Still interested to know how the ARLC have determined its financially viable when the fTA deal isnt done. HAs Fox agreed to up its contract payment? Or are ARLC taking a gamble on the fTA deal covering it?
A second Brisbane team is just a fortnight away from officially being announced but not everyone is happy.
It
was reported on Thursday that the NRL is preparing to confirm the Brisbane expansion side as the competition’s 17th franchise the week after the grand final.
It came after the ARL Commission reportedly approved the financial viability of the expansion team but one final roadblock remains.
The NRL is yet to meet with all 16 teams, who were “blindsided” by the report on Thursday according to
The Sydney Morning Herald.
“One of the things that was promised to the clubs was the process would be collaborative, that they would come to the clubs and involve the clubs, so it would be disappointing if we’re told it’s all done,” one club official told
The Herald.
That final step will begin on Friday and continue over the next week.
As
The Australian’s Brent Read explained on
Triple M, that is where things could get complicated.
“There was a commission meeting yesterday and the expectation was at that meeting we would have a definitive answer from the commission on whether they’d go ahead with it,” he said on Thursday night.
“They haven’t given that publicly because they still need to talk to the clubs. They’ve said they’ll take the clubs along with them on the journey but you can take it as read out of that commission meeting they made the decision to press the go button on expansion. It will happen.
“The clubs I’m sure will kick up a little stink and try squeeze some money from the NRL over it. They’re not overly happy over the way it’s all been handled.”
Read put forward Queenslanders Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga and Harry Grant as
three big names to watch as the new franchise looks to land a marquee signing.
The three remaining bids in the race are the Brisbane Firehawks, Brisbane Jets and Redcliffe Dolphins, who pitched to the NRL late last month.
The new franchise could be approved in time for the 2023 season and clubs are concerned, with Munster, Ponga and Grant headlining a long list of off-contract players.
The sudden emergence of a new franchise would only give such players even more leverage when negotiating a new deal.
For instance, Parramatta’s Clinton Gutherson is one player off-contract at the end of 2022 who could now push for more money.
Gutherson’s manager was already agitating for a price rise after the Eels paid the fullback unders during his last deal.
A new team with lots of money to spend would only increase competition for Gutherson’s signature and regardless of whether he has any actual interest in the move, it could be used as a bargaining chip when negotiating with Parramatta.
South Sydney’s Cody Walker is another who could be lured to the expansion team, particularly if it is coached by Wayne Bennett.
As such, the
Herald reports that some clubs want the new franchise’s addition to the league to be delayed until 2024, giving them more time to finalise rosters and respond to Covid-19-related financial implications.
Otherwise, the successful franchise will be allowed to begin contacting rival players from November 1.
NRL ‘blindsided’ clubs with expansion call — it sparked fears of a player feeding frenzy
www.foxsports.com.au
