Mar 18th, 2019

Mar 18th, 2019

TUNE IN TO 100% FOOTY ON CHANNEL 9 AT 10PM FOR THE FULL SEGMENT.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has floated the unpopular idea of relocating existing franchises in order to secure the future of rugby league in Australia.

Expansion of the code’s 16 teams has long been a suggested avenue to strengthen the game’s longevity but Greenberg asserted the tougher question of relocation had to be considered.

Speaking on Nine’s 100% Footy, the NRL chief insisted the game had to be “brave enough to change” and have an “adult conversation” about the very real possibility of a vastly different looking league within five years.

"If we’re going to grow we’ve got to change," Greenberg said.

Todd Greenberg speaks on 100% Footy (Nine)

“We need to play in more areas. The more areas you play in the more times you expose new people to the game, the more the game is going to grow.

“Whether it be expansion, or it could mean are we prepared to look at the geography and footprint of the sport?

“I’m not sure if we’re going to have more teams, and if we have more teams we have to have, in my view, two more because we've got to create another game. Do we have the depth of talent to bring two more teams in? I’m not sure if i can answer that question.”

"And if it is the same number of 16, are they going to be in different parts of the country? I think to extract more value, they're going to have to be."

Greenberg hailed the decision to play an Origin fixture in Perth this season and hinted at a possible relocation plan in Brisbane that he claimed, along with other possibilities, was an avenue that was “open in my book” ahead of his submission to the ARLC in the next 12 months.

Todd Greenberg (AAP)

“Why don’t we play more games in Perth? Is Brisbane ready for a game every weekend, not every second?”

“That either means another team in Brisbane, or we’re going to move someone to Brisbane, we’re going to open up a new franchise in Brisbane – these are all open questions in my book at the moment and I’m going to have to answer them in the next 12 months.

Greenberg also conceded that keeping children participating in traditional rugby league was the most pressing issue facing the game, and argued the league had to consider amalgamating non-contact versions of the game into its youth programs.

“It’s a massive challenge for us keeping kids, boys and girls, playing traditional rugby league,” he said.

Sterlo's Wrap - Round 1

“Onto of that we have this unbelievable opportunity for non-contact versions of rugby league.

“There are 600,00 boys and girls who play touch footy, in five years if I crystal ball it, it will be a million.

“They’re non-contact versions of the sport, they’re all parts of the base (of rugby league) so we have to be very open on our strategy around participation and getting as many people to play as we can.”