Brisbane3 - What is needed to make it a successful bid?

[SirPies&Beers]

Could Brisbane support a third club? yes. Does nrl need a third club in that city? not really. Dolphins crowds are still dropping at this time, be along time before we see a third club is suspect. Hopefully nz2 Is club 20 then it’s hard to see any expansion until Adelaide is ready, which could be the far side of never.

Considering how wrong you are all the time then Brisbane 3 is guaranteed now.

perthwrongs, ding dong

 

[Ian Douglas]

Could Brisbane support a third club? yes. Does nrl need a third club in that city? not really. Dolphins crowds are still dropping at this time, be along time before we see a third club is suspect. Hopefully nz2 Is club 20 then it’s hard to see any expansion until Adelaide is ready, which could be the far side of never.

Adelaide is ready now, today.

hello Adelaide sharks.

 

[Perth Red]

Adelaide is ready now, today.

hello Adelaide sharks.

Ready for what? Certainly not an NRL club.

 

[T to the T]

Adelaide is ready now, today.

hello Adelaide sharks.

Adelaide is dependent on 1) Perth Bears operating successfully for a few seasons with NRL relinquishing ownership and 2) South Australia Gov giving the NRL a sweetheart deal to set-up shop

Adelaide will hopefully be #22

 

[Ian Douglas]

Ready for what? Certainly not an NRL club.

Ready to become the Adelaide sharks.

 

[Colk]

Ready to become the Adelaide sharks.

They would have to change their song. Up up Adelaide doesn’t quite have the same punch as Up up Cronulla

 

[SirPies&Beers]

The Ipswich Jets want to become Brisbane’s third NRL team with the support of US private equity firm​

The region that produced Queensland legends Allan Langer and Kevin Walters is ready to become home to Brisbane’s third NRL team with the support of cashed-up American investors.
3 min read
April 7, 2026 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network

The mastermind of Ipswich’s NRL bid says the home of Queensland legends Allan Langer and Kevin Walters is ready to welcome Brisbane’s third team.

Ipswich bid boss Steve Johnson has revealed a United States private equity firm is keen to invest millions into the franchise if the NRL decides to expand to a 20-team competition.

Former NRL strategist Shane Richardson told this masthead that South East Queensland’s booming western corridor was the prime place for the NRL’s next expansion move after the Perth Bears (2027) and PNG Chiefs (2028).

The NRL is facing competition from the cashed-up AFL, who in 2024 announced a $1 billion plan to double participation numbers to one million by targeting Queensland and NSW.

Reigning back-to-back AFL premiers the Brisbane Lions are based in Springfield as part of the game’s push into the western part of SEQ.

Richardson urged the Ipswich Jets and Easts Tigers to join forces and present an irresistible case to ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys ahead of a potential 2030 launch.

The Ipswich Jets are close to linking with a US-based private equity firm.
However Johnson shot down claims that Ipswich needed bankrolling by Easts and said he was blown away by the interest the Jets had received from benefactors.

“We are 100 per cent still keen,” he said.
“We’ve gone away and worked really hard on our pathways in Ipswich. We’ve got our redevelopment happening at North Ipswich Reserve and all we need is a licence.

“We’ve got no shortage of backers. I’ve worked hard on that in the US and there’s a lot of rugby league people in Australia that have put their hand up wanting to be involved.

“We’ve had plenty of people reaching out because they see the nursery that is Ipswich, Toowoomba and the west that is lacking support.”
The Jets went up against the Easts-backed Firehawks and Redcliffe Dolphins in 2021 for the NRL’s 17th licence.

Ipswich and Queensland rugby league legends Kevin Walters and Allan Langer.
With a $100 million asset base, the Dolphins secured entry to the NRL from 2023 before the Bears and Chiefs were awarded the 18th and 19th licences last year.

The NRL, who had reservations about the financial stability of Ipswich’s last bid, will eventually expand to 20 teams and Johnson holds out hope of the western corridor securing the licence.

He stopped short of ruling out an alliance with Easts, but said the team had to be based in the Ipswich region instead of Langlands Park near Brisbane’s CBD.

“Easts have always been focused on Easts and had a belief that the training facilities should be based at Langlands Park,” Johnson said.

“That made no sense when we’ve got the upgrades happening to our stadium in Ipswich and we have the players.
“Easts are probably the richest club in Queensland but they have no juniors.

