Sydney clubs in firing line as NRL looks to expand | NRL 360

NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent believes cutting Sydney teams to bring in another Brisbane team is a ridiculous plan. What are your thoughts?
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
Facebook: / foxnrl
Twitter: / foxnrl
Instagram: / foxleague
#NRL #FoxLeague

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

I'm American and I've been following rugby league for almost 10 years and my prediction for expansion/relocation is there won't be a second team in Brisbane despite Channel 9's demand for a team because they lacked coverage of the sport in their channel. There had been a second team before in Brisbane which was the South Queensland Crushers and they failed miserably because they couldn't compete with the Broncos. If Queensland is going to have another NRL team, expand it to Ipswich or Redcliffe because those areas are viable for a NRL franchise and they're located around like 30 minutes from Brisbane. Redcliffe is a good choice because the Dolphins are dying to become a NRL franchise. As for Perth, I had two guys; one from Melbourne and one from NSW telling me that the NRL will not be successful in Perth due to Perth being an AFL town. As for Manly and Cornulla, people don't want to lose another Sydney team and they should let the administrators know what happened to Souths because they were losing loads of money and when they returned to the comp, they had to play at ANZ Stadium to become viable.

[@pearlyshells2430]

Some valid points, mate

[@montedog100]

Yea not bad ,for a yank

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

@@montedog100 it seems like Brisbane will get a expansion team because I think Perth won't support an NRL team. It will not make it as a NRL market. I fear the second Brisbane team will be second fiddle to the Broncos, but I hope it'll make it unlike the Crushers who failed miserably in the mid 90s. Brisbane must have a second team in the NRL and they will get one.

[@liamknight2662]

Melbournes an AFL town and the storm can hold their own. in 2002 Western Australia had 20 amateur RL teams in the state. By 2012 that number had grown to 200 with plenty of NSW/QLDers moving over to the mines. Perth will always be an AFL town but It can support an NRL side. Plus the new timeslot for TV rights should see the NRL be able to bump up their TV rights deal. The NRL just need to persist with a team. They have the expectation that if it isnt successful right away its a failure. The AFL on the other hand have committed to funding the Giants and Suns at a loss for a generation in the hope that some of the kids growing up in Western Sydney and SE QLD take up AFL. Perth is an absolute must for anybody thinking long term that has the balls to wear a loss for 10-20 years. The Same with a 2nd Brisbane side, whether thats Ipswich or Redcliffe. I think the team will still be Brisbane, but nicknamed the Jets or Dolphins

[@Fernando-iy3fg]

@@liamknight2662 I agree when you said that just because Perth is a AFL city, doesn't mean that they won't support a rugby league team. Nashville and Tampa can do that with Hockey, there is no reason not to belive Perth is not a good market

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Won't happen, it's all talk

[@pochonsauriroalili7938]

Give PNG a team- every game would be sold out.

[@aperaruapeeta4309]

When they sort out there government yoo

[@trevorhanlon6755]

We gave NZ one why not PNG

[@siwaisavage2181]

@@aperaruapeeta4309 any png government will still fund and that team😂

[@CTA12356]

@@siwaisavage2181 uses Australian tax payer dollars anyways... ppl forget we prop PNG up

[@samwhitehall8545]

Rugby League was born here? I'm sure it was born in Huddersfield. 😂😂

[@justawfulgaming7025]

The arl buddy calm down

[@oliverlandry8871]

I know it's pretty randomly asking but does anybody know of a good site to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@arianjason7622]

@Oliver Landry I use flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

[@marleyaxton123]

@Arian Jason yea, I have been watching on Flixzone for years myself =)

[@oliverlandry8871]

@Arian Jason Thank you, signed up and it seems like a nice service =) I appreciate it!

