Channel Nine director of sport Tom Malone has rubbished suggestions the network asked the NRL to axe a Sydney side in favour of a second Brisbane team ahead of the new braodcast deal in 2023.
A story was written in the Sunday Telegraphย explaining Malone's support for a new Brisbane side, and quoted him as saying he would support a club being "discontinued" if it helped the prospect of another Brisbane side.
However, Malone maintains he never said he wanted a Sydney club to face the chop.
"The NRL have raised discussions on a second team for Brisbane - we agree with that proposition because we believe the fans in that market will embrace it," Malone told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Weโve never suggested a Sydney-based club should be axed. Others have named clubs in a bid to introduce emotion into the discussion.
"Itโs up to the NRL to decide if and how they put a second team in Brisbane."
Malone also confirmed Nine's request to show the Tigers-Sharks match on free-to-air on Sunday afternoon, but confirmed it was denied by the NRL.
Typical media spin to try and get a reaction from fans
Move the GC. Theyโve been useless since 1988. Job done, Iโm sure their 4000 supporters will get over it
The NRL refused nine to show the Sharks v Tigers game ?????
Questions need to be raised in the house.
I love how all these Sydney based fans arc up when its a Sydney team but are so quick to say the Titans should relocate when the discussion arises.
For the record I think Titans should relocate to somewhere like Sunshine Coast and 2 Sydney teams relocate to Logan and Ipswich aswell as maybe even a 3rd Sydney move to the central coast.
With those teams introduced leaves plenty of teams in Sydney and nsw while also adding the teams that qld deserve for being just as big of a stronghold for rugby league.
How about the warriors relocate to Brisbane seeing it is supposed to be a National Rugby League comp not International RL.
Agree Redv. The Titans are a basket case and always will be. They have had failed reincarnations as Seagulls, Giants, Chargers and Titans, so just shift them up the road to Brisbane. DONE. But this current and useless NRL administration led by Greenburger and beetroot, are so hopeless they can’t work it out.
โMove the GC. Theyโve been useless since 1988. Job done, Iโm sure their 4000 supporters will get over itโ
Letโs not forget redv13 that the titans are averaging more crowds then your spineless bunch.
I agree with the popular majority on most forums the roosters with no junior development and having their demographic overrun by the AFL be the logical club to be relocated.
They are experienced at name changes so this won’t be anything major.
A small and depleting following wont make the move all that noticeable.
That hit a nerve Wood-duck – logic is obviously beyond you.
I would have thought my reasoning based on facts is sensible.
Other posts suggesting a club house is of high importance is interesting given a club house can be built anywhere.
RedV you’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. The titans are tapping into a large market on the GC. 9 sydney clubs are just a drain on the market that’s been struggling for years. Even winning the spoon the Titans are getting bigger crowds than your mob who have decades of history and multiple generations of fans to pick from, plus you’re a merged club as well. If a merged club with dozens of premierships in their history can’t put together a half decent crowd why shouldn’t they be moved?
Gold coast is an area that would be a massive benefit to the NRL if they can put together a successful team, just like the cowboys have done in FNQ. But the dragons will never give the NRL any benefit, you’re just a selfish idiot frankly who doesn’t understand how a national comp should be run.
You said it yourself Minto. If they can put together a successful team… they have done ZERO in over 30 years, gone belly up multiple times and changed identity from Giants, Seagulls, Chargers, Titans…. it clearly isnโt working but hey letโs keep banging our head against a concrete wall and hope for some magic to occur. Even the boss said recently that this is the last go on the coast or there gone forever.
Itโs easy to look at crowd figures and say blah blah is going great and blah blah is going rubbish but there are many factors such as who is the opponent, day of the game ( Thursday night killer ), weather, origin time etc etc. I think youโll find Saints got the ๐ฉ๐ฉstick a few times this year hence crowd numbers have been down not only due to performance. Look at our membership numbers old chap, number 3 for Sydney teams ๐๐ป