The NRL expansion race has hit new heights with the Easts Tigers reportedly making a bid that will blow the Brisbane Bombers away.
The Courier-Mailย has revealed that the Tigers have entered the race to become the second Brisbane team in the NRL with the club planning on being promoted in 2023.
The recent developments have come after ARL Commission chairman Peter Vโlandys met withย News Corp co-chairman and ardent Broncos fan Lachlan Murdoch, who allowed the ARLC to campaign for a second Brisbane team under the next TV rights deal.
Redcliffe and the Brisbane Bombers have both attempted to be entered into the NRL for the last nine years, but it appears now there is a new player in town in an intense expansion battle.
Easts Tigers chief executive Brian Torpy has confirmed that he has made an approach to the NRL to join the big league and create a new and fierce North vs South rivalry with the Brisbane Broncos.
โWeโre certainly interested, thereโs no doubt about that,โ Torpy toldย The Courier-Mail.
โI havenโt spoken to Peter Vโlandys but weโve already had preliminary discussions with the NRL. We spoke to them to get an awareness of what would be needed to get involved.
โWe are keen to find out more information from the NRL on their plans for expansion and what is required.
โWe havenโt been mentioned in the expansion race until now but we believe we are the perfect option for a 17th team.
โThe Broncos are on the northside and we are on the southside so it sets up a great River Rivalry.
โA North versus South derby with the Broncos sounds pretty exciting for Brisbane fans doesnโt it?โ
After a successful meeting with Murdoch who gave the blessing to front broadcasters for a 17-team league, Vโlandys is pushing now more than ever for a 17th NRL team to join the league.
The news comes as a welcome sight for the Tigers, who loom as a big-time prospect to join the NRL. The club was founded in 1917 and is located in Coorparoo, 4km from the Brisbane CBD. The club possesses a rich leagues club and also have a solid infrastructure at Langlands Park to set up a strong bid.
โFrom our point of view, itโs important the team is based in the heart of Brisbane and we are in the right location,โ Torpy said.
โWeโre well located. We are close to the CBD, we have 33,000 members at our leagues club and we have excellent training facilities at Langlands Park which have been used by the Queensland Origin team and the Australian Kangaroos.
โThe time is right for a second Brisbane team and we are a good choice. We have $40 million in assets with our leagues club plus money in the bank so financially we could support a bid.
โWe are just waiting until there is confirmation from the NRL before we press ahead.โ
For the Tigers to have their bid accepted, they face a challenge - the club's nickname is similar to that of the Wests Tigers, who are already in the NRL. The nickname would ultimately need to be changed to have the bid accepted.
โIf the tender process went ahead, we would need to look at our nickname because we accept that the Wests Tigers are already in the competition,โ Torpy said.
โWe would have to consider other alternative names.
โI think we could get a bid delivered (if the NRL calls for tenders). I donโt know what the NRL is looking for, but six months would be sufficient time and we could put something together in that amount of time.โ
Souths Sombreros Hombreros would like to put a bid in so that we can have 2 clubs in the competition.
That way we have a better chance of winning a fairdinkum trophy and will no longer be heckled for winning only the 20 NSW cups with 4 teams in the comp all those years ago
We have the 3 billionaires owners and paper bags to do it
Dirty Richo
Soufths are already on the prowl trying to relocate to Parramatta and then to sqeeze their transit.lounge arch rival out of the comp altogether. And being renamed the Soufth Parra Rabbido’s
More chance of South’s merging with Roosters than South’s merging with Parra.
After all South’s and Roosters are neighbor’s and are like for like.
Roosters should be happy with this as it would increase there poultry membership.
Seriously to have only 11 thousand members when you have won back to back premiershipsis truly pathetic. The only team with less members is the Titans which is understandable. But to only have 3000 more members than the Titans is hysterical.
I know people round here don’t like facts but I am going to give you some.
2019 Confirmed Final Membership numbers
Roosters 16,384 (after 1 premiership)
Titans 10,748
2nd consecutive premiership impacts 2020 numbers not 2019.
“The only team with less members is the Titans which is understandable.”
Teams with lower memberships than the Roosters in 2019
Titans
Sharks
Sea Eagles
Warriors
Rucky, I think it may be referring to this https://www.nrl.com/membership/
I don’t know how often it gets updated, but this current count on the NRL membership has the Roosters second lowest in front of only the Titans in membership numbers.
I tend to use this https://leagueunlimited.com/news/34223-2020-nrl-membership-tracker/
This tends to get updated on a weekly basis at this time of year and on the odd times i have bothered to check it against club websites, it has been accurate.
According to the Roosters website, https://am.ticketmaster.com/roosters/membership#/ the current number of members for 2020 is 14696 which is exactly the number showing on Leagueunlimited.
I think the nrl.com numbers are wrong (then they wonder why we despair at the governing body).
Thanks for the info Rucky… you better check NRL link again.. it looks like it has been updated.
Surprising that the very supported Bulldogs are so down
True eels47.
But there is no date on that site. On the leagueunlimited.com site shows membership tracker numbers as of today 6/3.
The numbers as of today are 14696. The numbers on this date last year were 12958. The final count last year went from that number to 16384.
