Where would YOU put the NRL's 18th franchise?

Kea, national bird of NZ, are we perhaps forgetting the Kiwi ... you know the name that the NZ National team play under.

As a Kiwi, I definitely feel that a second NZ NRL team is the way to go. The rivalry between them and the Warriors would really grow the sport. Christchurch seems like the best place as Wellington already has the Nix as a non-union team.

I just stumbled upon your video...as a Papua New Guinean..rugby league is a religion..you give us NRL license and that license belongs to the 11million people... Trust us....the rugby league is not just a game...but it is something we live and breathe with..

How have I never heard of the South Island Kea? That logo is stunning 😍

I would go nuts for a south island NRL team, that's my hood! Im a home-team-less nrl fanatic

mate, i think we can all tell you are very dedicated, intelligent and articulate in everything you do, i genuinely think you would be a great fixture on a big podcast or even a writing platform that isn't newscorp. any way keep up the good work mate, appreciate all the work you do.

18 Perth, 19 NZ2 and 20 Ipswich

You may want to check your facts about the Kea. Firstly it is NOT the national bird of NZ the Kiwi is. And Secondly the people behind that bid aren't "League" people, the bid led by Tony Kidd really are.

As a Papua New Guinean, the Idea is purely Geopolitical. I agree with you

I feel as though league is on a steady increase in the South Island mostly due to the Warriors resurgence and also the academy/pathways they set up down there. On a side note the secondary schools nationals held last year was won by a high school from Christchurch which was the first time in 20 or so years that a non Auckland school has won it. Good video from yourself and I agree with all your points.

Christchurch for me. Already building a new stadium. North/South rivalry. NZ deserve it. Play games in Perth to build support for future expansion. PNG? How would they be better than Norths or the Jets? Would require massive investment. It’s a political promise when we in Australia can benefit more in other areas given “cost of living” for $600M in political diplomacy. Can the NRL afford it? Can Australia afford it? Don’t think so. Not now. As a member of the Bears I’d love to see it but not if they play most games in Perth. It would dilute the brand. Brisbane Tigers. No. Merge Southport and Cronulla first. Both the Sharks and if you want a National competition it’s better to move some Sydney teams out. Controversial yes but the AFL has already relocated South Melbourne and Fitzroy and, while not a truly balanced comp, it’s better than the NRL. Great video mate.

Justin Olman has said it. Papua New Guinea is not ready yet to join the NRL. Period.

For geopolitical reasons, Papua New Guinea will probably get the gig. The folks up there are cray cray crazy for our great game so I reckon they deserve to win the bid. However, I hope New Zealand succeeds. Two Kiwi teams would generate a tremendous rivalry and Darby games would be next level passionate and competitive. As for Perth, well, it's rock solid AFL country and past tilts have failed.

Kea is not the national bird lol

You mentioned the time slots that come with expansion but I wonder if the NRL looks to add one or two more games a season for additional TV inventory. Also, don't be surprised if a potential Perth side has some 8/9pm AEST kickoffs similar to what US sports do on the West Coast. I'd imagine with FNF in particular, the NRL would want to push the second kickoff back so the first game starts at 6pm AEST.

Perth would work well I think because the NRL can at least have a little bit of competition to AFL in Perth. I feel like they should take at least 1 game to Optus Stadium just so they can have a big crowd at the game

Papua New Guinea is perfect for talent and fans, but they won't generate the finances to sustain the team. That's just reality. Perth and Adelaide have large populations to appeal to, so a lot of growth potential.

To be fair most dolphins fans are former broncos fans (I know this because I’m from Brisbane), so I think most fans from PNG would become fans of the new club there if they ever formed one I think the issue is that the NRL is proposing that they play out of cairns, so at that point, what’s the point of having a PNG-based side?