[@ethan-is7dn]

Why not bring a club back to Wollongong or why not instead of expanding the NRL why not add a second division with a promotion and relegation system

[@zapsmaster]

Best way to go because you keep fans with teams down the ladder interested all through the season, problem is you’ll add more Sydney teams to the comp if say gc titans and warriors go down

[@adamwebb831]

Brisbane had a second team about 20 years ago. Why isn't that mentioned?

[@deeessaye5583]

What was that team??? 20 years ago 1999??

[@adamwebb831]

@@deeessaye5583 from 1995 to 1997 South Qld Crushers played out of Brisbane.

[@tomtonka1915]

@Insert Name Here superleague should have won. Game would be so much better off.It's dying under this administration.

[@pimpmyforklift]

I think if you look back in history , the players were the average jo that went to work and trained a few days a week then played a game at the end of the week . The game exploded in interest with hardcore fans . Teams would win and teams would get a thrashing but their fans would always be their to support them. It took time for a team to be competitive enough to give the better teams a run for their money . NRL have to stick out the Titans for the long haul . The Gold Coast has a massive future as it is still young and not nearly as developed as Sydney or Melbourne. If the NRL chooses to dump the Gold Coast Titans , they also risk to loose the faith of Rugby League on the Gold Coast and every other sport will pounce at the opportunity to grab all of the sponsers all the interest. So be wise not greedy, money will come , but fear in the media that the Titans will fail the NRL puts pressure on the players and the fans will also think why go to the game when the NRL is just going to axe the Titans . I bet with the media belting down on the Titans , the fans have probably given up on the NRL . The NRL should announce that the Titans are in the NRL for good , then watch the smiles , additude, attendance arrive like a bear's heart . Seriously the Gold Coast must be in serious depression at this stage . You talk about Players depression, How about the fans and sponsers. Their should be an investigation in the interest of NRL because one and all can only think someone is trying to sabotage it .

[@adamwebb831]

You said "If the NRL lose the Gold Coast other sports will jump in". What other sports would jump in?the Gold Coast have had basketball and soccer try and fail. What makes you think they'll try again?

[@TOTN17]

@@adamwebb831 Gold Coast United's problem was it's owner Clive Palmer

[@jeaninebreckenridge6326]

Brisbane 2020 wont be as bad as 2019 boy were you wrong

[@mootfm1107]

How times change, Titans have improved a lot after 2021. Looking forward to how they go with 2022

[@elijahtchilembe-mpovie2715]

Add Adelaide, Perth, Wellington, Central Coast, Redcliffe, and one extra. With 22 teams, you can split into two conferences with 11 each, 20 games played, with 2 byes and you can do a playoff with 4, 6 or 8 from each conference, with the conference champions playing in a Grand Final, like we do it here in the States with our sports. I love the NRL and rugby in general that's why my goal is become a professional. But as Gus said, if you want it to work, you need the right people. It's all about the long term..

[@phoenixmarizzle5059]

How about dividing them into 2 leagues where the new teams as well as the 11-16 teams are in the same league. So that the top 10 teams play home and away (18 games) plus state of origin (3 games) and international games. The top 8 teams play in the playoffs, bottom 2 teams get relegated.

[@elijahtchilembe-mpovie2715]

@DVN Fantastic idea.

[@cracc8361]

Just get a team from the intrust cup (Queensland) and promote them to first grade.

[@troystaunton254]

Redcliffe and or Ipswich. Creating a team is a dumb idea I 100% agree with you

[@fless93flesser25]

Move titans to Ipswich or Logan then merge redcliff dolphins with sunshine coast

[@gengarpokemon7731]

they don't need to expand!! all this talk is because the NRL are using the salary cap incorrectly. buzz is a waste and no point having him on here at all.

[@markdavey8809]

Titans to Central Coast, new franchise in Brisbane.

