It appears the Bears are willing to relocate anywhere to become the 18th team
If they are going to have a 2nd Victorian team, they should make sure it has a strong local / regional identity such as Geelong, Ballarat or Bendigo.
That said I know of no towns in Victoria that have a rugby league presence, unlike regional NSW and qld, WA, NT, and even SA.
South Island NZ may not be a big League heartland, but as a rugby powerhouse, certainly a big potential player pool.
I was thinking Geelong.
In saying that I think there are several other options that I would prefer (ie Perth, Central Coast, NZ 2, Ipswich, Pasifika, Adelaide, Central Queensland)
I’m not sure another team in Victoria is what is needed. In a state that in saturated with Australian Rules Football I’m not sure it represents the best value in investment in the growth of Rugby League. It would make more sense to target a state like WA where there is room for growth and there is a appetite for more Rugby League. The ARLC really missed the opportunity with the vacuum left by the Western Force Rugby Club (which has now since returned).
I also was listening to a few Victorians and I found it interesting how they put it. They said that there are many people who follow many AFL clubs, but then the unifying common ground is that they are usually also Storm supporters. Which I guess was how it was here in Sydney with the Swans (prior to GWS entry).
I thought I would paste this here. It is the Rugby League Participation by State (excluding Rugby League Pathways of which I might save for another thread). I am not sure a argument can be made for “Victoria 2”
Rugby League Participation by State
| 2016 | % | 2017 | C | % | 2018 | C | % | 2019 | C | % | 20203 | C | % | 20213 | C | % | 2022 | C | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | 587 | <1% | 1,595 | 172% | 1% | 1,723 | 8% | 1% | 1,320 | -23% | 1% | N/A2 | N/A2 | 6,317 | 3% | |||||
| NSW | 76,083 | 46% | 67,037 | -12% | 39% | 89,070 | 33% | 44% | 81,671 | -8% | 56% | 89,070 | 9% | 54% | 93,491 | 5% | 53% | 104,537 | 12% | 45% |
| NT | 1,541 | 1% | 6,516 | 323% | 4% | 5,115 | -22% | 3% | 3,840 | -25% | 3% | 5,847 | 52% | 4% | 933 | -84% | 1% | 3,684 | 295% | 2% |
| QLD | 69,536 | 42% | 73,023 | 5% | 43% | 100,327 | 37% | 50% | 46,075 | -54% | 32% | 52,658 | 14% | 32% | 66,867 | 27% | 38% | 78,661 | 18% | 34% |
| SA | 944 | 1% | 6,129 | 549% | 4% | 1,592 | -74% | 1% | 3,848 | 142% | 3% | 2,135 | -45% | 1% | 2,640 | 24% | 1% | 3,586 | 36% | 2% |
| VIC | 8,872 | 5% | 5,595 | -37% | 3% | 13,606 | 143% | 7% | 7,065 | -48% | 5% | 13,157 | 86% | 8% | 6,015 | -54% | 3% | 19,520 | 225% | 8% |
| WA | 7,516 | 5% | 11,740 | 56% | 7% | 13,524 | 15% | 7% | 2,345 | -83% | 2% | 3,113 | 33% | 2% | 7,428 | 139% | 4% | 14,886 | 100% | 6% |
| ALL | 165,079 | 171,636 | 4% | 200,950 | 17% | 146,164 | -27% | 165,979 | 14% | 177,376 | 7% | 231,191 | 30% |
[1] TAS either does not report numbers of rugby league participants, or the numbers are too insignificant to report
[2] ACT numbers were not available from AUSPLAY in 2020/2021
[3] These figures are likely to be affected by the COVID19 Pandemic
Source: AUSPLAY. Participation by activity ⧉
While I understand the logic of V’Lamdys wanting to create another rivalry to boost ratings, I think Melbourne/Victoria is the wrong option. Teams & rivalries work best when you have home grown talent, and at the moment there isn’t enough talent from south of the border to pack a scrum!!!
If it is rivalries & ratings he is after, here are the better options:
-
Central Coast Bears (playing 3-6 games per year at North Sydney) - reignites the old rivalry with Manly, and by having them based on the Central Coast can create a new rivalry with Newcastle.
