No 16th team in 2006

[NastyButler]

The fucking lawyers in charge of the NRL are ruining our game. :swear:




http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10459813-32464,00.html


Sixteenth team ruled out
August 16, 2004

THE National Rugby League today ruled out expanding the competition in 2006 but promised to revisit the issue next season with a view towards adding new teams in 2007.

The partnership executive committee rejected bids from the Central Coast, the Gold Coast and Wellington to enter the premiership in 2006, but said the issue would be re-examined.

The partnership – made up of representatives from the NRL and News Limited – said the three areas deserved to be represented in the NRL in the future.

However, they said the game's current success was due to the stability of the 15-team competition in recent seasons.

"The enthusiasm of individuals associated with the bid teams has understandably raised the expectations of new areas being added to the competition," the partnership said in a statement.

"However, it is to be remembered that the partnership had neither sought nor invited expansion submissions.

"While the partnership sees merit in being in each of the areas discussed, it needs to see further evidence of the financial stability of the existing competition before setting a time-line for that expansion.

"History has proven that to succeed a new team needs to enter a strong and stable competition environment."

The partnership recommended the NRL continue to monitor expansion opportunities so they could be formally revisited towards the end of next season.

It also suggested the NRL continue its assessment of future television broadcasting agreements which expire at the end of 2006 and 2007, which may influence expansion.

The partnership also pledged to increase its development commitment to the Central Coast, the Gold Coast and Wellington and called on the NRL to fully assess the impact of the state government's poker machine tax on existing clubs.

AAP

[ezer]

omg i really dont care, what would a 16th team have done other than risk sending the whole code broke, bankrupt and eventually owned by me for 12 bucks?

[NastyButler]

The leading contender was the Gold Coast and if they got it in would have been a huge boost for League in QLD. We need a South East Queensland derby again.

[Pagey]

For Fucks sake - how long will it be until they fucking realise that they need a NRL team on the Central Coast and bring back the Bears?!?! I cannot beleieve that they bothered to bring back south fucking sydney who cannot seem to manage to bring no more than a few thousand drunks to their games - yet there are thousands of central coast supporters who are slowly drifting away into rugby and afl. Fuck the NRL and their bullshit!

[minorproblem]

For Fucks sake - how long will it be until they fucking realise that they need a NRL team on the Central Coast and bring back the Bears?!?! I cannot beleieve that they bothered to bring back south fucking sydney who cannot seem to manage to bring no more than a few thousand drunks to their games - yet there are thousands of central coast supporters who are slowly drifting away into rugby and afl. Fuck the NRL and their bullshit!
Rugby kicks arse anyhows Here here!

[NastyButler]

Rugby kicks arse anyhows Here here!It's hear hear. :p :D

[SmaSheD_CoW]

The leading contender was the Gold Coast and if they got it in would have been a huge boost for League in QLD. We need a South East Queensland derby again.

Whilst it would be great to see another Qld team, I really can't see the Gold Coast supporting one - just take a look at the Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers and how unsuccessful they were - with regards to both their (in)ability to draw crowds, and their (in)ability to win matches.

[timace]

Whilst it would be great to see another Qld team, I really can't see the Gold Coast supporting one - just take a look at the Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers and how unsuccessful they were - with regards to both their (in)ability to draw crowds, and their (in)ability to win matches.
And how the GC Rollers went arse up quite a while ago in the NBL.

[excalibur]

Apparently the new poker machine tax will cost leagues clubs shitloads, and was a major factor in the choice not to starta new club, because the associated leagues club would struggle to turn a profit for quite some time with the new tax, and all the associated costs of starting up.

[NastyButler]

Whilst it would be great to see another Qld team, I really can't see the Gold Coast supporting one - just take a look at the Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers and how unsuccessful they were - with regards to both their (in)ability to draw crowds, and their (in)ability to win matches.
At least one of the previous teams was based at Tweed Heads, in NSW. The last team at the GC was quite a success and was kicked out of the reformed NRL unreasonably, due to a reduction in the number of teams.

[Jimma]

League isn't a real sport. If it ain't union, I ain't rugby. Another team stopping and starting all the time would bother me, so I should've said I agree, but I said I didnt give a fuck.

[NastyButler]

Apparently the new poker machine tax will cost leagues clubs shitloads, and was a major factor in the choice not to starta new club, because the associated leagues club would struggle to turn a profit for quite some time with the new tax, and all the associated costs of starting up.Yeah, I heard that too and Laurie Daley made a reasonable case for the NRL.

The whole poker machine armies are what made the NSW clubs richer than the QLD clubs in the first place so I'm interested in seeing if it has much of an effect on the smaller NRL clubs.

[Icky_Thoomp]

Rather than have a 16th team, they should move Melbourne to the Gold Coast. Melbourne have completely failed as a way to get into the Victorian sports market. Other than the premiership that Uncle Rupert bought them, they have done fuck all in marketing the game or building it up.

Since they have been part of the NRL and Super League, the Storm have produced one solitary Melbourne-born player in first grade. They have been playing since 1997 or 1998. Fucking ridiculous. They have been propped up by News Ltd money and free tickets from day one and are a club without soul. Get them to the Gold Coast so that the dirty Queenslanders can actually contribute to the NRL in a productive way, such as a local derby that means something. Fucking Broncos are sacred cows and can't be touched or they will sook and not talk to the media.

Bears - they are a lost cause. Get over it. Give the Central Coast a team of its own, not some rehashed crapola. Make it new, not a throwback to an unsuccessful, unloved team of underachievers.

[SamBo]

For Fucks sake - how long will it be until they fucking realise that they need a NRL team on the Central Coast and bring back the Bears?!?! I cannot beleieve that they bothered to bring back south fucking sydney who cannot seem to manage to bring no more than a few thousand drunks to their games - yet there are thousands of central coast supporters who are slowly drifting away into rugby and afl. Fuck the NRL and their bullshit!
Yeah, if only the bears would return!
I was devastated when the bears merged with Manly. What a fucking joke. Was meant to be a 50/50 merger... gee that went well!!!
Since then I have ignored the NRL completly. Fuck it. I think when Super League came along (in 95 was it?) it started the ball rolling in what has now totally fucked up the game. Teams appear, teams disappear (and then come back in the case of Souths).
League was about the only sport I could enjoy watching, and now I just don't give a toss anymore.

[King_Crud]

bah, all it's all a load of crap. Rugby League is dieing in the arse and it's all their own fault. Souths? What a fucking joke they turned out to be. They got kicked out in the first place because they were shit and no one watched them. Then they get readmitted, all the celebs turn out, they get big crowds, but they still play shit. Then people think "oh that's right, this is why i never came to watch them before. Lets go shoot up." Move Souths somewhere, or get the Newtown Jets in. At least people would watch them.

/end of pointless rant