[@Youser57]

The Queensland Cup should keep building on its status as that and the NSW cup have been growing in popularity much like the Championship of the EPL, the Championship has grown to be one of the biggest leagues in Europe. Eventually a preseason tournament between QLDCup NSWCup and NRL teams to even further the development of the two Cups could happen, for eg. A brand new team much like how the Broncos started would be better, either relocate a Sydney team or create / revive the South Queensland Crushers. Old supporters would come back and they'd also have a backing, wouldn't need as heavy of an investment and it wont stifle the QLD Cup teams and it's progress. There's plenty of talent to develop to 1st graders once the facilities and money are available from sponsorships and TV deals. NRL must keep Gold Coast after all these years of development, no discussion.

[@Youser57]

Don't bring a team from QLD Cup to the NRL

[@TogoUili]

Too many team in Sydney but not all Sydney team are good

[@darren2514fv]

Bathurst is in Rugby League territory and a NRL team in that part of NSW would be ideal

[@titoelcomombiano]

7:22 lol

[@Fernando-iy3fg]

I think they should relocate a few teams from Sydney. I know that Sydney is the Capital of Rugby League, but having 8 teams on a 16 club league seams a little disproportional I would expand the league to 20 teams and relocate some teams from Sydney I think the best markets for a club would be (I don't think all of those should have a team, but should be an option), Perth, Adelaide, Wellington, Ipswich, Gosford, Tasmania and Northern Territory

[@dox7681]

Which Sydney Teams would u relocate though?

[@blackrose.9927]

Nah it would impact on the NRL by doing that ! It would go backwards again. There is an obvious alternative that could have been done 26years ago 😏

[@matthewgraham6166]

Watching this in 2023. Them saying '17 teams, yeah nah' is quite funny as now we have the Redcliffe Dolphins in the comp

[@mickc7159]

Heard Wests tigers were gonna go couple of yrs ago

[@slip-yp6hg]

Redcliffe 🐬What about the Brisbane Bombers?

[@geoffaldwinckle1096]

We ni9w what happened last time they mucked around with traditional clubs. Not good.

[@lodle2919]

Financial viability is more important than nostalgia

[@markhoward7226]

I live in Brisbane and I don't want another team

[@coala1980]

is time to change actually is to late the Sharks had to be moved before they won the championship

[@sahulianhooligan7046]

You cant have a second Brisbane team and 9 Sydney teams at the same time. Everything in life, no matter how good it sounds, has a sacrifice.

[@GoddyofWar]

Surprise surprise, the Sydney media digs in for their clubs, yet refuse to actually turn up to watch them when it matters. I know you Southerners are quite used to having your cake and eating it too, but have you ever stopped to think that 9 clubs in one state makes you a tad morbidly obese?

[@KMcD1097]

Theres 11 AFL teams in Melbourne. each seem to be doing okay. My morbid obesity from too much cake has nothing to do with how many NRL teams are in Sydney.

[@KMcD1097]

Going off statistics released by the organisations, The demons 2019 membership total is 52,421 and Carlton's being 64,269. You're right about north Melbourne perpetually flirting with irrelevance as their numbers are the lowest of any Melbourne team at 40,789. Compare this to Cronulla's 15,795, Manly's whopping 12,435 and the highest NRL membership tally being Brisbane broncos at 34,681. now i understand not every fan is a member, there is ground numbers and viewers watching. but i'd say a Melbourne team is far from going the way of a relocation as Fitzroy and South Melbourne did or removal of the club all together.

[@celabwilliams7344]

Might as well just pack up and move all the teams to Sydney and have two clubs in Brisbane and then these pundits will be happy.

[@celabwilliams7344]

How could you have 9 teams recommend moving a Queensland team to Brisbane instead of a Sydney team that’s failing. The Sydney bias is unreal. Is it an Australian sport or a sport in Sydeny that only wants to play Brisbane teams from time to time.

[@harbinger7591]

While I get your position, you do have to take into account the fact that Sydney is the NRL's home, as much as Melbourne is the AFL's home. All the clubs in Sydney have long histories that date back decades upon decades or for some teams over a century. It's not like you can just relocate them and call it a day. They tried that before and the absolute shitfest that happened next was unreal. More teams probably have to be added in my eyes.

