Sydney Morning Herald
Cronulla, Manly and the Gold Coast are at risk of being axed from the NRL as the Nine Network pushes for a new Brisbane rugby league team.
The broadcaster's director of sport Tom Malone wants to axe one existing club to make way for a new club in the Queensland capital by 2023 with the final call to be made as early as December this year.
News Corp reports that the Sharks, Sea Eagles and the Titans are the sides who are most at risk of the chop.
"That could come from another team being relocated there, or better still another club being discontinued and a new club established in Brisbane," Malone said.
"In a perfect world you'd probably have one or two less teams.
What clubs should go? I'm not going to get into that one. It's a hard decision but probably one that needs to be made in the longer term interests of the game."
Malone says he prefers the option of axing an existing club rather than adding another club because having 17 teams and a bye each week would increase costs without generating any "incremental revenue".
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg reportedly met with Queensland Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk on Friday to discuss a new Brisbane team.
Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany supports a second team in the River City but doesn't believe in axing an existing club.
Replies
Sharks and Sea Eagles - makes sense, neither club have a massive supporter base and both areas will never be overcome by rival football codes. Will miss hating Manly, though
I think sharks are redeveloping their stadium so not so likely.
Manly on the other hand have been abandoned by the league and state government because the Northern Perninsula dosnt have a viable stadium. Cant see the Northern Perninsula being left without a team.
I'd say Gold Coast are prime candidates. This is their 5th go at having a team. This newest incarnation has finished last twice and made the finals 3 times since 2007.
Their crowd numbers and membership numbers are low as well. Leave Cronulla and Manly alone.
5th? You mean 2nd. 1988-1998, Giants, Seagulls and Charges - just a logo change and 2007 to present, Gold Coast Titans.
The "Giants" went under and then they became the "Seagulls", then they went under and they were quickly the "Gladiators" they went bust before the season started in 1996 and became the "Chargers".
They were then ended. Now the Gold Coast "Titans" came along. So really it's their fifth go at having a team.
Brisbane are desperate to be the only team in the city.
Sharks should go. Or it could be the dragons who are constantly borrowing to stay afloat.
Dumb idea to get rid of another Sydney based team. If anything they should either get rid of the Gold Coast (which hasn't been successful) since it started or just leave it as it is BUT add another team from Brisbane and another team from NSW central coast. Then there will an even 18 teams.
Now that is dumb.
I understand that Channel 9 want the teams to play each other 2 times in the regular season, no byes. Basically Channel 9 beleive that the regular season is too long.
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