Plastic clubs in the NRL

[Renegade]

I don't think it really applies in the NRL because of the transfer system or there lackof comparatively to european football etc.

The whole plastic club label is usually used derogatorily in relation to clubs that had been largely unsuccessful for all/a large chunk of their existence and then came into money, literally changing their fortunes. Clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea, whom prior to being bought by billionaires hadn't challenged for championships in 50+ years. Nor have we had any new clubs that were gifted salary cap exemptions or leg ups (like AFL expansion clubs) in order to have them successful from the word go to help augment their (and by the product, the leagues) brand.

I guess in some respects you could point to Souths and Sydney Roosters who weren't competitive for 30-40 years prior to Politis/Crowe getting involved, but both these clubs still had very rich histories and were part of the original makeup of the league, which is different to the aforementioned examples.

 

[Mustafur]

I don't think it really applies in the NRL because of the transfer system or there lackof comparatively to european football etc.

The whole plastic club label is usually used derogatorily in relation to clubs that had been largely unsuccessful for all/a large chunk of their existence and then came into money, literally changing their fortunes. Clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea, whom prior to being bought by billionaires hadn't challenged for championships in 50+ years. Nor have we had any new clubs that were gifted salary cap exemptions or leg ups (like AFL expansion clubs) in order to have them successful from the word go to help augment their (and by the product, the leagues) brand.

I guess in some respects you could point to Souths and Sydney Roosters who weren't competitive for 30-40 years prior to Politis/Crowe getting involved, but both these clubs still had very rich histories and were part of the original makeup of the league, which is different to the aforementioned examples.

Manchester city and Chelsea both won titles before their where bought by Billionaires, but the success wasn't there at the time they where bought, same logic applies to PSG so you can say it's the exact same.

 

[Mustafur]

Doesn't plastic refer to the supporter base and it's just a more offensive way of calling them bandwagoners?

I don't think it really works in the NRL because the game doesn't attract anywhere near the audience of the NFL or Football so the drop-offs aren't anywhere near as big.

If we're talking about local juniors, Brisbane has about three players from their own city - Carrigan, Walters and Quai-Ward so I don't understand why fans on here would want to get on their high horse.

Most of our starting lineup is our junior products though(and im not talking about the ones that get plucked from other teams before first grade), to say they have to be from Brisbane is a bit of a stretch even Penrith get alot of their players from Country NSW.

I mean you could also add the players who were our juniors who play for other clubs as well and it will be a huge number.

 

[Big Pete]

Most of our starting lineup is our junior products though(and im not talking about the ones that get plucked from other teams before first grade), to say they have to be from Brisbane is a bit of a stretch even Penrith get alot of their players from Country NSW.

If we're coming down on Melbourne for not having any local products, then surely the same has to apply to Brisbane who despite living in a Rugby League heartland have to poach players from other cities to represent them?

Melbourne has relied mainly on players who have come through their pathways or were inherited from the Mariners/Reds.

 

[Mustafur]

If we're coming down on Melbourne for not having any local products, then surely the same has to apply to Brisbane who despite living in a Rugby League heartland have to poach players from other cities to represent them?

Melbourne has relied mainly on players who have come through their pathways or were inherited from the Mariners/Reds.

It's not just Melbourne though it's Victorian players in general.

So what team represents west of Brisbane or inbetween Brisbane and Townsville?

 

[Mr Fourex]

If we're coming down on Melbourne for not having any local products, then surely the same has to apply to Brisbane who despite living in a Rugby League heartland have to poach players from other cities to represent them?

Melbourne has relied mainly on players who have come through their pathways or were inherited from the Mariners/Reds.

Their pathways being the QCup?

 

[mitch222]

The warriors are insanely popular in Nz, especially when you consider how terrible they’ve been lately. They also produce a lot of talent, the best of which is poached by the storm and rorters ofc.

But do they really? Just because a player was born in NZ doesn't mean they are automatically a warriors junior. A lot of them don't ever have anything to do with the warriors especially the ones that move over here when they are 13-14

 

[Renegade]

Manchester city and Chelsea both won titles before their where bought by Billionaires, but the success wasn't there at the time they where bought, same logic applies to PSG so you can say it's the exact same.

PSG yeah, I don't think the souths/roosters city/chelsea comparison is apt though. The former were much more successful than the latter even prior to their modern day success.

 

[Big Pete]

It's not just Melbourne though it's Victorian players in general.

So what team represents west of Brisbane or inbetween Brisbane and Townsville?

None, so it's all fair game.

Again if it really matters whether they're from Victoria than it should matter whether they come from Brisbane.

 

[Big Pete]

Their pathways being the QCup?

They bring players through their junior development system, just like the Broncos.

 

[Mr Fourex]

None, so it's all fair game.

Again if it really matters whether they're from Victoria than it should matter whether they come from Brisbane.

Melbourne would be more accurate than Victoria........if you're comparing.

 

[Mr Fourex]

They bring players through their junior development system, just like the Broncos.

Do they also bring players through the NSW cup....or whatever its called?

NSW cup...QLD cup

Nobody's bringing anybody through from the Victoria cup...?

