It's not hard.
All along Grant and Smith stated,the first imperative was to get the existing NRL clubs financially underpinned,so as not having to run cap in hand all the time for additional handouts
and rely in many cases on poker machine money.
The new deal will ensure the NRL clubs will at least break even and not have to rely on pokies,thank the sunshine for that.
Or do we flick a club or relocate just for expansion's sake,and give a free leg up to other codes,al la North Sydney.
Secondly and we all have been bitching about it(including me) the lack of grassroots support in regionals and the cities.The new deal provides an extra $100m pa for that from 2018.
Grant has stated the obvious that ATM,these are the priorities,and he has not dismissed expansion ,just by saying not on the agenda ATM.
For a start the much vaunted Richardson report hasn't been yet announced with its recommendation,just a couple of leaks.This may well recommend expansion at a certain time.
I want expansion to Perth as much as PR does,but our admin and clubs have stuffed up so much join the past,it's time for consolidation to get the clubs and grassroots back to where they should be.Then the NRL can look at Perth and Banana 2 at the earliest possible and financially sensible time.
By all means flick a club or relocate one and watch in 3D and vivid colour the damage that would do to the game,and the joy on the faces of the fumble,rah rah and soccer administrations.