Considering the amount of Reds and QRU boys involved in the Wallabies (not too many really), there will be plenty of talent running around in Brisbane to fill at least two teams surely?
Along with the likes of the very talented club players who are on the fringe or involved in Aus 7s programs, and the other fringe players from Brisbane at other Super XV franchises, and even overseas based players looking at returning..... shouldn't be too hard to field 2/3 competitive teams??
BUT if this is the way it is going to be.... why would a club want to put in a lot of time, effort and money to field a team when its going to be dictated to them who is playing for them?? Where is the benefit for the club/s? A % of the gate takings only?
If they are going to be controlled by the ARU or even the QRU to a lesser extent, then shouldn't they be putting together the required funding, ($350k or whatever it was) as they are protecting/improving their assets etc.
What sort of returns would the club/s actually get from their investment into this format?
Loose and radical example: Norths (I said radical) put in for a licence(?) and get it. GPS dont. Brothers dont.
Frisby, Bond, Shipperly, Kite, Kuridrani etc are disbursed to the Norths team to play. Are they then Norths club players? Should they be playing club for Norths?? They will be advertised on the TV as Norths players?? Essentially Norths could have a rubbish club team but outstanding franchise team?? Where is the benefit??
I think, and have thought this from the start - Seperate entities & franchises.
Lets call them Northside and Southside.
Initially (1-2 years) controlled and funded by the QRU. (they put the right people in the right places to control these Franchises during the set up period of a couple of seasons then they are on their own from there. Seperate boards, directors, staff, coaches etc) There are plenty of good rugby people not involved in club rugby at the moment for various reasons. Wouldnt be too hard to fill the positions.
Each club is alligned with a Franchise. You can only play for that franchise if you play for the alligned club. Super Rugby players included. Maybe a small allocation for draft players? 2-3 per squad.
That is then your club players target, goal, ambition etc. So the pathway is: Prems - Franchise - Reds - Wallabies.
E.g. If there are 3 outstanding fullbacks on the Southside, and 3 average ones on the Northside, one may decide to head to a Northside club team, to try and get into the Northside franchise. This will obviously boost the Northside team he decides to go to and of course even out the comp a bit in the process.
Just thinking out loud... quietly....