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The NRL is looking to expand from 17 to 20 teams before their next TV deal.
The addition of three teams will stretch the player talent pool to its limits and the league will be likely stay at 20 teams for a long period time. So, how do they get expansion right?
I propose the NRL should create three new teams, and relocate two existing teams.
The NRL should be looking to do two things with their expansion: expand the footprint of rugby league, and expand the player pool.
Let’s see how they tick the boxes.
Expansion team 18 – PNG Hunters
The PNG Hunters seems to be a done deal. For $60 million a year the Australian government are using them to expand our soft power in the region and push back Chinese influence. Importantly for the NRL it will expand the player talent pool as rugby league is the national sport in the country of 10 million.
Currently PNG have a team in the Queensland Cup and nine players in currently in the English Super League.
Expanding the player pool? Tick!
Relocation Team 1 – West Tigers
Probably the most controversial of the calls here. The Wests Tigers have been terrible for recent seasons, their highest placing since 2012 is ninth. However, a move to Western Australia makes sense from a marketing point of view – their name and colours already suit the state.
They would be able to retain their current youth set-up in Sydney to feed into the squad while they grow the grassroots game in Perth. Furthermore, there are so many Sydney teams in the league that they will still play a minimum of five games in the city each season for their original fan-base.
Expand the footprint of rugby league? Tick!
Expansion Team 19 – Adelaide Bears
If we want a truly national league we cannot gloss over our fifth biggest city – an Adelaide team is a must. This will put an NRL presence in the heart of the AFL across the southern states.
There is an appetite for it, Adelaide State of Origin attracted 48,000 and the Rams had average annual attendances between 7500 and 15,000 which is a good starting point.
The team will need support, which is where the North Sydney Bears come into it. They are already keen to be involved in the Perth expansion, I think a redirection to Adelaide will create a perfect combination.
Expand the footprint of rugby league? Tick!
Bears stalwart Mark Soden in 1994. (Photo by Getty Images)
Expansion Team 20 – Pacific Islands
Following on the Super Rugby success of Moana Pasifika, a team which represents players from across the Pacific Islands, the NRL should do the same. The team could be based in Sydney and play a series of home games across Fiji, Samoa, Tonga.
After seeing the success of the Pacific Championships, growing the game across the islands will increase the player pool, create new TV markets and expanding the sport internationally.
Expand the footprint of rugby league? Tick!
Expand the player pool? Tick!
Relocation Team 2 – Cronulla Sharks
Relocating and merging clubs feels unfair. However despite being formed in 1963, the Sharks have the second lowest membership in the league at only 14,000. For context the Dolphins already have over 30,000 members.
The Sharks’ average home attendance is the lowest in the NRL. As with the Wests Tigers, the relocated Sharks will still have five Sydney games per season due to the scheduling.
However if we relocate them to Christchurch suddenly the Sharks are at the heart of a new NRL rivalry, North vs South in the land of the long white cloud.
The NZ Warriors are averaging 23,000 per match in Auckland, and the recent international in Christchurch was a sell-out. A team on the South Island is viable and opens up a new player pool, and will allow for one NRL game to be scheduled in New Zealand each weekend, giving consistency for the TV rights.
Expand the footprint of rugby league? Tick!
Expand the player pool? Tick!
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