A former NRL CEO is spearheading the bid for a second New Zealand team to enter the NRL with the expanson outfit unveiling its branding as the South Island Kea.
Based in Christchurch, the club would use the multi-use 25,000-seat covered Te Kaha Stadium which is set to be ready by April of 2026 and they are hopeful of getting the green light from the ARL Commission to be the NRL’s 18th team.
A side based in Cairns representing Papua New Guinea is the favourite to be the next club added to the competition when an expansion timetable is laid out later this year with bids from Perth and Ipswich also in the mix.
Former NRL chief David Moffett will meet with NRL execs later this month to present their plan for inclusion.
The new stadium in Christchurch will have a covered roof and Moffett believes it will be a huge feather in their cap in their attempts to convince the NRL to bring in a second NZ side.
“A great new stadium would be a huge asset for the NRL,” he told Radio NZ.
“No other NRL team has a covered stadium. We would bring more matches there than the Crusaders would.”
The Warriors have voiced their opposition to another New Zealand team in the near future but Moffett claimed it would be a benefit.
“If they were inclined to have two teams then, we will be ready,” Moffett said.
“There’s only one New Zealand team, so they take a lot of Kiwis over there to play in the competition. We think instead of going across that ditch, they should go across the shorter ditch, the Cook Strait, and come to Christchurch.”
The kea is known as one of the smartest birds and the mascot gives the new side a distinctive Kiwi theme.
Blink
Roar Rookie
So you aint an international sportsman are you. Just a common loser with nothing worthwhile to say. So common!
criag
Roar Rookie
Alright, we've seen the fishing shirt from Christchurch....now can we see the football jersey?
criag
Roar Rookie
There’s other reasons worse than the heat why you wouldn’t want to play there! The crime risk in Port Moresby is ultra high. The U.S. State Department has a warning which includes: “Reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy. Exercise increased caution due to kidnapping, unexploded ordnance, inconsistent availability of healthcare services, etc“. There is NO WAY there should be a team in PNG in the NRL! This is just the PM playing politics.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
PNG & NZ2 will create their own juniors with some pathways organisation from the NRL. With the USA there are so many fantastic athletes that don't make it into College Gridiron let alone the NFL. We need a combine that gets them earlier. Have one for high school graduates. If they don't make it into College they can come out here and we will put them through Uni. That way we get them earlier at say 18.. and they have a better chance of developing the skills. That will help with the expansion. later they can form the nucleus of a North American comp.
mushi
Roar Guru
Hmm....
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Obviously not at any great level then. So you just want tell us that you were sporty?
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I'd be happy if the PNG national team was the team and based in PNG - i can see how that might inspire locals - but that would be a negative for whatever clubs they already play for. Don't agree that NRL players should play even more games.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
We need to do Simple things first … get home base sorted… NZ Team in South Island… Gosford Bears … move Tigers to Perth.. Western Tigers.. plus one new Team (PNG?) to make 20. Bring it forward a year and negotiate an increase in TV Deal. Get on the Board of English Rugby League.. Then concentrate on Pathways and expanding lower division clubs. Rekindle Country rugby League. The Private Schools have introduced AFL.. Soccer etc etc. Introduce League into the Private Schools.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Not sure if they were called the Auckland warriors it would be the rest of the country.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Considering that we're talking about #20, and probably the last expansion for a long time, I think I'd prefer Adelaide to any of them. It'll be a tough slog but it's a far bigger city than Christchurch.
matth
Roar Guru
I’d prefer Ipswich or even Gosford as number 20 after Perth
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
Robbo In my view a better option than a PNG NRL team would be an off season tour. Let a PNG national team come over here and play each of our clubs in November on a kind of annual tour. Government support could help with costs, put a decent Trophy up for grabs and maybe even satisfy Vlandys want for a cup type comp. Could even organise it on an English Challenge Cup basis maybe starting in Septmber ? There are options to engage PNG without putting a dodgy club in our comp that has more than a small chance of failure.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
"growing dilutes that" only for a short while. The salary cap and attractiveness of certain clubs is a bigger constraint.
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
PS found playing AFL Saturdays agreat warm up before hitting the paddock to play League on Sundays!!
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
I would like to see the actual current Juniors numbers and Seniors playing League in Perth and NZ South Island - probably PNG as well (I have been to PNG and have relatives born there and they due to the saftey issues have all moved down to OZ/Qld so although would love a team just dont think its possible currently for 5-10 years). You need either avery good base to feed the Club with Players - or Big backers with big wallets to get them going and stealing players from Existing Clubs Juniors and Seniors - Like the Storm did....so it should be decided on Numbers and Money ! PS I dont think the AFL is worried about NRL at all - okay they are looking at building up there Juniors etc more in NSW and Qld and they have been doing that for the past 20 years...was in Cairns for 20 years and my boys all played AFL there and the support and resourcing to the clubs was terrific. Note I grew up in Wagga and Canberra so played mainly League but also played AFL....both are great games to play...
Pneuma
Roar Rookie
You can’t assume crowd figures off a comparative population base. If that logic applies Canberra’s crowds should only be 7000 as a comparison to Brisbanes crowds and population size. Their average crowd is much higher than that.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Pilferer, Out of interest, which would make for a better local derby against the Auckland Warriors - a neighbouring suburb/province/city or a team from South Island? In Oz, the most closest suburb/province/city next to you is the one that you hate the most. You'd probably guessed that by now.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I've always thought NZ2 would be the next best option, ahead of Perth. Perth can come in with Adelaide to make it 20. PNG - another 10-15 years away imo.
Rob9
Roar Guru
The eastern suburbs might be a slightly easier sell for outsiders than Port Moresby. Just one of the many issues with this bid. A PNG exclusive team will be lambs to the slaughter while basing a team in a place where the living standard is so incredibly far behind the rest of the competition is a significant handicap to carry. They’ll be competing for the bottom 20% of the player market. The FIFO idea still doesn’t close that gap and it’s a clutching at straws attempt to get the round peg that is PNG in the square hole that is the NRL.
Pneuma
Roar Rookie
So the NRL has 3 viable options for expansion. One in a new country (PNG), another in NZ which will lead to a nice North V South rivalry, and the last in, effectively, a new market in a new State (WA). No wonder the afl mob here are so annoyed with Vlandys. Our game is kicking ass right now.