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Rabbitohs eager to go west
Posted April 20, 2010 19:50:00
South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson claims both Fremantle and West Coast are supportive of NRL games being played in Perth as the Rabbitohs look to increase their presence in AFL-mad Western Australia.
The West Australian Rugby League is campaigning to get a Perth-based team in the NRL by 2013 despite the past failure of the Western Reds.
The Rabbitohs have played a big part in increasing the profile of league in WA.
South Sydney attracted 15,197 fans when it hosted Melbourne in a regular season fixture in Perth last year and both teams will return to ME Bank Stadium in June to face off in round 16.
"This is not about a threat to the AFL and I've got to say we've had lots of discussions previously with Fremantle and West Coast and they've been nothing but supportive of ourselves over here," Richardson said in Perth on Tuesday.
"It's about giving an alternative to people who have an interest.
"You have a large population from the east coast that are supportive of rugby league.
"You have a large population from England.
"We understand the value of putting rugby league into this area and trying to re-establish it after what happened in the past.
"We're over here to promote rugby league and give a genuine alternative for people who like the rugby game."
Richardson revealed the Rabbitohs were aiming to play two home fixtures in Perth, back-to-back, in both 2011 and 2012.
"We've always wanted to play two games over here but we weren't able to because we haven't really got any support in doing that, so we had to do it all ourselves," he said.
"We'd like to play two games back-to-back here.
"Several things have got to happen there; we need support from the government to do that, not a lot of support but some, and we need support from the WARL.
"And the second thing, I think we need to make sure that we arrange for our NRL fixtures to allow us to ... get out to the Pilbara.
"We want to take our indigenous programs into the regional areas.
"We've proven we can do it now in Western Australia, we've proven that rugby league has an interest and there's a great opportunity to be able to expand that interest."
Richardson said the Rabbitohs would no longer play games in Perth once WA gets their own side.
WARL chief executive John Sackson said: "Having two of the NRL's heavyweight teams playing for vital competition points at ME Bank Stadium will again put the spotlight on the great game of rugby league in WA.
"A sell-out crowd will further enhance our prospects for an NRL franchise to be awarded to Perth in the lead up to season 2013."
- AAP
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
Beat me to it!
And with the Central Coast Bears almost certain to get the 17th NRL franchise in 2013, Perth seems to be a clear frontrunner for the 18th one. Central Queensland seems to be behind the eight ball and I have no idea what's happened to the Wellington bid...
I don't see the reason either. Agree with WRF, will be going for the Bunnies as opposed to that News Ltd owned monstrosity
Central Qld by the accounts I have read is well behind the eight ball. The Wellington bid just disappeared for whatever reasons.
Perth and Central Coast are the front runners
Whether or not it is the Central Coast Bears or another "team" is till up in the air
:facepalm:
I bolded the relevant section. Since you all can't see whats in front of your face, the Weagles and Dorkers are happy about it. If you dislike GayFL (or the aforesaid teams like I do), then making them happy is reason to be wary.
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
I don't think anyone cares what the local Fumbleball sides say or think
Posted via Mobile Device
BnB moves in mysterious ways, old JB's saying...
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
The only way I see BnB move is to the bar
Posted via Mobile Device
I think they're happy because they think a second rugby team in the state will divide the loyalties of the rugby watching public and cause both of them to fold (completely missing the point that there are a large number of RL fans in Perth who don't go to the Rugger and a similarly large number of fans who would happily go to both)
Maybe they don't realise the teams are playing a different game!
C'mon the![]()
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