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Central Queensland (based out of Rockhampton or Mackay, playing out of both) - creates new rivalries with other Queensland teams, but especially with the Cowboys, and bridges the gap between Brisbane & Townsville.
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Ipswich Jets (possibly in partnership with Newtown & playing 3 games per year at Henson Park) - again creates rivalries with other Queensland teams, would especially create rivalry with Dolphins as the 2 newest teams, both playing in the same city.
-
Second New Zealand team (based out of Wellington or Christchurch, possibly sharing games) - creates new rivalry with the Warriors, has ready made recruitment from Union.
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Riverina (based out of Albury or Wagga Wagga, playing games at both) - a long shot, but creates rivalry with Raiders
Realistically though, I think he should be looking at Perth to open another time slot. Having 4 games on a Saturday or 3 games on a Sunday every week would be worth more TV money than the temporary boost of 2 games a year provided by a rivalry.
I am sure that I read somewhere that there is a local comp (just checked - there is About us :: NRL WA). As you stated, I too think that there needs to be local teas and players to get that tribal feeling going.
I agree. This seems like a no brainer.
The time difference adds another slot to the week schedule, making it easier for the NRL to make 10 games a round fit a TV schedule with as little clashing as possible.
Their bid looks to be the most fleshed out (realistically you could implement this team in the next year or so). The junior systems are in place and they have a healthy league with a growing participation rate (on average).
State of Origin has been hosted there for a few years now and they seem to have no trouble selling out. There is an appetite there and the WA Government seems to be on board, and you know how much PVL loves the attention from State Governments. 
So what are we waiting for, let’s get them on the field already, personally I am sick of this 17 team crap already.
Agreed, I’m sick of an uneven number already too. The NRL could have them up & running next year if they wanted. Play most or all of their home games at either 7.30pm Saturday or 4pm Sunday local time, to come in after our current time slots.
I think the hardest part for a WA team would be convincing quality players that a change of scenery is in their best interests.
This might be an opportunity to take Bellyache out of Melbourne & give him a new franchise to mould, as Bennett has done with the Dolphins. The right coach would attract players to Perth, and with Bellyache seemingly a year to year prospect at the Storm these days (by his own choice), dangling the right carrot in front of him might make all the difference.
I have been putting in some serious thought about long term expansion over the last few days.
The NRL has declared that they want a 20 team competition before the Brisbane Olympics, and we probably have the talent in the game & junior pathways to achieve this.
The first step would be to bring in the 18th team as soon as possible. Perth Pirates (I really wish they would go back to being Western Reds), Ipswich Jets & North Sydney-Central Coat Bears could probably all step up to be that 18th team quickly.
I could make arguments for & against all of them being number 18, but in my mind it has to be Perth, starting by 2025 at the latest
Ipswich & Norths can then be put on notice that they will be the 19th & 20th teams, starting circa 2030, giving them some certainty, and allowing them to start planning.
From here we look at the next 4 teams, all of which will need more groundwork done before being serious contenders, both by the clubs themselves, and the NRL. Central Queensland, Adelaide, NZ 2 & Pasifika are the areas I’m specifically thinking of. Put all 4 on notice that 2 of them will be added before 2040, and it will be up to each of them to put their case forward. The remaining 2 will be added in the mid 2040s. I’d expect that Central Queensland would been in to first group, and Adelaide in the second group, meaning that the battle would really be between NZ 2 & Pasifika.
Lastly I’m looking to Darwin & Hobart to become the 25th & 26th teams, probably not until at least 2050. Again it will take work from the locals & NRL to provide the pathways to make these teams viable.
I’m expecting, that by the time we have either 22 or at the most 24 teams, the draw is reduced to playing each team once. With everyone having the same number of home games, and with the magic round making up for the odd number of games.
For mine, the Ipswich- Newton Jets makes a lot of sense, as does the Rockhampton Bulls.
Carins not so much, namely for the reasons stated in the article, but also due to the demographic of Cairns - it would likely become another Gold Coast holiday home for players.
If the Pacifika team need an Australian part time base, I would base them in Darwin. That’s one market the AFL will never hold.
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