Second Brisbane team possible

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has backed moves for a second team in Brisbane to rival the Broncos and says “frustration” in talks with the NSW government has left the door ajar for Suncorp Stadium to host the 2021 grand final.

The NRL launched their 2019 finals series yesterday in Sydney but Greenberg also has one eye on the Brisbane market as he gave fresh hope to Queensland fans of more rugby league content in the Sunshine State.

It was revealed a fortnight ago that broadcaster Channel 9 wants to kill off a Sydney team to establish a second side in Brisbane in 2023.

The Courier-Mail then revealed a secret consortium of five businessmen worth $50 million was ready to bankroll a bid for a fourth NRL team in Queensland.

Greenberg yesterday made it clear no Sydney team will be axed by the NRL, but said the prospect of creating another Brisbane club as part of a 17 or 18-team competition is a serious consideration.

The NRL boss will deliver his report on the state of the code, its national footprint and possible target expansion zones to ARL Commission in December.

“I do think a second Brisbane team is realistic,” Greenberg said. “We have zero appetite to kick any teams out of our competition, we are looking at the footprint at the moment, what that work will tell us will come down to us at the end of the year.

“But there is no appetite to take any club out of our 16 teams at the moment.

“We have been very open about the concept of whether we expand or whether we change the footprint of the competition.

“It’s not just about Queensland either, there is a real appetite for other teams whether it’s New Zealand or Perth or other parts of the country.

“There’s some very strong appetite for rugby league in Queensland and we would be crazy not to look at it. But it’s not a simple solution to kick a team out, that’s certainly not in the discussions and not something on my agenda at all.”