excruciating
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Seriously I stopped at Charlie Gubb. Your definition of nrl standard and mine are miles apart. Some of the players you mention WERE NRL standard, like Kane Linnett and Merrin but sadly no longer are. Put those you mentioned in an NRL squad and see how they go. Yeah demonstrable.
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
Miners, do it so why not footy players???
Superspud
Roar Rookie
It's all good suggesting all of this but simply typing Perth and second Brisbane team is very easy. What's not easy is actually having a team there. Why stop there let's just invent another couple of teams from wherever we want. The question is not how to run a 19 team competition the fact is there are no teams to fill it. In the mid 90s the Vision was for teams all around the world, China, South Africa Europe etc. Well we ended up in Huddersfield, Woolaware and Belmore.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Some of the players you listed were given chances and were not up to NRL standard as we know it. That's why they were released. The question is do we lower the standard to expand the game.
TheCheeseCo.
Roar Rookie
22 Players below, not playing in NRL this year. Either being released by their clubs or headed over to the Super League for 2019. B. Austin (warrington) C. Gubb (widnes) M. Frawley (Huddersfield) R. Leutele (Toronto) J. Paulo (St Helens) K. Hurrell (leeds) A. Uate (Huddersfield) L. Coote (St Helens) K. Linnett (Hull KR) C. King (Featherstone) T. Merrin (leeds) J. Clark (Warrington) T. Lolohea (leeds) K Naiqama (st helens) J. Cleeland (Released, now at Ipswich) C. Priest (released) Ken Sio (Salford) T. Williams (released) S. Vave (released) J. Hayne (released) V. Leuluai (North Sydney) R. Robinson (released) Add some 'talent' from the QLD/NSW Cups. (Note: They may be contracted by other NRL clubs but have not played NRL this year.) E. Gebbie (Seagulls) N. Hynes (Falcons) Y. Bowie (Cutters) J. Hopoate (Dolphins) B. French (Magpies) Tell me more about this 'clear demonstration', in regards to the lack of talent available.