Sunday Times 6/3/2011
Inglis Adds ex-factor to NRL Clash
There will be plenty of feeling in the Sth Sydney Rabbitohs "home" clash with Brisbane Broncos at nib stadium in Perth in June.
Barring injury it will be Greg Inglis's first confrontation with Brisbane, the club he shunned to sign a $1.8mill 3 year deal with Russel Crow's Bunnies.
Whispers from the NRL launch this week suggest free to air broadcaster Channel 9 is keen to play the match in June 24th as the second leg of a Friday night double header. Saturday night is also an option, but Fremantle host Brisbane Lions at Paterson's stadium that night and the nRL is keen to avoid a clash with the AFl opposition. It also wants to capitalise on the broncos massive pulling power in both Q'land and NSW.
Menwhile, expect a June announcement on an expanded NRL from 2013. Nominations for an 8 person independent NRL commision that will run the game close on Friday - there were no WA nominees- with names such as Steve Waugh and Malcolm Turnbull bandied about. The new boards first major decisio9n will be the next TV rights deal and expansion, with the WA Reds a leading candidate along with two consortiums from SE Q'land and others from CC, Wellington and even PNG.
NRL chief David Gallop has already indicated new franchises would require a min 18 months to build a team.
Sports Editor Glen Quartermain
