The NRL has incorporated multiple popular themed rounds in the past few years, with Rivalry Round, Anzac Round, Superheroes Round, Men of League Round, Magic Round and Women in League Round to name a few.
With the admission of the Dolphins and endless discussion of the addition of an 18th club in the near future, I have been thinking of an idea to incorporate a pair of Grow the Game Rounds into the main draw of the NRL.
This would guarantee a game of NRL is played in a location without a team every year, and would be a form of expansion to new markets without actually adding a team there or further increasing the number of teams.
It would formalise relationships between NRL clubs and regional cities (some of which already have a relationship), develop opportunities for regional sponsors, drive regional attendance and viewership or subscriptions, develop pathways for players, and develop allegiances to clubs in regions not currently possessing an NRL team.
NRL clubs could develop regional memberships with merchandise to further grow interest in their club in their adopted region. They could develop partnerships with local junior clubs and have first pick of developing players from their adopted region.
My idea borrows from the QRL Intrust Super Cup’s Country Week Round, where once a year all games are played in regional Queensland.
However, I would adapt it to two weeks so all 18 future clubs would take a home game each to an adopted second city across two rounds. I would take it further and incorporate the fixtures permanently into the draw, so residents of the cities in question could predict what game and when they would see the team play.
I have included the partnerships I have come up with in the list below. I have tried to base partnerships on existing ones, but did look up population data for the cities and tried to maximise the populations of the cities covered, as well as add a few new ones.
Brisbane
Rockhampton, Queensland
The stadium has recently hosted NRL for the first time, the region has high participation and interest, and has a previous feeder-club relationship with Broncos.
(Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Gold Coast
Toowoomba, Queensland
The stadium has previously hosted Titans games and there is a current relationship between the Titans and TRL.
North Queensland
Port Moresby, PNG
The stadium has previously hosted Tests and the PM’s XIII, and hosts the Hunters in the QRL. It is an untapped market.
Dolphins
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
It is an adjacent region to the club, and allows a new club to grow into a market that is under-serviced.
Newcastle
Tamworth, NSW
Tamworth is a large city in the northern NSW region, which is unrepresented, and has hosted NRL before. They have a relationship with the Knights as they host clinics and camps there.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Canberra
Wagga Wagga, NSW
They have a current host relationship to the club.
New Zealand
Wellington, NZ
It is an adjacent region to club, which allows the club to grow to become a North Island team.
Perth
Adelaide, SA
It is an untapped market, and allows a new club to develop fans in a new area.
Melbourne
Hobart, Tasmania
This is the location of past pre-season trials, and Tasmania is an untapped market for rugby league.
South Sydney
Cairns, Queensland
They have a current host relationship to the club.
Cronulla
Dunedin, NZ
It is an untapped market in a region of NZ with no representation.
St George Illawarra
Albury-Wodonga, NSW/Victoria
The southernmost NSW club could gain fans in southern NSW and northern Victoria.
Roosters
Central Coast, NSW
They have a current host relationship to the club.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Wests
Suva, Fiji
Fiji currently fields the Silktails in the NSW Cup. It is an untapped market in a new country.
Canterbury
Mackay, Queensland
Build on recent hosting of finals games. Mackay has a previous relationship with the club.
Parramatta
Darwin, NT
They have a current host relationship to the club.
Penrith
Bathurst, NSW
They have a current host relationship to the club.
Manly
Christchurch, NZ
It is an untapped market in a region of NZ with no representation. They have a previous host relationship with the club.
I am by no means against further expansion or one of the proponents of ‘there’s not enough talent to expand’ arguments.
I think 18 teams would be sustainable in the short to medium term but I would be hesitant to grow too much too soon after that.
The two Grow the Game Rounds would be to ensure that most major cities in Australia and a few in the Pacific have access to at least one game per year.
If the attendance or general viewership participation in the partnership takes off, then that could be an indicator of a future expansion location, or a location where Magic Weekend, Prime Minister’s XIII tours, or trial games could be scheduled in order to further develop rugby league interest in that area.
STEVEN LINDSAY
Guest
An excellent idea in principle. The NRL needs to promote the game all around Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Have I missed something - how did Perth become mentioned as an existing team? Maybe I misunderstood something. Maybe one round for set places and the 2nd round to include others.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Good to see someone who does not equate growing the game with more teams/games in "heartland". Getting League on the road to PNG, Cairns, Adelaide and Perth is necessary
Beergardener
Roar Pro
As a Broncos member, I would be willing to sacrifice a home game at Suncorp for this for sure. My idea would be to have it over two rounds, but that may not be logistically possible and the more important part would be the formal arrangement with fans, sponsors and development players that every club would be mandated to have. So as long as each club took a game to their adopted region, Would be happy
Beergardener
Roar Pro
Thanks mate. What is your idea for legends of league round?
Beergardener
Roar Pro
Great idea
Beergardener
Roar Pro
Yep there would be an element of tourism here too which would support the local industry. How good would it be to travel to see your team play in the regions? See the region, stay a weekend, see your team
Beergardener
Roar Pro
Good on you, mate, for growing the game in your region
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
A team based out of that area, probably Orange and then rotate their home games between Dubbo, Bathurst, Mudgee and Tamworth would work pretty well :thumbup: I like Dubbo but if you grew up on the northern beaches you may struggle to adjust :thumbup:
Exitstrategy
Roar Rookie
Good article . All that seems doable , maybe they could incorporate a legends of Leagues Game also .
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
NZ is union obsessed with a limited population. No different to how you described Tasmania. Plus there is the Aussie factor to consider ...
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
School programs and league tag for a start. If people want contact they will need to have a solid tangible proposal.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
I've never been to Dubbo. Because of its location I've often wondered if there is any chance or desire to have an NRL side there. I have no idea what the town /city is like but its surrounded by farm land. That could be an attraction for some players. Just a thought.
Adam
Roar Guru
Wish I had the answers. I wish you and whoever gets involved the best of luck!
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Do it with the Friday 6pm game that no one can get off work in time for. If a town was only hosting one game a year, they could put on a half-day holiday.
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
It won’t be a seniors summer comp. it’s a consultative committee to look at how we start the game again.
Adam
Roar Guru
Might look into it. Just when I was looking at dropping the summer sport! Though someone at work is trying to get me into touch footy as well. Both rugby codes have struggled here for some reason despite some 90 years of history (some evidence to suggest the history of rugby predates the 30s)
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Agree with all that. Problem with the second game was that it was poorly promoted. Problem with the league comp was that it played little brother to Union. Nrl vic is looking to push the game here again. Check the nrl tas site. Worth some thought getting involved mate. Bus
Adam
Roar Guru
I was at the Storm vs Broncos one in 2012 and you're right there was a fair crowd. But the was also a local League comp that's since gone the way of the dodo. It was also at the back end of the peak of Union in the state. I played under 18s in 2008 when there were 10 teams in the comp. Now Union juniors barely exists or at least not to the same degree. For comparison 5 years later in 2017 they had 6500 at the game, which was 5000 less than 2012. I'm not calling it a complete impossibility but...
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
As if a jug of moonshine is going to remain full. In some towns, the locals drink straight from the bottle. In others, they can't go without ice...
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
That depends on whether the jug is still full of moonshine, Tim. :laughing: