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NRL: Teams 18, 19 and 20?

DIEHARD

DIEHARD

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Seems like progress will be made as soon as Thursday with an NRL club CEO meeting during Magic.

PNG is tipped to be 18. And Perth, perhaps with the Bears for 19.

20 would have to be 2nd NZ or 5th QLD. Which I'd say 2nd NZ has the inside rail.
 
I'm always very passionate about expansion. Especially when it means bringing back teams that were cut down during the Super League war.

One thing we need to keep in mind is that we are not the new kid on the block anymore. The Dolphins are. And we may potentially have 3 new clubs coming onto the scene.

So it is time to circle the wagons and think smart about how we operate.
 
Agreed. Hugely exciting time as a RL fan, bit weary as a GC fan as it means we go from 1/17th chance of winning a prem to possibly 1/20th very soon.

I can't see the Bears working well with any new bidders honestly, it'd be Wests Tigers endless infighting magnified across state/country lines instead suburbs.
 
You are reading my mind @kioli. I think the JV experience (even with one with Wests holding most of the cards) has been intolerable for the NRL. I also think the Bears have a history of not playing well with others.

If it comes to pass. I’m ok with a couple games at NSO. But Perth needs to hold the license. And they have the money to do it.

I do worry that “Bring back the Bears!” Will overshadow “Bring back Perth!” At least in the east coast.
 
I worry that despite the government money a PNG team will be a major fail. The logistics and unforseen costs will be a nightmare.
Perth is a no brainer on many levels IMO as the timeslot works and they have established infrastructure etc. Also if you want to call the competition the National RL then you need a team in the west.
The 3rd team, South Island NZ 'might' work but unlike the North Island they are still very much a union culture down there. It could be a very slow burn. Another SEQ team, don't like it. I think the balance is about right with 3. So if not SEQ then where?
 
A mirror of the Dolphins in the south/west is possible.

South Brisbane / Logan / Ipswich / Toowoomba.

Seems like the PNG team could be based in Cairns to a large extent. Maybe they will base some operations in PNG, and adding more would be a carrot.

I'm optimistic for a south NZ island team because Canterbury Rugby League has a long history and assets. A north v south rivalry would be great. But yes, massive union stronghold.

Previous we have had bids like the Southern Orcas which was actually based in Wellington. I found this a bit confusing, but I don't know too much about NZ TBH.
 
Seems like Perth Bears will be the next club. Bids are under NDAs now so we won't hear much. But things seem very positive from what Billy Moore, also a Norths board member, was saying on the radio yesterday. I just hope they underline the PERTH Bears and it isn't all "The Bears Are Back!" It is "Perth are back!" too. One game at NSO would be fine, with heaps of away games for Sydney fans to support.

We need to give PNG more time. To build facilities. To build new pathways. Maybe allow NRL clubs to sign PNG players with concessions. Anything to increase the player base.

Union converts will also help if they follow Carter Gordon. Gee it feels like the mid 90s all over again. And this time we can't screw it up. It took us 2 decades to claw back to this point.
 

NRL Expansion: Papua New Guinea’s successful bid set for formal announcement​


In a historic decision, Papua New Guinea will finally and formally be announced as the venue to host an NRL club after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG counterpart James Marape intensified negotiations about rugby league expansion in recent weeks.

Multiple PNG ministers were briefed about the successful NRL bid in Brisbane on Wednesday night before State of Origin III.

This masthead also understands Australia’s Deputy PM Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, along with six other ministers, heavily discussed a Papua New Guinea NRL side during a PNG-Australia ministerial forum in Port Moresby last month.

Papua New Guinea bid chairman Wapu Sonk and chief executive Andrew Hill have revealed what has been mooted for two years – PNG will be granted entry in the NRL in what will be a milestone and landmark moment for rugby league.
And is an astonishing admission, Sonk predicted the PNG team could attract up to one million members.

PNG will target entry for the 2028 season but insist the country would be ready for 2027. That decision will be made by the NRL.
“It’s imminent. We are tying up the loose ends now to formalise it. It’s getting near, it’s becoming a reality,” said Sonk, who is also managing director of Kumul Petroleum. “There is corporate support and infrastructure.

“As we enter the final stages we will commence more formal discussions with the corporate sponsors.

“There have been several meetings between the Australian and PNG Governments and the NRL. We won’t be like other NRL clubs in Australia, who have their own regions. We are a country with a population of more than ten million people. Companies are queuing up to support the bid and team.

