- Just looking at the ladder, Parra, Manly and Bulldogs in the bottom 4. As a 45 yr old Parra fan I just don’t get that. Back in the 80’s that would be unthinkable. Those teams drew the huge crowds, the passionate rivalry and awesome games those of similar age remember so well. The potential is still there, check the crowd figures for 09 when those teams were doing well again.
Can’t help but think that the there is more (I.e. big business models) behind the poor form of the former powerhouse clubs than poor coaches. Something tells me it’s all part of a bigger plan and the NRL is slickly pushing to weaken clubs and force mergers to allow room for expansion to other states.
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A bit of conspiracy theory overload I think, why would they undermine two of the biggest supported clubs in the Eels and Bulldogs?, it doesn't make sense.
There's been talk for years now that there are too many teams in Sydney and not enough players to go around. I have seen a lot of propossals and one included a zone base that would have one team in each of the main geographic points in Sydney with teams amalgamating..
These included Inner Sydney. comprise Souths/Easts North, Manly stand alone. Southern area Saints, Cronulla
Western region Parramatta/Penrith, Inner West. Canterbury, Wests.
Some of the teams would also be part of expansion into other areas, including Adelaide and Perth, along with another team in Brisbane.
Given that there has been a lot of downgrades, meaning the number of junior teams now running around, likewise the demise of many of the old second division teams, over the years the game has really shrunk in many areas and ways.
Rugby League is dying in many country areas also. So, conspiracy theories have been part of the game for a long time now, and the Emperor was very serious about having a merger of the eels with Balmain some years back.
Parra Panthers.
Wests Tigers (Perth)
Souths Dragons.
Easts Sharks.
Northern Bears.
SW Bulldogs.
Canberra.
Storm.
GC.
Broncos.
Warriors.
Cowboys.
Ipswich Jets.
Northern Marlins (a team based around Coffs. There is no team between Newcastle and GC. The supporter base would be vast and wide spread, but passionate. This would work - a massive fan base).
Corporate - Russel Crowe and Gordon Merchant would possibly be on board and several others.
Manly and the Dogs have been very successful over the past 10 years so it's unusual to see them down there (unlike us).
I don't think there's anything in it. Anyway, I thought the conspiracy theory was that Greenberg controlled all the results, judiciary decisions and salary cap to favour the Bulldogs. Well, he's doing a shit job of it.
Toddy’s not silly Ape.
Watch them next year.
its to cut back the bronco's power over 3rd party deals in brisbane..
perths been tried and failed before, more likely a central coast team... added.
parra and penrith joined with there clubs, and grounds ect in 2019, would be near unbeatable.. so the nrl should keep them alone.
we should look at clubs like west tigers , souths , the dogs , manly for sure, to go too perth on a shared deal, say play 6 games there a season..
Perth didn't fail Robert. The Western Reds were going along nicely, and would still be if not for Super League. The Central Coast won't have a team simply because the market there is just not big enough to support the team, particularly at a corporate level.
Easts, Souths - The only traditional clubs left. And whilst the money holds out from their respective owners / chairnan, then they are safe
Cronulla - Are now one of the financial powerhouses in Sydney. They own their own ground and now as the Woolooware Bay development has gone ahead, they are loaded.
Penrith - RL heartland, a huge leagues club guaranteeing funding and big juniour league. Safe.
Parra, Canterbury - big supporter bases, enough funds through either corporate support or leagues clubs. Geographically strategic (at least in Parra case).
St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers - The NRL won't want to be seen as the incompetent fools they were when they let the clubs themselves arrange mergers in 1999/2000. Altgough St George Illawarra made geographical sense, it should have also included Cronulla. It was a massively lost opportunity to rationalise the number of Sydney clubs. Both are struggling financially, although Wests Leagues at Ashfield are doing well. I can't see either of these being forced to go.
That leaves Manly. A dilapidated ground which the NRL would like to see gone from the schedule, fans that don't travel past the Spit Bridge, limited financial support and not an overly huge juniour base. They would have been gone years ago if it wasn't for the Penn family, however that support seems to be waning.
The NRL can't afford expansion. Manly should go to facilitate the Brisbane team, or relocate to Perth.
Not sure who then would be in the firing line to create the second spot.
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