Pacific Super 12 and beyond
Multiple publications have reported that the 2022 Super Rugby season could feature two Pacific Island teams: Moana Pacifika, based in Auckland, and a Fijian…
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Multiple publications have reported that the 2022 Super Rugby season could feature two Pacific Island teams: Moana Pacifika, based in Auckland, and a Fijian…
A fresh look at a classic concept can yield a positive result. This has definitely been the case for Cobra Kai and the Tri…
In the second part of this two-article series I propose a Super Rugby model that deals with the issues raised in my first article.…
News out of South Africa that their Super Rugby teams will explore playing in a PRO16 tournament next year raises many questions over the…
“Dolphins for you we shout a loud Hoorah” by Jon Williams set to the tune of click go the sheers, although probably should play a number of Saturday night games in honour of the Bee Gees.
What's in a name like the Dolphins?
My guess is that convention will win. They may be officially the Dolphins but the fans will call them Redcliffe the commentators will slip up and call them Redcliffe and eventually the will probably be Redcliffe.
Honestly as a fan of this team that has been waiting for over a decade for their entrance to the NRL, this name thing doesn’t bother me in the slightest, we’ve been this patient what’s a few more years.
What's in a name like the Dolphins?
I think that they will probably have 3 QLD cup feeder teams. Obviously Redcliffe will be one, I had heard the Capras are another.
Pure speculation for the 3rd team but I could see either the Melbourne Storm or the Broncos dropping a team to the Dolphins and picking up Ipswich and really doing some good work with the talent out west and gaining a presence in that region.
NRL expansion history shows Redcliffe face hard path to success
I hear that all 3 bids were in talks with the Capras. I am sure that I saw an article somewhere stating that the Dolphins were in talks with them. The only one I can find is CQ today don’t know how reputable it is.
NRL expansion history shows Redcliffe face hard path to success
Plenty of good sushi places on the GC, Eel would be welcome.
Dolphins in, Redcliffe out and Wayne Bennett to coach
Cheers, yes I have just heard (checking phone while working) exciting times ahead. Bring on the fight of the fins! have a good one.
Redcliffe Dolphins set to be named NRL's newest club
Cheers Rob9, well said. I respect your opinion in expansion and have enjoyed reading your posts even though your views differ from my own. If nothing else this public bidding process has shown that there are a lot of passionate RL people with a range of different views on the topic and it is great to see. It has also forced the bids to address their limitations prior to getting in to the NRL.
Pretty excited to see who does finally get announced, heard on the radio that V’landys will make an announcement today. Cheers
Redcliffe Dolphins set to be named NRL's newest club
Yes it is a step down the Sydney path, however the Sydney path has not always led to ruin. There are many teams in Sydney, both on the fringes and in the inner city, that flourish and yes there are teams that have fallen. A team that operates well and serves the community will be popular. If the new team can follow the Panthers model they will be fine.
I am not counting the Dolphins inclusion as gospel until an announcement has been made, but if it is them they have the resources to excel in the area the Panthers did. They also have a great brand and will market themselves well outside of their traditional region.
I understand and appreciate your opinion on the importance of appealing to the greatest number of fans, any new team will bring a mix of desire and derision. I didn’t read all 200 pages of the Gemba report but one of the areas they pointed out was important for success was having a large number of primary fans vs casual fans. Fans who would make the new team their only team, buy memberships and merch as apposed to fair weather fans. I think that the NRL is of the opinion that these fans are more likely to exist in these LGAs. I am not saying that the NRL is right I just think that the words and actions of the bids has shown what the NRL values.
The NRL has played it safe. The articles that summarised the TV money a 17th team brings combined with the Dolphins stable financial position, amongst other positives attributes, makes me think that this is the first step toward an 18 team competition and they wanted to make a safe step before making a bolder one, possibly with one of the other Brisbane bids. Cheers
Redcliffe Dolphins set to be named NRL's newest club
It is awesome that the flame still burns for Bears supporters. The author is correct about all of the positive arguments for the Bears readmission. The only thing standing in their way is that there are 9 Sydney teams already as well as Newcastle which are all in the Bears region. And non NSW NRL fans may riot.
Is there a place for the Bears I think that there is, it just isn’t in NSW in the near future. Also the Bears may have shown their hand too early when they were willing to move to the Gold Coast. Because if they are willing to move to the QLD then why not WA or NZ? If the Bears want to be admitted as the 18th team they may have to consider joining an out of state bid willing to adopt their name. They would have a lot to offer in the way of existing supporters who will go to games when the team plays in Sydney or Newcastle, a strong brand, history and junior talent that will help build the new team in a new region.
