The Redcliffe Dolphins

[unapologetic pedant]

5 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

You don’t fancy the Western Bulldogs idea???

No, it makes me nervous.

7 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

Western Bulldogs... I will let @The Rocket or @unapologetic pedant respond to that one  

I refuse to sink to gratuitous invective, despite the incitement. I`ll just soberly and magnanimously observe that I hope Footscray fans despise this moniker and don`t use it. 

North Melbourne could be a genuine basket case. Their crowd and membership figures might compare favourably with Sydney NRL clubs, but against the backdrop of what they compete with in Victoria, they look in big trouble. Talk of them relocating to Tas. Suspect this would be just the licence, not the identity.

Then again, if they stay put, Pete V, Greek God of Gullibility, will see they don`t go hungry.

[unapologetic pedant]

I reckon the Dolphins have made the right call. 

People know they are based in Redcliffe. People also know they are the second Brisbane NRL team. No benefit in being more specific at this stage. Let all potential fans project on to them whatever identity they wish.

In the UK, I think we make the mistake of thinking that the creation of an NRL franchise out of an existing club is the same as gaining promotion from a lower division.

Should also remember that the Auckland/NZ Warriors are generally known as "The Warriors". Most of their branding is "Vodafone Warriors".

[Londonbornirishbred]

Just discovered that my Golf Club membership is reciprocated at Redcliffe GC which is less than a click from the Dolphins stadium. Suspect a LadS trip in the offing in 2023!

[The Rocket]

3 hours ago, Londonbornirishbred said:

which is less than a click from the Dolphins stadium.

Dolphin speak ?

[The Rocket]

Glad someone laughed @Sports Prophet.

[DlEHARD]

Why 75 years of history sets Dolphins apart from other expansion teams
https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/03/01/...pansion-teams/

If the NRL had promotion for clubs outside of the Telstra Premiership, the Dolphins would be the model.

The Dolphins have a proud 75-year history of on-field success, a strong financial base, proven pathways for developing talent, established fans and potential for growth in a key rugby league market.

It’s what sets the NRL’s latest expansion club apart from the Gold Coast Titans (2007), Melbourne Storm (1998), Adelaide Rams (1997), Hunter Mariners (1997), Auckland Warriors (1995), North Queensland Cowboys (1995), South Queensland Crushers (1995), Brisbane Broncos (1988), Gold Coast Chargers (1988) and Newcastle Knights (1988).

Not since Cronulla and Penrith were promoted in 1967 from the NSWRL second division competition has an established club joined the game’s top tier, and the Dolphins are the first team to do so from outside of Sydney.

Yet the Dolphins aren’t mired in their past and have proven to be forward thinking; announcing a succession plan for Kristian Woolf to take over from Wayne Bennett in 2025 before the master coach had even taken charge of his first pre-season training session last October.

Based in Redcliffe, the Dolphins will split home matches between Suncorp Stadium and Kayo Stadium but have no geographical location in their name - a move that will broaden the club’s appeal beyond the peninsula.

“We are the first ever grassroots side from the Brisbane Rugby League or Queensland Rugby League to ascend to the top-flight,” Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said ahead of Sunday’s historic NRL debut against Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

The NRL is made up of NSWRL clubs or manufactured expansion teams, but we been around for 75 years.

"We represent the BRL/QRL, and all of the clubs we share a history with - Norths, Souths, Wynnum-Manly, Valleys, Easts and Wests.

“We used to play top-flight football before 1988, when the Broncos came in, and took that away from us.

“Ever since that day the club has invested in infrastructure and community, facilities and people, to make sure that when the chance comes, we could play in the top-flight again and it has happened now.”

The failure to land Cameron Munster or Kalyn Ponga has left the Dolphins without a marquee signing in their first season to compare with Preston Campbell and Scott Prince (Titans), Glenn Lazarus and Brett Kimmorley (Storm), Greg Alexander and Phil Blake (Warriors) or Wally Lewis and Allan Langer (Broncos).

