Doesnt ex Hull KR player Gareth (morton stock) Morton play for the reds now??
Massive size about him and can kick goals.

Isn't the downside always going to be exactly what many predicted and has happened to the Force? Lots of fans early days then despite actually improving as a team, crowds falling away to the extent that many in the ARU are querying whether they should lose their franchise?

I hear what you're saying about grass roots though. How does RL compare to Union at the grassroots level?

a few force r.union players are comming back home to the east

Alot of the crowd drop off has to do with playing at Subi, alot like what happened to the Western Reds playing at the WACA. They still have ticketed membership of 20,000 so not doing too bad! We will see them sell out MES for every game probably next season.

RL used to be alot stronger than Union in Perth but over the last decade RU has got stronger and now with the amount of development officers the ARU are funding in WA and the Forces profile we are facing a major battle to keep our kids playing RL. I think the ARL have recognised this and is one of the reasons they have supported the Reds come back.

perth has always had good RL roots.

remember the ARL went to perth before they thought of melbourne

the local perth GF used to get crowds of 20,000, junior numbers have always been very good.

perth would be a better RL bet than Melbourne, but we are stuck with the storm now.

im not sure perth deserve an NRL spot next time, but after another queenlsand team and central coast, id back them to come in 2018 with NZ or PNG

What's "deserve" got to do with it (and how do you deam us undeserving?)

The question should be will Perth add more to the game than other places and can we sustain a team financially and fanbase wise come 2013.

CC are only popular becasue Sydney folk want to see the badly treated Bears back in some guise or other. CC is the size of Canberra without the advantage of the pokies to keep them afloat. I'd be happy to see an existing Sydney NRL team move there but we shouldn't be using another valuable license (one of probably only 4 remaining) on another NSW team that isn't going to add anything more than the 9 existing NSW clubs we have.

Another Brisbane club is a no brainer but it ain't going to happen anytime soon imo, no other part of Q'land has the population, stadia or corporate support to be ready for 2013.

IF they do expand it will be Perth and CC imo. Personally I'd prefer Perth and Wellington if Wellington can build a good bid.