M
MrCharisma
Guest
The NRL have been in secret negotiations with the Gold Coast Dolphins consortium as their bid for entry into the NRL starts to gain some much needed momentum with the NRL, ARL and News Limited all showing bi-partisan support for the bid.
Obviously the move by the ARU to introduce a fourth team into the expanded Super 14 competition in Perth has forced the NRL’s hand as they look maintain their dominance in South East Queensland and as Australia’s second most popular football code behind the AFL.
A decision is expected to be made on the Gold Coast bid by as early as April this year and if successful, the Dolphins would kick off their inaugural season in 2007.
They can then begin hiring coaching staff with Roosters assistant coach John Cartwright already pencilled in for the head coach job, but more importantly, the Dolphins can start to recruit players for the new franchise.
This news will come as a blow to the Central Coast and Wellington bids, especially Wellington as there is still a distinct possibility relocation by either Cronulla or Souths to the Central Coast could provide the burgeoning region with an NRL team.
The NRL needs sixteen teams so we can do away with the bye, which can at times reward and punish teams, depending on what time of the season they have the bye.
Sixteen teams would also provide a financial windfall for the NRL with an extra game available to be shown on either free to air or Fox Sports and with the NRL the top rating sport on Channel Nine and Fox Sports, the extra money can go to all the clubs as they struggle to cope with the introduction of the poker machine tax in NSW.
Obviously the move by the ARU to introduce a fourth team into the expanded Super 14 competition in Perth has forced the NRL’s hand as they look maintain their dominance in South East Queensland and as Australia’s second most popular football code behind the AFL.
A decision is expected to be made on the Gold Coast bid by as early as April this year and if successful, the Dolphins would kick off their inaugural season in 2007.
They can then begin hiring coaching staff with Roosters assistant coach John Cartwright already pencilled in for the head coach job, but more importantly, the Dolphins can start to recruit players for the new franchise.
This news will come as a blow to the Central Coast and Wellington bids, especially Wellington as there is still a distinct possibility relocation by either Cronulla or Souths to the Central Coast could provide the burgeoning region with an NRL team.
The NRL needs sixteen teams so we can do away with the bye, which can at times reward and punish teams, depending on what time of the season they have the bye.
Sixteen teams would also provide a financial windfall for the NRL with an extra game available to be shown on either free to air or Fox Sports and with the NRL the top rating sport on Channel Nine and Fox Sports, the extra money can go to all the clubs as they struggle to cope with the introduction of the poker machine tax in NSW.