Also it doesn’t hurt that a red and black team in either Perth or Christchurch doesn’t look out of place, better name than Pirates IMO.
The NRL is expanding. Is there a place for the Bears?
Great news if it goes ahead, I have been following expansion news for about a decade now if not longer. As all the pieces have fallen into place the Dolphins have indeed emerged as the best bid. They have quietly built there assets and business while other bids scoffed at the chances of a northern qrl/brl team, but they ignored them and stuck to their plan.
I’m not celebrating just yet but it will be great to have a strong brand in the greater Brisbane region to support. I don’t think that the job is finished just yet though, at some point in the future all corners of SEQ need to be represented, it is just a matter of timing.
Redcliffe Dolphins set to be named NRL's newest club
I don’t think that the Dolphins bid, if officially successful, will hinder western corridor expansion. I think that the TV deal is going to put the NRL in a stronger financial position that will allow them to take more risks in the future. I also think that time will be beneficial to the western teams if they are in it for the long haul. Jets will have time to sort out finances and the Firehawks can actually grow their identity as a western corridor team and in general.
Once again that is if this Dolphins bid is successful not celebrating anything early, however I would like to see a future where all corners of SEQ are represented in the NRL, Cheers.
Redcliffe Dolphins set to be named NRL's newest club
G’day Rob9, I agree that the Dolphins are the safest bet and will do well in the NRL. Given that 2 of the 3 bids are greater LGAs and the Firehawks have been trying to forge a western identity in the last few weeks I think it is safe to assume that the NRL was never strictly looking at a Brisbane team as far as council lines are concerned. It seems to me that the NRL is actively looking for teams to represent those northern and western regions.
Redcliffe Dolphins set to be named NRL's newest club
A few thoughts on this, firstly ‘scrapping’ is the wrong term. The Giteau law allows os players, prior to the Giteau law no os players could represent Australia. So scrapping it would mean a return to no OS Wallabies. No
Secondly in a normal non covid affected year many os would choose not to play the majority of Australian tests. A normal top 14 calander year only has a July off season. I am sure that a lot of French based players would choose to stay home and enjoy the summer in the south of France.
Japan could be a game changer, they have a short season that breaks for test windows. If RA relax eligibility laws they should really encourage the Japanese Top League as the destination.
'There's so many guys OS who could play for Australia': Kellaway says 'scrap Giteau Law'
Good 7s team, just add Kerevi
Why Rugby Australia should invest in English rugby league
yes you would but not a bad idea
Why Rugby Australia should invest in English rugby league
Thank you for the article TWIU, you’ve made some valid points. World Rugby should always be looking at ways to make the game more entertaining however what is entertaining is different for different viewers. What a a sports fan grows up with will alter their view of entertainment.
That leads me to my next point, I think that when sports fan say entertainment 9 times out of 10 they mean emotional engagement. Do fans really love a sport or a team, or did they love going to games with their parents? When I talk to former union fans in their 30s to 50s who say that the sport is boring, they don’t seem bored to me, they seem upset sad even. They aren’t just looking for that entertainment they are also looking for that feeling of following a team that is competing against best the world and sharing that with their friends and families.
An example from my own life, my father and I became reds members in 2011 (pretty good year for it) we agreed that the truly stand out moment of that year was during the game against NSW, the Tahs had the ball for half an hour in the Reds’ 22 but the line didn’t break when the Tahs took the 3 it felt like a victory the atmosphere was amazing. This doesn’t fall into the traditional definition of entertainment, it can’t be put on a highlights package, but there was a real connection between the crowd and the team.
I believe that that is the connection fans of the wallabies are searching for, however Aussies don’t do gallows humour. Why would they when they can follow an NRL team and unless I have read your article wrong that is the point; Australia is a competitive sports market and rugby should be doing all that it can can to engage new supporters. This can’t be done in the international arena, you can’t ask the rest of the world to take it easy, this has to be done at a national level where the playing field can be controlled. I think that may be why SRAU did well, the rugby wasn’t any more exciting but the mood changed from sad to hopeful and that is always good.
In saying that RA could always try to emulate crickets big bash by using 7s or 10s to engage new viewers. After all there is nothing wrong with running rugby and tries, but for fans to get the most out of this sport they need to understand all facets of this and it is RA job to make learning this easy and even interesting for a casual viewer.
Cheers.