However, the Dolphins don’t have the same urgency to achieve on-field results quickly as most previous expansion teams due to their history, financial support and location in rugby league’s South-East Queensland heartland.

“Commercially, we are No.2 in the NRL, so we are the second most sponsored club in the NRL already for 2023,” Reader said.

“Before we have kicked a ball or anyone has seen us run out in a jersey, we have had sponsors want to invest in our club and get behind us in a significant way, which I think also shows the appetite Brisbane has for a second team.

“Another thing that confirms the excitement behind the club is that, even in merchandise, we were the third biggest selling team in the NRL for the first quarter of 2022.

“Membership-wise, we are already through 15,000 financial members, which is a good start for us. That has put us in a really strong position off the field, and from that great things grow.”

The kids are alright
Boom playmaker Isaiya Katoa, who played for Tonga at last year’s World Cup, will make his NRL debut in the Dolphins’ No.6 jersey on Sunday and many keen judges believe that while the club missed out on Munster and Ponga, they may have signed a future superstar.

The club has a number of other promising prospects in fellow former Panther, Mason Teague, ex-Steeler Jack Bostock and 2019 Queensland under 18s hooker Harrison Graham on their books who will learn from the likes of Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi.

“Wayne has always had that philosophy about the need to have the right pathways beneath and the best kids coming through,” Reader said. “That was a key focus for us.”

“The Dolphins were one of the first clubs in the QRL to put a fulltime development manager on, a long time ago, in Paul Bunn, and then Anthony Griffin took over in that role.

“That goes to show the development philosophy the club has always had, and it is no different now that we are in the NRL – in fact I think that is more important.”

At the opposite end of the experience scales, Bromwich - the Dolphins inaugural captain - will celebrate his 300th NRL appearance in coming weeks, while brother Kenny and Anthony Milford have played more than 200 matches.

Kaufusi, Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls, Jarrod Wallace and Euan Aitken are other experienced campaigners, while Tom Gilbert, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Brenko Lee have played State of Origin for Queensland.

England centre Herbie Farnworth and Maroons prop Thomas Flegler have already been signed for 2024.

“We only had 12-months to put our roster together and we could only sign players off contract so we are pretty happy with the guys we have bought in to start with,” Reader said.

"It's been an ethos of Wayne's that we need leaders. We have got players who have captained their country and premiership winners in our squad.

"We have got 15 players who have represented their country and seven players who have played Origin.

“We have had to sign a whole squad in one year, so we have got experienced veterans to kids and guys in the middle of their careers.

We think we have signed some of the best kids in the country.

“Who knows how they will go during the year. There are always players who jump out of the ground each season, so it is exciting.

"Let's not forget that our first signing was our marquee coach. We got Wayne."

The Woolf pack
Bennett’s first year of coaching in the top flight was 1987, when he worked alongside former Kangaroos coach, the late Don Furner, as part of a succession plan in Canberra for him to take over on his own the following year.

However, the Broncos approached Bennett to be their foundation coach in 1988 and while he headed home to Brisbane without making the transition at the Raiders it was a concept the 73-year-old always believed would work.

After being part of a succession plan at South Sydney, in which Jason Demetriou worked as his assistant for three seasons before taking charge last year, Bennett has agreed to a similar arrangement with Woolf at the Dolphins.

“That was really important and to be fair to Wayne, in one of the first conversations we had with him he talked about having a succession plan in place and getting that done straight away so the assistant we bring in is someone we want that can succeed him,” Reader said.

“That was a key part of our strategy to ensure our club had stability and credibility, so if you are a player coming here you know that we have a five-year plan in place.”

Woolf is arguably the best credentialed assistant coach in the NRL, having led the Tongan revolution that re-ignited the international game and steered St Helens to three consecutive Super League premierships.

“A few clubs were after Woolfy to be a head coach in 2023, but he decided that being under Wayne for a couple of years and learning from Wayne before he takes over was something he wanted to do,” Reader said.

“He didn’t do that lightly, he looked at our pathways and what we are doing underneath.