[@Dinobot-k2x]

Yeah nrl is killing itself. They have forgotten who supported the game all these years!! The blue collar workers loved this game, they have lost alot of their appeal and their connection with the average man.

[@deeessaye5583]

TITANS have to go. . 3 teams in Gold Coast in NRL history all been rubbish. Titans have been the best by far out of the 3 but still rubbish AF. Plus their Fanbase is little to tiny at best

[@alanwhite7912]

Can anyone involved in sport in Australia start an interview without... yeah look?

[@KMcD1097]

its illegal

[@heyguyswhatshappening6210]

Yeah look nah

[@bqvm1980]

Just bring a new team in 17 teams nothing wrong with that

[@tomfogarty7668]

A team would miss out on playing every week so they would make less money

[@lukewatson1261]

Add 2. 18 teams

[@mrfrisky2997]

@@tomfogarty7668 - not the same team though you balloon.....🤣🤣

[@waikaato1]

What if the titans were winning...

[@benbrennan4953]

Not a possibility

[@bradhansen4076]

Cut the women's nrl and make 2 nrl teams

[@brendanryan8439]

Cut the women’s nrl, why? Women’s sport is growing whether you like it or not and there is no reason why it can’t continue to do so alongside the men’s game, look at rugby union worldwide it’s the fastest growing sports in the world and the women’s game is growing too

[@JoeyBroncos]

Brad Hansen They only just started playing!

[@tomfogarty7668]

Why would you get rid of the women’s they can play sport to

[@user-dn9be9mf8u]

the women rugby can pack a hit

[@Juicepluggedin]

Fifita aint leaving brisbane quit that nonsense...we need to keep our fowards and build around that core

[@aidanbinskin2390]

Hahahahahap

[@samsonjavati9622]

I agree with Ben that you can't kill off a Sydney team without affecting the hold of RL in Sydney just like Melbourne for AFL. I would urge all Sydney teams fans to band behind any other Sydney team that is earmarked for deregistration and protest just like they did for the Rabbitohs inclusion.

[@Shutthagate_]

It’s simple Cut nrl360 & use their money 💴 😂...

[@dragonoftheeast7572]

Absolutely great idea👍

[@terrortorn]

You can celebrate history and traditions by making sure you say Rugby League was born in Huddersfield and not Sydney. How very dare you...... cheeky bastards.

[@Pudlocks]

not Kentys biggest fan but he is dead right, Sydney, NSW is a Rugby League city

[@tomfogarty7668]

Same here

[@lukewatson1261]

Add 2. 18 teams

[@lancemollenhauer881]

Let the market place decide, get rid of the salary cap

[@charlierathborne7730]

manly is not struggling at all they are 4th in premierships and have so many memberships sydney needs a team from the beaches they guys talk trash

[@WRX2001]

Charlie Rathborne I think you missed his point he was saying that clubs like Manly and Cronulla can’t compete with the likes of Brisbane when it comes to the corporate dollar and the NRL needs to find away to make all clubs equitable not Just the Storm and the Broncos..

[@ashleighpalupe1430]

Central Coast team ?

[@alikabalan4585]

It's not the teams that are the problem you have killed the game trying to make it female friendly , there is no more talant coming through the juniors in sydney

[@celabwilliams7344]

ali kabalan how does making it female friendly cut down on prospects what backwards thought is that??

[@alikabalan4585]

@@celabwilliams7344 in order to make it female friendly the nrl has changed rules nothing against females kids are not as tough because of these changes aswell

[@alikabalan4585]

@@celabwilliams7344 the game is soft atm it backfired parents dont want their kids playing the competitiveness, and brute is no longer their

[@D4rthyyy_]

The fact that the broadcaster can dictate the teams that take part in the comp is ridiculous.

