Coming from a British point of of view, we tried to fast track London Broncos and Helped out with Crusaders but they where in places where Rugby Union is a strong hold, where as Catalan where already getting 10,000 to matches in the french league, It would be better to upgrade the lower leagues push the teams you want in the NRL to have a couple of years in lower leagues make sure they are stable and have the fan base to do so, then move them up in say 3 years.
I don't think it does anywhere but its wether you can get the attendances and take that away from other sports which are more prominent in those areas
Looking at the Queensland bids, I think the Jets make the most sense, surely going to see more and more population sprawl to the West over time, a bit like how Parramatta is the centre of Sydney now by population (iirc). Redcliffe looks like it'd be a bit limited, it's kind of boxed in by the coast, has an identity that I imagine is tied to Redcliffe etc. I read some numbers the other day about how big a catchment north sydney/central coast actually is for eye balls, way more than Cronulla etc, good pool of juniors too. I'd love to see the Bears back as the Central Coast but not can't imagine happening before a Perth/more qld bids.
We don't have the talent for more sides, we all know if they make it 17 clubs it won't be long before an 18th comes in for the extra game for the broadcasters.
Maybe more teams would be good, two more clubs to say lure Yeo or Fischer Harris from Penrith, Munster from Storm, Walker from Rabbitohs, with some marquee contracts, potentially level things a bit. I'm not sure if/how that can make any sense, but its something I've been mulling over. Then you have say an Aiden Sezer come back from SL. I was going to say surely you could scrounge a team together from Super League, I just got a few squads up and my god its slim pickings.
I'll take a quick stab 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Jake Mamo 3. Gareth Widdop 4. Dean Whare 5. Cheyse Blair 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Matt Prior 9. Blake Austin 10. Sam Kasiano 11. Joel Thompson 12. Sione Mata'utai 13. Nathan Peats 14. Adam Quinlan 15. Jason Clark 16. Korbin Sims 17. Zane Tetavano
Yeah that side looks depressing as fuck. Everyone either over 30 or were never that good. Compare it to 10-15 years ago and that would've been a genuinely good side.
I've changed my tune on this quite a bit over the years, I don't believe there's a lack of talent I just think there's a lack of good quality development in the game. It just doesn't make sense that so many rejects turn up at good clubs and then are developed into good quality first graders whilst other clubs turn clearly talented kids into reserve graders. There's no way it's just as simple as talent identification, undeniably identification is half the battle but how does Ryan Papenhayuzen go from reject to absolute gun. If he stayed at Wests he probably just ends up being Shannon Mcdonnell v2.0 There's a shortage of good quality coaches & administrator's.
And the reverse seems to be true for a lot of props and outside backs that leave storm. Brian Norrie and Adam Woolnough were looking the goods when they were plucked from retirement at Storm
Also needs to be more done to retain mid to low level guys with experience in the NRL system rather than going to ESL and ISC and NSW cup
Gus is spot on. Poaching is too prevalent. It leads to misallocation of resources with respect to proper development pathways. I do think there needs to be small dispensation for inhouse talent and long-serving clubmen.
Shouldn't be small, should be huge. Advantage the club's bringing in juniors, if it leaves the others weak for extended periods, fold or relocate them.
Reason I wrote this team out was thinking if this lot was still here, plus a couple of marquee signings along with players that aren't quite first choice at their club, it'll be panther heavy as that's who I pay most atttenjtion too 1. Nico Hynes 2. Brent Naden 3. Joey Manu 4. Dean Whare 5. Cheyse Blair 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Api Korisau 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Joel Thompson 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Matt Prior 14. Blake Austin 15. Sione Mata'utia 16. Korbin Sims 17. Matt Prior 18. Lachlan Coote 19. Adam Quinlan 20. Sam Kasiano 21. Gareth Widdop 22. Jason Clark 23. Nathan Peats 24. Ryan Mamo 25. Zane Tetavano Does it become competitive whilst not really taking away from the existing teams strength. You put a decent system behind that, I think it does alright.
https://amp.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/th...0210430-p57np3.html?__twitter_impression=true Really good read from Andrew Wesbter and illustrates well why I don't think the player pool is an issue. If the two new sides who come in are areas of need, have good coaches and set up their pathways properly then there's enough players for them to bring through and develop.
The real reason player pools arent a problem is because 90% of fans wont even detect a tangible drop in quality. Football from 10 years ago was better than what it is now.
Whatever Teams that come in, they need to make some true marquee signings of talent that are from the region or at least close by. And also do their best to source local reserves. This way they will have some Identity. As it looks almost certain that one of the new sides will be in SE QLD, they need to make sure they don't have the same problem that the Titans had in their debut game where only 6 players were Queenslanders. The rest were NSW players or from overseas. Anyone I spoke to around that time didn't give 2 shits about them because "They are full of Blues and NZ players". Likeable and marketable QLD players such as Munster and Grant need to be at the top of their list. When the Broncos came in; they chock full of Local Talent. When the Cowboys came in; of the 17 players, 13 were Queenslanders. And most were from between Rocky and Cairns. The other 4 were from NSW. The Titans still don't feel like a QLD side to me.
That probably sums up Gold Coast itself in a way, only half Queenslanders anyway. Fully agree though, if Ipswich came in and threw the book at Sam Walker, Grant and Munster to build around. If they came in next year you've got Kurt Mann, Coatesx2, Moses Mbye, Kurt Capewell, Ash Taylor, Opacic, Gagai, Lui Corey Norman coming off contract to give a bit more of a Queensland flavour. Then go after a few QLD cup stalwarts contracts, no idea how he goes in reggies but giving a guy like Kieran Moseley an NRL promotion form the current Ipswich team could get a bit of traction. 1. Mbye 2. Gagai 3. Norman 4. Opacic 5. Coates 6. Munster 7. Walker 8. Napa 9. Grant 10. Lui 11. Goates 12. Capewell 13. Mann Or they could sign whoever they wanted and just splash a bit of maroon on the jersey and Queensland hicks wouldn't have any idea where they're from. No one cares that GI is a New South Welshamn