"Right from the word go the club has invested millions in academies and pathways for development from Rockhampton down to Brisbane because the top doesn’t work without the bottom beings set up."

What's in a name
The Dolphins have formed a partnership with the Central Queensland Capras, who will act as a feeder team in the QRL 's Hostplus Cup, along with Redcliffe.

The deal has enabled the Dolphins to spread their catchment area from the Redcliffe Peninsula, which includes Brisbane’s northern suburbs and Moreton Bay, to the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

It’s among the reasons the Dolphins agreed to forego having Redcliffe in the name of their NRL team.

“We weren’t allowed to be called Redcliffe or we wouldn’t be allowed to play in the Queensland Cup,” Reader said. “[NRL clubs] must have multiple affiliates in the QRL competition, so we have got Redcliffe and the Capras.

“The NRL also had some conditions about what they wanted, and the reality is that when you look at our logo – the iconic Dolphin from the 1970s and 1980s, that has been modernised – it is like the Souths logo.

“It has no words on it but when you see the Bunny you know what it means. That is the goal with the Dolphin.

When people see that Dolphin they know what it means.

The move has broadened the appeal of the Dolphins and Readers estimates the new club will have fans from across Brisbane and South-East Queensland in attendance for Sunday’s historic clash with the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

“It is Dolphin-mania in Brisbane at the moment, which is exciting, but there is already a supporter base here and more people migrate to Queensland than any other state, especially to South-East Queensland,” he said.

“They might have grown up being second generation Parramatta fans or Canterbury fans but living in Brisbane they can’t bring themselves to support the Broncos.

"Or they have got a Brisbane-born wife and kids, so now they have a Brisbane side they can support.

“We are finding a lot of that and we hope to get as many people as possible to Suncorp Stadium when we take on the Roosters. It is one of those games you mark in the history books if you are there.”

[Davo5]

Off field everything looks in place for them to be a successful NRL club although they are probably in for a tough first couple of seasons on the pitch,looking forward to seeing them in the first Brisbane derby at Suncorp in a few weeks.

[Omott91]

Guesses for average crowd? 20k

[Eddie]

7 minutes ago, Omott91 said:

Guesses for average crowd? 20k

There certainly seems to be a buzz about their launch but the Kayo Stadium only holds 11,500 so no. They could average that in their games at Suncorp though.

[bobbruce]

21 minutes ago, Eddie said:

There certainly seems to be a buzz about their launch but the Kayo Stadium only holds 11,500 so no. They could average that in their games at Suncorp though.

They are only playing 3 games at the Kayo stadium and 8 at suncorp so 20k average still a possibility. My guess would be just under and 18/19k average. 

[The Rocket]

4 hours ago, DlEHARD said:

Why 75 years of history sets Dolphins apart from other expansion teams
https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/03/01/...pansion-teams/

If the NRL had promotion for clubs outside of the Telstra Premiership, the Dolphins would be the model.

The Dolphins have a proud 75-year history of on-field success, a strong financial base, proven pathways for developing talent, established fans and potential for growth in a key rugby league market.

It’s what sets the NRL’s latest expansion club apart from the Gold Coast Titans (2007), Melbourne Storm (1998), Adelaide Rams (1997), Hunter Mariners (1997), Auckland Warriors (1995), North Queensland Cowboys (1995), South Queensland Crushers (1995), Brisbane Broncos (1988), Gold Coast Chargers (1988) and Newcastle Knights (1988).

Not since Cronulla and Penrith were promoted in 1967 from the NSWRL second division competition has an established club joined the game’s top tier, and the Dolphins are the first team to do so from outside of Sydney.

Yet the Dolphins aren’t mired in their past and have proven to be forward thinking; announcing a succession plan for Kristian Woolf to take over from Wayne Bennett in 2025 before the master coach had even taken charge of his first pre-season training session last October.

Based in Redcliffe, the Dolphins will split home matches between Suncorp Stadium and Kayo Stadium but have no geographical location in their name - a move that will broaden the club’s appeal beyond the peninsula.

