Queensland Maroons stars see merit in Western Corridor NRL expansion bid

As the ARLC looms closer to making a decision on the future expansion sides in a 20-team NRL competition, Queensland Maroons stars have backed the potential of a Western Corridor bid. Check out the details here.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Dearden together as the Queensland Origin team hold a training session and fan day at Toowoomba ahead of game 2 in Melbourne. Picture: Adam Head

The Brisbane Tigers’ bid to be one of the NRL’s next expansion sides in a 20-team competition received a major endorsement from Queensland Maroons stars on Tuesday as the squad trained in front of a packed-out Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.

Thousands of rugby league fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their heroes, proving the thirst fans have for rugby league in the western corridor.

While there have been suggestions that a fifth Queensland side would harm the Brisbane Broncos, Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans believed the chance to have another Queensland side in the NRL was only a good thing.

“There’d be so much more that goes into around numbers and finances and all sort that sort of stuff but Queensland’s got a thirst for rugby league, Queensland loves rugby league,” he said.

“So if they have the capacity for all of those things that are important to run a football club, then I’d love to see Queensland get more footy.”

Cherry-Evans was blown away by the passion and support of the Darling Downs rugby league fans.

“It’s amazing, as we were driving in, you could sort of sense it in the streets, looking out the window in the bus it was going to be busy,” he said.

“To have the whole field two and three deep with Queensland people, it’s amazing, it makes us feel very special and we’re really grateful to be standing here as Queensland players.”

Hailing from Charleville, Kurt Capewell knows first-hand how important western Queensland is for the growth of rugby league and said the western corridor region definitely could sustain an NRL side.
“Obviously there’s plenty of NRL, it’s just the heart of Queensland and the heart of NRL is Queensland,” he said.

“There’s plenty of talent out here that probably does get missed.

“I’m sure the Toowoomba (Western) Clydesdales are going to help out there in retaining a bit of that talent so it doesn’t have to go down to Sydney and to other clubs.

“So I look forward to the future and seeing where that can lead.”

Tom Dearden is another Maroon with links to the region, with family based in Toowoomba and Gatton.

When quizzed on whether there was the capacity for an NRL side to service the western corridor, the North Queensland Cowboys star gave his full support.

“Yeah there is,” he said.

“That’s kinda way past my pay-grade sorting that out, but I know it’s a rugby league mad region so it would be great if they could one day get there.”

Western Clydesdales CEO Shane Sullivan. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Western Clydesdales have also thrown their full support behind the bid with CEO Shane Sullivan considering the bid a no-brainer.

“Certainly the Tigers bid is important for rugby league in Queensland,” he said.

“We’ve been talking with the Tigers for the last nine months now and discussing what it could potentially look like and we do support their bid and certainly would welcome them into any future discussions once the process is formalised.

“We certainly believe there is the room in Brisbane and the Western Corridor for another NRL side in the region and it will assist with the continued development of pathways for players from not just the western region but right across Queensland.

“From a purely rugby league point of view, we believe it’s the only option that the ARLC should be considering.”

Brisbane Tigers celebrate winning the Hostplus Cup grand final. Photo: QRL.

Sullivan also said the strong and proud history of rugby league in the region is another reason why the Tigers’ bid should be strongly considered.

“The 18th of June is 100 years since the Toowoomba Clydesdales beat the touring English side, that’s just yet another reason of that true history of rugby league in this region.

“The names that have gone through to represent Queensland and Australia from the Darling Downs and South West are just synonymous with the game so it would certainly be remiss of the ARLC not to seriously consider this region for the NRL bid.”

Originally published as Queensland Maroons stars see merit in Western Corridor NRL expansion bid