“At a minimum, we could get a million members. We will break every criteria the NRL uses, it’s crazy. Everything will be five, ten-fold. The NRL will realise it will be a very good investment.”

The Federal Government and NRL have all but completed a deal which could be worth $600m in federal funding over ten years.
Subject to any last-minute issues, a decision will be officially announced after final approval is secured from the Federal cabinets, and treasury, from both countries, probably next month.

One source close to the PNG bid said: “It’s not if, but when.”

Hill said the franchise’s official name, nickname, logo, colours, jersey design and team song were still being discussed and would be part of a community engagement strategy.

“We truly want to make this the people’s team of PNG,” Hill said.

The NRL’s 20-team plan is poised to include PNG, Perth Bears and possibly a second New Zealand side.
Either PNG or the Bears - but not both - could become an official expansion club by 2027. The other bid may have to wait a further two years.

“Rugby league in PNG is a national sport and has always dominated. There’s no doubt rugby league is the one thing that unifies PNG. It not only connects the villages, communities and people but also the corporates and businesses,” Hill said.

“Everyone wants to be part of rugby league and when we are in the NRL that will only increase ten-fold. We have been working and planning for a number of years now and have implemented a number of player pathways programs along with tremendous corporate support.”

Pressed on whether his bid team would be ready for NRL inclusion by 2027, Hill said: “Absolutely. We have a long history of playing in the Queensland Cup and we won the competition within the first ten years. We have teams coming and going to PNG every second week.”

The $600m will be injected into the PNG side and also community outreach programs.

Australia’s support of PNG is seen as a strategic foreign move to ward-off possible Chinese intrusion around the Pacific region.
The PNG Hunters were formed to play in the second-tier Queensland Cup during December, 2013.
 
Heaven help us all … I fear for the game in PNG and the longevity of the franchise.

Frig the Bears, the Jets or a third Brisbane team. Yes to a stand alone Perth and in time a second Kiwi team.
 
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I agree with the fact that Perth should be stand alone and it really grinds my gears that it’s all “The Bears are back!!!” Circus and not “Perth are back!”

2nd NZ would be amazing. And it’ll be interesting how the many bids from southern NZ fall or combine.

PNG. I take your worry on board because you have real world experience in PNG.
 
Perth rivals.

Obviously Manly if the Bears get involved.

Melbourne because Perth got shut down because of them and took players about 7 players.
 
Western Bears set for NRL inclusion after North Sydney, WA bid team sign historic agreement

After months of negotiations, officials from North Sydney and Western Australia’s bid team have signed off on a historic agreement to bring the Bears back into the NRL.

The Bears’ long wait to return to top flight rugby league is over with the Western Bears now made official.

Months of protracted negotiations finally reached an end point on Friday afternoon with officials from North Sydney and Western Australia’s bid team signing off on the historic agreement to resurrect one of rugby league’s most famous brands.

The Bears will return to the NRL for the first time since 1999.

While the Perth Bears name was floated, the parties have agreed to the Western Bears which is a nod to Western Australia’s first team – the Western Reds.

The Western Bears will now spend the next few days finalising their submission ahead of the August 14 deadline imposed by the NRL to be part of the expanded competition.

By the end of this year, the Western Bears will be formally announced as the NRL’s 18th team to compete in 2027, with PNG introduced a year later.

The Bears are back! North Sydney, WA sign historic agreement.

The Bears are back! North Sydney, WA sign historic agreement.

It is understood the agreement between the two parties include:

– An adaptation of the Bears logo;

– One heritage match in NSW with the hope it will be against arch rivals Manly. The match could be played at North Sydney Oval, Allianz Stadium or on the Central Coast where they will wear a traditional North Sydney jersey;

– The main colours will be red, white and black, however there will be a tinge of yellow too which again pays homage to the former Reds outfit. The Reds may have their own heritage jersey;

– A pre-season game at North Sydney Oval;

– North Sydney Bears to remain the main feeder club to NSW Cup for the NRL side.

The parties met in Perth last weekend when key North Sydney officials flew to chat face-to-face with their Western Australian counterparts.

This followed crucial meetings in Sydney in June.

Late last week the deal was on the brink of collapse as they looked increasingly unlikely to reach an agreement.

But in the past 72 hours, the relevant stakeholders have ended any potential unrest by striking a deal after a deadline was set on the Bears.