“We are the first ever grassroots side from the Brisbane Rugby League or Queensland Rugby League to ascend to the top-flight,” Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said ahead of Sunday’s historic NRL debut against Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

The NRL is made up of NSWRL clubs or manufactured expansion teams, but we been around for 75 years.

"We represent the BRL/QRL, and all of the clubs we share a history with - Norths, Souths, Wynnum-Manly, Valleys, Easts and Wests.

“We used to play top-flight football before 1988, when the Broncos came in, and took that away from us.

“Ever since that day the club has invested in infrastructure and community, facilities and people, to make sure that when the chance comes, we could play in the top-flight again and it has happened now.”

The failure to land Cameron Munster or Kalyn Ponga has left the Dolphins without a marquee signing in their first season to compare with Preston Campbell and Scott Prince (Titans), Glenn Lazarus and Brett Kimmorley (Storm), Greg Alexander and Phil Blake (Warriors) or Wally Lewis and Allan Langer (Broncos).

However, the Dolphins don’t have the same urgency to achieve on-field results quickly as most previous expansion teams due to their history, financial support and location in rugby league’s South-East Queensland heartland.

“Commercially, we are No.2 in the NRL, so we are the second most sponsored club in the NRL already for 2023,” Reader said.

“Before we have kicked a ball or anyone has seen us run out in a jersey, we have had sponsors want to invest in our club and get behind us in a significant way, which I think also shows the appetite Brisbane has for a second team.

“Another thing that confirms the excitement behind the club is that, even in merchandise, we were the third biggest selling team in the NRL for the first quarter of 2022.

“Membership-wise, we are already through 15,000 financial members, which is a good start for us. That has put us in a really strong position off the field, and from that great things grow.”

The kids are alright
Boom playmaker Isaiya Katoa, who played for Tonga at last year’s World Cup, will make his NRL debut in the Dolphins’ No.6 jersey on Sunday and many keen judges believe that while the club missed out on Munster and Ponga, they may have signed a future superstar.

The club has a number of other promising prospects in fellow former Panther, Mason Teague, ex-Steeler Jack Bostock and 2019 Queensland under 18s hooker Harrison Graham on their books who will learn from the likes of Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi.

“Wayne has always had that philosophy about the need to have the right pathways beneath and the best kids coming through,” Reader said. “That was a key focus for us.”

“The Dolphins were one of the first clubs in the QRL to put a fulltime development manager on, a long time ago, in Paul Bunn, and then Anthony Griffin took over in that role.

“That goes to show the development philosophy the club has always had, and it is no different now that we are in the NRL – in fact I think that is more important.”

At the opposite end of the experience scales, Bromwich - the Dolphins inaugural captain - will celebrate his 300th NRL appearance in coming weeks, while brother Kenny and Anthony Milford have played more than 200 matches.

Kaufusi, Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls, Jarrod Wallace and Euan Aitken are other experienced campaigners, while Tom Gilbert, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Brenko Lee have played State of Origin for Queensland.

England centre Herbie Farnworth and Maroons prop Thomas Flegler have already been signed for 2024.

“We only had 12-months to put our roster together and we could only sign players off contract so we are pretty happy with the guys we have bought in to start with,” Reader said.

"It's been an ethos of Wayne's that we need leaders. We have got players who have captained their country and premiership winners in our squad.

"We have got 15 players who have represented their country and seven players who have played Origin.

“We have had to sign a whole squad in one year, so we have got experienced veterans to kids and guys in the middle of their careers.

We think we have signed some of the best kids in the country.

“Who knows how they will go during the year. There are always players who jump out of the ground each season, so it is exciting.

"Let's not forget that our first signing was our marquee coach. We got Wayne."

The Woolf pack
Bennett’s first year of coaching in the top flight was 1987, when he worked alongside former Kangaroos coach, the late Don Furner, as part of a succession plan in Canberra for him to take over on his own the following year.

