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Posted
6 hours ago, Damien said:

I can't say I agree with Cameron George at all, talk about looking after yourself and self preservation. I don't think his arguments stack up at all with the amount of NZ players snapped up by NRL clubs. If anything a 2nd NZ team will increase pathways greatly and increase the flow of 'Rugby' players to Rugby League:

Warriors chief executive Cameron George says New Zealand needs more investment in grassroots rugby league before it is ready to have two NRL teams.

But one of the two groups bidding for a NRL club in Christchurch believes the nation could support two teams from 2026 and that the Warriors should not fear competition.

George has presented a strategy paper to NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, calling for it to invest in New Zealand Rugby League’s grassroots and schools system with a view to developing a second NRL team in the future.

“I’m not against two NRL teams, but you can’t run a NRL club without junior pathways,” George said on Tuesday.

“That’s why I’m asking the NRL to invest in the game throughout New Zealand and develop competitions and structures that would underpin having a second NRL team.”

George said in the Daily Telegraph last weekend that “you would not survive with a second New Zealand team right now”.

He told The Press on Tuesday: “We don’t have a domestic competition that would support the quality required for producing players for two New Zealand teams.’’

David Moffett - a former NZ Rugby and NRL chief executive - is leading the South Island Kea bid and said on Tuesday the Christchurch-based club would be ready to go in 2026. He felt George’s comments indicated “the Warriors are in panic mode at the moment”.

He suspected the Warriors “are most likely gleaning there will be two really good bids coming out of Christchurch and they want to protect their monopoly as long as they can”.

George said his pitch to the NRL was aimed at helping get more money to assist the NZRL to grow the game and, ultimately, make it easier for other groups bidding for a NRL entry.

With greater NRL investment, “in 10 years’ time you’re going to have more kids playing rugby league in New Zealand which is going to provide more rugby league talent to the game.”

https://www.thepress.co.nz/sport/350292574/south-island-bid-chief-david-moffett-disputes-warriors-claim-new-zealand-not-ready

It’s very similar to the broncos not wanting a 2nd team in Brisbane for all these years threatening in their eyes the broncos monopoly within the city.

The warriors should embrace a second NZ NRL side as it would be a huge positive for them just like the dolphins has been a huge positive for the broncos in terms of creating an instant rivalry and all the benefits that come with this .

  • Like 2

Posted

Increasing the amount of players coming out of NZ would also give more strength in depth to NZ, Tonga and Samoa as there would be even more players in the NRL who qualify for these countries 

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
5 minutes ago, Damien said:

I would love to see a 2nd NZ team next anyway but the more I think about it the more I think 2026 would be great with the new Christchurch stadium opening then. It would really mean that the stadium is as much the RL clubs from the start instead of other codes using it first.

I’m guessing the stadium would be owned by the Christchurch council and not the crusaders or Canterbury rugby union or NZRU?

Posted
45 minutes ago, John bird said:

I’m guessing the stadium would be owned by the Christchurch council and not the crusaders or Canterbury rugby union or NZRU?

Yes council owned.

Posted
24 minutes ago, Damien said:

Yes council owned.

All the more reason like you stated to award a South Island based NZ2 franchise to Christchurch playing out of the council owned new stadium.

The Christchurch based NRL team could capitalize not only on the brand new modern stadium but also the fact that the local super rugby team crusaders are not the force they once were.

recent warriors games played in Christchurch has shown that there is a strong support base of around 15-18k supporters within the city which should be tapped into by a potential NZ2 franchise.

  • Like 1
Posted
1 minute ago, Damien said:

Know your place:

 

 

That is truly amazing.

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Posted

Now is the time for a Ch- Ch team, more the enough talent in NZ for a second team which would be well  supported  there.  I can understand Webster's stance, at the moment he has the pick of those that want  to play in Auckland and he does not want to lose that.

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Posted
4 hours ago, frank said:

Now is the time for a Ch- Ch team, more the enough talent in NZ for a second team which would be well  supported  there.  I can understand Webster's stance, at the moment he has the pick of those that want  to play in Auckland and he does not want to lose that.

The NRL and game in NZ is bigger than 1 club.

the warriors will have to suck it up I’m afraid just like the broncos with the introduction of the dolphins.

  • Like 1
Posted
4 hours ago, Damien said:

Know your place:

 

 

Love to see it.

now if only we could somehow figure out a way for the New Zealand public to get to see the amazingly talented kiwis playing on home soil every year so they can build a rapport and following with the people of New Zealand.

  • Like 2
Posted
22 hours ago, John bird said:

Love to see it.

now if only we could somehow figure out a way for the New Zealand public to get to see the amazingly talented kiwis playing on home soil every year so they can build a rapport and following with the people of New Zealand.

All going well, I think we could see the return of the annual ANZAC test match/series. Doesn’t do much for England unfortunately.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

More from Moffett and I completely agree with what he say on players. I think a 2nd NZ side on the South island would result in many more people playing Rugby League and will increase the pool of Kiwi players. I think the rivalry can only help the Warriors in the long run too:

One key factor he's focused on his igniting a North vs South rivalry that he believes could mirror the State of Origin series, but with a New Zealand twist. Well in his words, the Auckland Warriors versus the South Island Kea.

