General NRL Expansion

[Brother Faisal]

I think NZ is dying for a NRL 2nd division. Hear me out.

I don’t think having a Wellington team or Canterbury team at nrl level is really needed right now.

Instead if they created a genuine 2nd division that isn’t used as a reserves for a nrl team but a contracted full time players I think would be a tool for expansion later on.

The current nsw cup is illegitimate in terms of nrl reserve players getting to play games to build up for nrl or coming back from injury they will play nsw cup. It can’t draw crowds nor interest.

Instead if they created an nrl 2 you could have 3-4 teams from nz in it

It could look like

Counties Manukau Stingrays
Waikato Mana
Wellington Orcas
Canterbury Bulls
North Sydney Bears
Illawarra Steelers
Newtown Jets
Western Suburbs Magpies
Wynnum manly sea eagles
Ipswich Jets
Sunshine Coast
Brisbane Tigers
West Coast Pirates
Melbourne Thunder
Adelaide Rams


If these were no longer feeder clubs but genuine professional outfits with a salary cap it could build a genuine following.

I know this is pie in the sky and unlikely but living in Hamilton all they have is the chiefs and the local clubs. I don’t know when the warriors will ever come back to play but I’m dying for a genuine local professional league team to follow. I think if done right each region could draw crowd averages of 5000.

I think how the nsw cup and qcup are used atm only benefits the nrl really but with this mode you could build expansion areas to one day be ready to apply for a license to nrl. Based off the success of each club you could get a lot of data on crowd numbers etc and see which part of nz is genuinely feasible to sustain a nrl team. This model will let you know which regions are genuine.

 

[Juju]

A League are looking to add an Auckland club in as soon as 14 months.
The interesting thing to me is they're looking at Mt Smart as the base (the previous incarnation was based at North Harbour Stadium)

Interesting article around the business model and future.

A-Leagues to add Canberra, Auckland teams in $50m expansion

The A-League could also be open to adding teams via promotion from Football Australia’s planned national second division.

www.smh.com.au

 

[bruce]

A League are looking to add an Auckland club in as soon as 14 months.
The interesting thing to me is they're looking at Mt Smart as the base (the previous incarnation was based at North Harbour Stadium)

Interesting article around the business model and future.

A-Leagues to add Canberra, Auckland teams in $50m expansion

The A-League could also be open to adding teams via promotion from Football Australia’s planned national second division.

www.smh.com.au

A led zeppelin ...or are they talking about the spare training ground.

 

[Juju]

A led zeppelin ...or are they talking about the spare training ground.

It's hard to see an Auckland club connect with the public thats for sure...

& a $25m franchise fee seems unlikely so come from a private entity here so will likely be set up but the league.

But silver lake are sniffing around and buying a share of the comp, thats a pretty significant gamble on future growth.

 

[jonesy101]

It's hard to see an Auckland club connect with the pubic thats for sure...

I hope that was a typo.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

A League are looking to add an Auckland club in as soon as 14 months.
The interesting thing to me is they're looking at Mt Smart as the base (the previous incarnation was based at North Harbour Stadium)

Interesting article around the business model and future.

A-Leagues to add Canberra, Auckland teams in $50m expansion

The A-League could also be open to adding teams via promotion from Football Australia’s planned national second division.

www.smh.com.au

Would be the dumbest move to make thier ground Mt Smart! Has to be eden park surely!!! At least there is a hub for bars and restaurants.

 

[Juju]

Would be the dumbest move to make thier ground Mt Smart! Has to be eden park surely!!! At least there is a hub for bars and restaurants.

Have you seen A League crowds?
The Phoenix home game average would be terrible and they're going ok.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

Have you seen A League crowds?
The Phoenix home game average would be terrible and they're going ok.

I agree but who the fuck wants to travel to Mt Smart for ALeague!

If only Auckland got off thier backside and got this waterfront stadium!

 

[Juju]

I agree but who the fuck wants to travel to Mt Smart for ALeague!

The challenge will be who the fuck wants to go to A League. Its a risky as proposition.
A League is really not a premier global football comp.

I think the club will be Auckland FC who are already established and do play some games at Mt Smart.

