Even Dave sounds less than convinced that it is anything but a pipedream.

FOX: Overall, do you think from what you've seen so far, is a PNG-NRL bid realistic?

GALLOP: Oh, look I think it is not around the corner. It's probably still a few years off, but it's something that needs to be looked at seriously and you would never say never, because we know that the game is so popular up there.


sounds like hes making them go through the same hurdles the titans went through

get a new ground, get a good business plan that shows profits and you are in

2015 is too soon but 2018 is very feasible

as someone said on another forum, once the ground is built we should take nrl games there

once they get good crowds there, they will be admitted.

bullox, what he is saying is, "well probably not a cat in hells but if they ever develop from being a 3rd world country and people actually have an expendable income that will allow them to pay more than $2 for a ticket maybe"

Good crowds is the very least of their problems!

JB, do you think Western Reds are ready for an NRL licence in 2013?

I think the WA Reds will be!

The definates:

Decent stadium with a current 20K capacity. $80million of works to be completed by 2013 taking capacity to 26K. A further $180million total refurb of rest of the stadium being discussed.

Strong supporter base. In the last two years we've averaged around 12k for trial games and crowds of 15k and 13k for proper games. I am confident we will avg around the 15-16K mark for season 1.

Decent management team: Some good business men now running the WARL and the WA Reds GM knows his stuff.

Corporate support: Currently have around 10 businesses backing the WARL including some decent sized ones in Harvery Norman, Bartercard and Cash Convertors.

Strong grass roots focus. With the club being owned and run by the WARL we will have a continued focus on developing all levels of the game. We are currently producing NRL 1st graders with little RL prominence so I am confident we will soon have WA born and trained players playing in a WA team. It certainly won't take as long as Melbourne has!

The to be confirmed:

Big money backers. We need to nail a $1mill+ sponsor I feel to really clinch the deal. I'm confident we will with plenty of East coast businesses wanting to promote their company into one of the richest cities in the world, and plenty of West coast companies wanting to advertise into the Eastern States, something the AFL can't give them.

Memberships: We have stated we are aiming for 10k members by season kick off. Ambitious but we had nearly 2000 for the Jim Beam cup! WA is far more used to membership models so I think we will do well in this dept.

Value to TV: Ultimatley with RL generally on the bones of its ar5e this will be the deciding factor I reckon. WA offers a Live TV time slot that no one else can and also opens the game up to a brand new audience of close to 2 million people. If TV companies see it that way only they know.

We've been putting this together for 4 years now, by 2013 it will be over 6 years of work behind it!

Will we be ready? Yep you'd better believe it!

if you read the article gallop backed away from saying we were expanding or even who were the strongest candidates.

gallop wouldnt be going to PNG if it were a pipedream

new stadium will be the start, then get corporate backers and they get a team

Sincerely hope it works.

"never say never" sums up all you need to read

why is he going then? "Oh, because it is not only about whether they are ready to be admitted to the NRL. It is just to get a view of their development program. Obviously you've got the Kumuls playing in the Four Nations at the end of this year and we're interested in the game's development in PNG generally as well as their ultimate goal of having a team."

In order to make up for the shortfall in ticket value and merchandise sales they would need an extra approx $5-6million in corporate support on top of the $4-5million that clubs already have to bring in. Do you honestly believe in a 3rd world country there are companies willing to throw $10million a year at a PNG team?

As i said if the NRL was flush with cash and had the ability to part fund the team like AFL are doing with its expansion teams then it would be brilliant and would be massive for the game. But they aren;t and even if they were they have shown zero leadership in even deciding where they want teams let alone being willing to fund that development.

the reds have enough holes in their bid without you worrying about PNGs

the most we can hope for in perth is crowds of 15,000 - 20,000 and juniors of 10,000 max.

in PNG it would be 20,000 - 30,000 and juniors of hundreds of thousands.

if i were making the choice i would pick png

yeh cause 20-30k paying $1-2 a ticket is going to pay the bills! Geez you are stupid at times, strike that, most of the time!

so PNG mining companies in Port Moresby pay wages of $1 a week huh?

the problem people like you have is using average income stats.

in a nation like PNG there are more than 20,000 people who could pay $20 a ticket a week.

we call these people "rich"

PNG > Perth

Perth>Jets>Wellington>Bears>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PNG

bears are a long way ahead of anyone else.

They said the same last time, then the Titans were pushed ahead of them.

no they didnt

they said no to everyone then gallop went out of his way to let the titans in.

Bears were clearly a stronger bid than Titans last time. Instead of letting them in they gave the Titans an extra year to sort their bid out. NRL knows there are too many teams in NSW to be viable. If the Jets bid was more advanced it would be Jets and Reds and Gosford would wait for a Sydney team to fall over and move. As it is there are only two viable bids, Bears and Reds, so that's who will be in if there is expansion.

