NRL expansion: What the NRL should do

Redcliffe Dolphins all the way!!!! :thumbup:

Just like all the juniors that have come out of Melbourne in the past 20 years? It's hard to play 1st grade when you are constantly injured or on one leg. Trent Hodkinson played Origin in 2015. Since 2015 he has played in 58 NRL games, and won just 10. Let that sink in. Since he got injured he has not been up to NRL standard.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Yes, Agreed on the short handed nature and lack of thought and history involved in the main article, manly move to gosford? they did that already, then ran home when they got boo'd. Sharks are cashed up and own their sheee t, plus have a wealth of juniors, and a pocket of sydney no code will touch. Dragons, are a merged entity and have a wealth of juniors from both areas of Kogarah and Wollongong. Panthers are Feeding every team their huge Nursery west of St.Marys all the way to Dubbo. Wests, Souths and Parramatta are crucial catchments for junior Leagues Members and Crowds, Canterbury are well off, but they are like the Roosters who Poach/Buy their squad, might aswell be relocated on Mars, and nothing would affected, no Juniors, no Crowds, just Money!

1 thursday, 2 Friday, 3 Saturday, 3 sunday Not sure how logistically impossible that was but its sound to me, even if we can get to 20 teams, monday night can support a game too, (not ideal but still possible)

That already happened, they came back in 2002

Every team has history, what a crap comment, the bears have history, manly F’d that up!. Howabout a history lesson dude for the more notable teams 1908 Rabbitohs, Tigers, Magpies, Roosters, Bears and Jets. 1921 Dragons. 1935 Bulldogs. 1947 Eels & Sea Eagles. 1967 Panthers & Sharks. 1982 Steelers & Raiders. 1988 Knights, Giants & Broncos. 1995 Reds, Warriors, Crushers & Cowboys. 1997 Rams & Mariners. 1998 Storm. 1999 had NRL come out and Cull, Merge and screw all our teams to what we got now, and we finally are looking to go back to South QLD, Perth & Adelaide again.

1/3rd of talent stems from pacific island countries, including NZ. Warriors are important for that footprint Plus AFL cannot grow out of Aus, where we have the benefit of a teams in NZ, PNG and soon FIJI, plus international teams And gold coasts catchment is northern rivers, tweed to GC, its massive for juniors and a heartland for League, wont want to lose that to AFL?

Sydney Roosters, just buy/Poach talent, might aswell have them play out of Broome, there's your WA team, without any conflicting codes to worry about, probably get more to their games too

Souths takes city to maroubra, sharks have cronulla to Watson's bay, if roosters relocate to Adelaide, Canterbury, parra, penrith stays as is, wests is concord to campbelltown, manly stay north, dragons to wollongong

Trent Hodgeskinson, and Josh Reynolds are both winning state of Origin halves, had we had 2 extra teams, they'd most probably be in 1st grade, along with 30+ 1st graders that are heading to superleague every year, thats enough for 2 teams plus whatever juniors sprout from a new Perth, or Adelaide catchment, NRL can fill these 2 new teams with enough quality 1st grade players

Well manly is central coast according to this crazy plan above us. But i’d rather see an 18 team comp and in only relocating 1 team, being the self proclaimed “Sydney” roosters to Adelaide, then I would see a Perth and Northern Brisbane team be added, (to cover sunshine coast and redcliffe playing 3 games at each and 6 remaining at suncorp like the tigers do in sydney) “Sydney” roosters share the colors of the past Adelaide Rams entity whilst also hosting regular annual games there, plus will have no impact to the rest of the geographical junior catchments in Sydney, and will gain a whole city of attention, attendances, and corporate sponsorship. The upside to the relocation of the roosters is that they are currently a successful team, which an AFL and Aleague city like Adelaide would embrace rather than a relocated struggling team. Another plus is the rivalry with Melbourne Storm, pitting SA vs VIC, along with SA vs any Sydney based team. Fat chance there would be the much objection by rugby league fans across the code on behalf just the roosters, compared to most of any of the other sides. (Souths, wests, st george and parra especially) and history shouldn’t mean sheee t, since the bears, magpies and tigers were forced into mergers and souths and jets booted, all who had started with them in 1908, which roosters never had to do either. Only fair that their fans feel that loss too, and as there is 8 remaining sydney teams they’ll still be able to attend those 8+ away games in sydney. Win/win! and you can’t complain that the name change of Sydney to Adelaide is going to be a problem, it was originally eastern suburbs, then sydney city, then sydney. (At least gold coast, always was gold coast.) I would also have the Titans rename to South Qld Titans and represent south of brisbane to the northern rivers, not just gold coast, 6 games at suncorp and 6 games at Cbus. and also rename Penrith to Greater Western Panthers to represent Central West Country NSW aswell as penrith, playing 8 games at penrith and the rest in dubbo, orange, bathurst and lithgow

I love how you say in one breath that it's impossible to move Penrith, since then there wouldn't be a team out west (because the WESTS Tigers couldn't wrap around from Campbelltown, of course), and then immediately shaft Manly, leaving exactly zero teams from the harbour to Newcastle. Such an oversight almost seems a hint of bias, really...

