Another great article, come on NRL let us in! If you haven't visited our supporters club website yet it has just been updated. We have over 300 members of the WA Red Army now and look forward to many more joing up at our stand at the South Sydney game. www.warzone.net.au Quote It's very much a sleeping giant,Reds-letter day looms for WA NRL bid Chris Robinson From: The Sunday Times April 23, 2011 WA Rugby League chairman David Hobbs is urging all West Australians to get behind the bid for a WA NRL side. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow DAVID Hobbs has a message for the NRL hierarchy: the sleeping giant is stirring. The giant he is referring to is WA's passionate and substantial rugby league supporter base, which is preparing to wake from 15 years of hibernation to once again have a club to call its own on the national stage. With the NRL expected to announce in the coming months plans of a two-team expansion to the current 16-side competition, Hobbs is at the forefront of the WA Reds' bid to convince the league to venture west. As chairman of the WA Rugby League and an avid supporter of the game at grassroots level, Hobbs, pictured left, says there is a strong local backing for a successful franchise to grow out of Perth from 2013. "It's very much a sleeping giant," he said. "We believe there are so many people out there who are just wanting rugby league in this state, (and) these people are being starved of a product, which is crazy. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. Related CoverageNewman denies divisions in the party Courier Mail, 8 days ago LNP united says new leader Courier Mail, 8 days ago Newman denies LNP disunity after slur The Australian, 8 days ago No love lost for Seeney in the bush Courier Mail, 9 days ago Illustrator's brush with fame Herald Sun, 4 Apr 2011 .End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. "They're definitely out there it's a matter of us giving them a reason and giving them an opportunity to get involved." Hobbs is quick to point out a lack of local interest was never the reason the Reds folded after a brief stint in the national competition between 1995 and 1997. Back then, he points out, the club attracted crowds of more than 17,000 people at the WACA a venue hardly ideal for spectators to watch rugby league. Instead, it was the fallout from the Super League war and the doomed agreement that the WA side would pay for the flights and accommodation of visiting teams that led to the Reds' downfall. "We had some real momentum back then, and what the people of WA have got to remember is that the Western Reds never failed they were a victim of political warfare," Hobbs said. "Since then, we've had nearly 350,000 Queenslanders and New South Welshmen and people from Canberra relocate to WA. We've also had a massive influx of people from the UK, South Africa, and New Zealand. "We're the resource capital of Australia and these people are coming to the state, they want rugby league, and our state is growing. It's a perfect demographic to have a new team to launch." The anticipated strong local support was one of the key points raised by Hobbs and fellow WARL executives John Sackson and Bruce Havilah in a 90-minute meeting with NRL boss David Gallop earlier this month. The WARL contingent boasted the Reds had secured a near $2million deal with a major sponsor, had received State Government backing, would not dilute support or sponsorship dollars from existing clubs, and would provide an opportunity for the league to tackle its rival code, AFL. "It's not a truly national competition until WA is part of it," Hobbs said. "The AFL has been very aggressive in expansion. If the NRL is going to be serious about running up against the AFL, it needs to expand the code." As the WA chief executive of The Professionals real estate group, and having served seven years as the Fremantle Dockers' inaugural marketing manager, Hobbs is no stranger to business success. If the Reds are given the go-ahead for an NRL licence, one of the first things Hobbs will do is examine the set-up of a number of recently created WA sporting clubs. "I think (having experience with the Dockers) is very important, because after all, sport is business," he said. "One of the main things is if you don't have a good culture, you don't have a business or you don't have a sporting body. "With Freo, though we never won many games in our first seven years, the fact is that members were loyal and they knew down the track that their loyalty would be rewarded, and we're seeing that now." But for all his business expertise, Hobbs cannot hide his childlike enthusiasm. "The board members and I we're like kids in a lolly shop. As soon as we came out of that meeting with David Gallop, we're on the phone like excited kids talking to the rest of the board members," he said. Hobbs described the meeting as "extremely positive". "If it was a business decision, I'm more than confident that WA would be the first cab off the rank," he said. Praising the 15,000-plus crowds that have attended Nib Stadium to watch each of the Perth-staged NRL matches over the past few seasons, Hobbs said he expected an even bigger turnout for this year’s game. The June 24 clash sees the Russell Crowe-owned South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Brisbane Broncos in what will be one of the last ever games for retiring NRL legend Darren Lockyer. And while the match will signal the Perth farewell of one of the game’s giants, Hobbs is hoping it will also confirm the awakening of another – the state’s yearning rugby league community. “We want everyone who’s passionate about rugby league in this state to get along and show just how much support we have,” he said. “We’re urging the public to get involved, jump on this very exciting journey together, and help create a team for Western Australia.” *Tickets for the Rabbitohs / Broncos clash go on sale May 10 through Ticketmaster.'" www.perthnow.com.au/sport/nrl/re ... 6043877504

