I was wondering what peoples thoughts would be for a second NRL team in NZ? I am new to this place, but from what I have seen, there is an audience available. The Hurricanes have dropped their average gate by nearly 16,000 in three years and the wendyballers at the pheonix would seem to have benefited a bit, so what would wellington need to do to be considered for a place in the NRL?

didnt wellington have a trial not long ago? manly and the warriors that attracted nearly 20,000 people?

if that's the case they should have a bloody team,it would be a great to watch warriors and a wellington side slog it out in a all NZ derby.


the interest would be enormous in NZ.

They generally get crowds of 16-20,000, have adecent ground, a rich backer potential, earn more $'s for the NRL than they would cost and plenty of islanders to choose from.

Only thing against them is the Warriors still struggle on and off the field and thr NZRL is a basket case still trying to get its house in order. I'm surprised there has been no official bid put forward from Wellington for 2013.

Them or Christchurch, either will do.

We need another NZ team, it's criminal that the SL lost a French club 10 years ago, got one back, and look to be getting another team in before we even look at a second for NZ.

True...but nearly there. Auckland are being a bit troublesome, but they will have to toe the line. NZRL made a profit this year...... so they are moving in the right direction.

If you have a careful look at the draw for 2010, you will see the NRL's thinking when it comes to expansion...

This year (and those to follow) is a bit of a testing year for the other centres.

In 2010, in addition to the usual centres where the game is played in Australia and NZ, 4 additional centres are factored in (this is in addition to the centres that hosted trial games including the likes of Darwin):-

* 5 games at Gosford on the NSW Central Coast;
* 1 game in Christchurch, NZ;
* 1 game in Perth; and
* 1 game in Adelaide.

In so far as Wellington is concerned, I don't think they are on the radar when you look at the draw for this year.

This is not to say they won't be in the coming years - but it seems clear the next expansion sides will come from the four areas outlined above.

I would just about bet the house on it...

That may well be the view of someone with no idea...

The South Island is not exclusively union, you idiot.

Heard of the West Coast for starters???

Typical of someone raised on union and its deluded rubbish (as you have previously conceded)...

er...OK
although what me being raised on Union has to do with it?

Would be good to see it happen eventually, don't know if Warriors would go back to being Auckland or if that would be necessary. Or maybe we'll have another Orcas for Super League bid

The lack of pro-RL in New Zealand is something that should be addressed though, especially if Super 14/15? crowds are going down. They are the World Champs atm after all. Look at how club RU in England kicked on after the 2003 WC win. New Zealand should look to be kicking on from their WC win.

id like to see a 2nd nz nrl team but i think it will be after more domestic expansion ie central coast, queensland, perth

if we want to we can make rl a bigger sport in nz than union but the nrl is too cautious

if it wasnt for the sl war the game would be much bigger in nz

good to see union crowds slumping so much in nz

It'd be nice but Wellington is only the size of Canberra and RL isn't the main sport there...

We need to look after Oz before we go back to NZ. Wait for the Warriors to become as large as NZ's bigger S14 teams before we give them another NRL team.

tried google and couldnt find the figures.

what were their crowds at the high and now?

wellinton is larger than canberra. league may be the number 1 in canberra but they have the brumbies in the super 14, if canberra can suppourt nrl and a super 14 side i know wellington can support an nrl team as well as the hurricanes in the suer 14 union.

many people suppourt both codes of rugby but union is the number 1 in wellington but league has always had it's suppourters. the general sports fan in the city will give any decent sport a go! thiers 450,000 people in the wellington region and then thiers other in the lower north island that people will travel from. super 14 only go's for i/2 a season so welli nrl would have the second half winter season to itself. the phoenix A-league soccer teams plays in summer so wouldnt directly be in competition. look how succesfull they have been and rugby league get better crowds at local level than soccer ever has, you walk past a soccer game and if theres more than 6 people whatching a soccer game at a park in wellington! an yet look how well the phoenix have done!

wellington could have an nrl team but people really have to make it happen by holding league events nrl games/tests etc and drawing good crowds, setting up a lobbying group and encourage people to join it, thinking up ways to keep the idea in the media and have potential sponsors and a stadium lined up.