Western Force 2025

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I just don’t see where the crowds will come from for the Perth bears. They might start off with good support but will end up similar to the force and Perth glory and getting crowds of 5k - 8k. I think they had the balance right with the double header plus another game and then an origin every 3 years

The nostalgia of it all will have some in Sydney but then when the team sucks and the facilities suck people will quickly find it all too hard. It's like people longing for Super games at Ballymore. Rose tinted glasses

 

[PhilClinton]

Any new team does provide a sugar hit for the NRL for 2-3 years at a minimum as people jump on board. But yes, none of the recent expansion teams (Titans and Dolphins) look like they’re threatening for a premiership any time soon.

The part that is generally concerning for NRL expansion and rugby is their current timeline for getting these teams on the field could line up with our game really falling off a cliff if the Wobs get pumped on Aussie soil against BILs and early exit from RWC. There will be even some painted on fans looking elsewhere if that happens.

On the flip side, if the Wallabies come good and we actually make a fair crack of the BIL tour and god forbid actually win the RWC, we could turn the tables on the NRL a bit in terms of nailing down our strongholds.

 

[andrewM]

I mentioned to my sister in Townsville that there was a surprising number of Cowboys supporter at the double header, far more than what you'd expect to be in Perth, and she said that quite a few people flew over for the game. I'm thinking that the NRL team crowds will kinda be like the Force Crowds - Highlanders and Chiefs boost the numbers by a decent amount but it's just the Faithful Force supporters when the Brumbies are in town.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I just don’t see where the crowds will come from for the Perth bears. They might start off with good support but will end up similar to the force and Perth glory and getting crowds of 5k - 8k. I think they had the balance right with the double header plus another game and then an origin every 3 years

I think they will sit from 8-12k every game. Similar to Titans, Dolphins, Raiders who sit from 10-18k.

The NRL will push media into it which is the biggest driver and what will gets kids interested into the future. Womens game is a big one as well. The NRLW has done it right with the slow introduction of sides to maintain a high standard. Don't know how big touch is in WA but the NRL all but run it and the talent funnels into League now where it use to be a bit of a split to Rugby and League.

This side is also likely to put an extra 2-3k into Sydney sides attendances with the local Bears fans showing up and that money goes into the Sydney Clubs pockets so they won't have an issue with their existence.

I personally think as hard as it can be to swallow the Force should be nothing but positive outwardly to it and sell the similarities and not try to be in some war. The NRL arent trying to take WA from the AFL they are expanding for media deals. The comp will eventually get to 20 teams and likely sit at that number for a decade or more.

On the flip side, if the Wallabies come good and we actually make a fair crack of the BIL tour and god forbid actually win the RWC, we could turn the tables on the NRL a bit in terms of nailing down our strongholds.

I hope so but I just don't think there is that much public attention. It would be a good buzz but a WC home win and winning the Bledisloe would be the only thing to give them a big bump up. A lot will also be the style of games against the BIL. We may enjoy a war in tight and a 19/15 score but the very casual fan don't care.

I hope there are some mildy aggressive and rude ad campaigns on the horizon to get people talking. Aus public do respond and enjoy it. Who makes the Lamb ads? We need them to do a BIL one.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Remember the hugely successful "Not going to France for the croissants" Eddie Jones ads

(but I agree - need to promote, the trick is promotion is worth nothing without performance)

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Remember the hugely successful "Not going to France for the croissants" Eddie Jones ads

Yeah that didn't get anyone going. I'm sure Hamish chuckled to himself over it but not far enough.

Needs to be to the point of having some people genuinely uncomfortable and thinking it's not appropriate. That's the sweet spot.

Bit more of this.

 

[Omar Comin']

Yeah that didn't get anyone going. I'm sure Hamish chuckled to himself over it but not far enough.

Needs to be to the point of having some people genuinely uncomfortable and thinking it's not appropriate. That's the sweet spot.

View attachment 21589
Bit more of this.

This stuff is good. The other thing that would really move the needle is if a couple of the Lions players or coaches take on the role of villain in the media. They'd just have to complain about everything and everyone, sledge fans and players, the country etc.

 

[D-Box]

This stuff is good. The other thing that would really move the needle is if a couple of the Lions players or coaches take on the role of villain in the media. They'd just have to complain about everything and everyone, sledge fans and players, the country etc.

So get Eddie or Cheika in as special advisors for the Lions

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

All for Eddie doing it. He'd piss us off and ruin their squad if he's there long enough. Farrell ain't silly though

Campo is likely to put his hand up for them when he sits shocked about Les getting the Wallabies gig and his dismay at not being approached for the job.

 

[Omar Comin']

All for Eddie doing it. He'd piss us off and ruin their squad if he's there long enough. Farrell ain't silly though

Campo is likely to put his hand up for them when he sits shocked about Les getting the Wallabies gig and his dismay at not being approached for the job.

They'd only get under the skin of existing fans. To rile up the whole country it'd be better for the poshest English members of the squad to start bagging Australia for all the obvious things we'd get defensive about.

 

[Tazzmania]

Emerging prop Smith re-commits to Force until 2027

The Western Force have re-signed 20-year-old tighthead prop Josh Smith on a two-year deal after impressing across the first half of the 2025 SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

READ MORE

 

[dru]

Yeah that didn't get anyone going. I'm sure Hamish chuckled to himself over it but not far enough.

Needs to be to the point of having some people genuinely uncomfortable and thinking it's not appropriate. That's the sweet spot.

View attachment 21589
Bit more of this.

I would genuinely find that off-putting. At best.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

HBF getting a 200m upgrade. Apparently to end up “akin to Comm Bank” which is a great stadium to watch games at.

All part of the NRL expansion it seems which is to be announced at HBF tomorrow. 65m to grassroots League in WA. 20m for a RL Centre of Excellence.

 

[young gun]

So Twiggy has suggested to PvL that the Force and Bears should be able to swap players between each other. PvL likes the idea. Thoughts?

 

[D-Box]

Probably wouldn't have helped this year as the hole we fell in was 1 to 3, but in years you need a 8 - 15 for a couple of games maybe

 

[Tazzmania]

From the SMH article:

"........ We’ve had talks with Twiggy Forrest in regards to the Western Force,” V’landys (the horse racing guy) said of the Force’s multi-billionaire owner.

There’s an opportunity here that may never have been done anywhere in the world where the two teams could be combined to a certain degree and can use each other’s players in specific matches....... "

Thinking outside the square, what an oportunity for a leaguie with a union background or vice versa wanting to play union on an international level, could open a door or two for a different type of hybrid player, and also open up a potentialy better earning ability for locally based players rather than losing them overseas

 

[Slim 293]

 

[Major Tom]

From the SMH article:

"........ We’ve had talks with Twiggy Forrest in regards to the Western Force,” V’landys (the horse racing guy) (the horse racing guy) said of the Force’s multi-billionaire owner.

There’s an opportunity here that may never have been done anywhere in the world where the two teams could be combined to a certain degree and can use each other’s players in specific matches....... "

Thinking outside the square, what an oportunity for a leaguie with a union background or vice versa wanting to play union on an international level, could open a door or two for a different type of hybrid player, and also open up a potentialy better earning ability for locally based players rather than losing them overseas

Just the horse guy trying to get money out of twiggy by the sounds of it