However, the Broncos approached Bennett to be their foundation coach in 1988 and while he headed home to Brisbane without making the transition at the Raiders it was a concept the 73-year-old always believed would work.

After being part of a succession plan at South Sydney, in which Jason Demetriou worked as his assistant for three seasons before taking charge last year, Bennett has agreed to a similar arrangement with Woolf at the Dolphins.

“That was really important and to be fair to Wayne, in one of the first conversations we had with him he talked about having a succession plan in place and getting that done straight away so the assistant we bring in is someone we want that can succeed him,” Reader said.

“That was a key part of our strategy to ensure our club had stability and credibility, so if you are a player coming here you know that we have a five-year plan in place.”

Woolf is arguably the best credentialed assistant coach in the NRL, having led the Tongan revolution that re-ignited the international game and steered St Helens to three consecutive Super League premierships.

“A few clubs were after Woolfy to be a head coach in 2023, but he decided that being under Wayne for a couple of years and learning from Wayne before he takes over was something he wanted to do,” Reader said.

“He didn’t do that lightly, he looked at our pathways and what we are doing underneath.

"Right from the word go the club has invested millions in academies and pathways for development from Rockhampton down to Brisbane because the top doesn’t work without the bottom beings set up."

What's in a name
The Dolphins have formed a partnership with the Central Queensland Capras, who will act as a feeder team in the QRL 's Hostplus Cup, along with Redcliffe.

The deal has enabled the Dolphins to spread their catchment area from the Redcliffe Peninsula, which includes Brisbane’s northern suburbs and Moreton Bay, to the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

It’s among the reasons the Dolphins agreed to forego having Redcliffe in the name of their NRL team.

“We weren’t allowed to be called Redcliffe or we wouldn’t be allowed to play in the Queensland Cup,” Reader said. “[NRL clubs] must have multiple affiliates in the QRL competition, so we have got Redcliffe and the Capras.

“The NRL also had some conditions about what they wanted, and the reality is that when you look at our logo – the iconic Dolphin from the 1970s and 1980s, that has been modernised – it is like the Souths logo.

“It has no words on it but when you see the Bunny you know what it means. That is the goal with the Dolphin.

When people see that Dolphin they know what it means.

The move has broadened the appeal of the Dolphins and Readers estimates the new club will have fans from across Brisbane and South-East Queensland in attendance for Sunday’s historic clash with the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

“It is Dolphin-mania in Brisbane at the moment, which is exciting, but there is already a supporter base here and more people migrate to Queensland than any other state, especially to South-East Queensland,” he said.

“They might have grown up being second generation Parramatta fans or Canterbury fans but living in Brisbane they can’t bring themselves to support the Broncos.

"Or they have got a Brisbane-born wife and kids, so now they have a Brisbane side they can support.

“We are finding a lot of that and we hope to get as many people as possible to Suncorp Stadium when we take on the Roosters. It is one of those games you mark in the history books if you are there.”

I want to put it on the record that I think Peter V`landy`s (and the ARLC by extension) has been good for Rugby League in this country but there are a lot of people who don`t feel the same way.

One gripe from some very good posters on Aussie League forums that continually comes up is the choice of the Dolphins as the 17th team and as the second `Brisbane` team in particular. Many of these people argue that Brisbane Easts, the Firehawks bid, would have provided an equally wealthy franchise and what`s more a genuine Brisbane rivalry. They liken the Dolphins being the Brisbane equivalent of Manly-Warringah, i.e. not really based in the city itself (about 30-40 minutes from Suncorp) and therefore much less likely to be able to maximise the potential use of that stadium like a second Brisbane side should.

These same posters often argue that V`landy`s is beholden to News Corp, the owners of Foxtel, and the Dolphins were chosen as to not threaten the Broncos stranglehold on Rugby League in that city. Remembering of course that News Corp. still owns a chunk of the Broncos.

I`m no expert on the geography of Brisbane but some of their arguments do seem rather convincing, especially the geographical location aspect.

