Clipper

In other expansion articles, I noticed you state that WA can’t handle two ‘rugby’ teams. So in other words, WA is not an ‘all code city’ that you continually state about NSW. I’m confident WA can hold both rugby and league in the future if not it said alot about the sporting landscape down there.

Considering how more open QLD/NSW is to other codes, to see it be the completle opposite elsewhere is a interesting dichotomy as AFL has dominance over in WA/SA.

Mike

It’s truly a pittance the non-heartland investment is pathetic compared to the AFL. It’s amazing that despite that stagnation the NRL is at, the NRL still survives one way or another. To think how far it can go with an actual progressive vision and plan for once.

Maroon

It seems WA had a greater development in juniors than Victoria despite the Storm’s existence. That what I mean is failing to grow grass-roots all those years, the Storm by now should have some sembelence of junior system in Victoria.

This is a indictment on the NRL’s heartland thinking, comple neglect of growing a player base by growing in non-heartlands. It would solve the issue of player depth, by growing the overall talent pool but the NRL is so short-sighted and insular.

PGNEWC

The N in NRL stands for National not NSWRL which seems to be the mindset to those in the heartland still. What does hatred for Sydney have to do with a national footprint, it’s irrelevant. I’m all for 2nd Brisbane team and in hindsight should of being introduced as the same time as the Broncos so there be competing against each other from day one.

By the time, the Crushers enter the Broncos already won 2 premierships and were well established in Brisbane. To think the Broncos didn’t want to support or back the Crushers existence at all, instead just let it wither away. As a result, the other codes got a equal share in Brisbane with each code having one team (Roar, Reds, Lions). Something the Broncos prefer instead of keeping 2 Brisbane teams to maintain a league presence in Brisbane.

It’s the equilevent of the likes of Port Adelaide or Fremantle gone instantly and just keeping it a monopoly for one team only as it only benefits themselves but not the code overall. Something that has always hinder the code, self-interest and insularity over the long-term vision and greater good for the code.

Something the other codes see the bigger picture see the AFL, ARU but not the NRL.

MF

The previous TV deal there was no plan for expansion despite it being a possibility for the taking by introducing 2 new teams but as always the NRL admin did not do the legwork to build up the momentum for any potential expansion, and instead just let it slide and accept the TV deal with the current teams.

If Greenberg and co wants to leave a positive legacy in there time of administration, it’s time come next TV deal to show some forward thinking for once and do a 6 year plan in the lead-up to expansion potentially. As far as I’m concerned, just going with the status quo is no legacy at all but just business as usual.

Maroon

It’s unacceptable for a administration to not have thought of any long-term vision and planning by now, Greenberg & co had the entire season to come up with a long-term vision and plan. To show, at end of year they have nothing and status quo once again.

What’s the point of being apart of an administration that stand still and does nothing at all in even attempting to grow the code at all. It’s a complete failure it all previous NRL administration post super league, history keeps on repeating itself on just sticking to the heartlands and doing it easy.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/32894516/league-boss-says-no-nrl-club-in-perth-for-six-years/#page1

No expansion til 2022 this is getting absurd on how long potential expansion areas have to wait for potential NRL teams. By 2022, GWS/Gold Coast Suns would be well established by then. Surely within the next 6 years, the NRL has a concrete long-term vision in building the game in non-heartland areas.

It’s frustrating all these delays is because administration past fail to put the effort in growing the grass-roots and promoting the game in non-heartland areas something that should always been a priority from the moment they first expanded to a non-heartland area back in the 90’s.

James

It is indeed frustrating to see inefficiency in growing the game from NRL administration of past and present there always a excuse to not expand by focusing on the heartland. The very same heartland clubs who had decades to get there house in order and to constantly wait for them to be financially stable is why the game is just not moving at all while the other codes are willing to take a chance and expand.

Post super-league it seems rugby league is scared to do anything at all, just willing to stand still and do nothing instead which is the worst option as other codes are on the front foot.

Roar

Can the Rugby League comments section be updated? I notice the ‘Hasler to face the music at Canterbury’ comments still up there but none of the recent article comments. Thanks.

CC

Good points, the salary cap drama could of potentially ended the Storm for them to rebound from it is impressive. At the same, at grass-roots level and promotion of the game down there was neglected by the NRL for majority of it’s existence. One common trend I notice with the non-heartland expansion teams it was pretty much sink or swim straight away at a time it which they needed financially assistance to get things running.

Compared to AFL who made a set investment on the expansion teams and had a clear long-term plan and vision on what they see in QLD/NSW.

The NRL just wanted short-term instant success and the moment that didn’t happen they bailed, to think if the Storm had the same results as the Reds/Rams in there intial years I wouldn’t of being surprised if they got cut and given up on for been ‘too hard’.

