I hope everybody reading this article is praising our new rugby league god, Peter V’landys – the messiah who prevailed through all the adversity and became the major reason to why NRL returned nearly one month ago.
But trying not to get ahead of myself, it is equally important to relay that as a result of COVID-19, the NRL had various flaws exposed within their organisation – ones that must be remedied for the future and for the betterment of the game.
If you missed it, Part 1 of this discussion dissected a revised NRL draw from 2021 onward.
Therefore, going hand-in-hand with that, Part 2 will cover expansion with a review of reserve grade and a refreshed elite pathway.
Expansion
It is no longer a secret the NRL’s next expansion team will be based in Queensland.
Although not my first preference, it is understandable that the NRL wishes to solidify Queensland as rugby league heartland. The question is, which new club should get the green light?
The race is between six consortia, but for the purpose of this article let’s say the Brisbane Bombers win the licence. It is vital that their club can sustain a first-grade team along with second, third and fourth-tier sides.
It is believed the NRL will not expand past a 17th team for the foreseeable future, which in turn will provide a weekly bye for first-grade teams throughout their season. This is opposed to rewarding a second expansion club with a licence, which would provide the NRL with an extra game per week and ultimately provide extra content.
Personally, I would have loved to have seen a Perth franchise back in the NRL, but with that unlikely to happen I feel the following proposed revised elite pathways model will place them in great stead for the future, along with any other expansion areas vying for a spot in the NRL.
National Reserve Grade (NRG)
The NRG competition will involve the 16 – soon to be 17 – clubs represented in the NRL competition, with each team being renamed and re-badged the exact same as their first-grade counterparts.
This innovation will clearly demonstrate that there is a legitimate second-tier reserve grade competition, with NRG games being played before their respective NRL match each week.
There is definitely room for expansion in this competition, on the proviso that the team willing to compete in the NRG is independent and unaligned to any NRL club.
For example, the Papua New Guinea Hunters already provide their own players through their own system. But if a club is not ready for the NRG, then there are further elite avenues for them to compete in.
NSW Cup and Queensland Cup
The NSW and Queensland Cups, which in their current format serve as reserve grade for NRL sides, would revert to being the third tier in this revised elite pathway model.
What this means is when a player does not make the cut for their contracted NRL or NRG team, they would be plying their trade in this competition.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Alignment of NRL clubs to more than one side, as well as alternative areas, would be allowed in this tier. For example, in the current Queensland Cup format, the Gold Coast Titans are represented by the Burleigh Bears and Tweed Heads Seagulls. Under the revised model, the Titans can continue these partnerships, as well as enter a Titans side in the competition if they wished, or even align with a country Queensland club.
Similarly, in NSW Cup, the Manly Sea Eagles are represented by Blacktown Workers. If the Sea Eagles wished to have a second team representing them, then they could in this competition, whether it be another Manly Sea Eagles side or an additional area, such as the Central Coast Bears or country NSW.
Furthermore, for any expansion franchises that wish to one day break into the NRL competition, the third tier would be the catalyst for them to commence.
For example, Fiji’s Kaiviti Silktails team are currently an independent expansion area that could play in this competition for years and build their brand and fan-base accordingly. And as stated, if their team became too competitive for the third division then they could be promoted to the NRG competition.
Keep in mind that NRL clubs are allowed to align with any club that they wish to from the third tier down, other than another NRL-branded team. Although, once a club wishes to be promoted to the NRG competition, they must be independent to NRL-contracted players and sign their own players.
Fourth-tier and fifth-tier pathways
Converse to the idea of promotion, if any expansion side struggles to compete in the NRG or third division (NSW Cup or Queensland Cup), then being relegated to the fourth or fifth division is also an option for them.
Also, clubs in Asquith, Blacktown, Cabramatta, Glebe-Burwood, Guildford, Hills District, Mounties, St Mary’s, Wentworthville and Windsor in NSW as well as the current Queensland Cup teams listed below would still participate in their respective fourth or fifth division – as long as these community clubs each represent an NRL club within their catchment.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Club structure from season 2021 onwards
The following is an overview of how clubs will be structured in their respective tiers under the revised expansion and elite pathways model.