“There would have to be a series of long conversations because in the past we couldn’t reach a consensus.

“You never say never and it largely depends on where they see themselves in regards to the geographic base of the team.

“There’s no point in setting up a training base in Brisbane for kids who are coming from Toowoomba. It just doesn’t make practical sense.”

The western corridor has produced some of the game’s greatest players.

Brisbane greats Langer and Walters grew up in Ipswich while current Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam is a Goodna product.

Ezra Mam was born and raised in brisbane’s western corridor. Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Johnson said with the right pathways investment the western corridor would produce more NRL players than the Jets need.

“You’ve got to stick at it because the kids deserve it,” he said.

“We’re a risk-free option because we’ll only fail if the NRL fails. The numbers are rising and rugby league is the national sport of Ipswich and Toowoomba.

“We will generate many more times the number of NRL-ready players than we need, so we become an academy.
“We’re not jealous about that. We want our kids to take their rugby league dreams as far as they can.
“That’s always been our focus and always will be.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fthe-ipswich-jets-want-to-become-brisbanes-third-nrl-team-with-the-support-of-us-private-equity-firm%2Fnews-story%2Fd792e2baebdc3c8b23e4eb894a0496db&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-1-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append

 

[Wb1234]

Adelaide is dependent on 1) Perth Bears operating successfully for a few seasons with NRL relinquishing ownership and 2) South Australia Gov giving the NRL a sweetheart deal to set-up shop

Adelaide will hopefully be #22

They’ve already got a good stadium better than hbf park but yeh some dollars for a coe and juniors would be needed

Current premier is a huge afl fan and has talked down the nrl before

 

[Wb1234]

The Ipswich Jets want to become Brisbane’s third NRL team with the support of US private equity firm​

The region that produced Queensland legends Allan Langer and Kevin Walters is ready to become home to Brisbane’s third NRL team with the support of cashed-up American investors.
3 min read
April 7, 2026 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network

The mastermind of Ipswich’s NRL bid says the home of Queensland legends Allan Langer and Kevin Walters is ready to welcome Brisbane’s third team.

Ipswich bid boss Steve Johnson has revealed a United States private equity firm is keen to invest millions into the franchise if the NRL decides to expand to a 20-team competition.

Former NRL strategist Shane Richardson told this masthead that South East Queensland’s booming western corridor was the prime place for the NRL’s next expansion move after the Perth Bears (2027) and PNG Chiefs (2028).

The NRL is facing competition from the cashed-up AFL, who in 2024 announced a $1 billion plan to double participation numbers to one million by targeting Queensland and NSW.

Reigning back-to-back AFL premiers the Brisbane Lions are based in Springfield as part of the game’s push into the western part of SEQ.

Richardson urged the Ipswich Jets and Easts Tigers to join forces and present an irresistible case to ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys ahead of a potential 2030 launch.
View attachment 111561
The Ipswich Jets are close to linking with a US-based private equity firm.
However Johnson shot down claims that Ipswich needed bankrolling by Easts and said he was blown away by the interest the Jets had received from benefactors.

“We are 100 per cent still keen,” he said.
“We’ve gone away and worked really hard on our pathways in Ipswich. We’ve got our redevelopment happening at North Ipswich Reserve and all we need is a licence.

“We’ve got no shortage of backers. I’ve worked hard on that in the US and there’s a lot of rugby league people in Australia that have put their hand up wanting to be involved.

“We’ve had plenty of people reaching out because they see the nursery that is Ipswich, Toowoomba and the west that is lacking support.”
The Jets went up against the Easts-backed Firehawks and Redcliffe Dolphins in 2021 for the NRL’s 17th licence.
View attachment 111560
Ipswich and Queensland rugby league legends Kevin Walters and Allan Langer.
With a $100 million asset base, the Dolphins secured entry to the NRL from 2023 before the Bears and Chiefs were awarded the 18th and 19th licences last year.

The NRL, who had reservations about the financial stability of Ipswich’s last bid, will eventually expand to 20 teams and Johnson holds out hope of the western corridor securing the licence.

He stopped short of ruling out an alliance with Easts, but said the team had to be based in the Ipswich region instead of Langlands Park near Brisbane’s CBD.

“Easts have always been focused on Easts and had a belief that the training facilities should be based at Langlands Park,” Johnson said.

