The Dolphins have shown the way so far this season but there are no guaranteed rewards for adding an 18th, 19th and 20th team
The question now not only centres around whether can the NRL expand to 20 teams, but also whether the risk associated with such an expansion would be worth the potential rewards.
The adulation currently being directed at the Dolphins is deserved, but they have had some significant advantages. The club has a long history in a rugby league heartland in a city that loves the game arguably more than any other. They entered the NRL as the richest club in the league and signed arguably the greatest coach the game has known. But they received no salary cap advantages from HQ, nor did the NRL force clubs to release players.
Additional broadcast revenue clearly informs decision-making here – more teams equals more games equals more advertising and subscription revenue. There also seems to be a desire to expand the game’s footprint both nationally and internationally. The Olympic Games, to be held in Brisbane in 2032, is seen as a great opportunity to showcase rugby league as Australia’s true national game.
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