Second tier: National Reserve Grade
• Parramatta Eels
• Newcastle Knights
• Penrith Panthers
• Sydney Roosters
• Canberra Raiders
• Manly Sea Eagles
• South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Wests Tigers
• Cronulla Sharks
• St George Illawarra Dragons
• Canterbury Bulldogs
• Melbourne Storm
• New Zealand Warriors
• North Queensland Cowboys
• Brisbane Broncos
• Gold Coast Titans
• Brisbane Bombers
Third tier: New South Wales Cup
• Parramatta Eels
• Newcastle Knights
• Penrith Panthers
• North Sydney Bears (Sydney Roosters)
• Mount Pritchard Mounties (Canberra Raiders)
• Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (Manly Sea Eagles)
• South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Western Suburbs Magpies (Wests Tigers)
• Newtown Jets (Cronulla Sharks)
• St George Illawarra Dragons
• Canterbury Bulldogs
• Kaiviti Silktails
• Central Coast Bears
• North Country Bulls
• West Coast Pirates
• Adelaide Rams
Third tier: Queensland Cup
• Ipswich Jets (Newcastle Knights)
• Easts Tigers (Melbourne Storm)
• Sunshine Coast Falcons (Melbourne Storm)
• Mackay Cutters (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Northern Pride (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Townsville Blackhawks (North Queensland Cowboys)
• Redcliffe Dolphins (NZ Warriors)
• Norths Devils (Brisbane Broncos)
• Souths Logan Magpies (Brisbane Broncos)
• Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Brisbane Bombers)
• Burleigh Bears (Gold Coast Titans)
• Tweed Heads Seagulls (Gold Coast Titans)
• Papua New Guinea Hunters
• Central Queensland Capras
• South Pacific Cyclones
• Northern Territory
To reiterate, promotion into the second tier is achievable for any non-NRL-branded team given that they are not aligned with any NRL club. Similarly, if any expansion club struggles in their division then the option to be relegated to a lower division is available to them.
We are already seeing rugby league change immensely on and off the field in 2020 and my proposals will serve as a positive implementation from 2021 onward in order for our game to grow and prosper in the future.
Stay tuned for the unplanned, yet warranted, Part 3 finale of what rugby league should look like post-COVID.
Daniel John
Roar Pro
Although I havent mentioned it in the article, u20s/18s/16s reps will definitely remain - they are crucial to the foundation of the NRL pathways model
William W
Roar Rookie
So no U20s then? Many NRL clubs would choose to invest in an U20s team, rather than any 3rd tier competition. This is a fact by the way.
RKO
Guest
Because we are living in a pandemic, sport being majorly affected by said C19...
Mick Holland
Roar Rookie
It's not a bad idea on having a National Reserve Grade competition that replicates the NRL but I rather see the NSWRL, QLDRL, NZRL being the 2nd tiers. The 3rd tiers being the Ron Massey Cup, the Brisbane Cup & all the other NSW & QLD country local competitions that exist.
Daniel John
Roar Pro
COVID will certainly make sure this article’s idea doesn’t come to fruition. Main thing I’d like to see is expansion sides that dont make NRL apply for the lower tiers. . And personally i would love to see 18 teams, means 9 games a week for us fans - definitely a win for us and for the bottom line - only argument, which i disagree with, is the comp talent gets diluted
Nat
Roar Rookie
He's right Daniel. Buy putting another tier between the NRL and State cups, you've increased the costs to the club significantly and taken away any money that is currently available to the State comps. Further it weakens the State comps significantly to the point of amatuerism. The broadcast deal NRL have already signed for less and the remaing sponsorship agreements are yet to be sorted. At this time, I don't see why they would throw that much money into a new system when the curent one is working fine. I wouldn't be surprised if they announce 2 new teams when it does happen. I can't see the value in one team - just for the sake of another team in Brisbane. Why is a bye round important to the broadcastors?