They are set to make a return to the NRL under the ‘Western Bears’ moniker.

Western Australia had intimated they were prepared to go it alone and resurrect the Reds moniker should they be unable to finalise a partnership with North Sydney as they wanted to ensure the team was under the control and ownership of WA.

They wanted the team to be a true Western Australian one.

Western Australia were also interested in aligning with Newtown, however the NRL had made it clear that their preference was to resurrect North Sydney instead of the Jets.

The Jets may still have a place in future expansion plans.

ARL Chairman Peter V’landys has long held the view that the Bears should be back in the NRL and has pushed their case privately and publicly.

“Everywhere I go, that always the question … when are you bringing back the Bears?” V’landys told this masthead earlier this year.

“It makes sense that we bring them back in some capacity, because they’ve got 200,000 members.”

Because of strict nondisclosure agreements with the NRL, neither side was able to comment publicly.

For the Bears faithful there have been too many false dawns since their Northern Eagles partnership with Manly dissolved in 2002.

They pushed hard for the Central Coast Bears but that never eventuated.

Since then they have been linked to the Gold Coast, New Zealand, various Queensland teams and more recently as a hybrid Pasifika team.

All while ensuring North Sydney maintained a strong presence in the relevant NSW competitions including fielding a successful reserve grade team where they sit on top of the ladder this year.

ARL commissioner Peter Beattie rubbed shoulders at the Dolphins-Roosters game with WA premier Roger Cook on Friday night as well as key North Sydney officials. Cook has been the driving force in ensuring a permanent team in WA for the first time since 1997.
 
The only good things about this are a WA team and no more talk of GC Bears. Otherwise it’s crap 200,000 members? What absolute bulldust.
 
The 200k “members” thing is a total lie and shame on any one passing it on and giving it currency.

I see the Bears as serial white ants. And I hope the WA team has their hands firmly on the reins.

Even the name here is the wrong choice. Should be WA, WC or Perth. “Western” is soft and places focus on the “Bears”.

Also ok. Take one game to NSO/Sydney. But if they add more teams the home game allocation will come down making the move more costly for WA fans.

It’s up to Western Bears to make the most of this and build bridges. Also for NSW based fans to show some humility and take the lead offering WA the limelight.
 
We should hear more details about what is happening from tomorrow. Which is when bids will submit their applications. NRL has muzzled bids atm. But seems like NS Bears are leaking info out. Haven't heard much from the WA consortium.
 
DIEHARD said:
We should hear more details about what is happening from tomorrow. Which is when bids will submit their applications. NRL has muzzled bids atm. But seems like NS Bears are leaking info out. Haven't heard much from the WA consortium.
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A sign of things to come it seems, Sydney old boys leaking to the Sydney media. All the chatter is about 'the Bears are back' and and less about Perth getting a team.
Can see issues down the track...

WA NRL applied for the trademarks last week, the logo (red+black version and a yellow + black version) is pretty disappointing honestly.
Not a fan of 'Western' over 'Perth' either, feel like they've made a lot of mistakes shoehorning the Bears into Perth.

Hopefully they blow us away with their announcement and I'm dead wrong.
 
kioli said:
A sign of things to come it seems, Sydney old boys leaking to the Sydney media. All the chatter is about 'the Bears are back' and and less about Perth getting a team.
Can see issues down the track...
Click to expand...
Absolutely. I can already see the two factions of fans clashing swords. I've been part of the WA based bid fan group on fb since 2012. And even bought memberships for the old bid team and have a WC Pirates jersey. This was all before the NRL took over the WARL and renamed it NRLWA and shut down the bid process.

I'm kind of shocked at the audacity of some of the NSW Bears fans who only just joined, seeing them throw all "their" ideas around. I mean... not many of them laid the ground work over the last few years and reached out to WA.

But there are some Bears fans who understand this and are trying to make confessions and talk things around.

Hopefully we see some more "WA" input soon. Especially in terms of board and ownership.

It's all bloody fascinating. And I'm so delighted to see our game return to WA, oh I guess it is still unofficial at this stage.

But soon we won't be the youngest in the NRL. Already we have the Dolphins. But soon it will look like this...

TITANS
DOLPHINS
WESTERN BEARS (Should be WC/Perth/WA)
PNG
2nd NZ

Really creates a lot of urgency for us to get our backyard in order. Also get ready for them too try to pinch our players. Roster management, something we arent good at, will be more important than ever.
 
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