TITANS FEAR SQUEEZE

THIRD TEAM ‘FEEDING FRENZY’

THE Titans admit NRL expansion is inevitable but dropping a new club on their doorstep could “cannibalise” Gold Coast and threaten the survival of both teams.

Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell said he applauded the rapid strides ARLC boss Peter V’landys had taken since assuming the role but warned caution must be king as the NRL considers adding a third team to the southeast Queensland corridor from 2022.

Sustainability must be the primary concern for any start-up club but also for the Broncos and Titans, whose ecosystems would be disrupted by any new presence in the region.

Already wooden-spoon holders, the Titans slumped to a 14th straight loss on Friday night in their 36-6 defeat to the Cowboys.

“In Peter’s commentary he talks about sustainability and ensuring a second Brisbane team doesn’t cannibalise the Broncos nor the Titans,” Mitchell said.

“This is fundamental to the success of any expansion.

“It’s strategically important if there’s a push for another team in Brisbane that it’s got to be geographically positioned so it doesn’t compete head-to-head with clubs like the Titans, who are still a young franchise (founded 2007).

“Anything south or west of Brisbane is flawed because it will compete directly.

“There has got to be consideration of separation of distance and markets.”

The battle for junior talent and corporate sponsorship, already dominated by the Broncos in the region, would become even tighter with the addition of a second smaller-market team, Mitchell warned.

“At the moment the difference in size of audience for the Broncos and the Titans means we have large regional brands while the Broncos deal in the national arena,” he said.

“We complement each other and don’t compete for the corporate dollar.

“Any new franchise positioned in the wrong location would compete directly for commercial dollars and from a sustainability point of view it would be problematic.”

Mitchell said he welcomed discussion of growing the game in Queensland’s southeast but stressed a strategic approach is key to achieving sustainable growth.

Former Titans football manager and Brisbane Bombers bid spokesman Scott Sattler said he could understand fears of cannibalisation but challenged the NRL’s clubs to embrace the competition.

“A lot of people would look at it that way but in some forms of life, whether corporate, commercial or whatever, that competition keeps you fresh and healthy,” the former Maroons Origin player said.

THE Queensland Government has turned up the heat on the NRL to expand in 2022 as Broncos legend Darren Lockyer backed plans for a second team in Brisbane.

Reports indicate the NRL could expand the competition to 17 teams as early as 2022 and the Queensland Government has put out the welcome mat for a new Brisbane franchise to join the Broncos.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys is investigating whether the game can afford expansion and, if so, will consider adding a second Brisbane team 12 months ahead of the proposed 2023 target date.

The NRL could seek tenders for expansion at the end of this season.

Lockyer, the Broncos’ mostcapped player with 355 appearances, is adamant the southeast Queensland market is ready for another team on the proviso the existing 16 clubs are viable.

“As long as the Sydney clubs are secure financially, I’m all for another team in Brisbane,” Lockyer said.

“What this coronavirus pandemic has done is pull the whole game apart and made us look at bringing it back together in a more streamlined fashion.

“For me, the key is revenue. If a 17th team won’t give us another game in the broadcast deal, how does it bring more value to the code?

“I’m supportive of expansion but it’s important we make sure everything is rock solid first before we bring in a second Brisbane team.”

Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones says the Sunshine State has the supporter base and infrastructure to ensure a second Brisbane team can compete with the Broncos.

“The more games played here and not Sydney, the better,” she said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic halted the competition after the opening two rounds, prospective franchises were hoping to receive some clarity about the expansion plans from the NRL in July.

V’landys is now unlikely to entertain a tender process until the 2020 season is completed.

“There’s more pressing matters at the moment obviously, so I won’t be looking at this (expansion) until the end of the year,” he said.

“We still believe a second team is needed in Brisbane but we have to do it responsibly.

“The numbers have to stack up.”