“That is the sort of thing that I think the NRL want to see. A genuine rivalry, this is one between the North and South Island," Moffett said.

“If we could sell the tickets to the opening game in 2026, I reckon we could sell the capacity of the new stadium."

Construction of Christchurch's new downtown Te Kaha stadium is progressing well, with the promise of providing a state-of-the-art home to the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise, plus a possible NRL expansion team.

Moffett's background as a Sports Administrator in both rugby codes gives him the confidence on the South Island Kea being a new entrant into the NRL Premiership, stating he knows what V'landys will be looking for.

The Canterbury region already produces exceptional rugby league talent, but is being snapped up by outside NRL clubs - Moffett wants to directly stop South Island-based players from being snatched up the Auckland-based Warriors.

“More importantly we want potential players to stay in their backyard which is close to their support networks," Moffett said.

“The Warriors take our players from down here and take them to the club system up in Auckland. It affects our club system down here, so it needs to stop happening."

And while rugby union in New Zealand continues to fight themselves in a governance battle between NZ Rugby, the Players' Association, and the provincial unions, rugby league sees the potential to strike.

"Rugby is in the toilet," Moffett replied when asked to comment on union's current state of affairs,

“Rugby worldwide is in big trouble - they have wasted money on expanding, politics got in the way, and they go from one crisis to another.

“If rugby is not careful, they won't exist."

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/06/11/moffett-fires-warning-shot-at-rugby-union-with-nrl-expansion-talks/

Edited by Damien
  • Like 1
Posted

NRL expansion shock with Perth on track to become 18th team in possible alliance with Newtown Jets over North Sydney Bears

Perth could be the NRL’s next team, with plans afoot to have WA fast-tracked into the premiership, including a possible Newtown Jets alliance. See what it means for the Bears and PNG.

Brent ReadMichael Carayannis and Peter Badel
 
2 min read
June 12, 2024 - 4:00PM

NRL

The NRL’s path to 20 teams has taken a surprise twist with Perth now the frontrunner to become the game’s latest franchise amid an 11th hour push to have Western Australia in the competition by 2027.

The issue will come to a head with a crucial ARL Commission meeting on the morning of the second State of Origin game in Melbourne on June 26, where they will finalise their plans for the future of the premiership.

PNG had long been considered the game’s next expansion side but it is understood that the PNG team’s entry to the premiership may follow Perth by 12 months, giving the NRL an expanded 19-team competition by 2028.

Despite the development, the appetite remains for PNG – backed by a bumper $600 million cash injection courtesy of the federal government – to join the NRL.

However, this masthead understands that a bid from Perth – backed by the Western Australian government – is now edging ahead of PNG as the commission looks to add an 18th team as early as 2027.

PNG would then become the NRL’s 19th team before a 20th franchise was added to the competition, most likely on the south island of New Zealand.

While the PNG bid has largely hogged the expansion headlines, Perth officials have been quietly going about their business with the strong support of the WA government, WA Rugby League and consortium boss Peter Cumins.

Cumins is the head of a powerful group which also includes his brother Brian Cumins, The Cumins family have a relationship with rugby league stretching back to the Western Reds – Brian Cumins is the founder of Cash Converters, who sponsored the Reds.

The Brothers are two of the driving forces behind a bid to bring the NRL back to Perth, either as a stand-alone entity or as part of a partnership with the Bears or the Jets.

Talks have been held with both former top flight clubs, although an alliance with the Bears has the support of ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys as the game looks to revive a latent supporter base and one of the most powerful brands in the game.

While the Bears link has dominated talk there is some reluctance at the Western Australian government level to join forces with North Sydney. Instead, Newtown have been quietly building their own case in the background and have forged strong relationships with the powerbrokers in Western Australia.

Sources close to the discussions acknowledged that Newtown may be a favourable partner should Western Australia be unable to become a stand-alone franchise. The Jets have also been working on financial backers to help with their return.

Perth consortium members held top-level talks with ARL Commissioner Peter Beattie in WA last week as they looked to turn up the heat on powerbrokers to prioritise their entry over PNG.

The Perth bid has several factors in its favour, most significantly their appeal to broadcasters because of the favourable time zone – the NRL’s broadcast deal ends in 2027.

Adding Perth as the 18th team would also give the NRL more time to ensure the PNG bid strengthens its pathways and has time to be successful.

It is believed the $600 million commitment from the federal government would remain in place as long as PNG remained in the frame for entry to the competition.

 

 
 
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Posted

It would be a huge blunder by the NRL if sporting fans aren’t attending NRL games every other week at this amazing new Christchurch stadium.

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Posted

I have seen somewhere on social media that Dan Carter attended the last Warriors home game that coincided with a Super Rugby final.

What more needs to be said?

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new rise.jpg

Posted
13 minutes ago, Pulga said:

I have seen somewhere on social media that Dan Carter attended the last Warriors home game that coincided with a Super Rugby final.

What more needs to be said?

All New Zealand Super rugby semi-final class but like you say what more needs to be said.

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