Another great article, come on NRL let us in! If you haven't visited our supporters club website yet it has just been updated. We have over 300 members of the WA Red Army now and look forward to many more joing up at our stand at the South Sydney game. www.warzone.net.au Quote It's very much a sleeping giant,Reds-letter day looms for WA NRL bid Chris Robinson From: The Sunday Times April 23, 2011 WA Rugby League chairman David Hobbs is urging all West Australians to get behind the bid for a WA NRL side. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow DAVID Hobbs has a message for the NRL hierarchy: the sleeping giant is stirring. The giant he is referring to is WA's passionate and substantial rugby league supporter base, which is preparing to wake from 15 years of hibernation to once again have a club to call its own on the national stage. With the NRL expected to announce in the coming months plans of a two-team expansion to the current 16-side competition, Hobbs is at the forefront of the WA Reds' bid to convince the league to venture west. As chairman of the WA Rugby League and an avid supporter of the game at grassroots level, Hobbs, pictured left, says there is a strong local backing for a successful franchise to grow out of Perth from 2013. "It's very much a sleeping giant," he said. "We believe there are so many people out there who are just wanting rugby league in this state, (and) these people are being starved of a product, which is crazy. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. Related CoverageNewman denies divisions in the party Courier Mail, 8 days ago LNP united says new leader Courier Mail, 8 days ago Newman denies LNP disunity after slur The Australian, 8 days ago No love lost for Seeney in the bush Courier Mail, 9 days ago Illustrator's brush with fame Herald Sun, 4 Apr 2011 .End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. "They're definitely out there it's a matter of us giving them a reason and giving them an opportunity to get involved." Hobbs is quick to point out a lack of local interest was never the reason the Reds folded after a brief stint in the national competition between 1995 and 1997. Back then, he points out, the club attracted crowds of more than 17,000 people at the WACA a venue hardly ideal for spectators to watch rugby league. Instead, it was the fallout from the Super League war and the doomed agreement that the WA side would pay for the flights and accommodation of visiting teams that led to the Reds' downfall. "We had some real momentum back then, and what the people of WA have got to remember is that the Western Reds never failed they were a victim of political warfare," Hobbs said. "Since then, we've had nearly 350,000 Queenslanders and New South Welshmen and people from Canberra relocate to WA. We've also had a massive influx of people from the UK, South Africa, and New Zealand. "We're the resource capital of Australia and these people are coming to the state, they want rugby league, and our state is growing. It's a perfect demographic to have a new team to launch." The anticipated strong local support was one of the key points raised by Hobbs and fellow WARL executives John Sackson and Bruce Havilah in a 90-minute meeting with NRL boss David Gallop earlier this month. The WARL contingent boasted the Reds had secured a near $2million deal with a major sponsor, had received State Government backing, would not dilute support or sponsorship dollars from existing clubs, and would provide an opportunity for the league to tackle its rival code, AFL. "It's not a truly national competition until WA is part of it," Hobbs said. "The AFL has been very aggressive in expansion. If the NRL is going to be serious about running up against the AFL, it needs to expand the code." As the WA chief executive of The Professionals real estate group, and having served seven years as the Fremantle Dockers' inaugural marketing manager, Hobbs is no stranger to business success. If the Reds are given the go-ahead for an NRL licence, one of the first things Hobbs will do is examine the set-up of a number of recently created WA sporting clubs. "I think (having experience with the Dockers) is very important, because after all, sport is business," he said. "One of the main things is if you don't have a good culture, you don't have a business or you don't have a sporting body. "With Freo, though we never won many games in our first seven years, the fact is that members were loyal and they knew down the track that their loyalty would be rewarded, and we're seeing that now." But for all his business expertise, Hobbs cannot hide his childlike enthusiasm. "The board members and I we're like kids in a lolly shop. As soon as we came out of that meeting with David Gallop, we're on the phone like excited kids talking to the rest of the board members," he said. Hobbs described the meeting as "extremely positive". "If it was a business decision, I'm more than confident that WA would be the first cab off the rank," he said. Praising the 15,000-plus crowds that have attended Nib Stadium to watch each of the Perth-staged NRL matches over the past few seasons, Hobbs said he expected an even bigger turnout for this year’s game. The June 24 clash sees the Russell Crowe-owned South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Brisbane Broncos in what will be one of the last ever games for retiring NRL legend Darren Lockyer. And while the match will signal the Perth farewell of one of the game’s giants, Hobbs is hoping it will also confirm the awakening of another – the state’s yearning rugby league community. “We want everyone who’s passionate about rugby league in this state to get along and show just how much support we have,” he said. “We’re urging the public to get involved, jump on this very exciting journey together, and help create a team for Western Australia.” *Tickets for the Rabbitohs / Broncos clash go on sale May 10 through Ticketmaster.'" www.perthnow.com.au/sport/nrl/re ... 6043877504

yeah its time

[i"Back then, he points out, the club attracted crowds of more than 17,000 people at the WACA a venue hardly ideal

for spectators to watch rugby league."[/i

OK...I am all for expansion and getting the game into new areas, but the above extract is a bIt odd.



