NRL expansion: Broncos legend Darren Lockyer calls for the return of the North Sydney Bears
Broncos legend Darren Lockyer has gone into bat for a foundation club as the league waits for the government to ‘put their money where their mouth is’.
The ARL Commission will seek a $200 million, 10-year funding guarantee from the Australian government on expansion as former Test captain Darren Lockyer called for the NRL return of the North Sydney Bears.
News Corp understands the NRL wants assurances from government powerbrokers that they will not walk away from bankrolling a bid for a Pasifika franchise to enter the Telstra Premiership as the 18th team by 2027.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese is keen to support an NRL presence in the Pacific region, with the government prepared to tip in $20-25 million annually in the interests of national security.
But the ARLC is mindful of the government not abandoning a Pasifika venture and will push for a decade-long financial commitment to ensure expanding the NRL offshore to Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and PNG is a viable exercise.
As revealed by News Corp, the NRL is ready to ramp up plans for an 18-team league and ARL Commissioner Kate Jones confirmed the code is seriously exploring a Pasifika franchise with an Australian base in Cairns.
“Pasifika is very strongly in our minds,” Jones said.
“The Federal Government are very keen to see that expansion (into the Pacific) and want to put their money where their mouth is.
“We also have 50 per cent of our players (in the NRL) from Pacific nations, so that’s a great talent base.
“There is no reason why in the future we can’t have 20 teams. Our goal is to be a truly national competition and that means expansion.”
Jones remains open to another NRL team in Brisbane’s western corridor – despite the Jets missing out to the Dolphins for the 17th licence in the most recent expansion battle two years ago.
“We are going to look at all options,” the ARL Commissioner said.
“I have a lot of empathy for the fact that rugby league has an Ipswich connection and that area is our heartland.
“We have to always make sure we keep our heartland in our decision-making.
“One thing I love about Peter V’landys’ leadership is that he never sits still, we always have to keep moving and that’s how you have to grow the game.
“As we have made perfectly clear, it won’t be at the expense of existing teams. We want to grow sustainably, so it will take time, but we are investing in the pathways to create the talent to keep our game strong.
“We won’t rush decisions. We are ambitious, but we will make sure we do this (expansion) sustainably and we do it in consultation with the clubs.”
North Sydney bosses are exploring a possible joint-venture model with a Pasifika team and NRL legend Lockyer backed the return of the Bears.
“I am an advocate of reinstating the history of the Bears,” Lockyer said.
“It doesn’t have to be in Sydney, but I would bring the Bears back into the comp.
“There’s a number of options but the NRL should do the economic studies and look at where the best option is for growth and investment in the game.
“If the NRL do their due diligence, they will find the best place to put it.
“But the Bears were a foundation club with so much history, so it would be crazy not to have them in our game.”
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