Why Rugby Australia should invest in English rugby league
No one can claim anywhere, you can’t just plonk a team down and tell people to support them. Teams have to build their identity and supporter base through work, such as being active members of the community supporting community projects, sporting groups and other initiatives as well as wining on the field. It can’t be done through words.
So far the Dolphins have a massive head start in this in the Moreton Bay region and they are well known and respected in rural areas. Including those areas leading to the Sunshine Coast.
'Horrible' state of grassroots league means only one club makes sense for NRL expansion
The Dolphins support a massive amount of sports and community projects in Moreton Bay and would most definitely be the team for the entire region.
Looking for support up to and including the Sunshine Coast would be worth a try. A lot of people in the more rural areas from BNE to the coast love their league but only have a passing interest in the current teams. The Dolphins have a good reputation in those areas and could turn a once in a while passive fan into an engaged supporter.
'Horrible' state of grassroots league means only one club makes sense for NRL expansion
All good OS sorry for misreading your sentence.
I also think that each bid brings positive elements. Ipswich has great participation rates and is a rugby league town, just like Redcliffe and Easts.
You and the Author have made some great points as have those who point out the financial strength of the bids.
As I said above I would like to see all corners of SEQ represented eventually. Cheers
'Horrible' state of grassroots league means only one club makes sense for NRL expansion
I agree and disagree with some of your comments here. letst’s get the disagreements out of the way first. I think that it is unfair to assume that the other bids are feeding false information to the media. All of the teams, for the most part, have just talked up their own bids. There is no advantage in being negative as this isn’t an election they don’t have to convince us, they only have to convince the ARLC and they have all of the information in black and white.
I agree that both the Jets and Dolphins should be in the NRL. This would give the SEQ proper representation in the East/City (Broncos), West (Jets), North (Dolphins) and South (Titans). Given that projections are showing more rapid growth in the outer regions than the city having a strategy that broadens the focus to the entire SEQ makes sense to me in terms of future planning.
From following expansion news for over ten years my personal belief is that the Dolphins are the most NRL ready now and most likely to be successful both on and off the field.
Cheers
'Horrible' state of grassroots league means only one club makes sense for NRL expansion
Cheers, I didn’t know that McLennan had promised that. I would still assume that Australian Super Clubs would prefer NZ to return to the NPC in the off season as it would be better for professional development.
I think that if a competition with NZ teams goes ahead, Australian teams should invest in foreign talent, however I don’t think that It has to be NZ talent. Australia should work with Argentina to bring top talent over as well as looking for talent in places like Georgia, Romania and Namibia, just as examples. There’s a world of talent out there with many people who would jump at the chance to play pro rugby in Australia, also these players would be more inclined to stay in Australia and improve the standard of club rugby. but that’s just one mans opinion, Cheers.
RA and NZR agree new Super Rugby format with one major sticking point over 'integrity'
If they need 3 more games let me have a go.
Option 1: After a normal fair round robin tournament with 4 finalists they could have a state of the union in Australia would have QLD, NSW and rest of Australia (ROA) each play twice for 4 games. An Island of Origin series in NZ and the Pacifc with teams from the North Island, South Island, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga each playing each other once for 4 games. This is the same amount of games with a greater emphasis on domestic competition.
Option 2: Asian champions league. After a round robin season send the 12 teams and the top 4 Japanese teams to a pre determined location to play a KO cup that will last for 4 weekends. All games picked at random except for Drua vs Moana Pacifika this will be round 1 each year. This would be like a club world cup.
Option 3: Asia Pacific 4 nations, after round robin season All Blacks, Wallabies, Japan and the Asia Pacific Dragons (based in Singapore and mostly made up of players from Drua and Moana Pacifika) each play one match against each other for 3 games. This would be a great way to capitalise on the popularity the world cup created in Japan, expand further into Asia and create an incentive for pacific players to remain.
Those three options have been rattling around in my mind for a bit.
RA and NZR agree new Super Rugby format with one major sticking point over 'integrity'
The good news seems to be that RA and NZRU aren’t really mad at each other they’ve clearly just been drinking to much.
RA and NZR agree new Super Rugby format with one major sticking point over 'integrity'
My understanding is that residency has to be continuous. So if a player returns for NPC then the time would reset. Essentially requiring NZ players to play NPC would block them from being Wallabies.
I could be wrong if any one knows more please share
RA and NZR agree new Super Rugby format with one major sticking point over 'integrity'
They’re still Auckland to me dammit
What's in a name like the Dolphins?