I dread to think that V`landy`s would have put his friendship with the Murdoch`s before the best interests of the game, so I`m really torn on this one. So I`d love to hear a compelling argument for why the Dolphins were chosen over the FireHawks.

[Hull Kingston Bronco]

1 hour ago, The Rocket said:

I want to put it on the record that I think Peter V`landy`s (and the ARLC by extension) has been good for Rugby League in this country but there are a lot of people who don`t feel the same way.

One gripe from some very good posters on Aussie League forums that continually comes up is the choice of the Dolphins as the 17th team and as the second `Brisbane` team in particular. Many of these people argue that Brisbane Easts, the Firehawks bid, would have provided an equally wealthy franchise and what`s more a genuine Brisbane rivalry. They liken the Dolphins being the Brisbane equivalent of Manly-Warringah, i.e. not really based in the city itself (about 30-40 minutes from Suncorp) and therefore much less likely to be able to maximise the potential use of that stadium like a second Brisbane side should.

These same posters often argue that V`landy`s is beholden to News Corp, the owners of Foxtel, and the Dolphins were chosen as to not threaten the Broncos stranglehold on Rugby League in that city. Remembering of course that News Corp. still owns a chunk of the Broncos.

I`m no expert on the geography of Brisbane but some of their arguments do seem rather convincing, especially the geographical location aspect.

I dread to think that V`landy`s would have put his friendship with the Murdoch`s before the best interests of the game, so I`m really torn on this one. So I`d love to hear a compelling argument for why the Dolphins were chosen over the FireHawks.

There's no question Easts Tigers would make a good NRL club, they have the financial base and pathways just like the Dolphins. I think it was a coin toss between them and Redcliffe to be honest, and they might get into a future 20 team league if NRL's growth continues (after Perth and New Zealand club 2). 

I don't buy the Murdoch story, that's smells more like just a bit of bitterness. Think it was more that Tigers were seen as another metro team, not bringing enough "new" reach on top of the Broncos, so less of a priority. Whereas Redcliffe came to the table with a regional pitch selling the catchment of Redcliffe, further up the Sunshine Coast, and extending on north. Hence the tie-in with the Capras in Rockhampton.

Having their own ground big enough to hold a few games also makes them more interesting than just running a 2nd team in Suncorp on alternate weeks, enabling better differentiation from Broncos from day one. Easts would have looked more like squatters in Broncos house, "annoying little brother" is a less compelling sales pitch I think. 

 

 

 

[The Rocket]

4 minutes ago, Hull Kingston Bronco said:

There's no question Easts Tigers would make a good NRL club, they have the financial base and pathways just like the Dolphins. I think it was a coin toss between them and Redcliffe to be honest, and they might get into a future 20 team league if NRL's growth continues (after Perth and New Zealand club 2). 

I don't buy the Murdoch story, that's smells more like just a bit of bitterness. Think it was more that Tigers were seen as another metro team, not bringing enough "new" reach on top of the Broncos, so less of a priority. Whereas Redcliffe came to the table with a regional pitch selling the catchment of Redcliffe, further up the Sunshine Coast, and extending on north. Hence the tie-in with the Capras in Rockhampton.

Having their own ground big enough to hold a few games also makes them more interesting than just running a 2nd team in Suncorp on alternate weeks, enabling better differentiation from Broncos from day one. Easts would have looked more like squatters in Broncos house, "annoying little brother" is a less compelling sales pitch I think. 

 

 

 

Couple of things: as part of the Super League war settlement there was a guarantee given to News Corp that there would be no second Brisbane team for 20 years. The other, not even V`landy`s denies that prior to the 17th team he and Abdo specifically made the trip to the U.S. to get Lachlan Murdoch`s approval about another `Brisbane` team. Both these do tend to make wonder how much say the Murdoch`s had in this decision.

Another thing that was often mentioned prior to the announcement of the new entrant was that the whole purpose of this exercise was to have Suncorp used on a weekly basis. Not an extra few games a year and the rest played in a ground that holds about 12 000 that couldn`t possibly hold any new fans from Brisbane itself if they wanted to travel out to Redcliffe to see the Dolphins. For me that seems a little self-defeating as well.