Although I like the thought of the NRL expanding to places like WA... realistically.. will it work?

Ok.. NRL teams have played there ... I seem to remember Cronulla playing the Warriors over there a few years back and getting a resonable crowd.. but maybe that was just a 'curiosity' type crowd?

Can they sustain decent crowds in what is traditionally a Gayfl state?

And what about the cost to the Eastern clubs (and their supporters) having to fly over?


I cant see Perth as a realistic option for a new NRL side

gallop wont be adding another queensland team so soon

the bears have mortgage house lined up a company the reds would dearly love

2500 ST signed up

great crowds and juniors.

yeah its not as if RL has its own competition played in perth for years, with the grand final getting crowds of 10,000 or more

its not as if perth has really large juniors numbers either

<s>

Quote ="dally messenger"yeah its not as if RL has its own competition played in perth for years, with the grand final getting crowds of 10,000 or more its not as if perth has really large juniors numbers either <s>'" from www.moveandstay.com/perth [iPerth Sports and Activities If you`re a sports fanatic then Perth is the city for you! West Australians take part in various local and national sports competitions, ensuring that on any given weekend, Perthis always hosting a major sporting contest. The main summer game is cricket, although inroads are being made by soccer and basketball. In winter the religion is Australian Rules Football, or "footy". The other main winter creed is Rugby League, but this is much more the game of New South Walesand Queensland. If tennis is your game be sure to find yourself courtside at Burswood Dome at the beginning of January when the world`s most prestigious invitational tennis tournament, the HopmanCup, hits off. [/i <s>

Quote ="dally messenger"yeah its not as if RL has its own competition played in perth for years, with the grand final getting crowds of 10,000 or more its not as if perth has really large juniors numbers either <s>'" from www.moveandstay.com/perth [iPerth Sports and Activities If you`re a sports fanatic then Perth is the city for you! West Australians take part in various local and national sports competitions, ensuring that on any given weekend, Perthis always hosting a major sporting contest. The main summer game is cricket, although inroads are being made by soccer and basketball. In winter the religion is Australian Rules Football, or "footy". The other main winter creed is Rugby League, but this is much more the game of New South Walesand Queensland. If tennis is your game be sure to find yourself courtside at Burswood Dome at the beginning of January when the world`s most prestigious invitational tennis tournament, the HopmanCup, hits off. [/i <s>

We've avg'd more for NRL games in perth over the last two years than: Cronulla Manly Canberra Melbourne New Zealand Newcastle NQ & Penrith have managed at home this year oh and more than Gosford without the advantage of travelling Sydney and Newcastle fans! If you wish to cure your ignorance take a read: www.rl1908.com/Clubs/Western-Reds-Perth.htm

We've avg'd more for NRL games in perth over the last two years than: Cronulla Manly Canberra Melbourne New Zealand Newcastle NQ & Penrith have managed at home this year oh and more than Gosford without the advantage of travelling Sydney and Newcastle fans! If you wish to cure your ignorance take a read: www.rl1908.com/Clubs/Western-Reds-Perth.htm

Thanks for reminding me of that link... havent been on that site for a while now

Think this line from the same site pretty much sums it up.

[iWhether the Perth and Fremantle sporting fans would be willing to embrace rugby league again in the future is another question.[/i


The answer.. long term anyway.. has to be no.

Based on what Barry? Based on evidence over the last two years I would say yes. RL is the only pro sport in Australia not have a team in Perth. What is that telling you?

It's telling me that Perth is not ready for a pro NRL team

I've been to Perth a few times. Nice place.

But it costs the best part of $300 to fly there on a return trip from Sydney. So if you are the sort of person who likes to go to the footy with family... say a wife and a couple of kids... thats an expensive weekend when you factor in accommodation too.

At least travelling to Brizzy or Melbourne its only an hour or so on the plane and the flights arent much. You can even drive to both cities if you really want to. I wouldnt fancy crossing the Nullarbor in a car just to watch Perth v Cronulla though.


Perth in the NRL would be similar to London in the ESL. Great at first... big crowds... but they will soon die off after the novelty value has worn off.

And any casual supporters of any other NRL clubs wont go along to the game on a whim if they have nothing better to do. I've been bored before now and thought 'Nothing else to do... fancy a bit of a trip... I'll go and watch the game this arvo at the SFS'

I wouldnt say 'Bit of a loose end this arvo. Might drive to Perth. See you in about 2 weeks'

I wouldn't cross the street to watch Cronulla, never mind the Nullarbor!

haha, good attempt at a wind up though.