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I’m not sold on the promotion/relegation. I know it gives you still a chance as a fan. But those teams that are perennial bottom half, a few times maybe getting to the eight Once a decade, I’m just not into that kind of ‘comp’, it don’t think you making most of the market. You have fans of a team in, but fans of more then one sitting out waiting. I want best of best. I don’t want to basically know the top eight before first game of comp, the haves and have not. I know there are weaknesses and arguments for and against it. But for me as a Parra fan living ten hours from their home stadium, if it was run like that atm with the last 30 years as a rough example, I could understand fans jumping ship to another sport, particularly young kids. I have said it before on here in other articles and I’m not the brain or autocrat, I like the idea of the lower grade that’s a feeder for the National comp. for example, Parra being in this With Penrith and Wests, whoever. And their player work to get up to Rep their national team, or bought buy others. I’d have no problem following parra’s ‘parent’ club and I understand plenty wouldn’t. But times are changing from a city comp, to a state comp, to a national comp. league hasn’t really adapted to that too well. They are tons a reasons and ideas about why not and some people that think league is doing fine. I see it as a bit similar to more then a century ago people saying ‘curse those cars’. Shooting at vehicles even, lol, want to hold on to the horse. Good or bad, right or wrong, things change and adaptions should be made to move with it. To me it doesn’t seem like league is loving with the times. The AFL has been the best at looking ahead to the next generation with its teams/national comp, grab those kids young, in twenty years idea.
Daniel John
Roar Pro
Appreciate the comment BD. I also agree that Promotion and relegation just wouldn't work in Australian Rugby League. Unfortunately teams in tier 2 would lose that weekly exposure which helps them financially. The pre-COVID reserve grade (nsw+qld cup) system does work and im glad the NRL is giving it more relevance now than when the holden cup 20s were around - i just believe that streamlining it a bit as the article suggests with the post-COVID System would ultimately strengthen each tier over time
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I don’t know who Or what the best Options are. But the are mega companies around the world that make tons of money assessing this kind of stuff, they don’t necessarily need it back ground in the thing they assessing. They know how to do their work. They even work out if it feasible or not to do at. If not, they shouldn’t. Surely they have already been doing this. If I got a belly ache I don’t go see my local electrician.
Daniel John
Roar Pro
Despite there being downsides I really like that idea, similar to european football
Daniel John
Roar Pro
Hi Max, the NRG comp would be to a degree given that they are travelling with the NRL side as well, meaning higher costs for travel/accomm etc. Although the lower tiers would virtually run the same, only difference this revised idea provides is opportunity for expansion franchises to establish themselves - but only if they feel they are viable.
Daniel John
Roar Pro
Agreed that the Bombers are the worst option of all the choices in QLD haha - just out of curiosity who would you like to see gain a licence? Personally I think the Dolphins have the strongest bid
Big Daddy
Guest
Daniel, I commend you for writing an article that has some merit. My take is there should be a stand alone 2 Nd tier as you suggest but not necessarily with the teams you have suggested. In the format you have suggested all the players in tier 2 will probably come from the current Qld Intrust cup and NSW Canterbury so it weakens your suggested tier 3 and so on down the lower tiers. Definitely no promotion and relegation as say titans finish last and Parramatta win tier 2 you then have 2 Parramatta teams in top level with 2 salary caps and 60 players on their roster. I think the geographics of this country make it hard but I do agree about a second tier it's just financial, geographics and state based politics that make it difficult.
Walter Black
Guest
The time to be bold is in the midst of a crisis. I would like to see the NRL introduce Perth as an 18th team as early as possible. I would like to see them introduce an NRL division 2 with genuine clubs and pathways not bolted on reserve teams. There should be qualified promotion/relegation. Funding should be appropriate to what that division brings in (sponsorship/tv or whatever) plus a fixed Div 1 contribution. Div 2 number of teams should be flexible to allow new teams to come in and old ones to leave. I know there are downsides but at least every area that wants a team should be able to have them and when we want to expand Div 1 we would have a ready made team there to slot in.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Nice article. I do like the ‘expand’ slowly way rather then grab any half baked consortium to fill the league to an even number. The ARL doing this in the past was stupidity on another level. The poor GC teams and boys club groups during the ‘jeans west’ times that never had any business base background of running a ‘successful’ league’s club and got into the nation comp to many times. I’d rather have one team sitting out a game every week rather then the comp ‘carrying’ a club not up to it management wise.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Outside of a new Brisbane team I vehemently disagree with everythis else utteted hete. The QRL needs to be the second tier. The players will get real experience in a team environment. Not a glorified practice comp that a reserve comp would be with everybody playing for themselves just like you see in the Sheild. You even picked the worst option of the new Brisbane franchises
Herewegoagain
Guest
Why does every article have to mention C19 ?
Max power
Guest
This plan is completely financially unviable
Honest Max
Guest
Does this really need 3 articles?