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The man behind Perth's bid for an NRL team fears the league could lose some momentum if expansion was delayed until 2015.
Expansion from 16 to 18 teams was initially expected to coincide with the next TV rights deal, which begins in 2013.
But NRL chief executive David Gallop last week flagged the prospect of the NRL waiting until 2015 before expanding further, allowing existing clubs more time to stabilise themselves financially.
Western Australia Rugby League chief executive John Sackson said he understood Gallop's concerns but believed a 2013 entry for a Perth-based team would strengthen the competition.
"I just feel that 2015 is just that little bit too far away," Sackson told AAP on Wednesday.
"Rugby league has momentum here now. I think we've got a lot more media, community and corporate interest in the game.
"If rugby league is genuine about its intention to grow and develop nationally then strategically it just makes sense to come to Perth.
Sackson said the Perth bid team would continue to work on a 2013 entry.
"We will continue our focus on 2013 until someone tells us it's not going to be 2013," Sackson said.
"But clearly as time ticks over, the longer this goes, the longer it will eat into the 18 months (preparation a team would need).
"David Gallop has always been consistent saying any new franchise would need 18 months from acceptance to kick-off.
"The more that time erodes, the greater the risk of a less than perfect launch if you were a successful franchise."
http://www.nrl.com/perth-bid-team-urges-earlier-expansion/tabid/10874/newsid/63450/default.aspx
Expansion from 16 to 18 teams was initially expected to coincide with the next TV rights deal, which begins in 2013.
But NRL chief executive David Gallop last week flagged the prospect of the NRL waiting until 2015 before expanding further, allowing existing clubs more time to stabilise themselves financially.
Western Australia Rugby League chief executive John Sackson said he understood Gallop's concerns but believed a 2013 entry for a Perth-based team would strengthen the competition.
"I just feel that 2015 is just that little bit too far away," Sackson told AAP on Wednesday.
"Rugby league has momentum here now. I think we've got a lot more media, community and corporate interest in the game.
"If rugby league is genuine about its intention to grow and develop nationally then strategically it just makes sense to come to Perth.
Sackson said the Perth bid team would continue to work on a 2013 entry.
"We will continue our focus on 2013 until someone tells us it's not going to be 2013," Sackson said.
"But clearly as time ticks over, the longer this goes, the longer it will eat into the 18 months (preparation a team would need).
"David Gallop has always been consistent saying any new franchise would need 18 months from acceptance to kick-off.
"The more that time erodes, the greater the risk of a less than perfect launch if you were a successful franchise."
http://www.nrl.com/perth-bid-team-urges-earlier-expansion/tabid/10874/newsid/63450/default.aspx
