http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nr...o-tv-rights-deal/story-fndujljl-1227465390327
THE NRL is set for expansion with a second Brisbane team to rival the Broncos tipped to clinch a licence by 2018 in a move worth an extra $200 million to the codes next TV rights deal.
Brisbane Bombers bid chairman Craig Davison can see only one certainty in the NRLs future premiership format there will be a fourth Queensland team playing out of Suncorp Stadium in 2018.
NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson is presently conducting a whole-of-game review and several prospective NRL franchises are sweating on a possible call for submissions later this year.
But Davison said he is 100 per cent sure the ARL Commission will install a second Brisbane club to challenge the Broncos, a scenario that has the support of Nine Network boss David Gyngell.
The addition of a second Brisbane team would be a massive coup for Queensland as the states premier venue, Suncorp Stadium, ramps up plans to host the NRL grand final.
LATE MAIL: Parker cleared to play
ALLEGATIONS: Cowboys in the clear
RATINGS: Who would win all Qld GF?
Brisbane Bombers bid director Craig Davison. Source: News Limited
I am of the view that in 2018 there will be a second Brisbane team, 100 per cent, Davison said.
I must make it clear that there is no guarantee the Brisbane team in 2018 will be the Bombers, there are other bids out there.
This is a business. The one thing alluded to by David Gyngell and people we talk to is around the fact that the next NRL club has to be a Brisbane CBD, top-end-of-town, commercial bid.
This cant be a community bid. This is about a bigger commercial team.
If they are talking about a TV rights bid north of $1.5 billion for 2018, then the extra Brisbane team would be worth $200m to the whole rights process.
If any commercial decision is made by the NRL to put a team in, we know its going to be located in the Brisbane CBD.
Davison suggested the ARLC may opt for a 17-team league, meaning a bye each weekend. But the Central Queensland and Brothers bid teams told The Courier-Mail they did not think that outcome likely.
Brothers bid chief Justin Barlow said he believed the most likely outcome was a 16-team NRL, with increased investment in the Queensland and NSW Cup competitions.
An increase to 17 or 18 teams would mean the NRL competition would need another 25 or 50 players of first-grade quality at a time when it wanted to maximise earnings from the new television rights deal from 2018-22.
I personally think it will remain the same amount of teams we have, Barlow said.
There may be two new identities, (with) relocation (of existing clubs) or partnerships, and more investment in the second tier.
The Bombers plan to play home games at Suncorp Stadium, with the Brothers playing as many as four a season at regional cities with the rest at Suncorp.
The Western Corridor bid team would also reside at Suncorp, at least until they can secure funding to build a boutique stadium near Ipswich.
Other cities making bids included Wellington, Gosford and Perth, although Davison believes the NRL may not explore Western Australia for another five years.
Central Queensland bid team owner Geoff Murphy said he had not heard any recent speculation about a 17-team NRL.
Six months ago I did hear talk about that but when I spoke to NRL people they said they didnt want anything between 16-18, Murphy said.
Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley said he was sure the ARLC would consider the financial health of the entire competition in deciding on the premiership future.
As a club CEO, Im concerned about the business aspects and the impact expansion could have on that, Annesley said.
There are not too many (NRL) clubs turning a profit and Im sure it has to be part of their thinking in when do we expand and where do we expand to.
THE NRL is set for expansion with a second Brisbane team to rival the Broncos tipped to clinch a licence by 2018 in a move worth an extra $200 million to the codes next TV rights deal.
Brisbane Bombers bid chairman Craig Davison can see only one certainty in the NRLs future premiership format there will be a fourth Queensland team playing out of Suncorp Stadium in 2018.
NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson is presently conducting a whole-of-game review and several prospective NRL franchises are sweating on a possible call for submissions later this year.
But Davison said he is 100 per cent sure the ARL Commission will install a second Brisbane club to challenge the Broncos, a scenario that has the support of Nine Network boss David Gyngell.
The addition of a second Brisbane team would be a massive coup for Queensland as the states premier venue, Suncorp Stadium, ramps up plans to host the NRL grand final.
LATE MAIL: Parker cleared to play
ALLEGATIONS: Cowboys in the clear
RATINGS: Who would win all Qld GF?
Brisbane Bombers bid director Craig Davison. Source: News Limited
I am of the view that in 2018 there will be a second Brisbane team, 100 per cent, Davison said.
I must make it clear that there is no guarantee the Brisbane team in 2018 will be the Bombers, there are other bids out there.
This is a business. The one thing alluded to by David Gyngell and people we talk to is around the fact that the next NRL club has to be a Brisbane CBD, top-end-of-town, commercial bid.
This cant be a community bid. This is about a bigger commercial team.
If they are talking about a TV rights bid north of $1.5 billion for 2018, then the extra Brisbane team would be worth $200m to the whole rights process.
If any commercial decision is made by the NRL to put a team in, we know its going to be located in the Brisbane CBD.
Davison suggested the ARLC may opt for a 17-team league, meaning a bye each weekend. But the Central Queensland and Brothers bid teams told The Courier-Mail they did not think that outcome likely.
Brothers bid chief Justin Barlow said he believed the most likely outcome was a 16-team NRL, with increased investment in the Queensland and NSW Cup competitions.
An increase to 17 or 18 teams would mean the NRL competition would need another 25 or 50 players of first-grade quality at a time when it wanted to maximise earnings from the new television rights deal from 2018-22.
I personally think it will remain the same amount of teams we have, Barlow said.
There may be two new identities, (with) relocation (of existing clubs) or partnerships, and more investment in the second tier.
The Bombers plan to play home games at Suncorp Stadium, with the Brothers playing as many as four a season at regional cities with the rest at Suncorp.
The Western Corridor bid team would also reside at Suncorp, at least until they can secure funding to build a boutique stadium near Ipswich.
Other cities making bids included Wellington, Gosford and Perth, although Davison believes the NRL may not explore Western Australia for another five years.
Central Queensland bid team owner Geoff Murphy said he had not heard any recent speculation about a 17-team NRL.
Six months ago I did hear talk about that but when I spoke to NRL people they said they didnt want anything between 16-18, Murphy said.
Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley said he was sure the ARLC would consider the financial health of the entire competition in deciding on the premiership future.
As a club CEO, Im concerned about the business aspects and the impact expansion could have on that, Annesley said.
There are not too many (NRL) clubs turning a profit and Im sure it has to be part of their thinking in when do we expand and where do we expand to.
