17th Team- Brisbane 2

[Addy]

All but confirmed the mighty Crushers are making a return!

I think it's being announced tomorrow, it's between;

Ipswich Jets
Redcliffe Dolphins
Brisbane Firehawks

Not sure what happened to the Bombers, did they merge with another bid?

Anyway, what are people's thoughts on;

Watering down the talent pool
Extra bye
Did Brisbane deserve it?
Is it the right time for expansion?
What's a Firehawks?

 

[HaroldBishop]

Don't mind expansion but it's not the right time.

The comp is weak as piss, let's make it worse.

Get the lower grades back in order then worry about it.

 

[Sir Chadley]

I think it's totally the wrong decision. We're nowhere near the need for a 17th team.

I know it would be good to have some competition for the Broncos but I just don't think there are enough good players to go around.

It is going to totally stuff up the draw for 2023, having an odd number of teams just doesn't work.

 

[Sparkles]

It does make a mess of the draw, and maybe means more games on players already overloaded. That means more injuries, more players needed for first grade... A mess

Not sure about the talent pool being too shallow (I think coaching/organisations are a bigger issue to player quality), but we're seeing teams really needing good depth in their full rosters so it's going to make that more of an issue.

One upside is that it might help even out the comp at bit. More opportunities for players to get marquee money means quality players being more evenly distributed around the comp.

 

[bort]

There is enough NRL quality players to go around but I don't think there is enough STAR players to go around and I don't think there is enough depth, especially on the back of the limited lower grades footy recently.

The impact will spread across the clubs and likely will impact the top of the table more than the bottom but even if you lose your 18th best player that is someone who likely would have played 12+ games for you that year.
That's 2021 us needing Fifita and/or Magoulias probably another 20ish times last season.

I can see Brisbane being the 'easy' expansion call, will be the easiest team to become self sufficient. A Perth or second NZ team is much harder work for the NRL. The longer clubs in these locations takes the harder it gets. NRL administration leaving that for future peoples problem.
If you wanted to bite the bulled and expand somewhere hard the sooner the better, if it is just to take the easy road with Brisbane 2 probably should have waited for lower grades to all be back on track.

I think a firebird is a netball player?

 

[Thresher]

I'll definitely be calling them the shitbirds, in honour of Jim Lahey.

 

[Addy]

I think a firebird is a netball player?

Good point, that's because they're actually called the Firehawks

I'll edit OP

 

[CrazyMatt]

1. Two ways to look at that, on one hand it does thin the talent base a bit more, but on the other hand, it means less chance of a hidden gem to fall through the cracks. No NSW reserve grade for the past two seasons hurts a lot.

2. Byes dont bother me, its a week off for guys to heal up niggles and I dont have to watch my team EVERY week. Also, RIP to the team that misses out on the windfall from magic round when the byes come in.

3. I think so, the Broncos have far too much of an advantage with the extra sponsorship dollars, they should of won ten times the premierships they have, good thing for us they’re mostly incompetent and dont know how to exploit their unfair advantage. They need that competition for attention up there. Out of that list I think Redcliffe probably makes the most sense.

4. Probably not. But they’re going full steam ahead and they will wear the consequences if it goes tits up.

5. Its what you use when you get attacked by an Icehawk. Obviously.

 

[SF]

Generally I don't mind, I like the idea of Sharks vs Dolphins grudge match.

There's the short-term impact of lowering quality, but in the long run it gives more junior pathways and opportunities in Qld.

The biggest issue for me is that it just reduces that chance of winning the premiership even further. And bad timing with the leagues club opening, would have been a good year to sign a couple more stars. The good news is there isn't any players we are desperate to retain. The player I would have expected to end up there is Ronaldo, but he is on contract until end of 2023 (if that means anything).

 

[stormshark]

Great future opportunities for the Jnrs in the 16-18 yo age group, with the new team cmg in, after the Covid lockdown on Jnr rep football in the last 18 mths.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Also, RIP to the team that misses out on the windfall from magic round when the byes come in.

Doesn't only the home team benefit?

 

[Addy]

Didn't even consider Magic Round.

Surely the Sharks are odds on favourites to miss the first 5 years

 

[Sparkles]

One other thing to consider is that it probably wouldn't be 17 teams for long.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Doesn't only the home team benefit?

I thought all the clubs got a share.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

I think a firehawk is another name for a black kite - or the family they come from.

Jets bid is a merge of Bombers/Jets

The people who say that there are not enough good players to go around are the same people who said that Hynes, Jolliffe, Fogerty, Clune, Uele, Rudolf, Croker, Sorensen, Capewell, Olam and plenty more would never make it.

I personally think there is enough talent for 18 teams.

People forget the extra teams also mean full-time jobs for 2 more squads where they can focus solely on league and all the support structures that come with it.

Not to mention PNG and the Pacific islands would easily have 2 squads worth of un tapped talent around.

 

[stormshark]

Slaters Kid plays at my sons Club, trains next to the Team my son plays in. Not real approachable, i get that he's just watching his son, but is part of a jnr club/family, and would not hurt to be a bit more amenable, promoting the game and all.. just saying.

 

[Cage]

Billy Slater is a self opinionated pr!ck, and a prime example of the 'Bend the rules Bellamy' coaching/rorting system.

 

[Tiger Shark]

One other thing to consider is that it probably wouldn't be 17 teams for long.

Perhaps but one of the big reasons for expansion was the extra money it will bring in. So going back to 16 seems counterintuitive.

They're more likely to bail a struggling team out perhaps should that be the reason we lose a team.

 

[bort]

Perhaps but one of the big reasons for expansion was the extra money it will bring in. So going back to 16 seems counterintuitive.

They're more likely to bail a struggling team out perhaps should that be the reason we lose a team.

Think he might be implying 18 not return to 16

 

[Sparkles]

Perhaps but one of the big reasons for expansion was the extra money it will bring in. So going back to 16 seems counterintuitive.

They're more likely to bail a struggling team out perhaps should that be the reason we lose a team.

Think he might be implying 18 not return to 16

Bingo. More are where and when than if