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Potenital new NRL team Western Australia Reds win the endorsement of existing clubs to join competition
- By Glen Quartermain
- The Sunday Telegraph
- December 19, 2010 8:26AM
WA Reds have received a unanimous endorsement from the 16 NRL clubs to join the competition in 2013.
The non-binding vote of confidence at a recent NRL conference in Byron Bay offers a massive injection of confidence as the West Australian Rugby League plans to present its bid in March or April.
WARL chief executive John Sackson says a new WA team, which would play out of nib Stadium, would have the corporate and crowd support to succeed long term, unlike the Western Reds franchise that operated at the WACA from 1995-97.
The NRL is likely to expand the competition to 18 teams in 2013 with Perth a leading contender, along with Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Logan or Ipswich south of Brisbane, and Gosford on the NSW Central Coast.
The WARL believes three key selling points, the $82.5 million State Government-backed redevelopment of the eastern grandstand at nib Stadium, WA’s booming economy and the WA TV time zone, will be key to the success of the bid.
“David Gallop (the NRL CEO) has already given the stadium a big tick, the players like coming here, the coaches like coming here,” WARL chief executive John Sackson said.
"We have a booming economy and the infrastructure that comes with a capital city such as Perth with its strong corporate support.
"We have a proud rugby league heritage. Look at the Western Reds, who played at the WACA which was not an ideal ground by any means to watch rugby league and they attracted average crowds of 16,500 per game.
"Perth is tailor made for games being televised back into the eastern states because of our time zone.
“To have the support of clubs, the CEOs and the chairmen of the existing clubs, for them to vote unanimously for Perth as a destination for expansion is a very positive statement.”
The WARL would need at least 18 months to build a team but is well on the way to building a $15 million annual budget to run an NRL franchise.
“Our plan is to present to the NRL’s new independent commission in March-April next year so in the meantime we will be proactive and build a sustainable, robust, irresistible business plan that hopefully gets us over the line.”
Meanwhile, David Hobbs has been elected chairman of the WARL board.
Hobbs, CEO of the Professionals Group WA & NT, is no stranger to setting up clubs.
He was with the Fremantle Dockers from inception, helping to set up its marketing and sponsorship arm. Hobbs replaces Terry Creasey who stepped down because of business commitments.
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Hope it comes off it would be good to spread the game and according to the article, rugby league was supported in the past when the western reds played there.
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with more teams they might have to split the comp into two sections similar to nfl. at least there would be genuine home and away for the two groups of nine before the finals, whatever that may be. could be a real positve direction for the arl, something that has been sadly lacking under the stewardship of gallop, carr etc.
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i don’t like the idea from the perspective that there are not enough quality players now. Look at the halves position, now fit another 4 in the competition.
We’ll get eaten up, watch and see.
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i don’t like the idea from the perspective that there are not enough quality players now. Look at the halves position, now fit another 4 in the competition.
We’ll get eaten up, watch and see.
We wont get eaten up, poorly run clubs will.
The more national the game means more money for the clubs, this is nothing but great news for us.
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Insanity is performing the same task and expecting a different outcome.
Its been done before.
If we do expand the central coast should get the license due to
-An existing and proven supporter base
-A purpose built and suitable stadium.
-An existing and established juniors system.I for one am not a fan of expansion. I think 16 teams is comfortable for the competition given the talent and that the top half of the competition make the finals.
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Insanity is performing the same task and expecting a different outcome.
Its been done before.Been done before on the CC aswell. These are clearly different situations from the last time the game went to perth and CC.
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-An existing and proven supporter base
-A purpose built and suitable stadium.
-An existing and established juniors system.Perth has all three of those and offers way more in regards to TV money.
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For a WA league lover like myself, this is a dream come true. In a few years ill be able to watch the mighty Tigers crush the Reds here at nib Stadium.
Its going to be interesting to see what the NRL do, considering how similar the Reds and the Bears uniforms are. -
i don’t like the idea from the perspective that there are not enough quality players now. Look at the halves position, now fit another 4 in the competition.
We’ll get eaten up, watch and see.
We wont get eaten up, poorly run clubs will.
The more national the game means more money for the clubs, this is nothing but great news for us.
Also, the more clubs there are in the comp, the more likely a player will be able to stay in the NRL instead of England.
With more clubs, the odds will increase that one of those clubs will be able to afford to keep a top player in the NRL. -
Its practically guaranteed that the nrl will be expanding to 18 teams for the 2013 season. Out of all the potential expansion teams, Central Coast Bears and Perth Reds are much more likely to succeed than the others.
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Insanity is performing the same task and expecting a different outcome.
Its been done before.Been done before on the CC aswell. These are clearly different situations from the last time the game went to perth and CC.
When was there a side on the Central Coast? Are you speaking super league days or?
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with more teams they might have to split the comp into two sections similar to nfl. at least there would be genuine home and away for the two groups of nine before the finals, whatever that may be. could be a real positve direction for the arl, something that has been sadly lacking under the stewardship of gallop, carr etc.
Interesting idea Pearl…. i wonder what other’s think though, probably too far from left field…
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I’ve done a fair bit of research into an NRL Franchise based in Perth, and this Franchise will be financial within 10 years.
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Someone should tell the people in WA that there is a syndicate over there interested in getting a NRL franchise.
On the strenghth of the above article I went to Perthnow.com.au a NewsLtd.com.au run media source and found this article after a lot of looking below stories of far less significance.
While all us here on the East coast want to see the Reds return so we can truly claim a National competition just how much interest on the other side of the Continent is there, I know we have the odd fan on this forum but the silence is deafening apart from a few diehards.
Will the people from the West adopt the Reds just like us Easterners are supposed to warm the GWS gAyFL thing?.