Not a case of liking or disliking anything, just a case of outlining the reality ie FTA/Fox/regionals all consumers. I'm in fact extremely pleased with Fox, and NRL streaming figures . You're still spinning Clip. If teams are not located in all mainland cities, there is little or no chance to build up any sort of local FTA(NRL) following.ie despite the poor figures for AFL in Sydney and Brisbane ,they do add to the final FTA total. Regionals are not included in the FTA figures Clip ,that's my point.Despite NRL clubs being in these areas.Sheesh.

Just stating the reality - Justin was saying that AFL doesn't rate on Saturday - yet it still beats the NRL. I know you don't like the official FTA figures being used, but I don't make the rules. You also never factor in that pay tv has a far greater penetration in NSW and QLD. Regional figures are greater for NRL as there are teams domiciled in regional areas, unlike the AFL (except Geelong of course). You can't use the excuse of the NRL not have teams in all capital cities and then use the regional figures where the AFL don't have teams - it's not apples, oranges or bananas either.

If the NRL wants to expand, the only way is to move to 18 teams, for the simple fact that it brings an extra game to sell in the broadcast rights- and the NRL will only expand if it is going to bring them more money. The argument that there isn't enough talent for 2 new teams often seems to ignore that expanding into new territory (talking about a Perth team, not 2nd Brisbane) should also bring more fans and junior players, leading to more talent. If the NRL is even slightly serious about expanding into Perth, they should be investing in junior development there now to build support and players. A reserve grade club should be established in the next 2-3 years with the plan to promote to the NRL a few years later. With a stronger junior development and reserve grade representation based in Perth, a new team there could start developing local talent now to be ready to be drawn from when they join the NRL.

Roosters get the crowds at the Central Coast stadium, and have a large junior base there.A nice fit. Souths would the fill the void in the East . Perth according to the Pirate's has no interest in a relocated team .They want their own identity. Sharks are already out of their difficult period, no debt, $20m soon to be banked, a new Leagues club about to be constructed plus a large retail complex.Throw in a new Centre of Excellence, already Govt grants allocated. There is little against having an 18 team competition, which includes Perth and a 2nd Brisbane side. Relocation does not work, you are replacing one fan base with a similar number, and at the same time offering up your vacant area to your competing codes .Fans of current teams are not going to jump on a relocated team ,which they once followed. If rugby league has not learned the bitter lessons of the SL war, they deserve all they ask for.Teams cut, merged, fans looking elsewhere.Rugby league is too tribal for slash and burn policies.

I agree with the Perth Sharks, that makes sense and will give that team a fresh start out of Sydney after a difficult decade, although they broke their Hoodoo... Central Coast Eagles happened already and it didn't work to be honest, i hate Manly but they are a team that shouldn't have to move to cater for central coast... Another Brisbane city team is not a great idea, and they should look to give a new team some identity. There should be a local merger of the Ipswich and Logan areas that can still play at Suncorp for 80% of their home games. SE QLD Jets. Or, a merger of Redcliffe / Sunshine Coast that could play 1/3 of home games at Suncorp, and divide 2/3 at Redcliffe and Marochydore... Moreton Bay Dolpfins. A central QLD team divided between Rockhampton and Mackay would be a great option for QLD

Simple solution would be promotion and relegation. Two divisions of 12. Then anyone can join in. Problem is the vested interests don't want to share the tv cash. We could then get a team out of Gosford, Wollongong, Newtown, North Sydney, and even a Toowomba. It is the way forward.

Billo Rugby is already there.It's called rugby league, the 13 a side version.That held a wonderful SOO at ANZ on Wednesday evening in a packed house. Junior numbers in Cronulla are among the largest and growing in the NRL in Sydney. Millions to go into the Bank courtesy of development deal. Judging by the continuing defections of union players to Japan and France, their near empty coffers, and the legal fees re the Folau/Castle ARU clash fixture(sorry Rex Mossop) and the drop off in crowds at Super rugby, I'm sure that code would be better disposed in getting its crumbling house in order. You could remit a few dollars to assist perhaps?