NRL in Perth

[Fred]

Good crowd of 20000 in Perth this weekend. What does this mean for the NRL ? There may be a niche market there and should the administration stroke whilst the iron is hot or build it slowly before putting a team there? I say build it slowly like AFL did in western Sydney. Even then they must agree to support it through thick and thin, no matter what. They need to possibly have a dedicated team play 5 or 6 games a year like hawthorn do in tassie , with the aim of relocating that club .

[Swans4ever]

I think NRL has said no new teams til 2017 and they are competing against Central Coast, Central Queensland, Brisbane 2nd team and Wellington most probably for two teams to come in - The talk currently is the will have to be a second Brisbane team so that leaves very little left. The Sydney clubs do not like 4 hr plane trips in that direction and would rather go across the ditch - they won't have the deal that the WReds had to endure of paying the airfare of travelling teams so I think the answer will be no new team in WA. That only leaves relocation, there can be only really two clubs Cronulla and Penrith - both are financially stricken with low crowds BUT they are both trying to stay put which I think they will. My guess it will go into the too hard basket and one or two exhibition matches for premiership points will be the norm for at least the next 10 yrs!

[Fred]

Will be a test of the leadership of the nrl then

[Swans4ever]

Will be a test of the leadership of the nrl then

Sorry Phelpsy but they like to talk leadership then they ask the NSW clubs what they should do - there is no leadership in the NRL just pipe dreams! Thats why they call the it the NRL when there's only one team outside of NSW and QLD in Aus!

[King-Eliagh]

Yes not a bad crowd at all. Phelpsy I think no code should follow the bungled example of the AFL in eastern sydney...ever. It's a sure fire way to waste hundreds of millions. The nrl should support the development of a new Perth side, which includes established players. Not sure on timing though I'd prefer to strike while the iron is hot.

[Xman]

Yes not a bad crowd at all. Phelpsy I think no code should follow the bungled example of the AFL in eastern sydney...ever. It's a sure fire way to waste hundreds of millions. The nrl should support the development of a new Perth side, which includes established players. Not sure on timing though I'd prefer to strike while the iron is hot.

Totally different scenarios. AFL already has a presence and reasonable participation rate in Sydney. While RL is has very low levels of grass root participation in Perth. As a one of crowd thats great, but regular 2-3k ratings for live NRL show the following is very small.

[Swans4ever]

Yes not a bad crowd at all. Phelpsy I think no code should follow the bungled example of the AFL in eastern sydney...ever. It's a sure fire way to waste hundreds of millions. The nrl should support the development of a new Perth side, which includes established players. Not sure on timing though I'd prefer to strike while the iron is hot.

Totally different scenarios. AFL already has a presence and reasonable participation rate in Sydney. While RL is has very low levels of grass root participation in Perth. As a one of crowd thats great, but regular 2-3k ratings for live NRL show the following is very small.

Their juniors only number 3200 - their along way off if at all!
He made his name as a banker, but NRL chief executive Dave Smith will be playing the role of an architect as he attempts to transform rugby league into the mansion of Australia's sporting landscape.

Smith would love nothing more than to grow the tentacles of the NRL by expanding the competition beyond 16 teams.

Western Australia is considered a strong chance to get an NRL club of their own once expansion occurs, while bid teams from Brisbane, Central Coast, Queensland and New Zealand are also keen to join in on the action.

The NRL has put expansion holds on talk until the end of the 2014 season, meaning it's unlikely a new team will be introduced before the current TV rights deal expires in 2017.

Smith, who managed assets worth $50 billion while working for Lloyds International, knows that for the NRL to be a truly national competition, it needs to branch out beyond its traditional strongholds.

But the Welshman says any untapped markets must prove their game is strong at a grass roots level before the NRL would be prepared to take the plunge and invest in a new side.

"It's like building a house - if the walls and floors are strong, you can put a roof on it," Smith told AAP.

"To add a team into the comp is a very significant thing to do. You have to look at the market dynamics, population growth, demographic.

"You've seen lots of examples around Australia where professional sporting clubs struggled to keep the talent.

"There was that initial euphoria, but the foundations weren't strong enough for the ongoing sustainability.

"The game's never been in better shape.

"But I think you have to take those steps very carefully.

"It starts at the grass roots."

Smith's recent travel itinerary is proof the NRL is serious about all levels of rugby league in Australia.

After spending time in Dubbo to watch the NSW country championships, Smith flew to Canberra for the Australian schoolboy championships, before making trips to Queensland and WA to assess the health of the game there.

Smith then jetted off to England on Thursday night for the Festival of World Cups, where Australia's women's outfit - the Jillaroos - will be in action, along with teams competing for the armed forces, police, students, and wheelchair titles.

