9 replies to this topic

[ParisSurtout]

The NRL has failed to compete with AFL in terms of national and international expansion.

The AFL is in every mainland Australian state.

The NRL has missed out on two mainland states, and has been slow to expand the game in New Zealand. Expansion in New Zealand is crucial for the international aspect of the game.

Here are the clubs I would add, two every three years starting 2014, in order:

1. Perth and South Queensland/Brisbane II

2. Wellington and Papua New Guinea

3. South Queensland/Brisbane II and Adelaide.

4. Central Queensland/Sunshine Coast and Christchurch


The South Queensland team should be based in Ipswich and cover the area from Toowoomba to the west Brisbane suburbs.
It has more chance of building a fan base than Central Queensland.

We need three teams in New Zealand eventually. Wellington is probably better prepared than Christchurch at the moment.

The list above would have a total of 10 NSW teams, 6 Queensland teams, 1 ACT, 1 Victoria, 1 South Australia, 1 West Australia, 3 New Zealand, 1 Papua New Guinea.
It would promote international rugby league in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea nicely.

Total 24 teams, divided into two conferences of 12. Each team plays each member of its own conference twice, and each member of the other conference once. That gives a total of 23 games (less than the present 24).


Central Coast cannot flourish as long as there are nine Sydney clubs and Newcastle. One Sydney club has to fold before you can set up a team in the NSW Central coast.

Edited by ParisSurtout, 02 February 2012 - 03:06 PM.

[Bourbon Rat]

The NRL currently has not got the requirements to implement any of your ideas
Not enough finance
Not enough player depth or quality
Not enough organisation

The AFL is pouring bucket loads of money into expansion into NSW & QLD,(it took them over 10 years to 'establish' the Sydney Swans & the Brisbane Bears.Both of which required the death of long term Victorian teams. S.A. & W.A. both had large thriving Aussie Rules cultures prior to being 'drafted' into the AFL,(formerly the VFL).Tasmania also has a HUGE Aussie rules culture,but the AFL is just now moving ahead with plans for them - Why ? The NRL took an interest

As for the AFL's 'international' footprint ????????????????????????????????

I don't think a bastardised form of the game played against Ireland counts.

I have no problem with the measures you put forward but the people running Rugby league in Australasia & those allegedly about to take control,(?) are incapable of actioning them.

[G Las D]

Some interesting ideas PS.
I can't see much of it happening if it is just a case of the current pot being shared out thinner..

From my British point of view the NRL as it is impresses me . As it stands it has a depth of talent and professional standards that I'd love to see here in the UK and Europe.
The game can't stay still and does need some new blood in it. The size and vision of your plans are commendable and well argued. All the same are they realistic?
In ten years time I'd be surprised if there were more than say two more successfully established clubs in the NRL.

Edited by G Las D, 03 February 2012 - 09:21 AM.

[ParisSurtout]

Some interesting ideas PS.
I can't see much of it happening if it is just a case of the current pot being shared out thinner..

From my British point of view the NRL as it is impresses me as it is. As it stands it has a depth of talent and professional standards that I'd love to see here in the UK and Europe.
The game can't stay still and does need some new blood in it. The size and vision of your plans are commendable and well argued. All the same are they realistic?
In ten years time I'd be surprised if there were more than say two more successfully established clubs in the NRL.

All of the scenario that I have sketched depends upon the pot getting bigger, which it should if new geographical areas and hence new TV audiences are being added.

Perth is a near certainty by 2015, as is another south Queenslnad/Brisbane team, because of the TV audiences.

A second New Zealand club should ensure a bigger TV contract to bring to the NRL. PNG unfortunately cannot bring with it a bigger TV contract, so the other NRL clubs would have to agree to subsidising it a little (its big corporate sponsors in PNG should carry most of the subsidy however). The other problem with PNG is going to be getting TV coverage from Channel 9/Foxtel, namely getting them to go with equipment to Port Moresby.

[The Future is League]

The next TV deal is vital for the NRL to expand. At the moment TV companies get Rugby League on the cheap and i think that will continue unless David Gallop grows a pair, which i can't see happening.

[thirteenthman]

What the game in Australia needs is for the new Independent Commission to actually start so they can get on with sorting out the new TV contract. Until the game knows what revenue it'll be getting in the years to come nothing else can be sorted.

[Bourbon Rat]

The Optus court ruling on quasi live streaming will have a major impact on the next TV deal.
Optus Web Copyright Victory Explained

[Lounge Room Lizard]

The commission will not change anything and the game will be as badly run as ever especially with Gallop being handed a nice long term deal. The guy is useless and with him runniung the day to day business the game will not grow much.

[The Future is League]

The NRL currently has not got the requirements to implement any of your ideas
Not enough finance
Not enough player depth or quality
Not enough organisation

The AFL is pouring bucket loads of money into expansion into NSW & QLD,(it took them over 10 years to 'establish' the Sydney Swans & the Brisbane Bears.Both of which required the death of long term Victorian teams. S.A. & W.A. both had large thriving Aussie Rules cultures prior to being 'drafted' into the AFL,(formerly the VFL).Tasmania also has a HUGE Aussie rules culture,but the AFL is just now moving ahead with plans for them - Why ? The NRL took an interest

As for the AFL's 'international' footprint ????????????????????????????????

I don't think a bastardised form of the game played against Ireland counts.

I have no problem with the measures you put forward but the people running Rugby league in Australasia & those allegedly about to take control,(?) are incapable of actioning them.

The NRL could do worse than put on trial games in Darwin and Adelaide next season. You only have to see the AFLs reaction to a trial game in Hobart.
Perhaps the NRL clubs need to play trial games in the PIs as well. I know the Prime minsters X111 play a game in PNG every year at the end of the season, perhaps sending them to play games against Samoa, Tonga, fiji, and the Cook Islands as well would cause the AFL to double the money they are putting into the PIs at the moment. The new club in western Sydney is costing the AFL a fortune and they need to make it work, so they will keep throwing money at it. If they have to spend more money in the PIs this must affect the amount of money they spend in Western Sydney.
As regards an International game the plain truth is that the AFL don't have one , never have and never will.

[R L Winger]

I believe the Central Coast, with a team playing out of Blue Tongue Stadium. Should be admitted to the NRL sooner than later and that team should be the Central Coast Bears wearing the red and black of North Sydney.