[@dragonoftheeast7572]

Expansion???? Wow... DUMB... Rugby league in Australia always cries poor... That's because they always do wakey ideas and it back fires... I agree with Ben Iken bring back tradition

[@SeccyBrah]

Why not fix the teams in Queensland first. The titans are fucked

[@cauliflowerpete616]

RL was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Not Sydney.

[@blusuck]

Arl not rl

[@vlt873]

They meant in Australia

[@sahulianhooligan7046]

RL was born in Brisbane 1988

[@Mikeallen0283]

@@sahulianhooligan7046 no it wasn't ya goose 1908 was first offical comp in nsw

[@collingwoodtoyotaaflpremie5972]

Well 17 teams happened

[@danielransom4831]

I’d like to see 2 qld teams after they get the Titans right otherwise we are back to square one. Then maybe 1 viable option for a team outside of nsw and qld and that’d be it. The NRL and clubs need to look at their financial future before expansion.

[@Brandon-js7ti]

Titans should best the 2nd Brisbane team

[@abdulzahab903]

I rekon make a team in 🇺🇸 lmao imagine

[@matis9118]

If the NRL had been wise with the money it has already received from the 2012 and 2018 tv rights deals, an amount close to 3 billion i believe, the NRL would be much better placed. Money should have been allocated to junior pathways and grassroots development, money could have been granted to clubs that had been struggling at the time. Instead the money went to head office

[@Kevinduddo]

The NRL would rather give Cameron Smith's wife all the gifts she wants than develop the game at grassroots level

[@lollmfao9563]

Dolphins to enter. How good will that be.

[@VEGAN-X]

BRISBANE CLIPPERS

[@Hammer332]

Having your game controlled by broadcasters is a risky bet. International rugby league is already dead and replaced by union. If the NRL isn't careful, it'll put Rugby League's future at risk.

[@siwaisavage2181]

PNG. GIVE PNG A TEAM

[@jeromebuck1153]

You need to put a team in Perth

[@stupendous1068]

They've already been there and done it.

[@browerpule8859]

It's a ridiculous idea to cut teams out but Buzz is right about Gold Coast changing into another Brisbane team

[@Alekosdw]

Leave the titans, we need em Infact they beat the broncos this year

[@WTC-1990]

It needs to be NEW SOUTH WALES: Northern Beaches Bears Western Sydney Eels Eastern Suburbs Roosters Southern Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle Knights QUEENSLAND: North QLD Cowboys (Townsville) Central QLD Dolphin (Redcliff) South QLD Titans (2nd Brisbane) Brisbane Broncos Gold Coast Eagles VICTORIA: Melbourne Storm South Melbourne Hurricanes WESTERN AUSTRALIA: West Coast Tigers Perth Panthers SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Adelaide Magpies Port Adelaide Sharks AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: Canberra Raiders TASMANIA: Tasmanian Devils PAPA NEW GUINEA: PNG Hunters NEW ZEALAND: Auckland Warriors Christchurch Dragons Wellington Bulldogs

[@WTC-1990]

22 teams 2 Conferences top 6 finals in both conferences and we go by seeding Conferences 1 QLD, PNG, WA, NZ Conference 2 NSW, VIC, TAS, ACT, SA

[@pearlyshells2430]

Where is the talent and money coming from? WOW all these teams....2 conferences...haha. Junior leagues in Sydney have to play inter- district to get the numbers...12 teams are enough. Or follow AFL..they seem to have got it right...🤔

[@WTC-1990]

@@pearlyshells2430 AFL have opened up those markets and they did it by moving Melbourne teams E.g. The Sydney Swans use to be the South Melbourne Bloods and the fan base from South Melbourne & Sydney call the the Blood Stained Angels

[@mrseanpride6449]

Bro you are on crack. That’s never going to happen. They just need to add png and another Brisbane team next. It’s pretty simple. I don’t know why there is so much talk about it.

