A second team in New Zealand is a no brainer, just look at the amount of players they produce.



I think the NRL should either expand to 18 with new teams in NZ, Central Coast and WA, dropping Cronulla down to the NSW cup.



Or expand to 20 with new teams in NZ, Central Coast , WA and 2 out of Cronulla/PNG/2nd Brisbane club.

That is a no goer. Cronulla will not be dropped, because it is licensed and viable. The Central Coast will not be added because it competes with Newcastle and Manly for sponsors. If the NRL expands to 18 it will be Perth and Brisbane. If it is expanded to 20 then Wellington has a very good chance, along with, perhaps, PNG.

I say yes, RL has never been stronger in NZ IMO, time to take it to the next level. It could be huge.

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Problem is Wellington is probably not going to be able to sustain a team crowd wise or financially. And it probably also adds little to the TV deal (might boost the NZ sky deal a little but not much) it does not benefit the NRL bottom line. I'd love to see a Wellington team admitted but the lack of suitable stadium, population and value means it is unlikely anytime soon.

So that's your view from 12,000 miles away.

I think it could be a very big thing for the game, if they really plough into NZ.



Union in NZ is massive, there's no denying, but its Apparently taking a licking in Australia. If we can build on progress and make some inroads into NZ too, then its possibly the greatest move league can make in the international competition between the two codes.

SA is untouchable for League, but making inroads into NZ is a real possibility.

lol



Union in Australia is taking money from every lower level of the game to prop up the five pro clubs, and even then those mere five teams are barely hanging on.



Union in NZ is huge though, for a country that would only be the fourth biggest state in Australia... The Auckland Nines has already overtaken the Wellington Sevens and the Warriors are going from strength to strength.



Every year the NRL alone earns multiple times what the three SANZAR nations make. There are all sorts of issues with the Island nations and the IRB too, Union in the Pacific is absolutely screwed.

Interesting assessment there and not far wrong.

wellington 7s are dead........killed off by the fun police who want limits set on the amount of booze available. It was never about the rugby but instead about the fancy dress party and fancy dress doesnt work sober.

the pacific islands are rightly demanding more money and control and are getting it, so whilst they are making noises, union is still the #1 sport in fiji, samoa and tonga.

The warriors have stagnated at mt smart and it has been their on the road games that have helped their balance sheets in recent years.....if we dont get nz2 then the warriors need more games around the country.

as for australia, the irb will continue to prop them up, because they need them, but you forget they do attract fans to internationals....200,000 at home this year and then theres the match fees for the end of year tours.

The size of the nrl tv deal is meaningless in terms of the region unless some of it is spent o expansion. The 2014 samoan rl side is not expansion........it will only be expansion when they have a domestic comp feeding players to the national side

I know you are a big fan of bringing a team from Wellington into the NRL. On a personal level would you like to get involved in some capacity if this comes to fruition?

Perth and brisbane are dead certs. The NRL has taken over the WARL and rebranded it NRLWA for a reason. The NRL has put expansion firmly back on the agenda, with Perth a favourite to be offered a side when a new TV rights deal is struck. PERTH FAVOURED TO FIELD NRL TEAM The current $1.2 billion broadcast agreement finishes at the end of the 2017 season, but the NRL has confirmed expansion talks for 2018 will start next year, with plans to invest more than $200 million in the game. NRL officials were in Perth this week for discussions with State Government and local league representatives as the competition changed its name from the WARL to NRLWA. NRLWA has already registered the West Coast Pirates as the name for its franchise bid. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport ... -nrl-team/

Perth and brisbane are dead certs. The NRL has taken over the WARL and rebranded it NRLWA for a reason. The NRL has put expansion firmly back on the agenda, with Perth a favourite to be offered a side when a new TV rights deal is struck. PERTH FAVOURED TO FIELD NRL TEAM The current $1.2 billion broadcast agreement finishes at the end of the 2017 season, but the NRL has confirmed expansion talks for 2018 will start next year, with plans to invest more than $200 million in the game. NRL officials were in Perth this week for discussions with State Government and local league representatives as the competition changed its name from the WARL to NRLWA. NRLWA has already registered the West Coast Pirates as the name for its franchise bid. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport ... -nrl-team/

Quote JB Down Under="JB Down Under"Perth and brisbane are dead certs. The NRL has taken over the WARL and rebranded it NRLWA for a reason. The NRL has put expansion firmly back on the agenda, with Perth a favourite to be offered a side when a new TV rights deal is struck. PERTH FAVOURED TO FIELD NRL TEAM The current $1.2 billion broadcast agreement finishes at the end of the 2017 season, but the NRL has confirmed expansion talks for 2018 will start next year, with plans to invest more than $200 million in the game. NRL officials were in Perth this week for discussions with State Government and local league representatives as the competition changed its name from the WARL to NRLWA. NRLWA has already registered the West Coast Pirates as the name for its franchise bid. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport ... -nrl-team/'" There was the ill-fated Perth Western Reds. Why did they fail, and why will this one succeed? Is it just a case of the increased draw of RL?

Quote JB Down Under="JB Down Under"Perth and brisbane are dead certs. The NRL has taken over the WARL and rebranded it NRLWA for a reason. The NRL has put expansion firmly back on the agenda, with Perth a favourite to be offered a side when a new TV rights deal is struck. PERTH FAVOURED TO FIELD NRL TEAM The current $1.2 billion broadcast agreement finishes at the end of the 2017 season, but the NRL has confirmed expansion talks for 2018 will start next year, with plans to invest more than $200 million in the game. NRL officials were in Perth this week for discussions with State Government and local league representatives as the competition changed its name from the WARL to NRLWA. NRLWA has already registered the West Coast Pirates as the name for its franchise bid. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport ... -nrl-team/'" There was the ill-fated Perth Western Reds. Why did they fail, and why will this one succeed? Is it just a case of the increased draw of RL?