LordGnome_old
Guest
by theorangenz
The NRL is talking expansion once again and that could spell good news for NZ league.
A little background is in order.
Following the ARL V SuperLeague war, rugby league was in crisis and the deal to get things back together saw a number of clubs culled, including some of the ARL expansion clubs - eg Perth - and some of the SL clubs like Adelaide.
Gold Coast was a victim of their own failings while the Bunnies were given the boot but made it back in via a court decision.
Wests & Tigers merged, as did Illawarra and St George.
The North Sydney Bears combined with Manly in the most bitter of marriages and it wasn’t a surprise when that fell over.
With the Bunnies getting back in, NRL went from 14 to 15 and the Gold Coast’s reintroduction brought the number up to 16.
This is where is gets interesting.
The Central Coast already have the fans and a stadium (Gosford) and the drums are beating for a return of the Bears.
At the same time, there’s always been interest from Wellington/South Island and Perth at the least.
Imagine the local derby matches between the Warriors (who may need to drop the NZ moniker) and a second NZ team. Which is exactly what could get NZ a second franchise.
On top of this, the NRL has already got $8 million on the table for any Sydney team that relocates. There’s two many of them and the changes to the pokie laws means what were cash cows are now struggling to stay afloat.
The Kiwis winning the World Cup comes at just the right time to show that a second NZ team isn’t a crazy idea.
The chickens are yet ready to hatch but you get a feeling KFC could be on the menu!
The NRL is talking expansion once again and that could spell good news for NZ league.
A little background is in order.
Following the ARL V SuperLeague war, rugby league was in crisis and the deal to get things back together saw a number of clubs culled, including some of the ARL expansion clubs - eg Perth - and some of the SL clubs like Adelaide.
Gold Coast was a victim of their own failings while the Bunnies were given the boot but made it back in via a court decision.
Wests & Tigers merged, as did Illawarra and St George.
The North Sydney Bears combined with Manly in the most bitter of marriages and it wasn’t a surprise when that fell over.
With the Bunnies getting back in, NRL went from 14 to 15 and the Gold Coast’s reintroduction brought the number up to 16.
This is where is gets interesting.
The Central Coast already have the fans and a stadium (Gosford) and the drums are beating for a return of the Bears.
At the same time, there’s always been interest from Wellington/South Island and Perth at the least.
Imagine the local derby matches between the Warriors (who may need to drop the NZ moniker) and a second NZ team. Which is exactly what could get NZ a second franchise.
On top of this, the NRL has already got $8 million on the table for any Sydney team that relocates. There’s two many of them and the changes to the pokie laws means what were cash cows are now struggling to stay afloat.
The Kiwis winning the World Cup comes at just the right time to show that a second NZ team isn’t a crazy idea.
The chickens are yet ready to hatch but you get a feeling KFC could be on the menu!