A crowd in excess of 20,000 is expected to turn out for Sunday's clash between South Sydney and the Warriors at Perth's nib Stadium, showing there is strong support for the game in Perth.

Smith said he had been impressed by the recent growth in WA, which had experienced a 14.9 per cent boost in registered players over the past year, with numbers now up to 3200.

And Although WA's sporting market is dominated by AFL teams West Coast and Fremantle, Smith felt there was good potential for a rugby league team to thrive.

"This would be a new heartland for me," Smith said.

"The fact these guys have grown the game by nearly 15 per cent in one year tells you there's an opportunity for us."

[Drac]

The nRL'd be stupid not to put a team in Perth, but given they are actually stupid, it's no certainty. Perth gave them the highest crowd of the round, and would likely quickly be the 2nd highest drawing team behind the Broncos. Lots of Kiwis and NSW/QLD expats in Perth for the mining boom, and the timeslot difference would be a boon.

The real issue they have is that with no new teams 'till after 2017, they'd be entering the market at the exact same time as the brand new Perth AFL stadium launches. After years of membership waiting lists the Eagles and Freo will be going into a membership recruitment overdrive for the first time in donkeys.

[cos789]

The nRL'd be stupid not to put a team in Perth, but given they are actually stupid, it's no certainty.

I hope they do put a team in Perth because IMO it would be a money sink.

Lots of Kiwis and NSW/QLD expats in Perth for the mining boom,

That's the main point. There has been no natural increase in rl - it's all expat driven.
If you hadn't noticed, the mining boom is now the mining doldrums.

[Raiderdave]

The nRL'd be stupid not to put a team in Perth, but given they are actually stupid, it's no certainty.

I hope they do put a team in Perth because IMO it would be a money sink.

Lots of Kiwis and NSW/QLD expats in Perth for the mining boom,

That's the main point. There has been no natural increase in rl - it's all expat driven.
.

sorta like the fumbles & bumbles in NSW & QLD eh dickhead ?

[Raiderdave]

the National Rugby League will increase to 18 teams in 2018

new sides entering will be the Brisbane Bombers playing out of Suncorp
& the West Coast Pirates playing out of Perth's NIB stadium
several post season tests V NZ will be played in perth .. at Subiaco though in October as well prior to the Pirates entry



Perth provides many more live opportunities where TV coverage is concerned
while a 2nd Brisbane side means they'll share the Friday night games with the Broncs into QLD between them

the NRL will garner the largest media rights deal in Australian sporting history in 2018
leaving the VFL for dead next time round
much of this money will be pumped into the pirates & grass roots development of the game in WA
the goal is for that 3200 playing number to double by 2018

the Pirates will have 15K members in year one
& average over 15K in their first year ......
they WILL compete for a spot in the finals .... in their first year
wow
folks
just wow ..... =D> =D> =D> =D>

[Drac]

the National Rugby League will increase to 18 teams in 2018

new sides entering will be the Brisbane Bombers playing out of Suncorp
& the West Coast Pirates playing out of Perth's NIB stadium
several post season tests V NZ will be played in perth .. at Subiaco though in October as well prior to the Pirates entry



Perth provides many more live opportunities where TV coverage is concerned
while a 2nd Brisbane side means they'll share the Friday night games with the Broncs into QLD between them

the NRL will garner the largest media rights deal in Australian sporting history in 2018
leaving the VFL for dead next time round
much of this money will be pumped into the pirates & grass roots development of the game in WA
the goal is for that 3200 playing number to double by 2018

the Pirates will have 15K members in year one
& average over 15K in their first year ......
they WILL compete for a spot in the finals .... in their first year
wow
folks
just wow ..... =D> =D> =D> =D>

did.....did you just say "wow" and applaud your own hypothetical scenario? Did that just happen?

[Pete_09]

Hi im Raiderdave. I think 1+1 = 3 & the earth is flat.

WOW just WOW

HAHAHA

[cos789]

dave is so decidely dumb that he just demonstrated just why a Perth rl franchise will be such a money sink.
He alluded to the AFL expansion efforts.
Yes, dave the AFL put a lot of money and effort into it's expansion teams.
And News spent a lot of time in an attempt to kick start it's money sink.
Yet dave thinks that rl is going to take off without no effort at all at a time not even rl fans are watching rl.
If you look at the Force it started off remarkedly well but pulls on 10k now and RU is much better supported than rl in Perth.

[NRLCrap1]

It won't be the Brisbane Bombers. Essendon own the Bombers logo and name. If the second Brisbane team is to get the licence they need another nickname........

The Hamburglers.