NRL's expansion doubts
by: Stuart Honeysett
From: The Australian
November 17, 2011 12:00AM
THE independent commission may not have assumed power yet but it is already coming to grips with some of the major issues confronting the code after chairman-elect John Grant told a function last week the game might not be ready to expand in 2015.
Grant's assessment was delivered at a Men of League lunch in Brisbane last Thursday and is a huge blow to several of the franchises, including Central Coast, Perth, Brisbane Bombers, Ipswich and Central Queensland which are all banking on two teams being added in four years.
It was only early this season that NRL chief executive David Gallop admitted it was unlikely the competition could be expanded by two teams for 2013 but he personally believed 18 teams was viable for 2015.
However, when questioned at the lunch about the prospects of expansion, Grant said he admired the commitment and passion of the bid teams but the timing still might not be right by then.
"There's not a process or opportunity that's been announced," Grant told the function. "The date given by David Gallop was a bit pre-emptive -- 2015 is an optimistic timeframe."
The Central Coast Bears had obviously not caught up with Grant's speech after issuing a press release yesterday which welcomed the advent of the independent commission after it helped to resolve a funding dispute between the clubs and the NRL on Tuesday.
"It is only a matter of time now until the commission hands the game a new broadcast deal, which will be the catalyst for expansion of the competition to 18 teams," the statement said.
"The Central Coast of NSW can be cautiously optimistic that we will have our own team soon."
It is not surprising Grant had a cautious view about expansion as most of the 16 clubs in the NRL operate at a loss.
The recent funding dispute started after clubs balked at signing agreements to play in the NRL for the next seven years unless their annual grants were increased by $2.1 million.
In the end, they eventually settled for a $500,000 increase which will be paid only when the next broadcast deal has been negotiated and only if the commission believes the game can afford it.
