Peter V’landys steps up expansion as ARL commission prepares to make call in early 2024
Chair Peter V’landys has emerged from the final ARL Commission meeting of the year to declare that the code is ready to get serious about expansion as they prepare to make a decisive call on an 18th team early next year.
V’landys also revealed the prospect of salary cap exemptions for rugby union players remained on the agenda, although a final decision had also put on hold until the new year.
Expansion has been a hot topic for the ARL Commission as they contemplate adding another team, with Papua New Guinea the clear frontrunners to become the game’s 18th franchise.
V’landys presided over a commission meeting on Thursday where expansion was one of the hot items on the agenda, emerging to provide the surest indication yet that expansion will take place, possibly as early as 2026.
The ARL commission wants to be in position to make a final call by April next year, although any decision will hinge on talks with the federal government over funding for a team representing PNG.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been an outspoken supporter of the PNG bid, which would see a side potentially stationed in Cairns but playing games out of Port Moresby.
The key to any PNG bid is financing from the federal government with talk that an 18th team could have access to a $600 million fund that would help support an 18th side.
Brisbane Easts, the Perth Jets and North Sydney – potentially joining forces with Pacifica – have all expressed an interest in being involved in the bidding process but PNG is clearly the preferred option of the ARL Commissioner and crucially, the federal government.
If negotiations progress smoothly in coming weeks and months, the ARL Commission could be ready to pull the trigger early next year with a view to announcing the 18th team for the 2026 season.
“We have started the process,” V’landys said. “We have been doing it ad hoc but now it is serious.”
The new franchise could yet have access to special dispensation for rugby union players as V’landys indicated the idea remained on the agenda.
The decision to keep the door open to rugby union exemptions means the Sydney Roosters could yet receive salary cap relief for Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase, who has agreed to join the club in 2025.
It is believed the Roosters will pay Nawaqanitawase as much as $450,000 a season over the two years of his contract but any exemptions would allow them to offset some of that cost provided any new rule was retrospectively applied.
There was talk that club chief executives had railed against the concept at a recent meeting but V’landys said a decision was yet to be finalised.
“We will make a decision on that next year,” V’landys said.
“It’s still on the table, absolutely.”
