Why former Wallabies boss wants to lead NRL’s expansion charge
Brent Read, Michael Carayannis
Former Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos has jumped on board a heavyweight push to house an NRL expansion bid in Christchurch - Brent Read and Michael Carayannis reveal why.
Former Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos has revealed his fanatical obsession with rugby league as he helps drive a bid to have an expansion franchise set up on the South Island of New Zealand.
Marinos, who left RA in May amid suggestions of a fallout with departed chair Hamish McLennan due to the decision to spend more than $5 million Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii, played both codes during his own career.
Now, less than 12 months after his departure from RA, he has rekindled his involvement in rugby league as part of a bid - being led by former NRL chief executive David Moffett - to have a team based in Christchurch.
Marinos has already spoken to NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and is keen to set up a meeting with ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys to push the merits of a South Island franchise, which he believes would allow the NRL to have a State of Origin-type rivalry across the Tasman.
Former Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos (R) attend a press conference during the official announcement of Eddie Jones' (C) arrival as head coach for the Australian rugby team. Picture: AFP
Former Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos (R) attend a press conference during the official announcement of Eddie Jones' (C) arrival as head coach for the Australian rugby team. Picture: AFP
“The NRL has been built on tribalism and rivalry,” Marinos said.
“It is quite unique. You look at the north and south island of New Zealand - it is exactly like Queensland and NSW.
“What it does is create more interest in terms of growth, opportunity. I am not saying you could do this, but you can’t ignore the thought of the State of Origin here and would there be merits of a north and south island clash in New Zealand.”
Marinos was born in Zimbabwe, played one first grade rugby league game in 1996 and then switched back to rugby union, where he went on to play eight Tests for Wales.
After retiring, he was the chief executive of SANZAAR before becoming the boss of Rugby Australia, where he was involved in the code’s successful bid to sign Suaalii.
Reports later emerged that he harboured concerns over the amount of money RA spent on Suaalii, prompting him to walk away from RA.
Despite his high-profile administrative role in rugby union, he has remained an avid fan of rugby league.
“I am fanatical,” Marinos said.
“I watch everything, as much as I can. I love it. It is a great game, a great game to watch.”
While the ARL Commission is currently focused on finalising government support for an expansion side involving Papua New Guinea, Marinos is confident he and Moffett can convince the game’s powerbrokers of the merits of a South Island bid
“At this stage we have as much information as has been publicly shared by head office,” Marinos said.
“I think the important thing is we want to be ready. We think there is a value proposition being on the south island of New Zealand and capacity in that market if the NRL want to grow their footprint.
“It is getting our house in order, putting our best foot forward and being read when the process opens. I am aware the PNG bid has government involvement and there is strategic soft diplomacy involved with that.
“I like to do things through the front door. So we’ll sit round a table, see what we are looking at and take it from there. ”
A capacity crowd of 17,249 people filled Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch to watch the Warriors beat Canberra on Friday night.
Meanwhile, their rival bid team – the South Island NRL bid – are quietly going about their business. It has been a big week for the South Island NRL bid who secured two major cash injections.
US company Alts.co has jumped on board as an investor. They have become a partner and investor into the Christchurch-based expansion hopeful.
The bid team’s chief executive Tony Kidd said they were exploring further investors.
“We’ve been chasing after investors for a while,” Kidd said. “Some of our team were in the states and they met and were conversing with them to make it happen.
“We’ve been talking to them for a long time. They deal with a lot of sports teams and investors in the US for a significant amount of money. The investment in us is a relatively small amount but they are looking to have a presence around the world and in the Australian and New Zealand markets.”
The South Island NRL bid also captured a silent Christchurch-based investor who has pledged a million dollars for the construction of the teams academy centre.
A brand new, 25,000 roofed stadium will be opened in Christchurch in 2026. South Island NRL bid wants to share the venue with Super Rugby team Crusaders.
