So who are the candidates looking to become the NRL's latest expansion teams? We start with the least likely and finish off with the most likely candidates, IMHO.
An expansion team would be a dream for the only country in the world where the game of rugby league is a national sport. However, there are doubts over whether the country's largest city, Port Moresby, is capable of hosting a professional sports team currently. And even if it is, Port Moresby's reputation may deter people from coming over to watch league. PNG's best chance of improvement is probably still by having its best players based in Australia. But give it another 10 years and who knows.
Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford has hosted quite a few NRL games with some success but is it capable of doing it on a regular basis? There is no doubt the Central Coast region is a booming region but is it ready to host an NRL franchise for a whole regular season? Possibly, but the other question is whether the NRL wants another team in New South Wales - not likely at this stage as it wouldn't quite be an expansion; sorry Bears fans. But like PNG, give it another 10 years and who knows.
This is truly rugby league heartland but quite a large, ambigious and sparsely populated area. The franchise could be based in Rockhampton and the NRL would like to see more teams in Queensland especially with Queensland rugby league at its strongest. However, I just can't see an NRL team happening in this part of Australia just yet.
New Warriors co-owner Owen Glenn has been making loud noises about a team based in the South Island and in a Christchurch undergoing major post quake rebuilding. Canterbury's rugby league team is one of the strongest outside Auckland and the new franchise could also tap into the talent of rugby league outside Auckland including that other powerhouse of rugby league, Wainuoimata. Games could also be played in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium. The Mainland's chances of having an NRL team are better than what people might think but again this could be reading from the Kiwi-biased media. Maybe but don't bet your house on it.
Ipswich is the heart of the fast growing southeastern corridor of Queensland and another growing part of the country. It is also another true rugby league heartland but has far better infrastructure and more people than Rockhampton. The only trouble is that the region is quite rural and doesn't quite have the population of Brisbane and Perth. However, if the NRL wants to expand the game outside new markets, Ipswich's chances might be pretty good. Ipswich second favourite should the NRL decide not to put another team in Brisbane.
Another Brisbane team? Really? Well the success of the Melbourne Heart has shown that if you have a city passionate about a sport, planting a new team could actually work and prosper. Having said that, the Broncos will have about 25 years advantage over any new team but Brisbane is a rugby league mad place and not everyone wants to be a fan of the Broncos so it could possibly work and financially it makes sense. Good odds on this one.
Perth must surely be odds on to be home of the next NRL franchise. It is the largest city in Australia this side of the big 3 and the largest city without an NRL franchise in Australia. With a Super rugby franchise, A-League team and 2 AFL franchises, an NRL franchise would surely complete the picture. Perth has already had experience hosting NRL franchises in the past and continues to host the annual NRL fixture with big crowds. The only problem is the lack of a decent football stadium in Perth - both Subiacco and Perth Ovals are aging and need replacement which should come easy given the booming mining industry in Western Australia. Favourites.
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