NRL leaves door open for Adelaide re-entry into rugby league’s top comp

Could there be a second chapter to one of the great “what if” stories in Adelaide’s sporting folklore?

The National Rugby League has left open the prospect of an Adelaide team in a $400m bid to overtake the AFL as the nation’s top football code.

In the NRL’s most significant expansion in more than 25 years, plans have been hatched to add three teams to create a 20-team competition, possible by 2032.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the competition was open to any viable region, opening the door for Adelaide.

The Adelaide Rams were born as part of Super League’s bitter breakaway league in 1997 and played a second season in the inaugural NRL competition in 1998 before being killed off as part of the code’s rationalisation plan.

Several consortiums are keen to become the NRL’s 18th team, including bids from Perth, Papua New Guinea, Brisbane, New Zealand and the Pacific. Asked about an Adelaide team, Mr V’landys said: “You never say never.

Rugby league player Kerrod Walters for Adelaide Rams vs Perth Reds in Super League in 1997.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys. Picture: NRL Photos

“We would have to do the research and get fact-based data before we decided whether to expand again. I don’t know what the optimum level of teams is for the code.

“But if we continue to invest in our pathways and junior development and participation, I believe we will keep producing more players to sustain 18 or 20 teams.”

The NRL is committed to growing the code in Adelaide. State-of-Origin made its historic debut at Adelaide Oval in 2020 during Covid-19 and the code’s $100m showpiece will return to South Australia for this year’s series opener on May 31.

The Rams played 42 premiership games across two seasons and averaged healthy crowds of 14,766 at Adelaide Oval in their debut campaign in 1997. Their average crowd plummeted to 7682 the following year as the Rams finished 17th in the NRL’s 20-team league before Adelaide became one of three teams culled for the 1999 season.

Mr V’landys confirmed high-level talks were held on a 20-team league at an annual general meeting of clubs.

The Adelaide Rams in 1998.

“I am all for looking at a 20-team competition because you have to set yourself goals,” he said.

Mr V’landys said a stunning victory by Queensland expansion side the Dolphins in their premiership debut last week was emphatic vindication of the code’s decision to swell to 17 teams this season.

Now the NRL was keen to capitalise by exploring new frontiers.

Three new expansion clubs are estimated to be worth $20m in annual funding support for the next 20 years.

A Pasifika franchise is the shock frontrunner to win an 18th NRL licence. This club would be based full-time in Cairns, Queensland, and play a number of NRL premiership home games in Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.