 

[matiunz]

Lots of talk in Aus about the proposed expansion to 20 teams by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Interesting one is the PR pasifika/png team out of cairns

 

[tajhay]

Lots of talk in Aus about the proposed expansion to 20 teams by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Interesting one is the PR pasifika/png team out of cairns

supposedly the pasifika team is the top pick right now as well.

 

[Wrighty]

I think we should have one NZ team given the Warriors are not an elite team and struggling to be competitive. Why make a second franchise.

 

[Fonzie]

I think we should have one NZ team given the Warriors are not an elite team and struggling to be competitive. Why make a second franchise.

In what way do you think a second nz club would detract from the Warriors’ competitiveness mate?

 

[wizards rage]

In what way do you think a second nz club would detract from the Warriors’ competitiveness mate?

- If the Warriors struggle to attract talent due to the ‘NZ factor’ you dilute the talent that would come with 2 teams
- if there are a set number of juniors in NZ that will reach NRL level you dilute the number who will stay in NZ with 2 teams competing.
- if there are a limited number of coaches that would relocate to NZ (or actual Kiwi coaches) you struggle for quality coaching. The Warriors have only been able to attract a couple of real quality ones in their 28 years. Arguably this is the biggest hurdle.

I think we need to grow the NZ player base, coaches, infrastructure, first. But then you could argue we get into a chicken egg scenario.

 

[Wrighty]

- If the Warriors struggle to attract talent due to the ‘NZ factor’ you dilute the talent that would come with 2 teams
- if there are a set number of juniors in NZ that will reach NRL level you dilute the number who will stay in NZ with 2 teams competing.
- if there are a limited number of coaches that would relocate to NZ (or actual Kiwi coaches) you struggle for quality coaching. The Warriors have only been able to attract a couple of real quality ones in their 28 years. Arguably this is the biggest hurdle.

I think we need to grow the NZ player base, coaches, infrastructure, first. But then you could argue we get into a chicken egg scenario.

This.

 

[Wrighty]

In what way do you think a second nz club would detract from the Warriors’ competitiveness mate?

A good season for the warriors in coming 10th
The new NZ franchise will be a step child team that will finish lower in the standings

 

[snake77]

A second NZ franchise will have similar challenges to the Warriors. Depending on where they are located some might be tougher some might be better. The main thing would be financing.

To me the advantages out weigh the disadvantages.

We get our own derby game and it will likely be twice a year.

Most weekends there would be an NRL game in New Zealand.

New Zealand already provide a lot of players to the NRL. A second side gives the opportunity for more players to stay at home.

The Warriors have talked about getting their development systems in place. Another NRL franchise would be a good incentive to ensure they have things in order before more competition arrives.

 

[snake77]

The news for the second A League is interesting. The previous Auckland side found it tough.

Having them based at Mt Smart along with Moana Pasifika (assume they still based there) should mean there is a good case for upgrades to Mt Smart if it is being used by 3 sides.

The NRL will be looking at expansion as they will want to move from the odd number teams and get an extra game. Watching how the second NZ team goes in another code would be interesting, especially finding the funding.

 

[tajhay]

Would love for any new expansion clubs to come out of nsw/qld cup. That ideally (logistical reasons withstanding) should be the actual feeder and lower comp and should be viewed as the pathway to nrl. A promotion/relegation system would be great.

 

[Fonzie]

- If the Warriors struggle to attract talent due to the ‘NZ factor’ you dilute the talent that would come with 2 teams
- if there are a set number of juniors in NZ that will reach NRL level you dilute the number who will stay in NZ with 2 teams competing.
- if there are a limited number of coaches that would relocate to NZ (or actual Kiwi coaches) you struggle for quality coaching. The Warriors have only been able to attract a couple of real quality ones in their 28 years. Arguably this is the biggest hurdle.

I think we need to grow the NZ player base, coaches, infrastructure, first. But then you could argue we get into a chicken egg scenario.

I can’t say you’re wrong, but my view on that is:
- we need to develop talent. There is enough potential on nz to ‘hothouse’ two squads of locals
- I don’t think there is a ‘set number’ or more accurately, the number changes based on high performance development.
- coaches come for the job. I can guarantee a second nz team will double the number of nrl coaches in nz!
- Penrith lga has a population of 260k people. You don’t need a massive catchment, just a really good system.