NRL expansion: Brisbane Tigers spruik $135m asset portfolio in bid to win 18th licence

A Brisbane expansion hopeful has declared they would instantly become one of the NRL’s wealthiest four clubs and could field a side before the 18th team’s 2027 inclusion.

Former South Sydney boss Shane Richardson. Digital image by Gregg Porteous NRL Photos

THE Brisbane Tigers have heated up the expansion date by declaring they would instantly become one of the NRL’s wealthiest four clubs and could field a team in three years.

The Tigers are undaunted by the Federal Government’s push for the competition’s 18th team to come from Papua New Guinea and believe they could field a competitive first grade team in 2026.

Club powerbrokers Shane Richardson, one of rugby league’s most experienced executives, and Shane Edwards (formerly Broncos CEO) have done a lap of Sydney, meeting with five NRL clubs plus broadcast executives to present their case for inclusion.

Industry experts claim an 18th team is worth an extra $375 million in the NRL’s next TV rights deal and Papua New Guinea surged to early favouritism following the promise of federal government backing.

Bids from New Zealand, Perth and North Sydney are also expected.

Brisbane Tigers are armed with a formidable war chest.

The Tigers, who have a profitable leagues club at Coorparoo, have declared they have cash reserves of $25 million, total assets of $57.4 million and equity of $52.4 million which would make them one of the most financially sound teams in the competition.

They believe they can tackle the threat of the Springfield-based Brisbane Lions head on in the Ipswich corridor and also nourish the Toowoomba and Logan City regions.

Like the Redcliffe-based Dolphins they have ancient roots in Brisbane rugby league stretching back to when the club was formed in 1933 and they believe they can grow the game from the bottom up rather than being a created team which works from the top down.

“We have a strong financial base and have been successful on and off the field and that enables us to contribute to the game in a way none of the other clubs who are vying for a licence could,’’ bid chairman Edwards said.

Rugby league is under siege west of Brisbane due to a dollar charged assault from the AFL but Edwards declared “we are not afraid.’’

“We will take up the challenge. We see it as a positive that they have seen the benefits of that region and we have been out putting programs in that region for some time now.

“We don’t have the money to compete with the AFL but we have the ground support to keep growing the game.’’

Far from feeling their club would cannibalise the Broncos, Dolphins or Titans, Edwards believes the figures show that they would grow the game in the same way the Dolphins have done this season.

The Tigers have noted that the Broncos signed more than 8000 new members this year and with the Dolphins recruiting more than 30,000 this means around 40,000 new members have been drawn to the game.

“People thought a second team would cannibalise the Broncos but the Dolphins have drawn new fans and the Broncos have responded really well to the challenge so it proves the Brisbane market is not saturated.

“They have grown the game and Brisbane is still under-represented.’’

The Dolphins have noted that despite the presence of a second Brisbane team, Suncorp Stadium was vacant for nine weeks of the season so they could fill some of that space.

Due to the presence of the Wests Tigers, Easts would not be able to use their time honoured tiger as a mascot.

They have adopted the Firehawk but have not totally locked in to using it.