One positive aspect of the Sonny Bill imbroglio is that attention has been turned to what the NRL needs to do to strengthen the game. Some pundits (Andrew Johns for example) have argued that Perth and Adelaide need to included in the competition. However, this would be a huge mistake for the NRL. Now before Adelaideans and Pethites feel I’m selling them short let me explain.
To setup a team in Adelaide and Perth would mean it would run at a loss for many years. Before the NRL even thinks about a first grade side, they will need to spend a number of years ensuring there is a foundation in both cities for an NRL side. This means working at the grass roots to build the supporter base. Perth does have the WA Reds with the ambition for a team to enter the NRL in 2011. There is no certainty that this will happen given David Gallop’s words on the The Footy Show last Thursday. But if you look at the WARL website, there are some positive signs.
There is also an SARL as well. They seem to be behind Perth in terms of development which makes any talk of an South Australian team very premature.
The NRL can’t hope that they throw a team in each state and then build a following. I’m not sure when the last time NRL teams played in Adelaide or Perth but I suspect, other than a trial game, it has been a while. If the NRL is serious then they should be taking regular season games to both those cities. Start building an appreciation for the code and give those who work at the grass roots a reward.
The same needs to be done in NSW and QLD. At the moment all the action occurs on the coastal strip. The country, the heart of league, gets nothing apart from a token trial game in February or March. Take regular season NRL games to rural centres like Parkes or Forbes or up to Tamworth or Lismore. Yes the standards may not be up to the likes of ANZ Stadium but the game needs nourishing at the base level. It will benefit the game for kids (and adults) to see the heroes without having to travel to Sydney or Brisbane.
Talk of expansion is misguided when the NRL grass roots needs so much attention. The game needs to re-establish the NSW and QLD base. The occasional eye to other states but the focus is to make sure that the other codes do not get a jump while attention is turned elsewhere.
4 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Aug 6, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I know…. let’s set the Doggies up in Gosford - that’s close to rural!
Shaun // Aug 6, 2008 at 9:57 pm
An interesting move. It poses an ethical dilemma. If the Dogs become your local side do you support them?
I think they would have hard time building a fan base. The Sharks or Bunnies would find it far easier if they were to move up here.
Mungo Amanda // Aug 7, 2008 at 6:57 am
I think that story is bollocks. The news said “Dogs are considering it although Todd Greenberg says there has been no discussion at board level.” If there has been no discussion at board level how can they be said to be considering it?
They may be trying to put pressure on the Olympic Park folks to give them the facilities or whatever it is they want.
Send the Bears up there. I feel v. sorry for Bears fans.
Vee // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I think a side West of the Blue Mountains is needed too and I don’t mean Bathurst or Lithgow, that’s barely west of the mountains and Broken Hill is too far. I don’t know what the equivalents in QLD are.
I’ve heard the nutcase Ray Hadley go on about why more games aren’t played in the country regions is because corporate don’t get the luxuries of their boxes.
It’d be better if we could get rid of Aussie Rules out of NSW and QLD, I have all sorts of issues with it, however it’s not viable to get rid of it.
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