Peter V'landys' problems are an easy fix

This article is about Perth. If the game wants to secure its future it needs to lock up the hearts and minds of the people in the population growth areas. if it doesn't other codes will. the League will then be left with a lot of Rooster type clubs with a supporter base that has died out.

Very simple to answer. Unless they won it as many times as Melbourne straight away, it would fail. It's an AFL state and always will be. Just look at Melbourne. The most successful team in the last twenty or more years and Leichardt vs Petersham soccer games get more people there to watch it.

If Vlandys honestly believes that the modern NRL athlete couldn't handle a trip once a year to Perth,infact in some cases once every 2 years, then the solution is simple, he should resign. For all the reasons debated over the last 100 years on the roar, I can't see how the NRL couldn't add Brisbane 2 NZ2 and Perth. One will not get picked next time round but that is unavoidable. I sincerely hope the NRL is looking way beyond the next broadcast deal ,looking at Melbourne 2, Adelaide , Darwin / Cairns/ pt Moresby. This should be on a 20_30 year plan.

This could be a case of poe's law, not sure if you're serious. A Perth team would operate without pokies just like every other club in WA professional and amateur. Without Pokies Perth teams have been some of the most successful and financial sound within their respective leagues across the country. West Coast Eagles have by far the biggest "onfield" revenue in the nation. They're the most profitable club in the AFL with over $100 million in assets. The Fremantle Dockers have revenue within the top third of the AFL and bigger than the Brisbane Broncos. Then there's the WACA backed Perth Scorchers. The biggest and most successful NBL club Perth Wildcats. Even the Perth Heat in the ABL who pull the largest crowds in the league. WA professional sport is the blueprint for succeeding without Domestic Violence Machines aka Pokies.

Perth has a lot going for it but - how will the team operate without poker machine revenue like all the other clubs?

Justin Thanks ! The one thing about expanding 2 more teams is a new time slot needs to be added as we have 9 games. The one problem with Perth is they can't alternate a new time slot either Saturday 8pm - 10pm EST or Sunday 4pm - 6pm EST with another team. Wellington & Auckland could also lock in Sunday 2pm - 12pm EST as a new time slot which is the same time as the Canterbury Cup which I don't mind watching or they can play on the dreaded Sydney crowd killer 6pm Friday slot.

Expansion solves the problem of standard dilution by adding a new pool of talent from Perth and WA towns. Expanding the grassroots is code for 'State of Origin is the pinnacle of our game so only NSW and Queenslanders are needed'. Maybe the coaches told V'landys they didn't want to travel to Perth. Your solution might work if Cronulla-Sutherland, who were created to cut St-George down to size, could be sent to Perth. I don't know if the WAers want a relocated Sydney team. Sending a Sydney team to Brisbane wouldn't be popular.

@ Greg You have not properly addressed the problem of diluting the standard of NRL games if it expands beyond 16 teams. W. Bennett, M. Maguire, A. Johns. B. Fittler, P. Gallen and many other League experts have opposed expansion- since the lack of quality depth in League would cause an unacceptable drop in standard. They have said there has been a long term decline in community tackle League player numbers- and the NRL spending priority should be on expanding the grassroots. Viewers, also, due to the drop in standard, would then spurn the NRL. This would have a negative effect on NRL ratings, crowds and revenues. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/117234678/rugby-league-test-coaches-wayne-bennett-and-michael-maguire-champion-grassroots-growth-over-nrl-expansion Brisbane 2, however, should be introduced. It would certainly cause an increase in total, annual ratings and crowds. The obvious solution would be to remain at 16 teams, introduce Brisbane 2 and merge 2 Sydney teams (or relocate one Sydney team to Brisbane- and encourage its old Sydney fans to buy a membership for when it plays in Sydney).

To be honest, this is where our NRL structure fails. We have a "protectionist" and "self serving" structure that provides no pathway into the NRL no matter how strong the club, no matter how large the sponsors are, no matter what gates or potential memberships there are and no matter any financial gains. The structure ensures that existing clubs are always in the NRL no matter how bad they are both on and off the field. This is where the ESL (despite all its issues) wins out big time. Why did a club as ambitious, as well funded and as successful as Toronto and run by an Australian not try to get into the NRL - the No.1 Competition in the world ? Because there is no pathway. They were able to join the 3rd tier English comp and then win their way into the big league. It took them 3 years but they did it. I doubt they would ever have got into the NRL. If the NRL had a similar structure to the English system then Perth, the Bears, Brisbane 2, Adelaide, Wellington, PNG etc etc would all have their place in the comp and the opportunity to succeed and get into the big league. Oh but what about that awful "Relegation" problem well this is where Protectionism comes in. My view is if you ain't good enough then you ain't good enough. Having Promotion/Relegation would have sorted out the Titans problem either way and if you get your act together then there is always next year.

I really like that idea mick. Then you’d possibly have the Perth team playing home games on Saturday’s at 3pm which is 6pm est. Locks those times slots up nicely. If only the nrl leadership had the vision to see this. Gives us a massive advantage over other codes.

Perth Redbacks & Wellington Wolves should be the next 2 teams if the NRL are to expand in the future. Wellington Wolves because it gives the Warriors a rival & can lock up the 6 pm Friday time slot which is 8 pm NZ time with the Warriors alternating home games.

Very well said Laurie, Sometimes I thing the NRL hierarchy take a position and then invent stuff to justify it. The NRL has been denying Perth for close on 2 decades that I know of. OK so your denying them so where is the market analysis that tells you exactly why we should be denying them. Why didn't Todd, Vlandys, Dave Smith or that Gallop bloke ever think to employ one of the big consulting firms to explore the region ? The NRL should have had the possibility of an NRL team in Perth absolutely screwed down to the last potential dollar by now instead of lame excuses like its too far. I cannot believe that someone like Dave Smith wouldn't have wanted to do a proper strategic review. He was that kinda bloke the sort of bloke that would have lived and breathed business plans, cash flow projections and the like. Either way, a proper study of Perth should be a very high priority for the NRL.

When you read articles about Perth being to far to travel it takes your breath away. The Western Reds would still be operative had there been no Super League war. Successful, financial and averaged 15 000 per game. The population then was 1.3 m. It is now close to 3m. The Government in WA support a team, there is financial support and a very broad following. Does someone recall how many turned out for the state of origin last year, or worked out why Souths and others play games there. It’s not because it’s to bloody far.

An alternative to the Perth/Auck;and game being played in Brisbane during magic round is to take a leaf out of Rugby's book at ask some teams to tour if they choose. Super Rugby regularly has teams from South Africa going to both New Zealand and Australia, and vice versa. Japan and Argentina have to do likewise over much longer distances than V'landy's thinks is too far. On that basis, Perth may have to play two games on the road, one in Sydney, then fly across to Auckland, then either back home to Perth or maybe a third road game. Auckland might need to so the same.

Yep Brisbane 2 is a good idea but it’s not expansion. Perth is crucial to the growth of the game.

At last, someone who talks a bit of sense. Brisbane 2 (whilst I think it is a good idea) will have a much higher substitution factor than somewhere like Perth. A second Brisbane team will enable growth but not all of that growth will be real. Whilst that problem does exist in Perth, it would be tiny by comparison. I agree with the author, if you want true growth then you have to conquer new markets even if that costs more in the short term.

I guess it can be played in any one of the earlier (AEST) time slots of sunday 2pm thurs 6pm sat 5.30pm etc where it could work.

why is the perth time slot assumed to be good for tv? its a 9:45 - midnight game. not a great time slot