Sydney solution not the answer for NRL

IT SEEMS like expansion has been on the lips of NRL fans and power-brokers for an eternity.

And yet no definitive headway has been made and no ideas offered up.

First of all the “timeline” seems to be continually pushed back and I’m not talking about “when we should expand”.

The timeline being pushed back always seems to be “when we should talk about expansion”.

And then there is the notion of how we should expand or more specifically where.

When this point of discussion takes centre stage it generally focuses on Queensland – Brisbane in particular.

I for one think this is a bad idea.

Rugby league is strong in Queensland – you only have to look at the quality of competitions like the TRL and Instrust Super Cup for proof of that.

Queensland fans are passionate, loyal and vocal and the state has produced some of league’s greatest players.

But Queensland does not need another NRL team.

Another NRL, particularly in Brisbane, is not going to produce more fans.

All a second Brisbane team would do is eat into the current Broncos fanbase.

Part-time Broncos fans (eg those who have a home-team but now live in Queensland) might jump ship to a new franchise but only at the expense of the Broncos.

If the NRL wants more money out of the Brisbane market it needs to think differently – more super rounds may be the answer.

Another team won’t generate extra fans though.

If they want new fans they must move into new markets.

Did someone say New South Wales Central Coast, Adelaide or Perth?