Time to put up, shut up

EXPANSION is set to face its final multi-million dollar hurdle on Thursday as the NRL prepare for a showdown with their clubs over plans to add a 17th team in 2023.

The commission has vowed to provide insight at the meeting on the game’s finances, negotiations over a new deal with the Nine Network, and clarity around the financial implications of adding a new team.

The clubs’ response could torpedo expansion at the 11th hour, although the expectation is that NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys will leave the meeting intent on adding another side in southeast Queensland.