 

[Big Pete]

Melbourne would be more accurate than Victoria........if you're comparing.

Sure, but I specifically said Victoria because their SG Ball and Jersey Flegg team is called the Victorian Thunderbolts.

EDIT: Actually it was Mustafur who brought up Victorians, don't try and pin this on me XXXX.

Nobody's bringing anybody through from the Victoria cup...?

All they have is a club system, but all the junior prospects go through their Victorian Thunderbolts team.

 

[Mustafur]

None, so it's all fair game.

Again if it really matters whether they're from Victoria than it should matter whether they come from Brisbane.

Brisbane being the closest team in the same state, as opposed to a team based 2 states away?

I don't follow the logic because as far as I'm aware nearly all of them end up going to SEQ schools in the process, Storm doesn't exactly do that with their players unless they actually came from Victoria in the first place(and those players number in the handful since creation).

Sure, but I specifically said Victoria because their SG Ball and Jersey Flegg team is called the Victorian Thunderbolts.

EDIT: Actually it was Mustafur who brought up Victorians, don't try and pin this on me XXXX.

All they have is a club system, but all the junior prospects go through their Victorian Thunderbolts team.

Granted it is somewhat a failing on the NRL to build that up the league they are in, but they where the ones that made the bid to create the team in the first place.

The Team as it stands could be based in Queensland and outside of the fans that attend their games in Melbourne and some training facilities very little changes(as proven when they used Falcons facilities in Covid), infact it would likely be even more convenient for them to be based there.

 

[Big Pete]

Brisbane being the closest team in the same state, as opposed to a team based 2 states away?

It still doesn't make them a local Brisbane junior.

I don't follow the logic because as far as I'm aware nearly all of them end up going to SEQ schools in the process, Storm doesn't exactly do that with their players unless they actually came from Victoria in the first place(and those players number in the handful since creation).

Not as much as you'd imagine and a fair portion (or at least the really talented ones) go through the Gold Coast system.

Point being, it doesn't really matter whether they're local juniors or not. As long as they come through a club's development system they're fair game. Brisbane develop players outside of their city all the time and those players should be fair game.

 

[Wolfie]

I don't think it really applies in the NRL because of the transfer system or there lackof comparatively to european football etc.

The whole plastic club label is usually used derogatorily in relation to clubs that had been largely unsuccessful for all/a large chunk of their existence and then came into money, literally changing their fortunes. Clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea, whom prior to being bought by billionaires hadn't challenged for championships in 50+ years. Nor have we had any new clubs that were gifted salary cap exemptions or leg ups (like AFL expansion clubs) in order to have them successful from the word go to help augment their (and by the product, the leagues) brand.

I guess in some respects you could point to Souths and Sydney Roosters who weren't competitive for 30-40 years prior to Politis/Crowe getting involved, but both these clubs still had very rich histories and were part of the original makeup of the league, which is different to the aforementioned examples.

Plastic clubs traditionally in England are Liverpool and United because the majority of their fanbase arent local. Their fans are nearly always referred to as glory hunters. I dont actually know what you would call the likes of Citeh and Chelsea who basically bought their way into the title race before FFP came into being. There are plenty of clubs in the premier league who could compete with anyone financially, but they cant use the spending power anymore.

I dont think we really have the same sort of clubs in the NRL.

 

[Mustafur]

It still doesn't make them a local Brisbane junior.

Not as much as you'd imagine and a fair portion (or at least the really talented ones) go through the Gold Coast system.

Point being, it doesn't really matter whether they're local juniors or not. As long as they come through a club's development system they're fair game. Brisbane develop players outside of their city all the time and those players should be fair game.

So what?

It still makes us the closest thing to what can be considered Local, it's reaching for straws comparing us with Melbourne just because a player might not be from the exact city even if one is a couple of hours away while the other is on the other side of the country.

If Broncos where moved to Melbourne and Storm to Brisbane which team is disadvantaged most from that?

Plastic clubs traditionally in England are Liverpool and United because the majority of their fanbase arent local. Their fans are nearly always referred to as glory hunters. I dont actually know what you would call the likes of Citeh and Chelsea who basically bought their way into the title race before FFP came into being. There are plenty of clubs in the premier league who could compete with anyone financially, but they cant use the spending power anymore.

I dont think we really have the same sort of clubs in the NRL.

You haven't noticed the amount of Melbourne fans in Queensland?

I notice the amount of Roosters fans in Western Sydney, with no family attachment to that side of the city as well.

I guess that can't really apply to Titans though.

 

[Wolfie]

So what?

It still makes us the closest thing to what can be considered Local, it's reaching for straws comparing us with Melbourne just because a player might not be from the exact city even if one is a couple of hours away while the other is on the other side of the country.



You haven't noticed the amount of Melbourne fans in Queensland?

I notice the amount of Roosters fans in Western Sydney, with no family attachment to that side of the city as well.

I guess that can't really apply to Titans though.

I know we have them over here, but i dont think we have them on the same scale as Liverpool and United. I've been to Anfield and Old Trafford loads of times and i dont think i have ever come across a Manc or a Scouser inside the stadium. I guess thats what happens when you become so successful i guess.