Sep 3rd, 2018

Sep 3rd, 2018

Rugby league legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have proposed some radical ideas to shake-up the NRL, starting with a rationalisation of the competition's Sydney footprint.

Speaking to Wide World of Sports in the wake of the latest salary cap scandal to rock the code, Johns argued for a change that would kill two birds with one stone - bringing an end to salary cap rorting and future proofing the NRL.

With the salary cap currently sitting at $9.4 million, Johns would immediately lift it to $12 million so that "only the strong survive", eventually resulting in a 12-team competition.

Meanwhile, at the end of a shocking season on and off the field for eight time premiership winners Manly, Fittler renewed calls for the Sea Eagles to join forces with the North Sydney Bears, playing out of Brookvale, North Sydney Oval and Central Coast Stadium.

"You've got the big business of North Sydney, you've got the Peninsula, then you've got the people of the Central Coast, the numbers, it would be nearly a behemoth of a club if it had the right administration and the right people behind it," Fittler said.

"Not only would it be good I think it's a must for the NRL to look at and this is the time, the time is right now."

It's a vision that would fit with Johns' NRL shake-up to strengthen the quality of the competition.

Freddy's Fast 5 : Bring back the Bears

The Eighth Immortal says nine teams is far too many for Sydney, while he also sees a second Brisbane team as a priority to give what is effectively rugby league's second city a local derby and dilute some of the "advantage" the Broncos enjoy from monopolising corporate support.

"I've got a theory that whatever the salary cap is now, say it's $9 million; put it up to $12 million and then only the strong survive," Johns said.

"I've said publicly I think we should have a 12-team competition, there's too many teams in Sydney.

"So if that's the way you put it up then only the strong survive. The ones that are administered strong, the ones with strong sponsorship, the ones that develop well, and then we get down eventually to 12 teams.

"(The current competition structure) suits the Broncos because they've got all that corporate support, that's why we need another team in Brisbane, we need a derby in the major cities.

"It's a huge advantage for the Broncos, the Broncos have something like 650 kids on scholarship, so that's a huge help for them. It does help.

"You look at some clubs who have that really rich end of town but it doesn't always breed success."