NRL expansion (Merged Threads)

[John bird]

5 hours ago, Balmainboy said:

Appreciate all of this but the NRL, unlike the Super League for instance, is completely able to underwrite a single club that can't fund itself (they currently give every club the salary cap + AUD2mil already) even if the government walks away after ten years. 

And again, I think even the most ardent critiques would recognise there is 0% chance the club wont be supported, unlike many failed ventures in England/UK. 

 

Isn’t the slated $600 million over a 10 year period?

[John bird]

4 hours ago, JonNgog said:

It won’t be supported if they charge similar ticket prices to the rest of the league. They will have to make it very cheap. Every match will lose money especially given the amount of security that will be required.

Overall the challenges are way too large at this stage, even for the NRL. Perth and NZ have successfully hosted one off games, strategically make sense and everything is already in place. 

Take a look at the hunters home games and the thousands upon thousands of empty seats which makes you think that the average Papuan can’t afford the ticket prices.

[Balmainboy]

8 hours ago, John bird said:

Isn’t the slated $600 million over a 10 year period?

Yes. Doesn’t sky give about 35m pound a year? Or approx 60mAUD. 

[Damien]

9 hours ago, John bird said:

Take a look at the hunters home games and the thousands upon thousands of empty seats which makes you think that the average Papuan can’t afford the ticket prices.

A competition in which all the other clubs get a few hundred ranging to a couple of thousand should hardly be the barometer. If it was we'd have never had the Dolphins.

[rlno1]

10 hours ago, John bird said:

Isn’t the slated $600 million over a 10 year period?

Very true. I;ve heard people also say that setting up a club in Melbourne was similar to setting up a club in London. Difference is Melbourne Storm were backed by News Corp who spent about $80 million supporting them.

[Sports Prophet]

Truth be told, it would probably take the combined wealth of 30 fans to financially support their club in the same way an average Australian supporter can afford to.

The fan revenue opportunities for a PNG team in the NRL is considerably low compared to Aus and NZ clubs. I don’t see how a PNG team can be sustainable without being underwritten by the government, or failing that, the NRL. Further to that, I don’t trust the governments to perpetually underwrite a PNG club and I don’t think the NRL can afford to underwrite one.

[rlno1]

21 hours ago, John bird said:

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about politics it’s to never trust politicians and their policy promises.

As for just going elsewhere when the handouts dry up that would be a huge waste of an NRL franchise and time&momentum that may not be gotten back.

Exactly what happens if they lose the next election also what do voters in non RL states think of their taxes going to setting up a RL team.

Edited May 19 by rlno1

[John bird]

4 hours ago, Balmainboy said:

Yes. Doesn’t sky give about 35m pound a year? Or approx 60mAUD. 

So who’s going to cover $60 million a year when it runs out?

[John bird]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

A competition in which all the other clubs get a few hundred ranging to a couple of thousand should hardly be the barometer. If it was we'd have never had the Dolphins.

I thought PNG was RL mad?

[John bird]

3 hours ago, rlno1 said:

Exactly what happens if they lose the next election also what do voters in non RL states think of their taxes going to setting up a RL team.

What happens if PNG decide to take Chinese investment?

[John bird]

3 hours ago, rlno1 said:

Very true. I;ve heard people also say that setting up a club in Melbourne was similar to setting up a club in London. Difference is Melbourne Storm were backed by News Corp who spent about $80 million supporting them.

Plus the storm also had the advantage of picking up players from the defunct Perth reds and hunter mariners clubs.

[John bird]

3 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

Truth be told, it would probably take the combined wealth of 30 fans to financially support their club in the same way an average Australian supporter can afford to.

The fan revenue opportunities for a PNG team in the NRL is considerably low compared to Aus and NZ clubs. I don’t see how a PNG team can be sustainable without being underwritten by the government, or failing that, the NRL. Further to that, I don’t trust the governments to perpetually underwrite a PNG club and I don’t think the NRL can afford to underwrite one.

Putting your faith in politicians and political parties is both dangerous and extremely naive.

[Damien]

3 hours ago, John bird said:

I thought PNG was RL mad?

I thought Australia, and in particular Queensland, was?

[John bird]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

I thought Australia, and in particular Queensland, was?

They have professional teams to follow.

the hunters are PNG’s premier team.

[Damien]

42 minutes ago, John bird said:

They have professional teams to follow.

the hunters are PNG’s premier team.

They are a 2nd tier team playing in a second tier competition.

At the end of the day ticket sales will be a small percentage of the income if this comes off and there is no reason why they can't be kept low. Even at existing NRL clubs they are a small part of the income.

The major parts of this for any PNG bid are the PNG and Australian government subsidies and obviously NRL central funding. If that isn't enough then it won't happen. And enough is far more than about worrying about raising an extra million or two with high ticket prices to locals.

Edited May 19 by Damien

[Lowdesert]

2 days ago and according to Vlandys,  PNG are not a shoe-in for the NRL and that day (2 days ago) was DDay.  According to the piece below issued by Sports Journal it is coming closer.

 

5.17.2024

      

Papua New Guinea is "set to clinch one of two" new franchises in Australia's National Rugby League after Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V'landys and Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy "eased" tensions in crisis talks today. Those talks were critical in "clearing the path for PNG to edge closer to becoming the code’s next expansion team." V'landys also "made the stunning revelation" that NRL expansion "could be fast-tracked for two franchises to be announced within a fortnight." The PNG team "and potentially the Perth Bears" could be added to a 19-team competition "in time for the code's next broadcast deal from 2028-32" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17). The league’s top stars "are set to be offered 'danger money'" to go to Papua New Guinea, with V'landys saying players "could be offered extra incentives to play for an 18th PNG franchise, including major tax breaks" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).