31 games over 3 seasons....2 attendances over 17k (I have to say, a very odd number to pluck out of the air) with only a further 2 gates over 15k and over 50% of their games UNDER 10K.



Full list of attendances with all but 1 played at the WACA......



24932

20985

15909

15151

12760

12307

12201

11255

11109

10750

10735

10442

10226

10203

9701

9345

9200

9108

9103

8462

8102

7564

7204

7135 PERTH

7042

6584

6535

6403

5889

5728

5083



It's all well and good blaming the SL war for the demise of WA RL, but bitching about it 14 years later isn't very business minded as the article says later

[iBut for all his business expertise, Hobbs cannot hide his childlike enthusiasm.[/i

Reality is there are a number of ignorant people (mainly on the East coast) who keep trotting out the old "they failed before so lets not go back there" reason for not expanding the game. He is mainly counterarguing the point and pointing out that a number of unique circumstances caused the last attempts failure and to judge the current bid and potential for RL in WA by something that happened back then is ridiculous.



Ok it is now clear Jet Black is our old banned friend back in another guise so no more feeding the troll.

please don't include me in that list.

Really? As I said, I am all for expansion and WA is the obvious choice, but all I did was point out the oddity in the article...17k? How is that trolling? What it is doing is pointing out a potential fault..........that isn't trolling.

...and no matter how many times you, M4E and the dally lama keep on saying I am either gutterfax, bazza, phipps or Katie, it doesn't make it so.

exactly



ive been following RL in australia for 30 years and i know its time



i guess the idea of rl being more than just a game in nsw and qld scares union trolls a lot more than i thought



how hard is it to have a conversation about the nrl in here now

Not that hard. See, JB posts a story about WA and expansion.....you pipe up with a one liner, I point out that historically crowds were an issue and that the figure of 17 was an odd one, JB says a lot of people from Eastern Australia say the same and they are wrong as well as trying to defend the obvious error from the Bid spokesperson when he shouldn't have mentioned crowds at all and then accuses me of being someone he knows.

So, up to now, this has been totally about League with a harmless and incorrect insult directed at me by JB.... until......





..........and there we have it. Another thread derailed with a sly comment about union when nobody else had mentioned any other code........





...if gutterfax was here he'd have pointed out the glaring mistake in dally messengers post........RL is already a 3 state sport...or does Victoria not count

I wasn't commenting on the crowds, I was talking about our need to counter act some of the ignorant statements being made about the Reds failure in 1995-97 and how that should be considered in our bid today. He is not wrong that we did attract crowds of over 17k but it is embelleshing abit as, as you have pointed out, our avg was far lower. What I will say about our crowds is;

A) Even in 95-97 They were still mid table for crowd avg against the other clubs

B) There is 600k more people living in WA now than back in 1995

C) approx 300k of them are from RL loving places

D) we have been getting 12k to friendlies and 15k+ to real games featuring out of town teams



Add this to the fact we are worth a great deal to TV in terms of a new live time slot and capital city ratings, we have a $1,5mill+ main sponsor lined up and over $4mill in additonal corporate support already, we have ajnr set up that is producing NRL players already and this year our SG Ball team finished above a number of established NSW clubs and you can;t have a NATIONAL RL without a Perth side and all signs would suggest we are a good bet for an expansion spot.



Now thanks for your contribution Jet Gutter, come back again when you have something interesting to add.

See ....... Debate and discussion about rugby league with no mention of union or trolls.



I have always said WA was a great place to expand to....and I have no doubt that you will get 15k averages and be a success....but all I did was question the 17k figure.....

fair enough but of all the positives in the article you chose to focus on this very small aspect of it and question it, why? As I said he isn't wrong in what he said, but it isn't a true reflection of our support base back then, not that it has anything to do with how succesful a Reds team will be in 2013. I suspect he said it as he is probably as sick as me of hearing ignorant people suggesting the Reds financially folded because of no support for RL in WA.

I business people often get sick of being "bagged" by others.....WARL is no different. They just need to keep their heads down, they should be bolted on.

Another part of the article that was "worrying" is this:

[i"Since then, we've had nearly 350,000 Queenslanders and New South Welshmen and people from Canberra relocate to WA. We've also had a massive influx of people from the UK, South Africa, and New Zealand".[/i

......relocating RL fans is the No1 problem faced by London RL. TV figures show that 50% of the TV audience for SL is in the South East........yet finding and mobilising them has proved impossible for both the NRL, London RL and even SKY TV themselves......I have no doubt that WA will throw a lot of cash at finding them though....a lot. Might even be an idea to set up an ex-pat fans club..where loyalty is to WA until the fans "home team" come calling?

Still, as I have always said, WA will be in the NRL next.......and that means a minimum of 15 years to sink or swim.

Good Luck.