https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...onymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-2-SCORE
NRL expansion plans on hold as Peter V’landys prepares for TV rights talks
New Zealand’s hopes for a second NRL team may have suffered a fatal blow, with Peter V’landys revealing plans for a 20-team premiership could be axed.
Peter Badel,
Brent Read and
Michael Carayannis
3 min read
February 27, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has dropped an expansion bombshell by revealing plans for a 20-team league could be axed in a potentially fatal blow to New Zealand’s hopes of a second NRL team.
The NRL were aiming for 20 teams before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, but that masterplan could be aborted in a move that will have major ramifications for the code’s next broadcast deal.
V’landys has been locked in delicate expansion negotiations, with Papua New Guinea confirmed for entry in 2028,
while Perth’s Western Bears are slated for admission in 2027 pending talks after next month’s WA election.
As part of the NRL’s strategic plan, New Zealand has been identified as a key growth market, opening the door for a Kiwi outfit from the south island to be the code’s 20th franchise.
But as V’landys prepares to begin high-powered talks on rugby league’s next TV rights deal for 2028 and beyond, the ARLC chair concedes plans for a 20-team NRL could collapse.
Peter V'landys has revealed plans for a 20-team league could be axed. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
“The 20th team is not in our immediate plans,” V’landys said.
“As I’ve said all at all times, the business case has to stack up and at this stage, the business case doesn’t stack up (for a 20-team NRL).
“Nineteen teams is possible because we believe the business case stands up, but we won’t do anything without going back to our (existing) clubs (for consultation).
“We’ve just had the annual general meeting (last week) and they (the 17 clubs) are an important stakeholder and they are players in this.
“When we determine what we believe is a strong business case (for 20 teams), we will then provide that business case to the clubs, players and state authorities to show why we are doing it.
“But at this stage, that business case (for 20 teams) has not been established.”
V’landys’ stance will come as both a crippling blow and a warning shot to prospective trans-Tasman franchises in the arms race to become the NRL’s second team in New Zealand.
The NRL won’t accept mediocre bids and, at this stage, League Central bosses have been far from impressed with the expansion submissions made by up to four proposed New Zealand consortia.
V’landys has been locked in delicate expansion negotiations, with Papua New Guinea confirmed for entry in 2028. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
Christchurch has been touted as the perfect destination for a 20th team, but the heat is on the prospective bid teams to satisfy the NRL’s expansion demands.
Should the NRL proceed with an 18 or 19-team league, it could have repercussions for the code’s next broadcast deal, and the potential value the ARL Commission stands to generate.
A 20-team league would give the NRL 10 matches per week, two more than it currently offers broadcasters with a 17-team competition.
Adding another two franchises would give the NRL nine fixtures per round and V’landys is still confident that will provide the ARLC with added strength at the TV rights negotiating table.
There are fears the state-backed WA bid could also fall through, but V’landys is adamant the Western Bears are not dead.
“We’re going to go to the broadcasters with a format for 18, 19 or maybe 20 teams. At this stage it’s either 18 or 19,” V’landys said.
V'landys is adamant the state-backed Western Bears expansion bid is not dead.
“For the next broadcast cycle, we will have either 18 or 19 teams, we will finalise that sooner rather than later.
“We downed our tools on Perth a few weeks ago.
“We gave a commitment to the WA government that we would put our tools down and respect it as an election process. Once the election process is over, we will get our tools again and recommence discussions.
“I am confident it (the Western Bears bid) will progress. They (WA government) will see the biggest beneficiary is WA with the economic benefit to Western Australia.”
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said there is a possibility the code may not have fresh expansion in New Zealand to complement the Warriors.
“With 18 teams, we have an extra game and a platform for growth in the future,” he said.
“Unless the business case stacks up, there is no urgency for us to go to 19 or 20 teams.
“It has to be compelling and that work will be done after the (WA) election.”
Wonder if this is actually WA Gov request that they'll fund the infrastructure and put the cash up for stadium and pathways etc but West Aussie Bears will need breathing room? That sounds more plausible than the NRL not wanting to go to the broadcasting table negotiations without 10 games.