Clipper

How many of those 15k are actually in West Sydney as the membership base of GWS does extend to Canberra also and seen how the GWS home finals game got dominated by Western Bulldog supporters suggest to me that GWS membership is split between West Sydney and Canberra.

KenW

It’s easier to expand in QLD/NSW as it’s a more open sporting landscape compare to VIC/WA/SA which is heavily AFL dominated to the point it which it’s AFL then daylight to the other codes. Up here in QLD, the other codes get a fair share of good coverage and reasonable time-slots compared to what the Storm got in the majority of there existence.

MF

The AFL though grinds it out continually putting millions annually into NSW/QLD where the NRL puts expanison in the ‘too hard’ basket. If the AFL had the NRL mindset of expansion, the likes of the Lions/Swans would of been cut at there lowest ebbs instead the AFL kick into overdrive by supporting them for the good of the national footprint of there code. The NRL was too busy keeping the heartland clubs happy and ignore the advantages of a national footprint as the AFL is now benefitting with two teams in QLD/NSW now after those hard years.

Jumping the shark relates in regards to the media coverage focus on an individual player, typically it involves interviews and articles. But to introduce a camera to focus on that one person during the game is over the top, I’m fine with pre/post match press attention to the star players but to have a camera dedicating to one is jumping the shark in rugby league coverage.

Eaglejack

The AFL jump head first with the GWS Giants despite not having a strong base they aleast took a chance and see the benefits of a truly national competition in the long run.

As for the clubs bleeding money, majority of the current clubs are making losses yet are given support yet when it come to the expansion clubs they were left to wither like the Reds.

Perth haven’t had a team since 97 of the course the ratings won’t be there. What were the ratings like in Melbourne before the Storm entered the competition? Something is better than nothing and having a presence can allow growth in WA.

MF

The AFL expansion teams are always secure throughout the years.In the 90’s Lions/Swans went through financial hardship the AFL back them while in the same time-frame the NRL abandoned the Western Reds/South QLD Crushers/Adelaide Rams in the exact same time of hardship. At the moment, GWS/Suns are getting the financial backing they need in the formative years until they can be sustainable while the NRL fail to give the light of day to non-heartland teams of the past.

The AFL always thought of the bigger picture and looking after there own, while the NRL has a pattern of self-consuming itself and focusing on the heartland always.

While, the expansion and non-heartland teams get left out in the cold by the NRL to fend to themselves while the admin gladly bails out the heartland clubs year after year.

*has not despite being the professional code from 1895 yet is the most unprofessional code with constant incompetence and narrow thinking.

A CEO with Smith’s business acumen is the only way forward, the difference is the new CEO should have better communication with stakeholders and even the media. Despite the media clear negative agenda towards rugby league administration as seen throughout Smith’s tenture as CEO. The constant nitpicking and hounding by the media must of been emotionally and mentally draining on Smith.

Passion and excitement for the code doesn’t equal business competence, the most important aspect for professional sports is business acumen and professionalism something rugby league has despite being the professional code from 1895.

TWS

Excellent points about AFL being patience something the NRL fail to do to majority of the expansion teams from 90’s onwards.

Also, the Lions average 18k this season and Suns 12k. GWS averaged 10k not 18k. Small corrections Train.

http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/brisbanel.html
http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/goldcoast.html
http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/gws.html

Pat by that mindset, the AFL should just fold the Lions/Suns up now there in a bad patch. This mentality Pat it why league constantly doesn’t expand due to lack of confidence in the product. Other codes have no problem expanding the fact there is 2 AFL teams in Sydney and only 1 rugby league team in Brisbane sums up the situation.

One day, the NRL will break out FROM this narrow-mindess for once and join the other codes in developing a national footprint.

Phil Gould on twitter was asked if he was able to relocate a team his answer was the Melbourne Storm. If that isn’t insular, narrow-minded thinking of a rugby league person that I don’t know what is. Yet, there are people out there who want rugby league people who narrow vision is to keep in to a QLD/NSW game and keep it in-house and never expand ever while the other codes have courage and vision to do so.

Matthew

Sharks since destined to be the underdog club of underdog clubs in the NRL, the Cowboys tend to be ‘everyone’ second team but there was always a glimmer of hope they would break through. But those who support the Sharks are supporting the true battler, under-dogs who might have there GF day one day surely.

Jarijari

An expansion team coming in and swooping on a premiership is a possibility I didn’t consider. The new expansion teams if they ever happen could pull a Storm and win in record time. To think the Storm have 2 legal premierships since 98 and Sharks since on 0 since 1967. Sports can be unforgiving to some supporters, decade after decade, heartbreak after heartbreak I don’t know how they do it Shark fans.