[John bird]

7 minutes ago, Lowdesert said:

2 days ago and according to Vlandys,  PNG are not a shoe-in for the NRL and that day (2 days ago) was DDay.  According to the piece below issued by Sports Journal it is coming closer.

 

5.17.2024

 

      

Papua New Guinea is "set to clinch one of two" new franchises in Australia's National Rugby League after Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V'landys and Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy "eased" tensions in crisis talks today. Those talks were critical in "clearing the path for PNG to edge closer to becoming the code’s next expansion team." V'landys also "made the stunning revelation" that NRL expansion "could be fast-tracked for two franchises to be announced within a fortnight." The PNG team "and potentially the Perth Bears" could be added to a 19-team competition "in time for the code's next broadcast deal from 2028-32" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17). The league’s top stars "are set to be offered 'danger money'" to go to Papua New Guinea, with V'landys saying players "could be offered extra incentives to play for an 18th PNG franchise, including major tax breaks" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).

If it is to be PNG then the NRL need to announce it as soon as possible because they’ll need all the lead up time as possible to sign up players, coaches and backroom staff etc as well as organize all the nightmarish logistics.

[Damien]

23 minutes ago, Lowdesert said:

2 days ago and according to Vlandys,  PNG are not a shoe-in for the NRL and that day (2 days ago) was DDay.  According to the piece below issued by Sports Journal it is coming closer.

 

5.17.2024

 

      

Papua New Guinea is "set to clinch one of two" new franchises in Australia's National Rugby League after Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V'landys and Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy "eased" tensions in crisis talks today. Those talks were critical in "clearing the path for PNG to edge closer to becoming the code’s next expansion team." V'landys also "made the stunning revelation" that NRL expansion "could be fast-tracked for two franchises to be announced within a fortnight." The PNG team "and potentially the Perth Bears" could be added to a 19-team competition "in time for the code's next broadcast deal from 2028-32" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17). The league’s top stars "are set to be offered 'danger money'" to go to Papua New Guinea, with V'landys saying players "could be offered extra incentives to play for an 18th PNG franchise, including major tax breaks" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).

There is a lot of talk about 2 franchises being named and a timeline, even maybe one to go to 20 teams. That would be a great way to do it and really exciting with loads of excitement and anticipation over the next few years.

It would massive ammunition when it comes to the next TV rights negotiations too.

Edited May 19 by Damien

[Lowdesert]

8 minutes ago, Damien said:

There is a lot of talk about 2 franchises being named and a timeline, even maybe one to go to 20 teams. That would be a great way to do it and really exciting with loads of excitement and anticipation over the next few years.

It would massive ammunition when it comes to the next TV rights negotiations too.

I think there will be a press release within the next few days.  Maybe these discussions will confirm that the team will be based in PNG as that was one of the stipulations vlandys was making before the latest release.

It was an unnerving place on match day some years ago!

[NRLandSL]

Would like to see the SL looking at expanding to 14 teams, if they already aren’t.

[John bird]

6 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

Would like to see the SL looking at expanding to 14 teams, if they already aren’t.

Definitely need Toulouse and the winners of the championship added to super league and no relegation this year to take us to 14 teams.

[NRLandSL]

27 minutes ago, John bird said:

Definitely need Toulouse and the winners of the championship added to super league and no relegation this year to take us to 14 teams.

Yes Toulouse and Wakefield should 100% be in Super League.

[John bird]

3 hours ago, Lowdesert said:

I think there will be a press release within the next few days.  Maybe these discussions will confirm that the team will be based in PNG as that was one of the stipulations vlandys was making before the latest release.

It was an unnerving place on match day some years ago!

PVL is adamant that the team will be based in PNG and not cairns.

[EggFace]

6 hours ago, Lowdesert said:

2 days ago and according to Vlandys,  PNG are not a shoe-in for the NRL and that day (2 days ago) was DDay.  According to the piece below issued by Sports Journal it is coming closer.

 

5.17.2024

 

      

Papua New Guinea is "set to clinch one of two" new franchises in Australia's National Rugby League after Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V'landys and Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy "eased" tensions in crisis talks today. Those talks were critical in "clearing the path for PNG to edge closer to becoming the code’s next expansion team." V'landys also "made the stunning revelation" that NRL expansion "could be fast-tracked for two franchises to be announced within a fortnight." The PNG team "and potentially the Perth Bears" could be added to a 19-team competition "in time for the code's next broadcast deal from 2028-32" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17). The league’s top stars "are set to be offered 'danger money'" to go to Papua New Guinea, with V'landys saying players "could be offered extra incentives to play for an 18th PNG franchise, including major tax breaks" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).

New Zealand 2 need to be included in that time frame.

[John bird]

2 hours ago, EggFace said:

New Zealand 2 need to be included in that time frame.

Did you see the crowds at both Auckland and wellington in this week’s super rugby?

nobody is attending the super rugby games in New Zealand whilst the warriors are virtually packed out every game. It would be a colossal blunder by the NRL not to take advantage of this by introducing a 2nd New Zealand franchise preferably in the South Island.

Edited May 19 by John bird