Brisbane Bombers expansion bid boss Craig Davison remains confident of getting a start in the NRL despite the ARL Commission seemingly pouring cold water on any increase of teams in the near future.
One of the key elements to arise from the $1.025 billion broadcast deal announced on Tuesday was the apparent disinterest from rights holders for more games.
“The indication through the discussions was that there was minimal value that we would see come through broadcast deal as a result of introducing two new teams,” ARLC interim chief executive Shane Mattiske said.
“The fact that there isn’t additional value that will come through the broadcast deal for a ninth game is a factor in the consideration of expansion.
“However there are a number of other things that we would look to in forming a view.”
That view will be part of the game’s strategic plan, which is currently being formed by the ARLC.
Davison is confident the need for an increased presence in Brisbane will form part of that plan, which would give broadcasters the possibility of having a game in the Queensland capital every weekend.
“I firmly believe Brisbane will get another team at some point in time and I believe that point of time will be sooner, rather than later,” Davison told AAP.
He said Nine Network boss David Gyngell had noted in announcing the record TV rights seal that Brisbane was rugby league’s “strongest market”.
“He’s clearly said previously that Brisbane needs another team,” said Davison.
“I can’t pre-empt what might or might not happen, but I certainly believe that when the strategic plan comes out it will give a much better indication of where (expansion) teams might go.”
There had been speculation the ARLC would look to expand the competition as early as 2015, having previously stated it would look closely at the issue once a new broadcast deal was in place.
Seven consortiums – the NSW Central Coast, Papua New Guinea, Perth, Central Queensland, Western Queensland Corridor (Ipswich), Wellington and the Bombers – have expressed interest in being part of any expansion.
infinity
Guest
don't get me wrong i do not have a problem with brisbane getting another team but this bid is just ridiculous, why cant they locate to ipswich or south side? there to close and they need to change the name as the broncos are already called the "brisbane". im starting to agree with the guy way above this is just gonna butcher a perfectly good team.
Bee Bee
Guest
I prefer Brisbane Bulldozers. Come on Clive. I know you love Bulldozers you big Bulldozer you.
Morotti
Roar Rookie
If Tasmania with a population of 500,000 people have been told by the AFL that they cannot sustain an AFL team then I think Central Queensland with a population of roughly 200,000 will struggle to sustain an NRL team. Plus you won't make many new fans in Central Queensland whereas a place like Perth has much untapped potential to grow the game.
Moz
Guest
Second Brisbane team... Yes. Brisbane Bombers... No. Such a terrible name with absolutely no history. Should be called Brisbane Brothers.
Nate Hornblower
Guest
"As for Central Queensland, no thanks. That doesn’t tickle my fancy at all." Oh well then, case closed....where is that sarcasm font when I need it!! This should be the first place they put a new team, this is Rugby League heartland and has been for 100 years, getting a new team here has to be priority No.1.
Dayer
Guest
It is unfortunate that CC will never be admitted into the NRL because there are just too many teams in NSW, the only way for them to get in is when and if a Sydney team relocates or even a merger of some sorts occur. As for a 2nd Brissy side, it makes a lot of sense to bring them in as there will be more commercial opportunities than the rest of QLD, I must admit the name needs to be changed. Perth is a MUST and also a second NZL side. by the way I am a Broncos fan.
Rob9
Guest
Dang, I'm hoping this joke of a proposal dissolves into nothingness. This bid is just plain wrong in so many ways. Hopefully another consortium that involves people with half a brain in their head gets together and constructs a bid that has some point of difference from the Broncos. I'm with you FU, this bid isn't Brisbane 2, it's Broncos 2.
oikee
Guest
If Clive Palmer wants a second Brisbane team, he will get a second Brisbane team, call them the Bombers and they will party on the Titanic11 in costumes. Rugby league is now a proper business, it is time to run the game like a business, Harrigon has to go, we need a new set of eyes in the box, and bringing the countires richest man in from the cold would be a good idea. Wake up ryggy league, your a billion dollar code now, start acting like one.
Morotti
Roar Rookie
Disagree Football United. A co worker comes from Brisbane and he hates the Broncos as that is all you get in Brisbane. He is likely to support another team just because it is not the Broncos. Also you have Australia's third largest city with only one NRL team. A team on the Central Coast will just take sponsorship and other revenue away from the Sydney clubs. Only way the CC works is if a Sydney club moves there. My suggestion is Cronulla. As for Central Queensland, no thanks. That doesn't tickle my fancy at all. I think the next TV rights deal will se 2 new teams so that we get 9 games per week. Brisbane and Perth. Then after that New Zealand will be ready for another team also. I would also like to see PNG have a team in a decade or so but that has so many obstacles it is not funny.
Football United
Guest
I hope these donkeys don't get anywhere near being accepted into the NRL. I'm all for another team in SEQ, but this bid is as plastic as it gets and should not be brought in ahead of local fan driven ventures like CC (with almost 8000 members), Central Queensland (who already have several junior teams running) or even Perth (although i'm not a fan of that Pirates nonsense). Their only form of differentiation to the existing Brisbane team is that they are 'not the Broncos'. They plan to just be another inner city team and will simply cannibalise Bronco's existing support rather than adding anything new. They adopted the name and identity of an existing power house sports club in Australia solely to draw attention to itself. Any new team in the greater Brisbane region should have a form of geographical difference by adopting the south and western Corridor (including Ipswich) of Brisbane as their home and leaving the inner city for the Broncos.