Source: Jasper Jeffries, Sydney Morning Herald

Walk past ASRL HQ in Sydney today and you'll bear witness to a scene of chaos. Reporters clamber at the steps like the starving masses in some African hell-hole fighting desperately from food from the back of an aid truck. Inside we can see ASRL staff and officials pacing restlessly, barking orders, and hurrying about their business like never before. ASRL CEO Chris Walker-Bush can be seen gazing listlessly out of the window of his tenth floor office - seemingly lost in thought and worry.

Revolution is in the air.

Details are sketchy at present, but it has been leaked to the media that several ASRL clubs have launched a hostile bid to greatly modify the ASRL laws, with disgruntled Carnarvon said to be one of the leading mutineers. The push? To have the ASRL laws of team placement and location greatly modified. An anonymous spokesperson for the group gave the Sydney Morning Herald this exclusive statement.

"The ASRL has had a monopoly on rugby league in Australia for almost a century now, and has had a grip on professional sport in this nation since the inception of its current formation in November 2000. There are a few clubs, more than you might think, he have become sick and tired of being marginalised by the powerhouse clubs in Sydney, Queensland, and greater NSW. Dozens of clubs are forced to scrounge out a living in smaller regional locales where revenue is lower and crowds are smaller - and the ASRL offers no assistance whatsoever to these clubs. We are pushing that the ASRL's draconic and self-serving 'location policy' that restricts clubs to staying in Australia and New Zealand be dismissed - allowing expansion minded individuals the chance to move to far more profitable locales. Why must a side like New England scrape out a living in a town of only 20,000 during its peak when London, New York, Moscow, and Tokyo all go unrepresented in the rugby league arena? Surely the expansion of the game could only benefit the ASRL's money first policy? To that end, we're prepared to drag this game back into the courts if need be - we demand the right to pursue our business interests without being hindered and hobbled by ASRL management and its 'big' clubs".

The spokesperson then went on to assure readers and the press that New England were only provided as an example, and people should not assume they are in any way involved with the movement.

One thing is certain about this movement - however, it is sure to attract the attention of dozens of clubs in the coming months. With the ASRL aiming to abolish its club allowance following the 2005 season, clubs will rely solely on their attendance for income. If that's the case, it will be a case of move or go broke for several smaller clubs.

Regional Clubs to Have Folded
Sunshine Coast Wizards - Mooloolaba, QLD
Country Diamonds - Grafton, NSW
Victoria Voltage - Geelong, VIC
Port Moresby Power - Port Moresby, PNG
North Sydney Newbloods - North Sydney, NSW
Sutherland Suns - Sutherland, NSW
South Melbourne Blues - Melbourne, VIC
Coffs Harbour Wyrms - Coffs Harbour, NSW
Broome Warriors - Broome, WA
Christchurch Carnage - Christchurch, NZ
Freemantle Aces - Freemantle, WA
Penrith Highlanders - Penrith, NSW
Perth City Wolves - Perth, WA
Redlands Rhinos - Brisbane, QLD
Toowoomba Clydesdales - Toowoomba, QLD
Auckland Marlins - Auckland, NZ
Colombo Harlequins - Colombo, SL
Fairfield Stallions - Fairfield, NSW
Hobart Shades - Hobart, Tasmania
Hobart Devils - Hobart, Tasmania
Pacific Sharks - Tonga
Perth City Blackhawks - Perth, WA
St George Breakers - St George, NSW
Suva Suns - Suva, FJ
Cairns White Pointers - Cairns, QLD
Port Adelaide Corsairs - Adelaide, SA
Shanghai Traders - Shanghai, China
Dunedin Vipers - Dunedin, NZ
Ipswich Reds - Ipswich, QLD
South Queensland Drovers - Toowoomba, QLD
Wanganui Tuataras - Wanganui, NZ

Who will pack up and leave for uncharted territories... who knows?

