With three months until the NRL kicks off again, I may as well offer my two cents on the expansion debate.
As a fan brought to the sport by ‘expansion’, I’m generally be in favour of geographic spread, but I’m also a realist: money is tight and the game must ensure it survives in the heartlands.
We can start planning, but it would be the height of folly to suggest this while the economic situation remains uncertain and borders can be shut on the whim of a politician.
Nonetheless, so long as expansion plans are sensible and committed to, with a long-term strategy, the NRL can be grown to 18 sides, with a new team in Perth and an extra side in Brisbane.
I’ve written previously about how there are enough quality players to make up the 18 without diluting competition quality and there is undoubtedly the demand for such growth.
A ninth game over the weekend would appeal to the rugby league and TV viewer: the Western Australia timezone would open a new viewing slot (in much the same way that Friday 6pm has been utilised by pre-Tamworth New Zealand Warriors). The second Brisbane team would bring in more Queensland viewers.
As a naïve Englander, I’ve never truly appreciated the need for a second Brisbane side – they can’t even sell out their games and why would people dislike the only team in the city? But I do understand the need for a more equitable split between the states and, like the introduction of Western Sydney Wanders to the A-League long after the first Sydney side, if a rivalry based on geography can be cultivated from the start, then tribal antagonism can be fostered into a large enough following.
Of course, like the Sydney football and NRL sides, these identities are based on geography, so it would be hard to generate such feeling were they to be based out of Suncorp. Another Southeast Queensland side would have to start in, or at least have immediate plans to move to, a distinct location. This could be the Ipswich-Western Corridor, Sunshine Coast or even South Brisbane. The latter could foster a north-south divide, splitting ties across the Maiwar River, with a new South Brisbane side based out of an already-built, 48,000-seater QSAC looking for primary tenants.
Bird’s eye view of Suncorp Stadium
Perth is the ‘riskier’ option, in that it is not prime rugby league territory, and further away from Sydney than Auckland. But experience of the Melbourne Storm shows that, with enough planning, finance, and long-term planning, it can be done. And thanks to the success of taking Origin on the road, rugby league is hardly an unknown in WA. They already have an SG Ball youth side
Unfortunately, economics and franchise licensing process prevent more widespread or numerous expansion à la Papua New Guinea. But for the greater good of the game, so long as the sport is nurtured and supported, it’s OK to forego top-flight rugby league.
What is not OK are suggestions of relocation – I would like to see a new team in Perth, but not to the detriment of a team in Cronulla or Canterbury. Coming onto economic and practical arguments later, the notion of such cold-heartedness would be the antithesis to the spirit of the game that we grew up with: loyalty, mateship, adversity, all that palaver. It would be a betrayal to the people who have sustained this great game over the past 100-odd years.
It also wouldn’t work. As the North Sydney Bears show, sides lost to the NRL don’t see their fans automatically migrate to the nearest top-flight side – they either stick with them in the NSW Cup, or are lost to the game.
And why would the good people of Perth or Queensland accept New South Wales’ cast-offs? It hardly sends the right message – ‘this side didn’t work in 1/9th of Sydney, so here you go!’ They’d want something authentically theirs, getting behind their hometown. Otherwise, they’ll stick to their own AFL sides, bite the bullet and head to Suncorp, or stay away from the game altogether.
The time for such relocations like the AFL did has long-since passed.
The NRL has to move more carefully with its blueprints – but its resources provide it with the opportunities to solidify and make it a truly National Rugby League.
William W
Roar Rookie
28 clubs with promotion and relegation is just an idiotic idea. A pipedream that will never ever happen.
Mikail-Eagle
Guest
Digicel TV Broadcasts all eight weekly NRL matches live into PNG on its' TV Wan Action Channel. Digicel TV is not FTA. Its Pay TV and PNG viewers have to pay subscription plans to go with the Decoders that come on purchase. How much Digicel TV pays to Fox for these games, is probably the most important question.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Haven't heard Sydney described as "Souths" in general conversation in over 2 decades; I'm interested if you hear it in general discussion? And since the "merger", I have yet to hear the "Brisbane-Fitzroy Lions" described in public as anything other than Brisbane. I haven't checked, but I suspect that even when they won 3 premierships in a row, they were described in the on-ground presentations as "the Brisbane Lions", even though the MCG is about 5km from Fitzroy. But seeing as every single comment you have made on the site so far has been either a complaint or slagging off someone else's team or sport, I don't expect a sensible answer. So, in that spirit, just like to point out that Victoria is the sporting and cultural heart of Australia; SA is... wait a moment while the rest of the country remembers thart you exist, then we can try and work out what you are known for :laughing: Anyway, just a reminder that despite being locked out from our home, in 2020 Melbourne Storm became the NRL champions - AGAIN! Let us know when your state intends to field a team, it would be nice to pump you lot at a new sport; AFL and cricket have sort of been done so cmprehensively that it's not really a contest anymore :laughing:
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
Nope, it is the purpose, to have another SEQ team playing in the premier rugby league venue every week. Redcliffe is a 40 min drive to Lang Park.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
gotta get the odd game at Lidcombe too. Maybe make the players wear a throwback jersey that looks like the Maggies top from the 70's. They'd sell a fortune of em
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
the trouble with expansion is there are only so many skillful players to go around. they're getting less and less while the boofheads take over, the ones who will do the late tackles like that dog shot done by Pangai Jnr (or Tatola) on Cronk. Any team can be full of meatheads who can run all day and tackle themselves to exhaustion, but you need the skillful players to crack open the defense.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
plus the Prictorians can't let it go - Sydney Swans are still "South melbn" and the Lions are still "Fitzroy"
KCR
Roar Rookie
V'landys has said that the team has to be financially secure and not cannibalize the support of the Broncos and Titans, Kate Jones stated that the new team should occupy the corridor from North Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. Considering that there is only one team that will accomplish those goals, a Brisbane post code is not important. As far as attracting fans from all over Brisbane, no team has shown that they can do this effectively, An Ipswich team will mostly have fans from the West, Firehawks the East and the Bombers from nowhere.