[@dyrtybarstud5261]

Rugby League is gradually diminishing in participation, viewer and crowd numbers. Societal shifts and a growing perception of League as a dangerous and violent game that embodies `toxic masculinity` leaves the code facing numerous challenges in retaining a market footprint. The idea of expansion is one that will only hasten the demise of the code rather than offer a brighter future. League cant increase members, viewers or participants in its traditional strongholds, so what mighty genius believes expanding into other areas will be a magic fix-me-up wand. A few too many front on head high tackles there. Within a year or 2 Soccer in Sydney will be drawing larger crowds and offer far more potential return for investors and sponsors than League. Without a focus on redeveloping grass roots clubs in a society that is becoming more and more `woke` and finding new ways to gain fans, the long term future of the sport looks increasingly dire.

[@pearlyshells2430]

Some good points, but soccer will never ever be what you suggest within Sydney..

[@dyrtybarstud5261]

@@pearlyshells2430 Soccer has developed steadily within Australia over the last decade to the point where it is already drawing crowds comparable to NRL games. It fits current social ideology far better than any other football code and is played by both men and women. As a lower contact code, it will become attractive to more parents as a team sport activity at the junior level. I hope i am wrong, because NRL is one of the last true total commitment sports around, but all the evidence points to AFL and soccer growing into the dominant football codes within sydney over the next 20-40 years. Huge inroads have been made in cleaning up off field player behavior, and this single factor is probably the most important one over the next decade. If we do not see another major off field incident involving an NRL player, the code stands a chance.

[@charminjarmin1234]

Well written comment. While I agree soccer is getting bigger every year I don’t believe it will last. As long as there is diving in the international game, soccer will always go against the very fibre of Australian psyche. I just can’t see Aussies getting fully behind a game that is as corrupt and morally bankrupt as international soccer. AFL on the other hand is the definitive threat in my opinion having lived here for 18yrs from NZ i have to admire the way afl has marketed itself to the grassroots communities. Who would have thought afl would get a toe hold in league stronghold of western Sydney. League is it’s own worst enemy sadly, it needs a makeover starting at the top.

[@michaelclifford7214]

Soccer will never be as big as nrl afl or cricket attendance is down at nrl but not tv ratings state of origin was in the top 10 most watched television events

[@harbinger7591]

There is no way in hell that the NRL can just 'get rid of a team'. In what sports league does the governing body have the right to just get rid of one of it's own teams just because? If they do that, they're literally destroying history in the most insulting way possible. Both the clubs they're talking about removing in Sydney have been around for 50+ years. Thats a lot of bloody history right there. The only way the NRL can possibly expand the game is to have a larger amount of teams on the ladder, 18 probably. The NRL started with 20 teams in 1998. Why can't they go back?

[@aperaruapeeta4309]

Bring a team to Wellington

[@ash80510]

God no.

[@AyyFuji]

Removing a Sydney club, the heart of Australian Rugby League, would be like removing a Melbourne club from the AFL. Yes, there's heaps of clubs here, but you don't break the foundation that the sport is built on. Imagine the riots that would go on if the Dockers, or Geelong, or Collingwood were removed from the AFL? Or has the NRL already forgotten the riots when Souths were removed, they've already done this kinda thing before. It's sad they'd even think of it again, kinda shows how inept they are at thinking of growing the league.

[@clubberlang589]

AyyFuji : The centre of Rugby League began in NSW and especially in Sydney with the clubs such as Newtown Blue Bags, North Sydney Bears, Western Suburbs Magpies, Eastern Suburbs Roosters, Balmain Tigers & other foundation clubs. Now the expansion of the game should model the AFL relocation of the Swans. The team retains its history and membership of SMFC but plays in Sydney. That is what should’ve taken place before mergers and exclusions of the clubs. The NRL at that time thought with total stupidity that if you put Manly and Bears together you’ll get both fans joining up. But that’s all good in theory but in practice it was a shambles. Because no one supported the merger and that’s simple and people turned away from the game. So there stupid idea shot into pieces.