“That made no sense when we’ve got the upgrades happening to our stadium in Ipswich and we have the players.
“Easts are probably the richest club in Queensland but they have no juniors.

“There would have to be a series of long conversations because in the past we couldn’t reach a consensus.

“You never say never and it largely depends on where they see themselves in regards to the geographic base of the team.

“There’s no point in setting up a training base in Brisbane for kids who are coming from Toowoomba. It just doesn’t make practical sense.”

The western corridor has produced some of the game’s greatest players.

Brisbane greats Langer and Walters grew up in Ipswich while current Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam is a Goodna product.
View attachment 111559
Ezra Mam was born and raised in brisbane’s western corridor. Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Johnson said with the right pathways investment the western corridor would produce more NRL players than the Jets need.

“You’ve got to stick at it because the kids deserve it,” he said.

“We’re a risk-free option because we’ll only fail if the NRL fails. The numbers are rising and rugby league is the national sport of Ipswich and Toowoomba.

“We will generate many more times the number of NRL-ready players than we need, so we become an academy.
“We’re not jealous about that. We want our kids to take their rugby league dreams as far as they can.
“That’s always been our focus and always will be.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fthe-ipswich-jets-want-to-become-brisbanes-third-nrl-team-with-the-support-of-us-private-equity-firm%2Fnews-story%2Fd792e2baebdc3c8b23e4eb894a0496db&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-1-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append

That shows why a joint bid with easts will be a bad idea

 

[SirPies&Beers]

That shows why a joint bid with easts will be a bad idea

why? it would seem most of their chats regarding training locations happened long before ipswich reserve got its upgrade funding. now thats its being upgraded it makes sense. previously when it was the dump that it was, it didn't make sense. things change.

 

[i0Nic]

I just can’t get around the idea that we have dolphins and titans who are not setting the world on fire, dolphins also still brand new, and we would add yet another qld side in so soon as team 20.

Especially when there is a market opportunity in NZ where league is seriously looking like threatening union at the club level, not to mention the pathways opportunities.

Surely we would want the dolphins to become more entrenched. Maybe at least one of the dolphins or titans winning a premiership. Then add the Brisbane3 side.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I just can’t get around the idea that we have dolphins and titans who are not setting the world on fire, dolphins also still brand new, and we would add yet another qld side in so soon as team 20.

Especially when there is a market opportunity in NZ where league is seriously looking like threatening union at the club level, not to mention the pathways opportunities.

Surely we would want the dolphins to become more entrenched. Maybe at least one of the dolphins or titans winning a premiership. Then add the Brisbane3 side.

I don't even really understand the pro QRL crowd supporting the push. I'm a QLDer and a Titans fan but another Brisbane team right now only hurts GC and Dolphins who are trying to carve out a market for themselves.
People who don't understand QLD will say it adds a rivalry... Ipswich has nothing to do with GC or Redcliff, it's not something waiting for a spark, it'll take 30 or 40 years to build some kindling.

 

[i0Nic]

If it was me I’d be thinking about it like this.

afl can’t realistically add another qld side till 2036. Why? Because they’ll need to wait and see how lions go in the new much larger stadium in terms of crowds. If they’re getting 45k+ regularly they may then decide it’s time to add the second team. At earliest they would need to see how the 2033 season goes and make a decision towards the end of that year. They need to give the new team at least 2 full years at earliest to get up and running meaning 2036 - that’s the earliest possible reasonable timeframe for a second Brisbane fumble team.

Now fumble Hq could have a brain fart and decide to move ahead without waiting to see how lions go in the new stadium. This is possible but would be a very risky and dumb move.

So if I was PVL I’d do this:

- bring in NZ2 as team 20 in 2030.
- bring in Bris3 as team 21 in 2034.

then pause expansion. Potentially look at Adelaide later in the decade.

Hopefully before bris3 we can build up titans and dolphins with some more success and a bigger fanbase. It will be very hard for any new fumble team to compete in qld with a third Brisbane team, and we still get nZ2 earlier to capitalise on growth.

