Which team will get the 18th Franchise

[Halbrowne61]

Just reading that despite offering PNG $200m for police upgrades they are still in talks with China about the same thing.
Hope Albo watching closely and maybe rethinking his idea to give them an NRL franchise.
Tread carefully when dealing with PNG !

 

[Halbrowne61]

An in depth story by The Mole today almost confirming PNG will get the next franchise to offset a proposed Chinese Govt deal.
It states team will be based in Cairns but will play home games in Port Moresby.
As previously stated, a political decision using the NRL as bait. Interesting to see how it will work, logistically but maybe Wayne Bennett or Mal Meninga may be an appropriate first coach.
Looks like the Bears will have to wait.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

A PNG team is a total waste of time the second it becomes a political pawn.

It will become the most corrupt team in our comp and the divide locally/long term cost for the NRL will be significant. I bet within 10yrs the NRL will need to prop them up significantly to keep them running - let alone the tax payers $$$ to kick start it all.

I get the compromise by the NRL might be to do 2 things another virtual team in QLD/government funding but that is short lived view.

 

[gallagher]

This will turn into a disaster.

 

[innsaneink]

*Perth, PNG, 2nd kiwi team.

*20 team comp

*10v10 division/conference

*Final series

You know it makes sense.

Where do these 50/ 60 odd extra first graders magically appear from?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

They are deadset dreaming about a 20 team comp. There isn’t even enough depth in the competition now, let alone with 3 more teams. Cricket scores galore.

 

[innsaneink]

Re the talent pool, I genuinely think a team in PNG opens up a whole world of new players in that country, that talent scouts have ignored til now. People forget how big it is.
Double the size of NZ or Queensland
Quadruple the size of WA
100 times the size of Tonga
And the vast majority of those 10 million love their rugby league.

Not sure what you're meaning by sizes but 4x WA?
I don't think so...

 

[jrtiger]

it won't happen because Albo wants it asap, but PNG should be team 20 and come into the league in 4-5 years time. announce it now for all I care, but get into the high schools now and build a proper schoolboys tournament, ensure for elite pathways and coaching, and have dev squads, 16s, 18s and 20s sides to play in the QLD junior rep comps and then bring them in when it is time.

with the eyewatering amount of investment going into the side they won't have any issues with success down the track, but they are going to be anchored to the bottom of the ladder for at least 3-4 years if they get brought in for 2026, hypothetically.

as for teams 19 and 20, they have to be Perth and NZ2 (South Island). SA, Tassie and the NT is AFL central, leave them be, but the interest in league in the West has always been strong and we need a second NZ side to tap into the Union systems even further.

then we can talk conferences.

 

[gallagher]

Where do these 50/ 60 odd extra first graders magically appear from?

Expansion is bad news for lazy, poorly run clubs.

 

[TillLindemann]

Not sure what you're meaning by sizes but 4x WA?
I don't think so...

View attachment 10100

Population

 

[gallagher]

Population

2 million live in Perth metro while 400k live in Ports Moresby which is cut off by road and rail from the rest of the country.

 

[TillLindemann]

2 million live in Perth metro while 400k live in Ports Moresby which is cut off by road and rail from the rest of the country.

But give em an NRL team, suddenly Aussies realise they exist and start travelling there and investing there, their economy booms, and Bob's your uncle.

 

[Stevec]

2 million live in Perth metro while 400k live in Ports Moresby which is cut off by road and rail from the rest of the country.

More than 500k live on the Central Coast which is a distinctive clearly defined geographic area right in the heart of the Rugby League heartland of Australia .Hard to believe it doesn't get a mention .
My experience is that the AFL states fanatically follow their game .Melbourne is a big population with hundreds of thousands of people who grew up in NSW or QLD living there and hence the decent size following for the Storm

 

[gallagher]

More than 500k live on the Central Coast which is a distinctive clearly defined geographic area right in the heart of the Rugby League heartland of Australia .Hard to believe it doesn't get a mention .
My experience is that the AFL states fanatically follow their game .Melbourne is a big population with hundreds of thousands of people who grew up in NSW or QLD living there and hence the decent size following for the Storm

There are 11 clubs within an hour of CC. It's only worth it if one of those move there.

 

[Demps]

There are 11 clubs within an hour of CC. It's only worth it if one of those move there.

Central Coast Sharks 👌

 

[Halbrowne61]

Central Coast Sharks 👌

Mate the obvious move imo is the CC Bears, always has been, but doesn’t seem to get the traction it deserves.

 

[Halbrowne61]

They are deadset dreaming about a 20 team comp. There isn’t even enough depth in the competition now, let alone with 3 more teams. Cricket scores galore.

I’m afraid the dream of a 20 team Australia wide comp is a waste of time and money imo.

 

[BAGNF05]

They are deadset dreaming about a 20 team comp. There isn’t even enough depth in the competition now, let alone with 3 more teams. Cricket scores galore.

They need to take a look at the NFL example of creating parity in your competition. At least half of the playoffs teams change year on year.

 

[matchball]

We need North's back. We have Souths, Easts and Wests of course but it's incomplete without Norths.
Need the foundations back. At least one.

 

[innsaneink]

Population

Aaah OK i see...