If the Western Force are cut, will the NRL rush a team into Perth?

[Eagles2nv]

Mid week chin wag (and something to take the mind of the St merge game).

In light of the ARU announcing a team will be cut, and there is a strong case it will be the force (I believe they are ARU funded (like the titans), poor performance, etc..) will the NRL take advantage and jump into Perth.

I know expansion is a while away, and Perth are almost certain to get a team (7.30 live = 9.30 AEST live, plenty of coin for sponsors, etc...), so would they rush to take advantage of people missing football that doesn't involve a round ball or a aerial ping pong. I imagine the AFL would be pleased if the force are cut.

Surely the WA Pirates are almost ready, so 2019 could be the viable start date.

Or does rushing in inevitably lead to disaster down the track.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Good question, Eagles2nv. I reckon they probably should have a team in Perth (based on the history of the Western Reds) but I doubt they'll "rush" a team in that direction. The NRL never does anything in a hurry and, given the whole John Grant fiasco, it seems to me like the existing clubs are in a strong position to throw their weight around right now and I doubt they'd want to prioritise expansion over their own interests/gripes.

 

[manlyfan76]

Bulldogs should go.
The Western Bulldogs has a familiar ring to it.

 

[DUFFMAN]

The NRL are not smart enough to put a team in the west.
They will have several lunch meetings over it and nothing will happen. A League and AFL will jump in while the NRL sit back and watch.

Should of kept the REDS and RAMS, opens up a lot of TV slots and larger market ........ but what do you expect at the time from NEWS LTD.

 

[ricardo]

Flights would cost more and the mining boom is over (notice how you don't hear from Perthians saying they want to break away from Australia?).

There's no ready market for NRL there, in my (latte-sipping, eastern states, wouldn't have a clue what goes on over here in the real world, chip on my shoulder) mind.

 

[Bearfax]

I'm not sure why there is this delay in bringing Perth and another Brisbane side into the comp. Both would get good support. Both would get good sponsorship. Both have a ready made ground to use. Both have strong structural backing. Both will add some interest to the game and certainly a second Brisbane side would cut the Bronkos unfair monopoly. They would also bring in a greater media audience adding to the claims for more TV money in the next negotiations. Its win win scenario. Just cant understand the resistance. Surely resistance is futile

 

[wedgetail eagle]

Bulldogs should go.
The Western Bulldogs has a familiar ring to it.

Agree, Greg Eastwood can go Westward.

 

[simon64]

It'll need to be a new team if they want to bring in new fans.

I can't see people copping a 4000km trip to a home game.

But is there enough interest in AFL mad WA ? I can't see it. But I guess if they want to make it a national sport they've got little choice but to try.

But even with all the success that the Scum have had on the field (leaving all the cheating aside), they're still third to the AFL and A-League clubs.

I'd be sinking money into the Central Coast before WA.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Agree, Greg Eastwood can go Westward.

Or Westwood, his new housing estate on Perth's eastern outskirts.

 

[Eagles2nv]

It'll need to be a new team if they want to bring in new fans.

I can't see people copping a 4000km trip to a home game.

But is there enough interest in AFL mad WA ? I can't see it. But I guess if they want to make it a national sport they've got little choice but to try.

But even with all the success that the Scum have had on the field (leaving all the cheating aside), they're still third to the AFL and A-League clubs.

I'd be sinking money into the Central Coast before WA.

I think you will find that Perths demographic is very different compared to the Reds days.

The Mining boom saw many people from Qld/Nsw head over to Perth. Also games played over there are popular, so there is a fan base. I also imagine some Force fans will convert to league in the absence of their home rugby team.

 

[Fluffy]

cannot see any rush, no need at all now.

As for success, I think it will pick up quicker than Melbourne but still need a bucket load of help

 

[Bearfax]

I think you will find that Perths demographic is very different compared to the Reds days.

The Mining boom saw many people from Qld/Nsw head over to Perth. Also games played over there are popular, so there is a fan base. I also imagine some Force fans will convert to league in the absence of their home rugby team.

Ex pat NSWers had been going to WA well before the mining boom and there are two Rugby League comps played in WA already. Its not like Melbourne or Adelaide. There is a much stronger Rugby League interest in that state than Vic or SA, and it should have been exploited years ago.

 

[Hamster Huey]

Flights would cost more and the mining boom is over (notice how you don't hear from Perthians saying they want to break away from Australia?).

There's no ready market for NRL there, in my (latte-sipping, eastern states, wouldn't have a clue what goes on over here in the real world, chip on my shoulder) mind.

Flights are half what they were when the Western Reds were around, and clubs/codes make deals these days in any case.
League will be supported by the myriad of Kiwis, Poms, Eastern Staters and maybe a spattering of South Africans over there, keen to see some non-AFL action.
There are already more WA juniors in the NRL than Melbourne ones, despite no top local team to aim for.
It was an injustice to see the Reds carved away for the Storm initially, and a crime we aren't back there nearly 20 years later.

 

[Bearfax]

Travel shouldnt be an issue. Toronto, Canada is presently being seriously considered as a team in the English Super league in several years. That's a distance of almost 6000 Kms which is only a little under double to distance from Perth to Auckland. They are already contesting in the third tier Rugby League comp in England, just like PNG in Queensland's league and Fiji's attempt to get into the NSW Cup

 

[Harvies elbow]

Ex pat NSWers had been going to WA well before the mining boom and there are two Rugby League comps played in WA already. Its not like Melbourne or Adelaide. There is a much stronger Rugby League interest in that state than Vic or SA, and it should have been exploited years ago.

There wasn't pretty strong comp over there back in the70s and 80s.
Would've been good to have capitalized and supported it then and come the 90s the reds would've been coming in off a strong base.
I really want to see Sydney / the rest conferences.
Expansion would make that possible.

 

[Shoe1]

Agree, Greg Eastwood can go Westward.

I think Dallas Weston is on board too.

 

[Fluffy]

Travel shouldnt be an issue. Toronto, Canada is presently being seriously considered as a team in the English Super league in several years. That's a distance of almost 6000 Kms which is only a little under double to distance from Perth to Auckland. They are already contesting in the third tier Rugby League comp in England, just like PNG in Queensland's league and Fiji's attempt to get into the NSW Cup

Might be stretching the truth a bit there

Perth to Auckland is over 5300km, Toronto to leads is less than 200km further.

Even Perth to Sydney is over half

 

[globaleagle]

Weren't the western reds all basically on steroids?

'allegedly'

 

[midsteyne]

Perth is 4000km,5 years and 2 hours behind the rest of Oz,it didn't work last time and I doubt it would work now.
I lived there for over 8 years and they are Aussie rules born and bred,sure they have a RL comp but so small.let them have their Union team

 

[Bearfax]

My mistake (was looking at miles). But the point is most games Perth will play will be between 3300 to 3600 kilometres away (Sydney/Brisbane) whereas most games Toronto will play will be between almost 6000 to over 6400 kilometres away (London, Perpignan) if they played in Super League. As it is they are playing between England and Canada already in a 3rd division side. Negotiations are continuing for Fiji to play in the NSW Intrust Cup in a few years, and that's only a little closer than Perth and to play in a second division comp