CHALLENGE ON COAST

Q

Why is it important to the NRL that rugby league thrives on the Gold Coast at an elite level?

A

“Well, Queensland is the home of rugby league in a lot of ways and the Gold Coast is the state’s second largest city. You have got the ingredients – you have got people like Rebecca, you have got Dennis Watt, Rebecca’s partner (Brett) has been around for a long time in this game and has put his own money up for it.

I was on the NRL Commission when the bid went through as to what offer we accepted so I am right across their details. I think people will embrace them. How well they go on the field remains to be seen but I wish them every bit of luck possible. My government started the building of Cbus (Super Stadium) so I’ve had a long-term commitment to the Gold Coast and I want to see the success of the Titans.

Q

Would expansion into southeast Queensland affect the Titans?

A

I don’t believe it would and the reason I don’t believe it would is because the Titans, they are the rugby league team in the second largest city in Queensland and you are not going to have another Gold Coast team. So they are not a threat, they are not a danger whatsoever.

Let’s talk hypothetically: If there was one additional team and it was Redcliffe, well that’s hardly going to impact on the Gold Coast. But what it does for the Titans is it lifts the whole standing of the competition, it lifts the value of the competition and that increases the worth of the Titans.