NRL planning to go west (Perth) 2013

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David Gallop says Perth may have an NRL team by 2013 season
By Justin Chadwick
June 30, 2010

David Gallop has strongly indicated that a Perth-based team will be introduced into the NRL for the 2013 season if expansion of the competition goes ahead.

Thirteen years after Western Reds folded amidst the Super League war, rugby league is planning to go back to Western Australia as the code war with AFL rages across the country.

Last Saturday's game between Melbourne Storm and South Sydney in Perth attracted a crowd of 13,164 despite freezing night conditions and demand for tickets dropping markedly immediately after the Storm's salary cap dramas were revealed.

WA Rugby League chief executive John Sackson believes Perth had a strong fan base to support a team and NRL CEO Gallop says the prospect will be given careful consideration.

"We are in a similar situation to the AFL in that we are about to do a broadcast deal and hopefully that will bring a fresh new bucket of money into our game," Gallop said.

"In about 12 months' time when we've got a clearer picture of our media rights deal going forward we'll certainly be seriously looking at expansion and the bottom line is Perth's got a lot going for it.

"There's an opportunity for us to increase our national profile, the State economy's robust, the (rectangular) stadium is being redeveloped.

"At the moment you'd have to say the Central Coast and Perth are the lead contenders."

The Reds, who featured in the national competition in 1995 and 1996, regularly attracted crowds above 13,000.

The Reds defected to the Super League in 1997 but folded later in the year.

Gallop said the demise of the Reds was irrelevant when deciding whether to introduce a Perth-based side by 2013.

"I think they were a victim of circumstances within the game generally rather than anything they were getting wrong themselves," Gallop said.

"They weren't playing in an ideal stadium for rugby league (WACA Ground) and that's now not an issue because we've got a good stadium (in ME Bank Stadium).

"I don't take a lot of notice of what happened in the mid-90s because it was such an unusual time in the game generally."

While AFL rules the roost in WA, Sackson said it was important for the NRL to have a meaningful presence in the market.

"It's important for the code to start looking outside the east coast," Sackson said.

"Particularly in the face of the AFL's aggressive approach to the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.

"Rugby league needs to get on the front foot and expand the game nationally."

Sackson said several companies had already approached the WARL about potentially sponsoring a Perth-based team.

"We know the other pivotal aspect is television rights, which comes into play in 2013," Sackson added.

"The appeal (to the NRL) of having another capital city market ... would add some muscle to the negotiations.

"I think our prospects are very encouraging."

Rabbitohs coach John Lang, whose side will host another game in Perth next season, felt the time was right for a WA side.

"Certainly the competition's ready for a team from Perth in 2013," Lang said.

"We're a national rugby league competition, it's a big step forward if we can come over here in my opinion."

AAP
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This didnt work with the Reds and hasnt worked when Souths have taken their games over there what makes him think a permanent team will do any better???
 
NewKnights said:
This didnt work with the Reds and hasnt worked when Souths have taken their games over there what makes him think a permanent team will do any better???
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They only folded because they got caught up in the Super League War. And when Souths played there last saturday they pulled a crowd of 13k, which is more than what we're getting at the moment. So if they have a permanent team there you would think they would get even more than that.

But in saying that I would much prefer the Central Coast come in just for the rivalry we would have :)
 
I wouldn't mind a team in WA to be honest. I would much rather a WA team than a Central Coast team because it will draw support away fom the Knights if the NRL introduce a CC team.
 
I would rather a side on the CC but it doesn't bother me too much. It would be good if a side based in Perth worked like Melbourne has (without cheating though).
 
NewKnights said:
This didnt work with the Reds and hasnt worked when Souths have taken their games over there what makes him think a permanent team will do any better???
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Well Souths wouldnt be the best indication, A town that can have ownership of their OWN team will be much better then having a Sydney team come over once or twice a year.

There are a lot of South Africans and Poms over there as far as I'm aware. Pity we didnt get in before the Western Force though, or else it could have worked better. It'd be more Union then League, so it would be hard to convert the Force fans.

Also if this team comes about, I'd hate for it to Spell the end of Patto at the Knights, afterall He'd probably top their recruitment drive being a Perth Native, and off contract around 2012/2013.
 
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I think the idea is great, But, unlike Melbourne it needs to be a team of its own, no ownership by daily telegraph/news limited, who have too much conflict of interest in melbourne. it needs to be made independant also. Not fair on clubs who have to come up with their own coin.


I reckon the Bears would be a great squad, along with bringing in the western reds (under a new name no doubt) even the Perth somethings.

18 teams, even take it up to 20, with an adelaide squad and another qld squad.

The comp will never grow without broadening its horizons to other states. Get some keen interest in the western/southern states and the game will grow so fast. Plus having other teams will mean with the extra revenue built by league as a whole, salary caps will rise so will players salarys. which seems to be the whole dilema here. How can NRL keep Melbournes players in the comp when all other teams are on the cap already? More teams to spread the talent. I think each team should have 1 (only) player who is exempt from salary cap calculations, so if that player wants more money, its up to negotiation with clubs not how they can fit in. Then each club will have a marquee player, which other players learn off in the process, the whole comp will be a little more even, and more exciting to watch, the the same chip from SMith to Slater **** we see every week.

NBA players earn **** loads of money, but, they ****n earn it, they play 82 reg season games, over 6 months, plus could be another 28 games if they played all the way to the finals in 7 game series'. Thats 110 games in a season, alot more than the 31 or so games an NRL player plays (plus rep) so u can see the money brought in by having so many teams, so many games etc in the NBA as opposed to 8 games a week for 26 weeks (minus bye) for NRL. No money will be made will there is only 8 games played a week
 
13,000+ people for the game here the other night was a good crowd given it was absolutely freezing and a lot of families didn't want to take their little kids out for a few hours in the cold night air when it was so cold. The night before, the minimum was -0.6°. I think by the time the game finished on the Saturday night, it was only about 4° or 5°. Apart from a few last minute tv and radio ads for the game, there wasn't much promotion for the game. Actually, most people knew of the game because Russell Crowe was coming here and he mentioned the game several times in each interview he did.

Being secretary of one of the WARL clubs, I come across info, plans, ect, from time to time in regards to the WA Reds (which will be their name, not Western Reds, Perth Reds, or any other name) entering the NRL. I am confident Perth will be back in the NRL in 2013, and I'm 95% sure Central Coast will also be admitted.
 
If there's a team added to the central coast I will treat it like the rivalry the Jets & Mariners have, so the central coast idea would be amazing.
 
jamesgould said:
Oh, that's future NRL CEO stuff right there! :lol:
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hahah, funniest post ive seen from KRN7 in a while, can just imagine David gallop in a massive boardroom, going through the presentations, going "Ooo, this game is lacking Red jerseys, think about untapped market we could have converting people who like the colour red, maybe we could convert a few Swans supporters, why havent I thought of this before!"

The NRL does have a Red NRL team, the Illawarra part of the St George merger. However we all know what the Illawarras job is in that relationship, provide the talent! Although they have been recognising the Steelers a bit more in recent years, and wear the Scarlet more then in the past. in the early to mid 00's it was a disgrace how 90% of the team was Illawarra products and it was referred to as a GREAT ST GEORGE TEAM (by more people then those holding up the GST banner).
 
I reckon if Piggy Ridell Played nRL again thats who he will play for as that is where his missus is living...
 
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