As a kiwi living in Auckland I don’t think NZ needs another team Just how the NBA only have 1 team that isn’t In the USA Toronto Raptors NZ needs all the talent it can get especially if a lot of our talent sign with Australian clubs a second team would just make in unfair for our club I think 18th Team should go to Western Australia Western Red Bears makes sense and another Team in Brisbane to be the 19th and a team in Cairns to attract PNG for the 20th makes more sense

18. Perth 19. NZ2 20. Sth Brisbane. Both the Broncos and Dolphins are based on the Northside. Closest nrl side to the area would be the Titans

Perth Bears for me. The return of a 1908 Foundation club plus the colours of the North Sydney Bears and the Perth Reds were virtually identical as both wore predominately red and black. The NRL will NOT admit another team in NSW having 11 already, 9 in Sydney alone, the NRL really needs a WA team to become a truly national competition. WA offers a new time slot for broadcasters, new fans and potential new sponsorships. The Bears would provide WA with a ready made fanbase on the East Coast, Bears fans will still have atleast 9 away games in Sydney to attend (Newcastle is only up the freeway) an established NRL pathways system with teams in the NSW Cup, S.G.Ball and Harold Matthews (mens), Tarsha Gale, Lisa Fiaola Cup (womens) competitions. Bears NSW Cup Frontrow enforcer Kurt De Luis (South Perth Lions) is a Perth product. WA has some talented players in their local competition like Joell Irvine (Joondalup Giants), Duane Butler (Fremantle Roosters), Paora Kemp (Fremantle Roosters), Kade McDonald (North Beach Sea Eagles) and the player pool would only become larger and stronger with NRL exposure. Bring Back the Bears 🐻❤️🖤🏈

Would agree with your summation here. PNG is a logistical nightmare, how much security would they need for home games, how are they going to attract marquee players - would you play there and move the fam to Port Moresby, et., Brisbane is saturated, a third team is going to take support from the existing two teams, Brisbane is a growing market for all sports but not at the rate needed for an additional NRL team. WA might be fertile ground, the previous team had support there, while a South Island team based out of Christchurch has limited potential, given the population and Rugby dominating in that region - Canterbury in the NPC and the Crusaders in Super Rugby. The AFL and NSL are expanding, the AFL into Tassie surprisingly among other plans and the NSL have a number of franchises putting bids in for additional teams, including a second franchise in NZ that apparent has been approved. Rumour has it the NBL is also expanding into Tassie, vaguely think the Devils had a decent following till they canned commercial television coverage, amongst other franchise lodging statements. About the only major sports not expanding, have no idea about the Netball since the previous contraction, are the BBL - though there are apparently various groups working on additional franchises, and Rugby Union which has just canned the Rebels after significant loses, something to keep an eye on with the Storm who might have the runs onboard but are apprently heavily reliant on NRL bailouts - that is speculation from various sources. Would go for a Perth based team as number 18th - even with the additional travel, though would prefer the Pirates - black and white - hell yeah, over moving the Bears over there. Weren't the Bears working on a franchise proposal out of Gosford a year or so back? Very nice stadium there, currently home ground for the Mariners in the NSL.

Love your videos mate, well done

The nz national bird is a kiwi

I believe there are 3 Christchurch bids out there so def huge interest. Perth should have its own identity and doesn’t need to be aligned to another Sydney club. The PNG bid would unite a very tribal country and the PNG PM has guaranteed the safety of players and fams. There are already lots of Aussies living safely in Port Moresby.

Cool vid mate. Subscribed

I respectfully disagree with your argument against having a png team in the nrl. You're almost saying that png has nothing to offer the nrl, the Australian spectator, and the rugby league world, other than the fact that we're fans. The nrl has room to grow in png, and the return on investments would be a net positive. There are huge talents and the game day experience will be exciting for spectators and teams. Rugby League or the nrl has a chance to solidify its presence in another country. Which will all the more benefit nrl long term.

Just to let you know these actually Two South Island bidders .

To be honest i think Perth should have a team ,as most teams are either in QLD and NSW and only 1 over the Barassi line which are the storms so we need more teams in other states its called the NRL not NSW&QLD RL and it should not be PNG as ive heard they have to many problems and the team wont be self funded an will only be supported by government funding but a other team in new Zealand? a good idea because as you said rugby league is growing in new zealand and if there is another team in new zealand it will make the game bigger but also will give new zealand fans a option to pick a team.

UP DA WAHS UP DA KEA

Southern Island of New Zealand. The Kea is certainly not the national bird of New Zealand.

I expect the AFL may well have their 20th team in Perth (on a population, money and players source basis it probably makes the most sense) so there may be a lot of competition for the WA public interest and money

I wish Darwin had a team, but it's too small. The game is followed alot up there. Call them Top End Crocodiles 🐊

Papua new guinea would be great, because rugby is our number one game.That is why we want to expose some more grass roots talent's.

