The Brisbane Tigers are targeting Wayne Bennett to coach a proposed 18th NRL franchise and be rugby league’s powerful weapon in the fight against an AFL invasion in the river city’s western corridor.
The NRL’s expansion drive is heating up with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week revealing his masterplan for a Papua New Guinea team that could be worth $600 million to the sport.
But the Tigers believe they can be NRL-ready before a government financed PNG franchise, as soon as 2026, and have warned the ARL Commission of the looming AFL threat in Brisbane’s western corridor.
Bennett is off-contract at the Dolphins at the end of next season and Tigers bosses confirmed they are keen to secure the supercoach to cement rugby league’s dominance in Ipswich and Toowoomba.
Bennett has a long history with Brisbane’s western corridor – he hails from Allora between Warwick and Toowoomba – and the Tigers believe the 73-year-old is the perfect man to spearhead fresh NRL expansion.
“We are absolutely interested in Wayne,” Brisbane Tigers bid chief Shane Richardson said.
“He is a legend of the game. He knows more about the game than 90 per cent people working in the NRL, so at the end of the day, Wayne would be a no-brainer for coaching us if we were the 18th team.
“Whether he is prepared to move to Port Moresby is another question.
“Wayne understands what’s needed and he understands pathways.
“Wayne would be the first one to say he understands the importance of pathways, but PNG just hasn’t got the right pathways in place at this stage.
“He has done a great job with the Dolphins, not only with coaching their first grade side, but setting up everything underneath.
“People have to understand the Tigers are a genuine rugby league club across the board.
“We have under-7s right through to the Queensland Cup where we are premiers.
“The Broncos and Titans don’t have that reach as a football club, but we have it and Wayne Bennett would be able to build things around it.
“Just as importantly, Wayne has the gravitas, he brings sponsors and he would get government support as well.
“At the moment, we don’t have a franchise, so there’s no point approaching Wayne yet. But if we can get a franchise, Wayne is certainly an option.
“He is a powerful figure and above all, still a wonderful coach. So we’d certainly love to have him involved.”
Richardson lauded the expansionary vision of ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys and insists Queensland has the population to sustain a fifth NRL club by 2027.
But he is adamant the 18th licence must ‘Go West’ – not overseas to Papua New Guinea – to combat an AFL takeover.
“The AFL aren’t stupid. Brisbane’s western corridor is the fastest-growing area in Australia,” Richardson said.
“Logistically, I think it’s very difficult to have Papua New Guinea operational by 2027. We could be ready for the NRL in 2026.
“There’s no doubt the western corridor is the most neglected area in rugby league and it’s opening the door for the AFL to take over.
“If the NRL did a strategic plan, they would find there is no doubt the western corridor requires an NRL team and the Brisbane Tigers can service that region, we already have a presence there.
“The AFL are infiltrating that area as we speak. They know it’s the heartland of working-class sport in Brisbane.
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“We are shovel-ready now, but there are various expansion options on the table for the NRL and we can be a part of further growth for them.
“There’s more than 21,000 participants in the area between Logan, Ipswich and Toowoomba.
“That region has created some of the greatest players in history in rugby league and they are flat out putting teams on the field to be competitive at a time when the AFL is making inroads.
“The NRL need as much assistance as possible and the Brisbane Tigers have the funds and strategy to provide it.”
