V'landys eyes third Brisbane NRL team amid QLD boom
Source: couriermail.com.au
TL;DR
- NRL chief Peter V'landys says the league is looking at a third Brisbane team amid booming Queensland registrations.
- Registrations up 12 per cent year-on-year, on track to top 70,209 participants in 2025.
- Move counters AFL push into Brisbane's west and eyes 20-team league by 2032 Olympics.
The story at a glance
ARL Commission boss Peter V'landys revealed the NRL is exploring a third Brisbane franchise, possibly in Ipswich, to tap into surging player numbers in Queensland. The league will meet Queensland Rugby League leaders to assess options, shifting focus from a second New Zealand team. This comes as the NRL prioritises new entries in Perth and Papua New Guinea before expanding further, with Brisbane's 2032 Olympics on the horizon.
Key points
- ARL Commission plans talks with QRL chairman Brian Canavan and CEO Ben Ikin for a fifth Queensland NRL licence, second since Dolphins joined in 2023.
- Ipswich Jets bid, led by Steve Johnson, targets NRL entry by 2030, backed by $40 million North Ipswich Reserve upgrade finishing in 2027.
- Queensland registrations surged 12 per cent, driven by strong grassroots growth outpacing NRL capacity.
- Strategy aims to counter AFL's $1 billion investment targeting Brisbane's fast-growing western corridor.
- New Zealand bids from Christchurch face doubts over economy and past NRL concerns; central Queensland also under review.
- Broncos' crowds and revenue grew post-Dolphins, showing expansion works without harming existing clubs.
- NRL eyes 20-team competition by 2032 Brisbane Olympics, but will settle Perth Bears (2027) and PNG Chiefs (2028) first.
Details and context
V'landys highlighted Queensland's player boom, with the QRL unable to keep up, as a key driver. Brisbane's west has produced stars like Wayne Bennett, Allan Langer and Kevin Walters, making it a talent hotbed akin to Sydney's Penrith.
The Ipswich Jets lost to the Dolphins in 2021 but persist, with Toowoomba's Western Clydesdales as a ready feeder team in the Queensland Cup. A western Brisbane team would challenge Broncos support but build on proven expansion success.
This pivot responds to AFL's grassroots push, protecting NRL's dominance in the Sunshine State ahead of Olympics-driven growth.
Key quotes
- “New Zealand has a strong case, absolutely, but we’ve never discounted the fact we want another Queensland team,” said V’landys.
- “Their efforts have got to be rewarded at some point,” V’landys said of Brisbane’s western corridor bid.
Why it matters
A fifth Queensland team strengthens NRL's hold on the Sunshine State against AFL expansion, securing talent and fans in a booming region. It signals more NRL jobs, games and economic boosts for areas like Ipswich, while testing if growth sustains without diluting Broncos support. Watch ARL-QRL meetings and bids from New Zealand or central Queensland, though no firm timeline beyond settling Perth and PNG teams.
LANG: en