As far as Easts being a second rate Broncos, I think if they assembled a squad to rival the Broncos, it could easily be seen as the Broncos as being the squatters. Wouldn`t that make for a rivalry. Not to mention how they (Firehawks) might fill Suncorp every other week. The fact that a Rugby League dominated city like Brisbane has only two teams is ludicrous to start with, but then having one of those supposedly behemoths still playing most of their games 40 kilometres away in a 12 000 seat ground, doesn`t exactly add up to me.

Look don`t get me wrong, I`m not into conspiracy theories and I`m backing the Dolphins all the way, and if they start winning regularly, they may shift all their games to Suncorp and this whole debate will be irrelevant. Maybe that`s what their thinking as well.

[DI Keith Fowler]

32 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

Couple of things: as part of the Super League war settlement there was a guarantee given to News Corp that there would be no second Brisbane team for 20 years. The other, not even V`landy`s denies that prior to the 17th team he and Abdo specifically made the trip to the U.S. to get Lachlan Murdoch`s approval about another `Brisbane` team. Both these do tend to make wonder how much say the Murdoch`s had in this decision.

I always love to be reminded that the Murdoch's empire is concerned with two things, first influence and power over the global elite, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Emperors...

and also Rugby League in the wider Brisbane area. 

[The Rocket]

9 minutes ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

I always love to be reminded that the Murdoch's empire is concerned with two things, first influence and power over the global elite, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Emperors...

and also Rugby League in the wider Brisbane area. 

That`s very funny, but doesn`t alter the fact that both of those things are fact.

Another thing, have you ever met any ultra-rich people, they`re different, that`s how they get to be ultra-rich.

I met Gerry Harvey a couple of years ago, Gerry Harvey from Harvey Norman, sponsors a lot of League, worth a couple of billion. In a 10 minute conversation he must have told me three times how rich he was. I`m thinking yeah mate I know you`re rich, it was weird, but that`s rich people, as I said, they`re different.

[DI Keith Fowler]

11 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

That`s very funny, but doesn`t alter the fact that both of those things are fact.

Another thing, have you ever met any ultra-rich people, they`re different, that`s how they get to be ultra-rich.

I met Gerry Harvey a couple of years ago, Gerry Harvey from Harvey Norman, sponsors a lot of League, worth a couple of billion. In a 10 minute conversation he must have told me three times how rich he was. I`m thinking yeah mate I know you`re rich, it was weird, but that`s rich people, as I said, they`re different.

I'm not saying it isn't true, I just think it's incredibly funny that it's actually on their list of priorities. 

[rlno1]

1 hour ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

I always love to be reminded that the Murdoch's empire is concerned with two things, first influence and power over the global elite, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Emperors...

and also Rugby League in the wider Brisbane area. 

Rugby League drives their pay TV network without it well it would be virtually dead.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, The Rocket said:

I met Gerry Harvey a couple of years ago, Gerry Harvey from Harvey Norman, sponsors a lot of League, worth a couple of billion. In a 10 minute conversation he must have told me three times how rich he was. I`m thinking yeah mate I know you`re rich, it was weird, but that`s rich people, as I said, they`re different.

That's just gauche Australianism.

A proper gentleman never knows how much is in his bank account.

[Hull Kingston Bronco]

3 hours ago, The Rocket said:

Couple of things: as part of the Super League war settlement there was a guarantee given to News Corp that there would be no second Brisbane team for 20 years. The other, not even V`landy`s denies that prior to the 17th team he and Abdo specifically made the trip to the U.S. to get Lachlan Murdoch`s approval about another `Brisbane` team. Both these do tend to make wonder how much say the Murdoch`s had in this decision.