4:28, yep, that should be the slogan when the western bears launch in 2027

The choice for the 18th team will show as what the goals and ambitions of the NRL are and where the priorities lie. Perth: growing the sport in Australia, working on making it a national/nationwide sport and trying to come closer to the AFL. Overall maybe the best choice. Christchurch/2nd NZ team: continue to grow the sport in NZ, clearly there is a lot of potential there. Brisbane: on the surface a rather safe choice, maybe also to cement the dominant position of the NRL, considering the steady growth of AFL/Aussie rules, soccer and other sports in that area. Don’t think it is a smart choice. Will contribute very little. You already lined it out, Dolphins are sort of the second team there and creating another Brisbane NRL team at almost the same time doesn’t make sense. PNG: a very political choice, you already said it. Also a choice based on sentiment, they might think that PNG simply has to have a team because they are RL crazy. But also maybe flawed thinking. They might believe that having an NRL team there is the most important thing in order to be able to utilise the talent pool better. Classical NRL thinking and dead wrong. You need to invest in the overall football infrastructure there, in communities, create academies and make sure the youth and semi professional competitions and clubs are strong and competitive. So indeed, on all counts, a bad choice. So for me, either Perth or New Zealand, depending on the goals, ambitions and priorities of the NRL, with Perth being a my personal number 1.

18th is a Perth bears teams, 19th should be southern keas out of chch and a adelaide or another vic team for 20th team as Storm have so much depth is crazy.

Dont be selfish. Expand the game we love to your neighbours..

Perth bears are great and they wouldn’t need to take any home games to Sydney as they will get 8 away games in Sydney a year. That’s 8 chances for bear fans in Sydney to fill their rivals stadium and out number them, like the warrior fans do with the titans on the goldy each season It’s unlikely that the bears would be able to play a game at north Sydney oval to begin with, as its not upto nrl standards.

I would love PNG 🎉

Solid bloke merch

BRING BACK THE BEARS Lets take the emotion out of it, just financial speaking the Titans are a clear example of how little the away fan numbers can be from a manufacturered club. With the Bears you get 3-5k fans to Sydney games regularly. As far as memberships ? I can guarantee you as a Bears tragic in my 30s I'll be jumping over to Perth Bears should they come back and agree to 2-4 home games in North Sydney.

I think they 22 tames in NRL because this manes have two different divisions of 11. The tames who play a bye in each division played each other. This means, the NRL have 20 rounds and their top four top or top six division. In each division grand final will played the highest risking tames and the grand final of NRL play in Sydney. You for get and South Australia in will try have it Port Adelaide Magpies they were the black and white Prion bars the can fan base in Sydney the old Western suburbs Magpies

PNG for me. Then Perth (Western Reds) not the Sydney Bears. Then a Pacific team, Darwin team, 2 more teams in Qld (South West and Country Qld), Country NSW. so that leaves 4 teams in Sydney and 1 team in west Sydney. Eventually drop another Sydney team and have a South Island from NZ.

PNG needs infrastructure and stadiums built, South Island NZ will struggle to get numbers, Perth is best bet. Also a Central Coast team and Adelaide probably also better bets than PNG or another NZ team.

The 18th team in Perth would be nice as either The Pirates or The Bears as they would be the colours of black and white with a hint of red. Christchurch would make a good 19th team for a team on each island . PNG is already playing tier 2 Rugby League in the Queensland Intrust Cup. Another Brisbane Club is out of the Question. Ron Barassi has passed away and so should the line as I am sure both codes can expand.

Yes I am from Perth but come on, league could only grow more if a team is put in Perth or Chch, no idea why Brisbane is even an option and PNG would be ridiculously tough to work out

A. K u spent faul ya. PNG must be the 18 NRL team. End of the story. Enough lo washim mipla nambaut

Man you are underestimate PNG thats unfair. We have the strongest domestic competition than this other bidders.

More teams in vic to rival the Afl

I get why Papua New Guinea why not one in Adelaide, Tasmania and Wellington

If the Bears get 1 game at North Sydney Oval then that's exactly what they were after all along. Can't begin the negotiations asking for only 1 otherwise you could end up with nothing.

