WA Reds for NRL 2013

The Reds were part of the ARL in 1995 and 96 and joined the Super League for 97. Even though they weren't a powerhouse, they helped bring Rugby League to a wider audience. Since being declined entry to the inaugurel NRL season in 1998, they have continued to build the club in the lower grades, contesting the SG Ball, with the goal of once again playing at the top level. They now have their own juniors coming through and up into the NRL to play for other clubs, which gives them a base to work on should they gain entry to the National competition. Melbourne Storm have only now started to have their home grown juniors compete for spots in first grade and that's why I think the Reds would be ideal for one of the two licences being considered for 2013.

If you go to the WA Reds website, they have some facts laid down. In summary, the Reds would be an ideal new franchise for the NRL, and among all of the bid clubs, they have the largest participation levels outside of NSW and QLD.

SG Ball team photo. Having been flogged by the Magpies.

In their go around, the Western Reds were able to attract the signatures of Brad Mackay and Mark Geyer, both of whom captained, and were a pretty competitive bunch, in the first season anyway. In the first season they missed the finals by not all that much and were the most successful of the four teams that entered that year. The Warriors and the Cowboys have both gone onto play in grand finals and regularly make the 8, while the other two, the Reds and the South Queensland Crushers, went on to die in the arse in the next 2 seasons and be kicked out with the Crushers, never to be thought of again. Fuck they sucked.

Crushers Captain.

The Melbourne Storm have demonstrated that a Rugby League club can be successful in an AFL dominated area, even though they were dirty lying rotten cheating scoundrels. On the other hand, Adelaide Rams showed how not to do it, with that being a massive cock-up at the time. They should eventually be reconsidered too though I believe. Fiji, Papua New Guinea and another New Zealand team are also being considered, along with about 100 from QLD, but I don't think they all will make it. The Western Corridor bid seems to make the most sense to me, with Toowoomba and Logan included there, their own bids are unnecessary. Although new teams from those three countries and QLD, SA and the Central Coast Bears all would have a place in the comp, only 2 will make it for 2013 and personally, I'm backing the Reds and a QLD or NZ team.

If the Reds had a club legend, this man would be it:

I wish you got to play more Origins MG