Just a thought. It seems that there is a train of thought that Sydney has too many NRL clubs. I am at odds with this opinion as Sydney has a population that can sustain 10 teams . Over 5million and growing is a great market. Mathematically, it allows for 500,000 fan base per club. The dissenfranchised North Sydney Bears fans  should be given there team back in some form in the way of a Cental Coast/Gosford Bears team. This would also fill the void of having a side based in this area!

The talk of merging or relocating an existing Sydney NRL team will only weaken the fanbase within greater Sydney. The game is good enough to sustain and grow without compromising the established clubs any further!

ROOSTER:

Just a thought. It seems that there is a train of thought that Sydney has too many NRL clubs. I am at odds with this opinion as Sydney has a population that can sustain 10 teams . Over 5million and growing is a great market. Mathematically, it allows for 500,000 fan base per club. The dissenfranchised North Sydney Bears fans  should be given there team back in some form in the way of a Cental Coast/Gosford Bears team. This would also fill the void of having a side based in this area!

The talk of merging or relocating an existing Sydney NRL team will only weaken the fanbase within greater Sydney. The game is good enough to sustain and grow without compromising the established clubs any further!

Truth be told I think its all a bit of scaremongering... the clubs aint as skint as they are made out to be. to me its a campaing from all sectors for the Government to stop taxing and start spending wisely... then again that's what you get for voting in Iemma.... ehhh bet not get into politics here.

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ROOSTER:

Just a thought. It seems that there is a train of thought that Sydney has too many NRL clubs. I am at odds with this opinion as Sydney has a population that can sustain 10 teams . Over 5million and growing is a great market. Mathematically, it allows for 500,000 fan base per club. The dissenfranchised North Sydney Bears fans  should be given there team back in some form in the way of a Cental Coast/Gosford Bears team. This would also fill the void of having a side based in this area!

The talk of merging or relocating an existing Sydney NRL team will only weaken the fanbase within greater Sydney. The game is good enough to sustain and grow without compromising the established clubs any further!

It all depends on where the clubs are located and who they represent.  The majority of the Sydney-based clubs represent LGA's and'or districts.  This means there are a lot of LGA's in and around Sydney that aren't represented by an NRL franchise.  In my opinion, this needs to be rectified.  It can be rectified by relegating most of the Sydney-based clubs to the NSW Cup.

No more than 4 to 6 clubs should be located in Greater Sydney.  The teams from the Greater Sydney area should represent all of its population.  This means that teams that represent LGA's and/or districts (IE. Panthers, Bulldogs, Eels, Sea Eagles, Sharks and St. George) would be relegated to the NSW Cup.

Sydney might be big, but the fact is its people aren't going to Rugby League matches in large numbers.  The Sydney-based clubs aren't as profitable as the ones from Queensland.  The game is faring better in Queensland than it is in NSW.

Therefore, I think a few of the Sydney-based clubs ought to be omitted and replaced by Queensland-based clubs.  The Sydney-based clubs that are omitted could be affiliated with the Queensland-based clubs they are replaced by.  I spoke about a plan similar to this here.

With all due respect, what you have proposed is sheer suicide. The strength of the competition is its history and club traditions. You lose that and you lose a major advantage!

ROOSTER:

With all due respect, what you have proposed is sheer suicide. The strength of the competition is its history and club traditions. You lose that and you lose a major advantage!

ROOSTER,

The strength of the competition is derived from its standing in Queensland.  The Queensland-based clubs are more marketable than the Sydney-based clubs.  A fair amount of he Sydney-based clubs are finding it difficult to stay afloat.

In conclusion, the Sydney-based clubs are facing a crisis.   Ignoring the problem and pretending that everything is okay will not make it go away.

I tend to agree with Druzik on this topic, I too think its a bit of scare-mongering on behalf of some of the Sydney clubs. But the underlying issue here is whether or not there are too many clubs in the Sydney area to remain sustainable. Personally, I think there are too many clubs. I think the game, and the people, are crying out for a true national competition. We need a team in Perth again, and we need a Sydney team to take up the 8 million dollar relocation offer on the table from the NRL to move to the Central Coast. A broader national competition would also help lift the amount of revenue the NRL would be able to command in their next TV rights deal.  

 

I know club mergers are a painful subject, and if my beloved Broncos were ever forced to merge with a club I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd still support the game of Rugby League over any other code.  I've been a big fan of South Sydneys' fight to remain in the competition, and I admire the tradition in that club, but I think it is time for them to be the team to relocate to the Central Coast. I think Parramatta and Penrith would be a good merger proposition, and plus 'Parramatta Panthers' just roles off the tongue doesn't it?.