Kick n Clap
Guest
PP , Wrong again. You watched the game in “ Baked on AFL territory “ With Perth the ingredients are there? PP to start with there is only a plastic RU league down there, but everybody keeps saying, you’ve got start from somewhere? Perth Central we doing OK growth wise.Yes the NRL needs to stump some cash up, but as the WA RU people have shown to be fair participation is growing too if put funds time and coaching into a product. Their problem is the Circus act known ,as the Force. What Perth needs is a good, Progressive, Competitive NRL club and the fans will come. People in Perth will come out to watch if they think the team is having a crack. The rest of the ingredients we have got. Two Brilliant purpose stadiums. 1.) HBF based on Rectangular Ground ideal for most Home Games. 2.) Optus stadium which is Australia premium Sporting Oval. Massive population of ex-pat Brits. Massive NZ ,Tongan, PG, Fijian, Samon communities. Plenty of ex-NSW,QLD& ACT people crying out to watch NRL. Loads of untapped potential Raw recruits all the way up the coast from Esperance in the Deep South , right up the spine through Farming Wheatbelt past the Northern West Coastline right up to Kununarra near the NT border. If Perth promotes the code well ,we might get some good recruits from NT as well? Perth biggest obstacles for success is changing AFL peoples mindsets and breaking through the AFL structured Media blanket coverage. We can do this through our product being the best watchable sporting product bar none in Australia. Perth needs NRL team and fast.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Sorry TBA, We Need Perth NOW, Not tomorrow, Not Next week. Not next Year. NOW
Sam Drew
Roar Guru
Sorry for late reply, been busy. I'm working on the idea of invest now for future returns, as I believe the NRL do have some financial reserves (they made noises about investing in the UK Super League). I think the tribal nature of rugby league, football/soccer means that such relocation is that much harder. My team, Tottenham, still sing about our North London rivals Arsenal moving back to Woolwich (in rather ruder terms), despite the 11.3 mile migration happening over a century ago. The magazine WSC refuses to publish MK Dons pre-season predictions because of the role in 'stealing' the club from Wimbledon and "buying a franchise." I know the AFL has cultivated strong fan bases in new areas, but it has taken a generation which, despite NRL reserves, the game may not have. I think eventually, the relocated NRL clubs would be adopted as their own. I just happen to think it would make far more sense to make an authentically local new team from the off rather than have an identity imposed. Made my points about player depth here (https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/09/08/for-all-the-problems-of-expansion-player-quality-is-not-one-of-them/), but understand the reluctance, given the gap from 1st to 16th and the effect of lockdowns and such on finances
Micko
Roar Rookie
That’s ridiculous! Teams have good periods and bad periods. That’s some weak justification to argue against a second Brisbane team. How many Sydney teams are you going to axe from the NRL then?!!!
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Last vs second last isn't going to generate a lot of interest. Brisbane's struggles on recent times tells me there's no need for a second team. How does or grow the game on a national level by adding a second Brisbane team? You need to open your eyes and stop looking inwards. It's the National rugby league in case you had forgotten
Gidday
Roar Rookie
Any new team needs to have a strong base for success, particularly in Brisbane where it makes sense to have a second team. Redcliffe Dolphins is really the only genuine candidate - they are one of the most profitable clubs in the country with a strong junior base, strong supporter base, success in the Intrust Super Cup, an 11,500 capacity stadium, gymnasium, profitable leagues club and on-going revenue from owning the lease to the local Coles shopping centre. A no brainer really. Certainly more appealing than the Brisbane Bombers who will have no club affiliation. NRL needs to take a leaf out of the AFL and admit new clubs with a serious base for success such as Port Adelaide.
Micko
Roar Rookie
There isn't a team called "Fremantle" in the WAFL though. There is East Freo (the most successful historically) & South Freo (2020 Premiers and quite successful themselves). The Dockers AFL franchise are a separate entity from these two clubs, and was literally created out of thin air in 1994. This bizarre opposition from some league fans to a second Brisbane NRL team is baffling. There isn't the strength in places like Perth or Adelaide to produce local players. They'd be better served with relocated sides if possible.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Fremantle & Port Adelaide weren’t expansions they're the most successful clubs in the WAFL and SANFL? They're what the 2nd Brisbane team should look like. Add Perth and Adelaide and add two Queensland teams and have 19 rounds. Call SA and NT Central Australia to include the NT League.
Bears6
Roar Rookie
Plus the North Sydney Bears.
Micko
Roar Rookie
That's just silly! So the Freo Dockers & Port Adelaide shouldn't be in the AFL? :silly: You consolidate your areas of grassroots strength. It's absolutely absurd that Brisbane has only one pro team in what is clearly it's biggest football code. You wait and see how much more impact the NRL has with Brisbane derbies every year!
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The word is expansion. I don't see how you expand a game by adding a team where one already exists. That should rule out a second Brisbane team or the Redcliffe Dolphins bid. Add a team in Perth and Adelaide and persist with them to make it a truly national game. Melbourne will never be the number one team down there but they provide an alternative and have been successful for a long time.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Fans would still have to overcome the clubs latest ad offering...