Another thing that was often mentioned prior to the announcement of the new entrant was that the whole purpose of this exercise was to have Suncorp used on a weekly basis. Not an extra few games a year and the rest played in a ground that holds about 12 000 that couldn`t possibly hold any new fans from Brisbane itself if they wanted to travel out to Redcliffe to see the Dolphins. For me that seems a little self-defeating as well.

As far as Easts being a second rate Broncos, I think if they assembled a squad to rival the Broncos, it could easily be seen as the Broncos as being the squatters. Wouldn`t that make for a rivalry. Not to mention how they (Firehawks) might fill Suncorp every other week. The fact that a Rugby League dominated city like Brisbane has only two teams is ludicrous to start with, but then having one of those supposedly behemoths still playing most of their games 40 kilometres away in a 12 000 seat ground, doesn`t exactly add up to me.

Look don`t get me wrong, I`m not into conspiracy theories and I`m backing the Dolphins all the way, and if they start winning regularly, they may shift all their games to Suncorp and this whole debate will be irrelevant. Maybe that`s what their thinking as well.

You won’t find me disagreeing with Brisbane having a 3rd team, it clearly should. Redcliffe’s commercial deals have proven that already, and I’m sure their attendances and TV audience will do likewise. 

If there was a 20 year deal, which to be honest given News’ Broncos investment isn’t an unreasonable ask to make (not saying the ARL should have agreed to it), then again that meeting with Lachlan makes sense - whether the team was Dolphins or Firehawks? Both involve a 2nd team in Brisbane. I think News probably understands the value of a local rivalry to the Broncos really, and for it to be meaningful the 2nd team needs to be a genuine challenger to them rather than a constrained competitor. Don’t see their real interest in holding it back. 

I also like the fact that Dolphins are playing some games at their own ground, it adds to the diversity of the comp. It’s TV deal that makes the money, having games at different venues even if limited capacity makes the comp more interesting at little real loss of meaningful revenue. We see the benefits of that with the Country on-the-road matches too eh. 

[The Rocket]

16 hours ago, gingerjon said:

That's just gauche Australianism.

A proper gentleman never knows how much is in his bank account.

Yes I`ve heard about English `gentlemen`, that amount would usually be nothing. But were not here to argue about trifles like money.

[Sports Prophet]

22 hours ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

I always love to be reminded that the Murdoch's empire is concerned with two things, first influence and power over the global elite, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Emperors...

and also Rugby League in the wider Brisbane area. 

Gold. Wins the Internet for 2023. Bravo

[Sports Prophet]

21 hours ago, The Rocket said:

That`s very funny, but doesn`t alter the fact that both of those things are fact.

Another thing, have you ever met any ultra-rich people, they`re different, that`s how they get to be ultra-rich.

I met Gerry Harvey a couple of years ago, Gerry Harvey from Harvey Norman, sponsors a lot of League, worth a couple of billion. In a 10 minute conversation he must have told me three times how rich he was. I`m thinking yeah mate I know you`re rich, it was weird, but that`s rich people, as I said, they`re different.

This forum must be full of some rich mofos! Especially self confessed “Man of the Mountains”, @The Future is League haha

[Sports Prophet]

Im not getting on board with 3 Brisbane teams. Too many other important places to launch first. What ever did happen to SL’s vision for Asia?

[DlEHARD]

Logan and Ipswich would be an option in the future, using a Dolphin strategy but taking in the Southern suburbs of Brisbane too.

But Perth and 2nd NZ have stronger cases.

[Hull Kingston Bronco]

4 hours ago, DlEHARD said:

Logan and Ipswich would be an option in the future, using a Dolphin strategy but taking in the Southern suburbs of Brisbane too.

But Perth and 2nd NZ have stronger cases.

Yes, for me that's the order: Perth, NZ 2, Brisbane 3. 

I know lots of people make the argument that outside Auckland is a League wasteland, and we shouldn't dilute the Warriors, but think the TV data is probably there to justify the case for interest and sometimes the player pathways cart will better follow the elite team horse. We probably need that 2nd NZ team to help incubate and grow the NZ and Islander player pool in the long term.