 

If Souths relocate, that would instantly give us an established brand on the Central Coast, with 8 million dollars up their sleeves and a fantastic new venue in Bluetongue stadium. A Parramatta-Penrith merger would then make way for a Western Australia based team to re-enter the competition whilst still retaining a 16 team competition.  

 

Look I think As they are is OK... just a bit of geographical re-location in Sydney is needed. If any re-location needs to be done then for mine I'd like to see St's re-locate... but OK lets say souths relocate that still leaves 8 clubs covering 4million+ people... remeber that is the population of all of QLD.

Wests to move permanently to Campbeltown and that it... the rest are good wher they are. Any more forced mergers would not be healthy IMO.

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Respect the history for which the NRL has been sprouted from. If this is thrown away, as you suggest,it will result in no loyalty from the general fan base and furthermore unpleasant confusion for new and present fans. You are playing with the leisure time of sports fans. If something becomes difficult they will move on! Believe me they will. Just like the displaced North Sydney Bears fans who now have no team and no therefore allegiance to RL. Your recipe for expansion does not allow for peoples feelings and allegiances. This is vital when considering a supporter base. If you go down your track you will cause the disaster that the Super league war created! You should also note that alot of NSW expats have moved to QLD. These people still have allegiances to there former areas & clubs.

I suggest growth without throwing the seed out to dry! You are suggesting throwing the seed out and expecting magical growth! I'm sure if you have a good think about it you will see my point of view and come around. At the moment ,you are creating derision and division with your elimination of highly recognisable and respected clubs in favour of a relocation of clubs en masse. Genuine expansion can occur with additional clubs! I am all for more QLD clubs ie) Sunshine Coast Dolphins etc. But dont kill off the fabric(Sydney clubs) that is the chemistry of the NRL and in reality its advantage over other codes trying to cash in on the market!

Druzik, I agree that geographical finetuning is the go. I suggest the North Sydney Bears be given life in the form of the Central Coast or Gosford Bears. West Tigers become Balmain Capbelltown Tigers and Wests Magpies being a support club for a West Australian Magpies team in the future. Obviously the same colours and traditionally recognised guernseys be given high priority for playing strips. I have spoken to West fans about this and they would follow a side that gave their lost identity back and the same for Bears fans!

Just a quick suggestion for expansion/relocation/existing team names in the next 10 to 20 years:

South Australian Rabbitoes(South Sydney Rabbits colours&strip)

West Australian Magpies(West Sydney Magpie colours& 80s strip)

Balmain-Campbelltown Tigers(Balmain Tigers colours & 80s strip)

Central Coast/Gosford Bears(North Sydney Bears colours)

Sunshine Coast Dolphins.(Colours to be decided)

With some aggressive marketing and planning this could work! In the end the NRL would have 3 new clubs and perhaps look for another club out of New Zealand or Queensland.

ROOSTER:

Druzik, I agree that geographical finetuning is the go. I suggest the North Sydney Bears be given life in the form of the Central Coast or Gosford Bears. West Tigers become Balmain Capbelltown Tigers and Wests Magpies being a support club for a West Australian Magpies team in the future. Obviously the same colours and traditionally recognised guernseys be given high priority for playing strips. I have spoken to West fans about this and they would follow a side that gave their lost identity back and the same for Bears fans!

I hear what your saying but many western reds fans may want to have THEIR old team back as well... really in the end the name changes and that are irrespective as long as some sense of identoty and history are kept with the clubs. Its the south-eastern and central (Ests, souths, St's ,sharks, Tigers, Doggies) areas of sydney that is the biggest concern really when it comes to congestion, you basically have 6 teams repping 2 million people  which does not work and 2 another 2.5 million... spread the love a bit I say.

The norths dilema is a doozy... How many of the nths fans woudl come back if they were on the CC? If they are brought in it will be at the expense of a Sydney team... or should a sydney team relocate? The only other option I can see is if a Sydney team relocates to QLD, ideally one of Souths (which pains me to see) or Sts (for mine the more obvious) that then would open up the CC bears and as you say a western team (reds or pies as you want). This would give us an 18 team comp which AFAIC is the perfect number. I don;t think it should go beyound 18... trhe player talent and money jsust wont be there fo any more.

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My View:

Wellington: NO one NZL team is good how it is, wouldnt want to saturate the market.

Another QLD Team: NO, QLD is successful in all three of their teams and once again wouldnt want to saturate the market like sydney.

Outback NSW: NO, population base simply not big enough.

Darwin: MAYBE, Small population base but no other teams in the area of any code, could work.

Central Coast: YES!, has been crying out for a league side for years, will be successful also needed to counteract soccer.

Perth: YES, rugby league has the following in Perth to eventually run a successful team, could take a few years tho.

Adelaide: NO, at this point in time Rugby League in South Australia has basically no following.