$30,000

Through his eyes he see's the faces. Nothing but anger and dissapointment painted on them. Has he failed them? Is this his fault? He scans the mob, looking for hope. But with a sudden glance, all hope turns to pain. In the midst of the crowd, stands a familiar face. A man who he taught the craft of coaching to, a man he once considered his friend. It was with that that Walker-Bush cursed a familiar name under his breathe... Ben Quinn. Standing, arm and arm with supporters of 'the movement', Melbourne coach Ben Quinn swayed like a branch in a storm. Arms interlocked with other rebellers, the coach was chanting "let us live, let us be loved". For he was one who believed that all clubs deserved an equal chance, he was one that believed the ASRL location policy needed to be adressed.

A reporter from a local tv station approaches the Melbourne coach, awkwardley presenting the microphone below his mouth. He knew that the Melbourne coach could be come unruly, and feared for his safety. He stuttered out his one and only question "wha whats this all about". Quinn grabbed the microphone from the reporters hand, unlocking his arm from the grip of man beside him. "We are here to say that our clubs deserve to be seen on TV, so we can compete with other clubs. We want to make the ASRL think about someone other then there darlings, we want our share". With those words, the reporter had what he came here for, he had his story.

Back to the window where Walker-Bush sits quietly, deciding the fate of the ASRL in regards to team location. He knows that a change must be made. His mind churns, with the image of a trusted colleague turned against him burned into his retna's. He sits, he contemplates, for with every action there is a reaction. What would be the consequences of a ASRL side in Tokyo? And could the ASRL maintain its strangle hold on sporting competitions without the inclusion of rural sides? Would the AFL gain ground that the ASRL had merely given up?

Outside as night time falls, a fire is burning to keep the rebellers warm. An old trash can houses the flames, and the protestors are strong in there chant, "let us live, let us be loved". A persistent mob, striving for what they believed to be right. Too many teams have fallen because of the poor support given to them by the ASRL, teams that Walker-Bush had thought expendable.

As he sat there, he grasped the handle. It was black, and its warmth sent shivers through his body. He knew that this could make it all better, with the one flex on its trigger. He raised 'his relief' to his head, thoughts swirling. The chant grew louder. The tears trickled down his cheeks, as he remembered all that he loved. Mum, Dad, Dominatrix. He contemplated his fate, he remembered the good times. Sharing a beer with Joey Johns after all those wins, being chaired by Andy Farrell despite the dissapointment of seasons passed. He had achieved all he had to, the ASRL was strong, as was his Crusade. More tears trickled, sobs of anguish eminating from his mouth. With a sudden gasp of pain and a cry to the sky, Bush places 'his relief' back onto the table. This wasn't his time, and this certainly wasn't the place. Buoyed by a sense of exuberance Bush arose from his desk, and called for his secretary. As her head appeared through door, he began barking orders at her. "Prepare my car, clear the driveway, call a meeting".

"A meeting" the blonde haired secretary stammered.

"Yes, a meeting, its not over yet. We are right, we always have been and we always will be".

"But what about the protesters sir?".

" What about the protesters, let them wait in the cold... it wont get them anywhere".

The Gold Coast, A Rugby League mad city with 2 teams in the ASRL Premier League, one team, the Gold Coast Crusade based in a quiet part of the Gold Coast in Carrara is the be all, end all of rugby league sides, the measuring stick if you will, one of the formation ASRL clubs and is the most successful club in the recent era. Then you have the Surfers Paradise Punks who play out of state of the art 2 year old stadium in the heart of the busiest city on the gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, the tourist mecca of Australia, but this club is going broke.

Surfers Paradise Punks have been in the league for 5 seasons now after The board of directors decided to move from the Sunshine Coast to capitalize on the growing population of the Gold Coast, however, the Gold Coast already had a successful team and with that had a lot of fans. In recent years, the few fans the Punks had have dropped off after poor displays on the field and The Crusades star rising even further.

"Basically we are going broke and only a miracle could save us now" said Punks CEO Jim Lindberg.

Only time will tell what the Punks do, will they play next season, will they move towns, will the recieve there miracle? the future has the answers.