V'landys eyes third Brisbane NRL team amid QLD boom

Source: couriermail.com.au

TL;DR

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

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

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