There are also too many teams in sydney. Teams cant be completely stomped out but as seen in the past joint ventures are successful. Maybe Merge Parramatta and Bulldogs to create a super South West Sydney team. I think that removing teams from the competition completely is ridiculus so mergers are definately the answer.

 :)

jakew0406:

My View:

Wellington: NO one NZL team is good how it is, wouldnt want to saturate the market.

Agree... for the moment maybe down the track... but get their local comp up and running and stronger first.

jakew0406:

 

Another QLD Team: NO, QLD is successful in all three of their teams and once again wouldnt want to saturate the market like sydney.

Disagree, Not in Brisbane but the sunshine coast upto rocky defo could have a team... its basically the same a CC in NSW they have been crying for a team as well and could easily support one I am sure.

jakew0406:

 

Outback NSW: NO, population base simply not big enough.

Would have disagreed with you a year a go... but now agree. When Wagga or some other population hits the 150k mark then come back and have a look.

jakew0406:

Darwin: MAYBE, Small population base but no other teams in the area of any code, could work.

No, the populatioon and exposuer for any team or comp is too small, if no one wants to head to Tasie to set up a team then why would they go to Darwin!

jakew0406:

Central Coast: YES!, has been crying out for a league side for years, will be successful also needed to counteract soccer.

Perth: YES, rugby league has the following in Perth to eventually run a successful team, could take a few years tho.

Adelaide: NO, at this point in time Rugby League in South Australia has basically no following.

Pretty much agree on all those... but Adelaide down the track could be an option if the WA team be successful and give more RL exposre out that way.

jakew0406:

There are also too many teams in sydney. Teams cant be completely stomped out but as seen in the past joint ventures are successful. Maybe Merge Parramatta and Bulldogs to create a super South West Sydney team. I think that removing teams from the competition completely is ridiculus so mergers are definately the answer.

 :)

Again if anything there is only 1 team too many in Sydney... best would be a geographical re-loaction of sydney teams with in the city and Greater sydney. Mergers just dont work in me eyes. Look what's happened with the three we have:

• Nth Eagles... collapsed two bitter rivals... it was never gonna work.
• St's basically the smaller Illawarra team has been out consumed by Sts and even that now is struggling. The two were not bitter rivals so on paper it looks like they have been a successful venture... and in term of turmoil (or lack there of) they have been. But one team has been out muscled and bullied by the other
• Wests struggled early on and even can argue are struggling now to meet demand but they have seen what happened with the others, fans bit the bullet and accepted it... but if they were to remerge as two seperate teams fans would be happy.

Now imagine what a Parra/Doggies merger woudl be like. Fans that hate each other almost to a militant point... One super strong club financially (dogs) against smaller financially run club (Eels), then you have two of the biggest egos in the game running and supporting the teams comming to logger heads with each other and you have a recipe for a total disaster and loss of a massive fan base.

I say live and let live as we are... the scaremongering going on this week by Gallop and the NRL clubs is not a bad ploy against the NSW government to get rid of their stupid pokie tax. Other states don;t impose this on their clubs (Collingwood make annually $28 million from pokies) so why should NSW be hit as well. 

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SA - Not ATM but should be looked at down the line. IMO get a SA team doing what the Reds are doing ATM.

WA- definatley, come 2012 or 2013 i'd say they will be there.

Sunny Coast - Yes, 200k or there abouts and pretty close to other fairly big areas such as gympie etc.

CQ - Population is a problem ATM. Rocky and mackay are about 75k each. The Rocky area would have about 100k total including nearby gracemere and yepoon, not sure about mackay. Popularity is definatley there though and alot of great junior4 talent comes through CQ every year. I'd say rocky could average 15,000 to an NRL club ATM, problem is browne park is our biggest stadium and it can seat about 4,000 with standing and the hill adding another 3-4000.

Darwin - No, I think with the current population the best they can hope for is a team in QLD cup, which would be a good idea IMO.

Wellington - Down the line maybe but not yet.

At least you have the commonsense to understand tampering with the Sydney RL clubs is a poison chalice. It is from where the NRL was created. You kill the seeds you the kill the fabric and future. These exisiting clubs can easily have their day in the sun. It is only by virtue of having a winning&competitive team that significant success is realised.I think many people have undervalued the TV exposure of the Sydney clubs thru the 70s & 80s. This is significant in that they are all easily and readily identified with by the general public. RL should and does capitalise from this, and I believe this is crucial to the future growth of the game. Expansion by addition, not mergering and thoughtless relocation! Relocation can occur but with strong links to perhaps a recognised club.(Specifically for frontier areas WA & SA) QLD have enough RL background to create successful clubs in their own right.(Sunshine Coast Dolphins backed by Redcliffe)This will appease many of the fans that would leave the game if their club was turfed out with no semblance of identity.