If NRL expansion were to continue, what would be your set criteria? Where would you expand to first? How many teams would you have?
Clearly, there are some interested parties wishing to join the big show.
The North Sydney Bears have expressed their desire to rejoin. For anyone familiar with the Bears’ plight, any attempt to re-enter the competition brings a range of emotions – hope, excitement and the likelihood of despair among them.
Yet, how realistic is their attempt?
Should the Bears’ position be relegated or promoted over other bids?
Billy Moore of the Bears (Photo by Getty Images)
For example, the Perth bid has a strong case. There is a league community eager to support a team in the west, it provides an excellent timeslot for television, and it expands the sport nationally.
Another possibility is Ipswich. The club represents a geographical location on the western edges of Brisbane and has a storied history with good community links and an active fan base. However, Ipswich has a rival in the Brisbane Firehawks.
When the Dolphins, situated in Moreton Bay, gained admission as the 17th team, many pondered if the governing body would solidify the southeast by placing a team in the western corridor region.
Does including either Ipswich or the Firehawks weaken the Dolphins or the Broncos? The NRL won’t expand here if they do, yet even if the game expanded more in this region of the country, it is unlikely that both bids will get the nod.
If a third greater Brisbane team was allowed into the big show, who do you choose – the Ipswich Jets or the Brisbane Firehawks?
Across the ditch, a second New Zealand team makes sense in terms of playing talent. The vast numbers of players of Polynesian heritage coming through the grade prove there is the talent that can be tapped. Also, such a deep pool of players that could choose league over union if the opportunity arose makes it a no brainer.
With the correct administration running the expansion bid on sound business, the club should succeed.
The issue is time. Rugby union is king in New Zealand – that is not up for debate and it will remain that way. Consequently, any new club will have to find its way and lay down foundations to be successful. Doing so could take decades.
You could argue two teams isn’t enough? Should there be a third Kiwi team? Where will these clubs be located – Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch?
In the meantime, the Central Queensland bid has not yet re-entered the frenzy, a PNG bid seems unlikely and Adelaide appears in last place.
But what does it matter how many teams express interest? What are the plans from head office? Do they want an 18-team competition? Will there ever be more than 18 teams and, if so, when? What are the criteria for entry?
What would be your criteria for entry? Mine would be something as follows:
• A clearly defined and associated leagues club.
• A bank guarantee of $50 million.
• A defined number of major and minor corporate sponsorship; the NRL could set a minimum financial standard to this revenue stream.
• A minimum of 10,000 paid members.
• The entrant club must form direct pathway links to every senior and junior club in their designated region to strengthen participation, coaching, sponsorship and business relations.
Clearly, these are just suggestions, and I recognise their limitations and lack of depth in detail.
So if the NRL were to expand, what would be your criteria? Where would you expand to first? How many teams would you have?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1. NZ has a small population and is the super power of world Rugby. Adding another team will not gain any more supporters. 2. I would add a team from WA and later add Central Australia (SA&NT) and another Qld team maybe the Sunshine Coast. With 18 or 20 teams we would play 17 or 19 rounds followed by the top eight finals system. 3. I would create a knockout competition played over five weekends with three of them played before the mid week state of origins. The first week of the KO cup would include twelve teams from the state comps maybe including some Pacific Islands. We could start in mid March and end with the grand final in the October long weekend.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Therein lies the proof! What a hide in drawing attention to Manu. How dare he put his incidental face in the way of a Souths’ premiership.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Just get an 18th team, then a 19th & 20th. Stop wasting time and expand the comp, so each team can play each other once. The 19 rounds with a 4 week final series would allow a knockout competition to be played on the weekends before State of Origin. Another trophy to play for.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Case in point, Don... Roosters superstar shuns million-dollar raid Roosters superstar Joey Manu has shunned big-money offers from elsewhere and will stick with the Bondi club until at least the end of 2024. The 25-year-old utility gun is one of the most sought-after players in both rugby codes, and would have commanded upwards of $1 million a season if he put himself on the open market. https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/more-sports/roosters-superstar-shuns-million-dollar-raid/ar-AAQyUdq?ocid=msedgntp There is meant to be a cap on TPA's in respect to the proportion of the salary cap the player is contracted under. For a player contracted on $450K how on earth would any player in the NRL turn down a $1 million plus contract unless they were being remunerated via another revenue stream? Again, no one is asking any questions about this. Everyone just wants to assume that the Roosters are doing the right thing. If it were any other club other than the Roosters it would be investigated. Why is this happening? See my previous answer above.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I spoke to someone who was there and who knows the coach in question enough to be invited to sit with them at their table when they were sitting down for a coffee. So it isn't fiction. At worst it is hearsay but I trust the source.
Don
Roar Rookie
Cool story.
Mald
Guest
1. Not within 1,000 km of Sydney
Billy Goat
Guest
Id like to see an International team be the 18th team, you could base it in Sydney. For example, an all English XVII plus a nominated feeder team in the NSW Cup and junior rep comps, that's 60-80 English players and coaches benefiting and developing from quality coaching and competition. Further benefits would include increase in depth and quality of English Test side and strength of international game, increased exposure and revenue via English TV deal, international sponsorships etc.
