Dear Stakeholders,
It is an accepted fact that the expansion of the game of Rugby League must include undoing the Sydney-centric leftovers of a bygone era. Put another way, expansion must include the merging or moving of some Sydney teams.
What is not accepted is that the number of teams in a truly national competition must be limited to no more than the currently mooted twelve so as not to dilute limited quality player stock. The game has never had as many quality players as it currently enjoys, partly because of the influx of Pacific Islanders, but partly also from improved coaching and training practices, equipment and science. The "limited quality player" stock argument is just another remnant of a bygone era when the game was only semi-professional.
Rather than dilute quality player stock. expansion will increase popularity and participation - both of which would help keep quality at buoyant levels.
One of the teams most mentioned as a candidate for merging or moving is Wests Tigers. If Wests Tigers is moved, it should be no further than Campbelltown, with the team possibly renamed Macarthur Magpies to better represent the local population. A team based at Campbelltown should be no more considered a Sydney side than Newcastle is. Expansion without the Macarthur district will see the area lost to League, while the economic benefits to the area of having a team should be self-evident.
If the above is not accepted, then perhaps a new franchise for the area could be thrown open for purchase?
As for the total number of teams and structure, the following is proposed:
-a 20 team single competition where each team plays each team once with a top 8 team playoff series, or
-2 conferences of 10 teams each, with a top 5 teams playoff series in each, with the winners of each conference playing each other in a 3 game series, or
-an A and a B competition of 10 teams each with a top 5 playoff series and a system of regulation and promotion
The areas most often cited for expansion are the Central Coast, Perth, Brisbane, and New Zealand. Let me add Adelaide, Central Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Darwin as other possibilities., albeit looking further into the future.
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\"I don\'t think we pay Campbelltown area enough respect.\" Brad Fittler, July, 30, 2020