NRL 2021: Expansion bids set to face D-Day as Jets, Firehawks, Dolphins meet

In a landmark day for rugby league, the expansion race faces its most pivotal day - with NRL boss Peter V’landys.

After decades of procrastinating Peter V’landys has declared D-Day has finally arrived for NRL expansion.

“A decision has to be made one way or another,” the ARL Commission chairman said ahead of Monday’s highly anticipated interviews with the three bid teams shooting to become the second Brisbane team.

The ARL Commission boss urged Queensland’s three expansion hopefuls - Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins - to deliver an irresistible pitch as D-Day arrives in the fight to become Brisbane’s second NRL team.

“This is their big opportunity to show us what they’ve got,” V’landys said.

“We have to respect the fact they have done a lot of work and we have to pay them the courtesy to listen to what they can offer the game.

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“I don’t know if we will expand for 2023 or 2024. I want to hear the bid teams and how much time they feel they need to get a team ready.

“The bid teams have to come good, so we have to listen to them first.

“We are going into the meetings with an open-minded analysis and the business case must stack up.

“If we can‘t convince ourselves of expansion, we can’t convince anyone else.”

Starting 9am on Monday, Firehawks, Dolphins and Jets bid officials will each deliver one-hour formal presentations to the NRL’s Expansion Assessment Committee at Queensland Rugby League headquarters.

The issue on whether now is the right time for expansion given the financial implications related to Covid as well as the constant debate about whether there is enough rugby league talent to support another team has divided the game for some time now.

ARLC Commission Chairman Peter V’landys has declared Monday the NRL’s expansion ‘D-Day’. Picture: Getty

If a second Brisbane team does get the green light for 2023 or 2024 it will have huge ramifications on recruitment moving forward with the game’s biggest off contract stars set to become major targets.

They likes of Cody Walker, Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga would be ideal marquee men for any new Brisbane team.

But V’landys said it was important that the NRL judged the decision on expert analysis, not opinions being put forward without knowledge of the risks and benefits.

“It is like anything else... The people that are making those comments don’t have the necessary information to make an informed decision,” V’landys explained.

“We will have that information and as I have said, it has to be proved to us before we can convince anyone else.

“That is what they have the opportunity to do now.

“The thing with this is that it has been on the agenda for many years. A decision has to be made one way or another.

Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga shapes as a player of interest for prospective expansion teams. Picture: Getty

“We have taken on the hard decisions and this is another one.

“The business case has got to stack up. If the figures stack up they stack up. If they don’t, they don’t.”

And V’landys had no hesitation saying what the bid teams need to detail.

“As I have said from day one the business cases have got to stack up,” he continued.

“The thing we are looking at is, one, it has to financially stack up. Two, what are they going to do with participation and pathways? That is important for us.

“AFL has certainly made a lot of inroads up there and we have to make sure we keep Queensland as a heartland.

“And the third thing is how are they going to improve the fans base? Have they got a fan, are they going to get a fan base, or are they just migrating people away from existing customers?

“We want new customers.

“We don’t want existing ones going from one team to another team.”

V’landys said a team of seven from the governing body would sit on the meeting.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo will feature in the expansion meeting. Picture: Brett Costello

That includes the chairman, chief executive Andrew Abdo, head of football Graham Annesley, chief financial officer Richard Gardham as well as Commissioners Peter Beattie, Kate Jones and Megan Davis.

Jones and Annesley will be on the ground at the QRL to hear the bid teams’ addresses, while V’landys, Abdo and Beattie will watch proceedings via hook-up from Sydney.

The NRL last expanded the competition in 2007 with the Gold Coast and while V’landys is keen for a fourth Queensland team, he will not expand the code to 17 teams if it cannibalises the Broncos, Titans or Cowboys.

Financial strength will be a crucial factor in the NRL expansion battle. The Redcliffe Dolphins have an asset base of $100 million and the Firehawks have $25 million in cash reserves. While the Jets do not possess the financial muscle of the Dolphins and Firehawks, they insist they can meet the NRL’s $10 million bank guarantee.

There has already been assessment by a project manager who has handed over a mountain of paperwork while the NRL clubs have done their own analysis.

Asked when a final decision would be made, V’landys added Monday’s meetings were crucial.

“A lot will depend on this,” he added.

“We have to listen to them and then analyze it.

“I don’t want to put a time line on it.

“Our priority at the moment is to see the season through so that takes precedent over everything.

“I don’t want to put a timeline on it because if there is a disaster tomorrow we could be deviated again.

