NRL 2021: Brisbane expansion plans on hold amid Covid crisis

The NRL’s plans for a second Brisbane team may be delayed once again, with the latest Covid crisis set to cost the game $45m if the season finishes in Queensland.

Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium will host two NRL matches over the next two weeks. Picture: NRL Photos

The ARL Commission has temporarily suspended NRL expansion plans following Covid crisis talks in a move that will almost certainly see the introduction of Brisbane’s second team delayed until 2024.

News Corp can reveal NRL hierarchy advised the 16 club chief executives at a teleconference hook-up on Tuesday night that plans for a 17-team league in 2023 had been “put on ice” amid the code’s Covid premiership plight.

While ARLC chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have not ruled out meeting the original expansion target time frame of 2023, the latest Covid saga is set to push back the code’s growth by 12 months.

V’landys is keen to repel the AFL in Queensland’s sporting turf war and he was hoping to unveil a second Brisbane NRL team in line with a new broadcasting deal with Channel 9 for the 2023 season.

But the latest Covid saga, which could cost the NRL around $45 million if the Telstra Premiership finishes the 2021 season in Queensland, has all-but sounded the death-knell for a 17-team league in 2023.

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The NRL have delayed plans for expansion due to the NRL’s ongoing Covid crisis. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The ARL Commission was set to meet with bid teams the Dolphins, Firehawks and Jets earlier this month, with a view to announcing the winner by the end of July, but were forced to cancel the formal presentations due to NSW’s Covid outbreak.

Abdo has addressed the 16 clubs on the NRL’s latest expansion landscape with V’landys confirming plans for a 17-team competition have been briefly put on the backburner.

“The analysis of expansion has stopped for the moment,” V’landys said.

“I have said to the clubs that the work on expansion has stopped for the moment, but the work will recommence on it.”

Asked if expansion has been officially delayed until 2024, V’landys said: “We haven’t made a final decision one way or the other.

“That’s all that has happened. Once we can recommence, we will know what direction to take.

“I’m the chairman of the board and it’s not true to say expansion is absolutely off (for 2023). The ARL Commission will make the final decision.

“We have put the tools down on expansion and until we pick up the tools again, I can’t tell you if we will have another team for 2023.

“We have a lot of variables we have to consider, including the current challenges (of keeping the NRL competition alive in Queensland).”

Nick Livermore from Brisbane Bombers (left) and Steve Johnson from Ipswich Jets (right) say expansion could still be on track for 2023 if the NRL makes a call by October. Picture: Richard Walker

Brisbane Jets bid chief Nick Livermore believes expansion is still possible for 2023 if the ARL Commission makes a definitive call by October.

“I’ve always felt October is the time by which we ideally need to have an answer (on expansion),” he said.

“I believe you can bring in a team within 12 months, but what you need is more time to maximise the opportunity to commercialise the club and drive revenue for a 2023 entry.

“Expansion is historically aligned with TV deals in rugby league, but what we have seen over the past two years shows nothing is normal when Covid is impacting so many businesses, including rugby league.

“The game has a responsibility to its 16 teams and state bodies and I think the leadership has shown they are committed to doing whatever they can to keep the game going.

“If that means any growth strategy for the game has to be temporarily suspended, I don’t think anyone can argue against that to ensure the NRL competition is sustainable.

“The ARL Commission would be aware of the risk factor of delaying expansion too long, especially with the AFL targeting Brisbane’s western corridor, which is the highest-growing population area in Queensland.

“We are at risk of losing ground to the AFL, but that may be a short-term risk we have to take to ensure the game’s stability.”

REDCLIFFE’S BIG CHANCE TO BOOST NRL EXPANSION BID

—Travis Meyn

Redcliffe will get the opportunity to press its claims to become home to Brisbane’s second team while the NRL came good on its promise to take the game to regional Queensland.

The NRL has confirmed it will play premiership games around the state over the next two rounds in a major boost for rugby league heartland in Queensland.

Moreton Daily Stadium at Redcliffe will host two matches over the next two weekends in a prime opportunity for the Dolphins NRL bid to showcase what it has to offer on the peninsula.

Premiership matches will also be played in Mackay and Rockhampton, delivering the league-mad regions a reward for their support of the game.

The entire competition has been relocated to Queensland due to NSW and Victoria’s Covid outbreaks and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said this was a great way to reward fans across the state.

Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium will host two NRL matches over the next two weekends. Picture: NRL Photos

“Our challenges with the relocation of the competition have also become opportunities to offer unique fan experiences at mini-magic days and it is wonderful for us to be able to take the game into heartland rugby league regions,” he said.

“I’d like to thank the clubs and the broadcasters for their willingness to see these games in Mackay and Rockhampton eventuate.

“The opportunity for a mini-magic triple header at Suncorp Stadium, as well as double-headers in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast will also continue to maximise opportunities for our supporters in southeast Queensland to see multiple clubs and games at one venue.”

Redcliffe will host the Sharks-Sea Eagles clash next Sunday and the Bulldogs-Tigers game in round 21.

The Dolphins have been lobbying the NRL for the game’s 17th licence if expansion goes ahead in 2023 or 2024.

They have hosted NRL pre-season trial games in recent years and this will give Redcliffe a chance to prove they are up to hosting premiership matches at the 11,500-capacity venue.

“We had a sellout crowd when we hosted the Broncos and Cowboys trial match earlier in the year and I know this game will be just as successful,” Redcliffe mayor Peter Flannery said.

A pre-season trial game between the Broncos-Cowboys earlier this year attracted a sellout crowd at Redcliffe. Picture: NRL Photos

“We’re predicting thousands of NRL fans to converge on Moreton Daily Stadium to watch the match, which will be a huge benefit for our local economy.”

Mackay’s BB Print Stadium will host next Thursday night’s bumper clash between the Roosters and Eels, the town’s first NRL game in eight years.

Browne Park in Rockhampton will showcase the Dragons and Rabbitohs next Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

Suncorp Stadium will host a triple-header next Saturday featuring big games between the Roosters-Dragons and Sea Eagles-Storm.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Brisbane expansion plans on hold amid Covid crisis