Let the Eagles spread wings in Brisbane

AFTER a weekend of thought I believe I have solved one part of the NRL expansion puzzle.

I hope my loyal Magic Spray fans – mum, dad, and my half a dozen mates – can forgive me because I’ve had another change of heart.

Last Saturday in The Chronicle’s Saturday Soapbox I said “moving a team” was not the answer.

I also suggested that Adelaide and Perth were the best expansion destinations as well.

I didn’t say as much in the column but I’ve never been a fan of a second Brisbane team – I think Queensland already has enough teams and they’ve got plenty of fans.

But I was wrong.

The NRL should move a Sydney team and they should move them to Brisbane.

Which team I hear you ask? Well, isn’t it obvious?

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles of course.

Their destination? The Wynnum Manly waterfront.

With minimum fuss I think we could make this project a real winner.

They have similar names and play in similar colours.

All we’d need to do is splash a bit of maroon on the Wynnum Manly jersey and tweak the name a little. I think the Wynnum Manly WarringahNorth Sea Birds has a nice ring to it.

With the name, logo and colours out of the way all we need now is some financial backing and a shiny new stadium. How about it Premier Palaszczuk? I think it’s a project that could work straight away as well.

It would require a groundshare deal with the Brisbane Broncos but it could happen.

Not even Manly fans like making the trip to Brookvale but I’m sure they’d enjoy the sleek beauty of Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.