“You have got to respect the three bidders. They have put a lot of work into their proposals, they have put a lot of money into it.

“We have to give them due courtesy and opportunity to present it.”

GAME ON! JETS’ $250 MILLION EXPANSION COUP

By Peter Badel

The Brisbane Jets have declared they have the funds to meet the NRL’s $10 million bank guarantee as the Mayor of Ipswich outlined the $250 million stadium plan to make the expansion hopefuls an NRL force.

In a landmark moment for rugby league, the battle for the NRL’s 17th licence kicks off on Monday when the three bid teams — the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins — deliver formal presentations to the Expansion Assessment Committee.

The Committee comprises eight people. They include ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, NRL head-of-football Graham Annesley and ARL Commissioners Kate Jones, Peter Beattie and Megan Davis.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has thrown political support behind the Brisbane Jets.

The NRL called for expressions of interest in May and as part of the ARL Commission’s expansion plans for a second Brisbane team, the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins must provide a $10 million bank guarantee.

Redcliffe has an asset base of $100 million, while the Firehawks have $25 million in cash reserves, although there are major concerns the Jets are cash-strapped and do not have the funds to satisfy the NRL’s demands.

But on the eve of the expansion battle, Jets official Nick Livermore rubbished suggestions their consortium is broke, confirming the western-corridor bid will meet the NRL‘s financial benchmarks.

Livermore‘s revelation came as Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding revealed plans for a state-of-the-art, $250 million stadium in the western-corridor to support the region’s push for a second Brisbane team.

News Corp understands the Ipswich City Council is prepared to consider more than $10 million in funding for the Jets should they clinch a licence as the NRL’s 17th team for 2023 or 2024.

Could we see a new stadium for the Ipswich Jets?

V’landys says potential playing numbers are a key factor in the expansion battle and Harding confirmed she had personally written to the ARLC boss to back the Jets amid fears the rival AFL code will destroy the NRL in the Ipswich region.

“If the NRL didn’t embrace this region, the AFL could certainly be a threat to the code in the western corridor,” Harding said.

“The AFL have made the decision to expand substantially here, they have set up a $70 million facility (at Springfield) and they aren’t silly, they can see the growth potential out here.

“There would be no issue around the viability of the Jets.

“I’ve written to Peter V’landys. The Brisbane Jets are the perfect option for the NRL. It’s the region with heart. It’s the grassroots of rugby league, it’s the region that has a century-long affiliation with the game and has produced greats like Allan Langer, the Walters boys and Wayne Bennett.

“Ipswich is the fastest growing city in Queensland.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys will hear formal presentations from bid teams the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins on Monday.

“The NRL would never regret choosing the Brisbane Jets as the 17th NRL team.”

It is understood the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins will have approximately one hour each to deliver their pitch to the Expansion Assessment Committee.

V’landys, Abdo and Beattie will view the presentations via hook-up from Sydney. Annesley and Jones will be on the ground in Brisbane to personally hear the bid teams’ addresses.

In March, the Jets issued a document calling for potential investors to supply $1 million each, fuelling fears the western-corridor bid lacks the funds to bankroll a 17th NRL team.

But Livermore says the Jets will head into Monday’s D-Day presentation with their finances in order.

“We have more than met what the NRL may be after,” he said.

“We have absolutely no concerns on putting forward a team for 2023 or 2024.

“The dollars aren’t the concern at all. Our No.1 goal is to ensure the growth and participation of the game.

“We will not only be viable, if we are successful in getting a licence, we will set a benchmark for all NRL clubs.

“To have a politician of Teresa’s standing coming out and supporting us, it is encouraging for the NRL and what it means for one of the largest growth markets in Queensland.”

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson has offered to merge with the Brisbane Jets.

Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics victory shapes as a game changer for the Jets in terms of infrastructure.

Harding is confident of state and federal government support for the construction of a 12,000-to-20,000 multi-purpose stadium in Ipswich that would match Townsville‘s Queensland Country Bank Stadium for quality.

“We will continue to support the Brisbane Jets for the delivery of a stadium at North Ipswich Reserve,” Harding said.

“When you see the new stadium in Townsville, it’s a massive economic multiplier for the North Queensland region and it would be the same for Ipswich.

“The Penrith Panthers are huge for the NRL in western Sydney and the Jets would have a similar impact in Brisbane‘s western corridor.

“All three bids have got their strengths, but the Jets bid is the standout when you look at the grassroots reach.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Expansion bids set to face D-Day as Jets, Firehawks, Dolphins meet