Broncos’ blessing for new NRL club
THE ARL Commission’s expansion plans have received a massive boost, with the NRL’S richest club, the Broncos, backing an explosive new rivalry with a proposed second Brisbane team.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys held high-level talks with Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy and chairman Karl Morris on Monday ahead of an ARLC board meeting on Thursday.
V’landys has made a personal pledge to consult the 16 clubs – and after 11 years of expansion heartache, the landmark figure the ARL Commission needs to bankroll a second Brisbane team to rival the Broncos can be revealed.
NRL clubs are reportedly seeking at least $15m annually to back a 17-team competition for 2023, equating to a $75m fiscal injection over the code’s traditional five-year broadcasting cycle.
ARLC delegates are increasingly confident their business case for expansion is stacking up – and the sentiments of the Broncos, arguably the franchise most affected by a fourth Queensland club – are compelling.
Broncos chair Morris walked away from a two-hour meeting with V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo impressed with their considered approach on expansion and he welcomed the prospect of a Brisbane rivalry with the Jets, Firehawks or Dolphins.
“I see great appeal in a second Brisbane team in the southeast Queensland market,” Morris said. “The issue is: will the NRL competition be better off with a 17th team? Can the NRL afford it and is there enough quality players in the system? Will more kids in Queensland play the game if we have a second Brisbane team? They are some of the questions to be answered.
“But conceptually, I have no issue with another team in the Brisbane market. It would create a great rivalry with the Broncos. We have done some studies internally looking into the effects of expansion in other codes such as the AFL and we are quite confident in our brand. We feel our rustedon Broncos fans will stay with the club.
“The Broncos have built a great base over the last 30 years, so we are very comfortable with our position and we would embrace a new rivalry with another Brisbane team.”
ARL commissioners have discussed delaying expansion until 2024, but V’landys is leaning towards introducing a second Brisbane team in 2023 after digesting the outcome of an NRL internal report.
V’landys still has to convince the existing clubs that expansion is the right way forward, although it is understood the additional $15m figure will assuage many concerns.
At the very least it will mean they come to the table willing to listen to what a second Brisbane franchise has to offer because it would mean the clubs will not be financially affected by the addition of a 17th team.
The NRL currently provides each of the 16 clubs with an annual $13m grant. There were concerns a 17th team would erode that funding.
However, the biggest impediment appears to have been removed as V‘landys prepares to front the clubs next week with an increase in the broadcasting deal that could exceed $75m over the first five years of a 17-team competition.