The fact that SU have entered into a JV with that powerhouse of world rugby Balmain is clear evidence that to get in you need to be in a JV with someone. I'm not really bothered about it, but do find it annoying when people connected with Balmain assert that the club has been around since 1873. This is pure fantasy; yes there was a Balmain club in 1873, they merged with Glebe in 1919 to form Glebe-Balmain, which changed its name to Drummoyne in 1931 - in order to be able to play at Drummoyne Oval, where the sign still says Drummoyne DRUFC (incorporating Glebe-Balmain). The current Balmain entity bears no connection to the 1873 version - I'm actually surprised that the powers that be let them call themselves Balmain.
I also understand that having worn down Easts and Souths over insisting that the JV play in green jumpers at Coogee Oval and be called Randwick, they are now have UNSW on board.
Neither of these JVs seem to be equal partnerships to me, but if the parties concerned are happy with their respective deals, go for it.
This leaves us with the northern JV, which seems a more equal partnership between the 4 northern clubs.
Assuming that SU/Balmain, Randwick/UNSW and the Northern JV are in, there must therefore be four teams in Sydney. Surely not even the ARU would allow a situation where only the inner-city, inner-east and northern suburbs are represented?
The simply must be a competitive team encompassing western Sydney.