Simply Put
Guest
Criteria : Your club was founded in 1908, wears blue, is called Newtown and plays in Newtown.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
3 x $1 million dollar men...
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Don, I know someone who, back in 2019, spoke privately to a current NRL coach, and ex-NRL coach now an assistant coach in the NRL and someone who has coached the Roosters in the past and knows Politis and he asked them; "When is the NRL going to do something about the Roosters salary cap rorting?". There were senior players present at the time. They all looked at each other and then laughed. The NRL coach said; "That will never happen as long as Nick Politis is at the Roosters. Everyone in the game knows the influence he has behind the game, even the broadcasters. Everyone knows but no one will ever say or do anything." True story, as it was related to me by a reliable source at the height of the Roosters system cap rorting when they were in the process of becoming back-to-back premiers with 3 million dollar men and their best 10 players taking up almost 80% of their 30-man $9.4 million salary cap.
bbt
Roar Rookie
Definitely. The real dollars will come from an international streaming company e.g. ESPN. That is why growing the international game is of ultimate importance. Forget expanding in Australia, it will not add dollars in the long term. Get on a plane and head to China, for example. Look at what India has added to Cricket's bottom line.
Christov
Guest
I want to see a team based out of Jakarta - it's an untapped market up there and had equal following to Perth or Adelaide
Nat
Roar Guru
I'll keep it a surprise. It will either be a smack in the nose or a kiss on the mouth. I know which one he is more afraid of. :laughing:
Joe
Guest
100% mate. :thumbup:
Don
Roar Rookie
The Roosters are salary cap che@ts. How else can you explain the amount of rep players the Roosters had from 2013 – 2021 compared to other clubs? Yet ever club is audited annually and the Roosters are consistently OK. Cronk and Tedesco received "whole of game sponsorships" which is outside the salary cap and not included in reported TPAs. It is a NRL agreement with key players, and other club's stars also get it if they are used extensively in NRL marketing.
Don
Roar Rookie
Or a $50M bank guarantee for that matter. Why would you shackle a business with a minimum $1.3M debt yearly to service a bank guarantee which isn't required in this type of partnership with the NRL ? The NRL agrees to grant money to the licensees annually. Not the other way around. What is a $50M bank guarantee in favour of the NRL supposed to provide?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
The Roosters are salary cap che@ts. How else can you explain the amount of rep players the Roosters had from 2013 - 2021 compared to other clubs? From 2018 - 2019, the Roosters had 3 players on $1 million a season ($3.1 million) and 7 players on a combined $4.2 million. That's $7.25 million of a $9.4 million salary cap for a 30-man squad with an NRL minimum salary of $105K. That's over 77% of a 30-man salary cap spent on 10 players! I have posted plenty of links under my old profiles to sources quoting the player contract values I have been stating. If it is an inconvenient truth for you, tough! That's why there are so many "Roosters salary cap sombrero" jokes. I'll be watching for you to attack everyone who posts that comment in the future. As for there being "no way for you to validate 95% of the roar sharing you views", I reference more links to supporting sources than anyone else on this forum. I sometimes draw a fine line between a my criticism, my protests and my concerns for the game and my sardonic sense of humour at times but sometimes it is also about stirring the pot and stimulating a discussion or banter or both. Any healthy forum is about a robust exchange of ideas, it isn't meant to be an echo chamber of your own opinions. As for me, I'm done with you mate. You are a cranky nasty piece of work with no sense of humour. You are full of bile and salty sarcasm and when things don't go your way you throw your toys out of the cot and scream. You resort to name calling and personal attacks where, for the most part, I try to be a little more creative and use humour instead. My mistake in my post earlier tonight was to identify the race of the supporter but it was in keeping with the flow of the Google search on your profile name. I'm not a ra-cist and I resent being called one by a shallow little man with no idea of who I am, who I associate with, how I am viewed by others in real life or of the world outside his own sphere of influence. Have the last word as always but don't think you can silence me or gag me with your insipid vigilante threat; "If you stop just being a weapon of ignorance I’ll step back."
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Agreed to an extent. I think the AFL will be far stronger in WA for the medium/long term no matter what, but I also think they will see RL (and probably should) as a threat. All codes would have to live with each other, but they'll all want to grow, or at least hold their share, and on that basis the AFL has the most (by far) to lose. I highly doubt they'll play 'fair'. The NRL would have to be prepared to invest here.
Dionysus
Guest
Hi Eels, I have nothing against the Bears save this constant stream of pro bears articles. I believe they should not be in the NRL because there are far better opportunities than yet another Sydney team. I believe that Perth can mount a very good case, it has the time slot, it has some great sponsorship opportunities and they only have to capture a small fraction of the Perth population to fill the stadium. I also don't see why a Perth RL team needs to compete with AFL or Rugby for that matter. The sports are not mutually exclusive. AFL is quite happy to work alongside the STorm in Melbourne and I don't see why Perth couldn't be the same.