Peter V’landys on future of Magic Round, fifth Queensland NRL franchise, return of the Bears, and more

Queensland’s hopes of securing a fifth NRL team are alive according to Peter V’landys. In a wide-ranging interview, the ARL Commission boss reveals details on the return of the Bears, the future of Magic Round and more.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys says Magic Round is set to stay at Suncorp Stadium beyond 2027 as he revealed plans for a fifth Queensland team to ignite a Brisbane rivalry with the Dolphins and Broncos.

As he prepares to touch down in Brisbane for the sixth edition of Magic Round, V’landys also confirmed a Queensland team - either the Cowboys or Dolphins - will be part of Las Vegas 2026.

In a wide-ranging interview with this masthead, V’landys revealed more on the Bears’ impending return to the NRL, saying the code’s expansion to Perth is a precursor to further growth in Queensland.

Magic Round will kick off with the women’s State of Origin on Thursday night and such has been the success of the event, it has provided an $80 million economic boost to Queensland over the past two years.

“It’s the festival of rugby league,” V’landys said.

“Magic Round is now on the bucket list ... it’s an event with X-factor.”

Peter V’landys is excited for the sixth edition of Magic Round. Picture: Richard Dobson

MORE SUNCORP MAGIC

Suncorp Stadium is contracted to host Magic Round until the end of 2027.

Speculation has been rife that the ARL Commission would look to move the event around the nation in a Super Bowl-style strategy to take Magic Round to different domestic markets, including Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Since its inception in 2019, a staggering 691,119 fans have flocked to Suncorp, including a record 149,196 to last year’s event, evidence Magic Round has established a foothold in Queensland.

Magic Round attracts fans from all across the country to Brisbane. Picture: Steve Pohlner

V’landys said the ARLC will explore other options, but believes the Queensland government has the inside running to secure Magic Round for another term for 2028 and beyond.

“We have Magic Round for another two years at Suncorp,” he said.

“We have an agreement with the Queensland government. We are very loyal people.

“They have been great to us and we have been good to them, it’s been a very good partnership. We naturally want to stay there.

“Everything revolves around economics, so you have to make sure it’s the right deal, but unless something extraordinary happens, Magic Round is a Queensland event.”

MONEY SPINNER

Venues NSW has previously spoken of their desire to poach Magic Round from Queensland as part of a multi-venue pitch involving Sydney’s CommBank and Allianz Stadiums.

But V’landys says an analysis of the NRL’s data underscores the ‘Magic’ of 16 of the code’s 17 teams descending on Suncorp Stadium for a weekend of high-octane action.

“It’s developed into an unbelievable event at Suncorp and it’s only getting better,” he said.

Magic Round is quite the spectacle. Picture: NRL Photos

“I’m told that 40 per cent of the crowd at Suncorp this weekend will be from interstate, so it’s an enormous economic driver for Queensland.

“All the hotels are booked out, restaurants are full, so it’s a chance for people from interstate to appreciate the features of Queensland.

“It’s a win-win for everybody.

“It’s a win for league because it’s a sellout and the atmosphere is electric, what I love is walking through the streets and all you see is a river of people with their team’s jersey on.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there are Bears jumpers at Magic Round.”

BEARS ARE BACK

Speaking for the first time since revelations a Perth franchise is set to be rubber-stamped for entry in 2027, V’landys heralded the return of the Bears after 26 years in the NRL wilderness.

V’landys, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and WA premier Roger Cook will put the finishing touches on the $85 million deal over the next fortnight, with the ARLC boss living up to his pledge to bring back the Bears.

“The Bears deal is not finalised yet, but the euphoria I have seen has been extraordinary,” he said.

“That’s one of the reasons why we wanted to bring the Bears back.

The Bears are nearly back. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“There’s a lot of people who support the Bears and they have a readymade supporter base. They have the pathways with their juniors and it’s a perfect marriage if it happens with Perth.

“It could be one of the real success stories of the future.

“Perth is a goldmine for the NRL. It has enormous potential. It gives us a national footprint to a degree and the time zone works really well with our global and expansion strategies.”

Those strategies include the NRL targeting rugby union in South Africa and Argentina to provide fresh talent supply chains for the Bears and Papua New Guinea, who enter as the 19th team in 2028.

“They are genuine targets, absolutely,” V’landys said.

“Look at the rugby union player for the Roosters, Mark Nawaqanitawase (Wallabies convert) has been amazing.

“He will bring people to the game and converts take some time to adjust to the sport, but he has been successful after three or four games.

“If he is an example of what we can get out of rugby union, especially out of South Africa and Argentina, absolutely we will look at that region.”

STRIVE FOR FIVE

The Dolphins have been a revelation since joining the NRL in 2023 and V’landys revealed Queensland could have a fifth franchise as part of a 20-team league.

The ARL Commission has been underwhelmed by Kiwi bids for a second New Zealand team, opening the door for the Brisbane Tigers or Jets to be Queensland’s fifth NRL club.

“Another NRL team in Queensland is an option, absolutely,” he said.

“We have never ruled out a fifth team in Queensland, there’s a lot of options for the 20th team and that’s one of them.

Peter V’landys hasn’t ruled out a fifth Queensland franchise. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I wouldn’t say the business case isn’t stacking up for 20 teams, it’s more a case of the bids not being very good.

“There’s a difference between the quality of the bids and the business case.

“I think the business case could stack up. We’re in no rush to go to 20 teams.

“We’ll be taking it slowly to make sure we are doing the right thing, but Queensland is definitely one of the options.

“It is not a foregone conclusion that the 20th team will be a second team in New Zealand.

“The Dolphins didn’t cannibalise the Broncos.

“In fact what they did was create another rivalry between the Dolphins and Broncos. If you add another Queensland team, you can create more rivalries with the Broncos and Dolphins.

“Naturally, we would have deep discussions with the Broncos, Dolphins, Cowboys and Titans and want their support if we were to expand again in Queensland.”

MITCHELL MADNESS

South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell will miss Magic Round due to controversial suspension at a time when the NRL has come under fire over a raft of sin bins and suspensions.

But V’landys insists Mitchell is not being targeted by NRL officials.

“I always judge Latrell Mitchell as a beautiful human being, a very nice person,” he said.

Latrell Mitchell will miss Magic Round after this shot.

“He is a very competitive person and, like the rest of us, he makes mistakes.

“Because he is so high profile, his mistakes are more exposed than other people’s, and that goes with his profile.

“There have been players who have committed tackles that were worse than Latrell’s but they don’t get the same publicity.

“But he is a fantastic asset for the game, we’re lucky to have him.”

VEGAS 2026

V’landys says a final call is imminent on the four clubs to spearhead the NRL’s premiership kick-off in Las Vegas in 2026.

The Cowboys and Dolphins are two Queensland clubs who have submitted entries and V’landys confirmed one of those teams will represent the Sunshine State at Sin City 3.0.

“We haven’t finalised all the teams at this stage, but there will definitely be a Queensland team going,” he said.

“There’s negotiations taking place with the clubs because two clubs have to give away their home game.

“That takes some time to work out because you have to make sure those don’t lose out, but we’ll make the announcement in about two weeks.

“It’s always great having a Queensland team in Vegas. We had the Broncos in the first year. “We didn’t have one there this year and not having a Queensland team was not the optimum.

“We will definitely be having a Queensland team in Vegas in 2026.”

Originally published as Peter V’landys on future of Magic Round, fifth Queensland NRL franchise, return of the Bears, and more