Png are ever excited to have a team here we don't get then we'll be left for the rest of the time

Perth should have it, because where will the play if PNG got NRL's 18th team, and Christchurch is prone to earthquakes.

North Sydney bears playing out of north Sydney and central coast When people say bring back the bears they mean to north Sydney Let Perth be a new fresh start

the Warriors should just be a part of the NZRL the NRL isn't really national, imo and also, it should be renamed to the ARL 32 teams, 2 conferences that change yearly, and 16 teams for each.

West coast pirates is my favourite or WA reds as a 2nd option.

WA

I favour Perth Pirates. Dictch the west coast title. Melbourne storm isn't called Victoria storm.

Do we really need more teams in states outside of NSW and Queensland they will only have to be propped up using players produced in those traditional league areas and that will then reduce the talent pool available to the existing NRL clubs ? I dont believe the decision on PNG should have anything to with politics although they do produce players any selection needs to about practicality and sustianability not what may keep China at bay. For me the South Island of NZ makes more sense as NZ produces players and if a rivaly developed between the North and South island we could potentially have ourselves another state of origin in the future.

Here how I would do the 18th, 19th, 20th teams With both the Newtown jets & North Sydney Bears both wanting to partner with Perth to make WA team. I would go to both team and offer 18th license to bears to go to Perth in 2027 as Perth team make the most sense of all the options. With the 20th license i would give it to the jets to go to Adelaide in 2029 or 2030 as sooner or later they are going to have to go to Adelaide and with jets you get 4000 paying membership which gives them a chance to be successful and it expands the tv right area With the 19th license I would go to South Island New Zealand with either the bid of the Southern Orcas or South Island Kea bid Brisbane 3rd team and Papua New Guinea team can wait until the 21st and 22nd licences in 2035

Perth for me, but stand-alone. Nothing to do with North Sydney Bears. All mergers have been absolute failures. Different timezone which is ideal for TV audiences. Good stadium. Huge population to support just 1 team. For a 2nd team probably Wellington over Christchurch as its larger. Although you could have a Nth v Sth rivalry with Christchurch & Auckland - with the odd game at Dunedin (fantastic indoor stadium). No way should Albanese be giving $600m of tax-payers money to buy favours from PNG (to keep China at bay).

Intelligent fella

Tasmania

Should be in Wellington mate

Perth pirates or convicts black and white or miners blue and gold to match west coast colours East tigers change south Brisbane lions play out the Gabba colour brown and yellow other animal types Singapore plovers Adelaide ravens navy blue and red and yellow trim like the crows Darwin crocs blue and orange Hobart blue younger blue and maroon Christchurch kea or paladins gold white black trim Bring back the bears I wold do all of these before png put the national in the national rugby league

In order 18th North Sydney bears 19th Perth 20th Christchurch By 2030 21st Adelaide 22 east tigers ( south Brisbane lions) By 2040 23rd Darwin use png pathways 24th Hobart By 2050 This makes it a truly national sport If you space it out like this it is achievable Focus on building up the pacific league starting week after Super Bowl Teams pool a Australia NZ PNG Samoa Pool b Cook Islands Fiji Tonga USA Then lead into Vegas games

where the fucks the adelaide section, Rams, make it happen mate.

So a country where league is the national sport, a country where rugby is massive but league has a good foothold or a state a million miles from anywhere that is AFL mad. And the NRL wants Perth……sigh

The NRL should be Australian teams only.

IT NEEDS TO BE FROM PERTH!!! AND THE NEXT SHOULD BE FROM ADELAIDE!!! It will then only make sense to call it the NRL! The NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE! Because only the AFL, Basketball, Soccer and Cricket competitions in Australia 🇦🇺 truly claim to be national competitions. NO MORE TEAMS BASED IN SYDNEY AND QUEENSLAND!!! PERTH WESTERN REDS!!!

Why are you guy's so racist? Maybe you guys are fearing us to be competitive at international matches? We're big fans of NRL so just give us the license. After all, your government has already committed to us being the 18th NRL Team so please shallow your own pride and ego Mr. presenter...

Bring on the Western Bears for WA. We are Rugby League mad over here.

Wow, I know a great deal of people don’t want PNG.

PNG 18th team way to go!