NRL expansion: Newtown Jets revival shut down after Andrew Abdo rejects eight expansion bids

The Jets’ hopes of a top-flight rugby league return have been crushed, after the NRL rejected not just Newtown’s bid, but all eight expansion hopefuls.

Newtown’s hopes of a top-flight rugby league revival have been dashed after the NRL not only knocked back the Jets bid, but the rest of the expansion hopefuls.

It is understood that eight bid parties were told that their submissions had been rejected by the NRL. The governing body still maintains it hopes to expand the competition to 20 teams, but it seems the process may take longer than the game had hoped.

It can be revealed that three bids came from New Zealand’s South Island, while there were two from Brisbane and another from Central Queensland.

A team based out of Fiji were also considered, while Western Australia had its bid rejected earlier this month.

Discussions between the NRL and the Western Australian government are continuing in the hope the Western Bears can be resurrected and become the game’s 18th team.

It will be announced as soon as next month that PNG will be part of an expanded competition, but they will not enter the NRL until 2028.

The Newtown Jet’s dream of a return to top-flight rugby league have been crushed … for now. Picture: David Swift

Perth may still come in a year earlier if the NRL can find a way to get that bid back on track. The NRL felt the eight bid parties did not make a strong enough business case to be granted a license. The NRL also hold reservations about issuing a new franchise to private owners.

They may now explore the prospect of taking ownership of a new team with another team in Brisbane or a second New Zealand team the most likely outcome.

They hope to do the same with Western Australia – which would mirror that of the AFL and their ownership of the new Tasmanian team.

NRL boss Andrew Abdo insisted expansion was not dead.

“Expansion is an exciting priority for the game,” Abdo said.

“The (Australian Rugby League) Commission have made it clear that any expansion must have a strong business case that delivers value for all stakeholders.

“We are working on the right plan and model for every region. New Zealand, Western Australia, Queensland and PNG are strategic, vibrant and growing rugby league regions.

“At this stage, the bids submitted have not met the necessary threshold to be accepted. We continue to work to strengthen the case for any potential expansion.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says expansion remains a priority, but admits the current bids fell short of the necessary threshold to be accepted. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

After flirting with Western Australia, Newtown entered a partnership with Ipswich – to be known simply as the Jets – but their bid was knocked back.

So too were the three New Zealand bids – including the South Island Kea run by former NRL boss David Moffett.

A team called the Southern Orcas were another putting their hands up for inclusion.

The latest rejection shapes as another blow to the Brisbane Firehawks, who were part of the bid process that led to the Dolphins being added to the competition in 2023.

The Firehawks are a financial juggernaut with cash reserves of $25 million, total assets of $57.4 million and equity of $52.4 million.

However, the NRL is believed to be reluctant to add another team in southeast Queensland given the presence of the Broncos, Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans.

Originally published as NRL expansion: Newtown Jets revival shut down after Andrew Abdo rejects eight expansion bids