Wellington : Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:13 pm  

I was wondering what peoples thoughts would be for a second NRL team in NZ? I am new to this place, but from what I have seen, there is an audience available. The Hurricanes have dropped their average gate by nearly 16,000 in three years and the wendyballers at the pheonix would seem to have benefited a bit, so what would wellington need to do to be considered for a place in the NRL?

Re: Wellington : Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:16 pm  

didnt wellington have a trial not long ago? manly and the warriors that attracted nearly 20,000 people?

if that's the case they should have a bloody team,it would be a great to watch warriors and a wellington side slog it out in a all NZ derby.


the interest would be enormous in NZ.

Re: Wellington : Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:02 pm  

They generally get crowds of 16-20,000, have adecent ground, a rich backer potential, earn more $'s for the NRL than they would cost and plenty of islanders to choose from.

Only thing against them is the Warriors still struggle on and off the field and thr NZRL is a basket case still trying to get its house in order. I'm surprised there has been no official bid put forward from Wellington for 2013.

Re: Wellington : Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:05 pm  

Them or Christchurch, either will do.

We need another NZ team, it's criminal that the SL lost a French club 10 years ago, got one back, and look to be getting another team in before we even look at a second for NZ.

Re: Wellington : Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:59 pm  

JB Down Under wrote:

NZRL is a basket case still trying to get its house in order.

True...but nearly there. Auckland are being a bit troublesome, but they will have to toe the line. NZRL made a profit this year...... so they are moving in the right direction.

Re: Wellington : Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:26 am  

If you have a careful look at the draw for 2010, you will see the NRL's thinking when it comes to expansion...

This year (and those to follow) is a bit of a testing year for the other centres.

In 2010, in addition to the usual centres where the game is played in Australia and NZ, 4 additional centres are factored in (this is in addition to the centres that hosted trial games including the likes of Darwin):-

* 5 games at Gosford on the NSW Central Coast;
* 1 game in Christchurch, NZ;
* 1 game in Perth; and
* 1 game in Adelaide.

In so far as Wellington is concerned, I don't think they are on the radar when you look at the draw for this year.

This is not to say they won't be in the coming years - but it seems clear the next expansion sides will come from the four areas outlined above.

I would just about bet the house on it...

Re: Wellington : Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:35 am  

Gijou wrote:

If you have a careful look at the draw for 2010, you will see the NRL's thinking when it comes to expansion...

This year (and those to follow) is a bit of a testing year for the other centres.

In 2010, in addition to the usual centres where the game is played in Australia and NZ, 4 additional centres are factored in (this is in addition to the centres that hosted trial games including the likes of Darwin):-

* 5 games at Gosford on the NSW Central Coast;
* 1 game in Christchurch, NZ;
* 1 game in Perth; and
* 1 game in Adelaide.

In so far as Wellington is concerned, I don't think they are on the radar when you look at the draw for this year.

This is not to say they won't be in the coming years - but it seems clear the next expansion sides will come from the four areas outlined above.

I would just about bet the house on it...

The sports fans in christchurch would turn up for the opening of an envelope....but once it's opened, they won't come back for more. Not knocking the south Island....just saying let them have their "traditional" union and the rest can have the league. Wellington and the surrounding areas have a good league set up with many clubs, the south island struggles against Union.....in fact, I would compare the south island with the south east of england....it's union union union....
Let's see if the 4 nations game v England can attract a full house to the cake-tin.....i think it will

Re: Wellington : Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:41 am  

gutterfax wrote:

The sports fans in christchurch would turn up for the opening of an envelope....but once it's opened, they won't come back for more. Not knocking the south Island....just saying let them have their "traditional" union and the rest can have the league. Wellington and the surrounding areas have a good league set up with many clubs, the south island struggles against Union.....in fact, I would compare the south island with the south east of england....it's union union union....
Let's see if the 4 nations game v England can attract a full house to the cake-tin.....i think it will

That may well be the view of someone with no idea...

The South Island is not exclusively union, you idiot.

Heard of the West Coast for starters???

Typical of someone raised on union and its deluded rubbish (as you have previously conceded)...

Re: Wellington : Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:54 pm  

Gijou wrote:

That may well be the view of someone with no idea...

The South Island is not exclusively union, you idiot.

Heard of the West Coast for starters???

Typical of someone raised on union and its deluded rubbish (as you have previously conceded)...

er...OK
although what me being raised on Union has to do with it?

Re: Wellington : Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:58 pm  

Would be good to see it happen eventually, don't know if Warriors would go back to being Auckland or if that would be necessary. Or maybe we'll have another Orcas for Super League bid

The lack of pro-RL in New Zealand is something that should be addressed though, especially if Super 14/15? crowds are going down. They are the World Champs atm after all. Look at how club RU in England kicked on after the 2003 WC win. New Zealand should look to be kicking on from their WC win.