2034 also fits nicely with the next broadcast deal. Also by then we should have stronger pathways in PNG and NZ to take advantage of for players.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

I don't even really understand the pro QRL crowd supporting the push. I'm a QLDer and a Titans fan but another Brisbane team right now only hurts GC and Dolphins who are trying to carve out a market for themselves.
People who don't understand QLD will say it adds a rivalry... Ipswich has nothing to do with GC or Redcliff, it's not something waiting for a spark, it'll take 30 or 40 years to build some kindling.

kinda seems the only person that doesnt understand qld is you cob. how long you even been there? it doesnt take much to spark a good ol cane toad rivalry these days. especially with the way people have viewed ipswichians historically as the delericts.
the results might not be in the way of what the starting 17 are producing on the field but for all intents and purposes phins are kicking huge goals off the field and are as stable as a club can be. titans are coming out of a period of crap management with a clear plan and it seems those junior pathways are actually good now. seems their commercial business is good now. theres heaps resources there now,.
kinda seems people are basing this whole it hurts phins and titans based from on field results alone and fail to dig deeper than surface level.

 

[i0Nic]

kinda seems the only person that doesnt understand qld is you cob. how long you even been there? it doesnt take much to spark a good ol cane toad rivalry these days. especially with the way people have viewed ipswichians historically as the delericts.
the results might not be in the way of what the starting 17 are producing on the field but for all intents and purposes phins are kicking huge goals off the field and are as stable as a club can be. titans are coming out of a period of crap management with a clear plan and it seems those junior pathways are actually good now. seems their commercial business is good now. theres heaps resources there now,.
kinda seems people are basing this whole it hurts phins and titans based from on field results alone and fail to dig deeper than surface level.

Titans are averaging 13k - same as GC suns. Dolphins are not averaging much higher - even when both taking advantage of a Brisbane broncos derby. I just don’t think that’s good enough to justify adding yet another team. It’s one thing to be commercially viable, it’s another thing to have the fanbase to support adding another team.

 

[Wb1234]

I don't even really understand the pro QRL crowd supporting the push. I'm a QLDer and a Titans fan but another Brisbane team right now only hurts GC and Dolphins who are trying to carve out a market for themselves.
People who don't understand QLD will say it adds a rivalry... Ipswich has nothing to do with GC or Redcliff, it's not something waiting for a spark, it'll take 30 or 40 years to build some kindling.

Need a club in the growing western coridoor

Brisbane population will ad over a million people

Just not before Christchurch

I like having established brl/qrl brands in the nrl

It’s what they should’ve done originally not create new nrl clubs

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Titans are averaging 13k - same as GC suns. Dolphins are not averaging much higher - even when both taking advantage of a Brisbane broncos derby. I just don’t think that’s good enough to justify adding yet another team. It’s one thing to be commercially viable, it’s another thing to have the fanbase to support adding another team.

think youre underestimating just how big that west brissy to ippy to toowoomba corridor is hey or should i say continuing to grow.
phins last year had a top 5 crowd less than 200 lower than warriors and you need to consider that they took games to kayo stadium which is maxed out at 10k which dropped their average.
titans results have been booty for awhile and yet they're average still beat out other clubs.
current crowd averages for 2026 mean little as they'll average out by years end as clubs performances go through ebbs and flows.
not saying jets deserve to be in before nz 2 nor am i putting them against each other or anything like that but there's merit in both.

nrl loves money and we know where the money is at. nz economy isnt very good which means the commercial appeal isnt very strong. seqld throwing money at nrl clubs, they gave warriors a slice of logan on a platter.

 

[footy75]

Adelaide is ready now, today.

hello Adelaide sharks.

Adelaide.

Don't see it.

 

[Colk]

The financials are very good for another Brisbane side however there has to come a time where we actually have to address the fact that the gap between the have and have nots is so stark that you can’t just keep adding sides and diluting the talent.

Expanding the competition is just going to add to the number of poor or uncompetitive sides and entrench the top sides even further.

 

[flippikat]

Jets nrl team is a good idea but the afl scaremongering is bs like it was for the dolphins

They will get a team when the time is right

Yeah, and giving the current 3 SEQ teams time to bed-in their support and rivalry & get a decent level of success makes sense right now.

Need a club in the growing western coridoor

Brisbane population will ad over a million people

Just not before Christchurch

I like having established brl/qrl brands in the nrl

It’s what they should’ve done originally not create new nrl clubs

Given that we had 3 teams joining the then NSWRL Premiership in 1988, maybe the better choice in hindsight would have been adding the 2 best bids from the BRL plus Newcastle at that time, then perhaps a 3rd BRL team in the late 1990s?