Hmmm.
The usual suspects will call me a conspiracy theorist, but this is my take on it.
The NRL (PVL and Abdo) know they can’t continue with a bye round. It’s not feasible or smart business, so they know they need at least 1 new club. 1 new club won’t affect the draw much, if at all (maybe 1 extra round, maybe) but gives them more broadcast dollars for that extra game.
So they set some rules, allowing consortium’s to apply as a good public relations exercise. Stating that “We will consider all appropriate applications………” (ahum, but under their breath, PNG with its Australian Federally backed politically driven bankroll is our only real desire).
Submissions will need to now include a multi million licence fee payable upfront (which has never ever been the case in the history of the sport and we reserve the right to move the goal posts for those we aren’t really interested in).
So in my opinion, there is 1 real bid they are serious about with maybe 2 back up locations the NRL is really interested in.
They will want “green shoot“ locations, with shiny new toys [teams] not a relocated team with old skeletons and past history (Bears, Jets).
Another SE QLD team dilutes the existing 3 teams for talent and supporters, and wouldn’t be considered as “green shoots”.
Maybe central QLD as an option thou????
Both PVL and Abdo affectively said at the Perth 9‘s that Perth wouldn’t get a team as long as they are part of the NRL as they deemed a lack of interest from the WA public (not exactly those words, but to that affect)
So, in saying that………, The NRL’s preferred options are
1. Aust Government Federally funded multi million dollar deal in PNG
Daylight.
2. One of 2 locations in NZ (preferably South Island)
- The only realistic location then would be Christchurch (Wellington as the back up)
Issue with
option 1 is the security risks and getting players to move to PNG (gunna be very difficult)
option 2a
Does Christchurch have a big enough following for league? Union 1000% yes, but I don’t know what the appetite for league is there (maybe someone in the know can advise?)
option 2b,
same as option 2a but also (it’s still the North Island).
So, my guess is that the NRL only really has 1 team in their sights and all other suitors are just a PR cover so they don’t get any public backlash.
www.smh.com.au