And on memberships there are more than one form. The bottom line is member money goes to the leagues clubs if the football club suffers a loss the leagues club covers that loss.
In 2018 the Panthers lost 6 million that loss was covered by the leagues club in other words the members.
My point is that there are different types of membership but they all cough up coin for the same goal.
Easts have over 42000 leagues club members.
I had never checked leagueunlimited, thanks. although the NRL one sees to have updated this afternoon too.
busta, leagues club memberships are irrelevant in these discussions as most are based around proximity to the club. I am a member of Penrith Panthers Leagues club for example as I live within 5kms of the club, so I need to be a member even to go there for dinner. I am also a member Easts unfortunately, as the local bowlo is owned by them.
I should have waited a few minutes Rucky would have saved saved me the trouble.
Looks like NRL.com must have watching this site Ha Ha Ha
I agree that leaguesclubs numbers are irrelevant no matter if the do have an affiliation to the footy club since some people might just be a member of a leagues club to go for a beer, a meal or play the pokies. In fact, this group is likely to be the larger group. Some clubs do not have leagues club affiliation e.g. Melbourne.
Gee, I wish we could just get the season started, get some real news flowing.
My favourite part of this article, is the part about Redcliffe & the Broncos both trying to enter the NRL for the last 9 years. Surely youโre in Broncos? Give it a rest..
If the Easts Tigers joined the NRL, wouldnโt they have to change their mascot? We canโt have 2 Tigers. It would be as silly as the Canterbury Cup , when itโs Magpies versus Magpies.
They should lock you out eels47.. Just Kidding!
Nice to see you putting money into the Panthers Club!!
Kev
March 6, 2020 at 1:48 pm
“More chance of Southโs merging with Roosters than Southโs merging with Parra”
Kev, go wash your mouth with pepper please.
Souths will never merge with s souless, no grass roots, dismal membership club the cheat sombreros.
Souths have too proud and successful history to dilute their reputation.
Sorry cheat sombreros, no hope.
Errrggggg. The thought gives me nausea and the shakes.
EastofDivide not happy about it trust me, but the kids love going to Panarottis
TwentyOne March 6, 2020 at 6:22 pm
“Souths have too proud and successful history to dilute their reputation.”
You mean back when you guys used to win an 8-team regional sydney competition in the 1920’s? Yeah, good thing that proud grassroots history hasn’t been tainted by claiming the eastern suburbs, selling out to a hollywood owner and playing out of the west of Sydney. As opposed to the ‘soulless, no grass roots, dismal membership’ Roosters who still play out of Sydney City, are owned by their members and have won 6 premierships in the same time period as you’ve won one.
Every time you comment you make my day 21, seriously, thank you for that.
Meanwhile, getting back to the main topic…..if there is to be a second Brisbane teams in the NRL competition, surely someone can come up with a better name than the ”Brisbane Bombers”. I mean the term ”Bombers” sounds like something from the days of Johnny Peard (One of the greatest characters in Rugby League). Why not let the public have some input for a name. After all it was a member of the public who came up with the name ”Melbourne Storm” over 20 years ago.
What about the Brisbane Banana Benders ๐OR the Brisbane Bennetts. Heck Wayne might even be the inaugural coach!
Bombers sounds too AFL like . How about the Cyclones . At least thereโs no AFL team with the same name & that nameโs very much to do with the north of the country.
I think the Bombers sounds to much like the Gold Coast, Souths, Penrith or Saints who consistently Bomb out each season.
Perhaps a horse name to rival the Broncos may create a rivalry such as we have never seen before. Go The Stallionโs
So we already have Broncos & Cowboys. You want another thing to do with the Wild West & horses.
At least they could go with something thatโs to do with the sea? Theyโre probably not going to be out west. The Broncos & Cowboys are also not out west . Why all the Wild West names , when theyโre all on the coast?
Brisbane Rays, Crays, Dunes, Surf, Coast.. come on. Thereโs lots of sea , coastal type names..
ClownOfDivide how can the “Wild West” have anything to do with Australia ya clown. That was USA history. Get your hand off it nit.wit
Brisbane’s name the Broncos, was chosen by Barry Maranta because he was a fan of NFL team, Denverย Broncos. Because Brisbane is located away from the ocean and has a dirty muddy river running through the place, a name like the mud gudgeon’s or the tadpoles would have been more appropriate.
Kerry Boustead announced that the NQ team would be called the Cowboys. Due to the large cattle stations that cover a vast area within Queensland and are run by men on horseback he said…..
โWeโll round up the Raiders, shoot down the Seagulls, and break in the Broncos,โ Boustead promised.
A good name which has nothing to do with the Wild West of USA. I would have thought being a massive suger cane region also that burns it before they cut it. Pyromaniacs might have also been an appropriate name.
I think the Brisbane 2nd team should be called the Brisbane Blues. Indicating a team people can support for all the many hundreds of thousands that have moved to the city from NSW. As all the Queensland locals in Brizzy go for the Maroon Broncos.
I’m absolutely dumbfounded how the NRL can view itself with any credibility by allowing NRL clubs to operate without a grass roots juniors
Twenty ones post went on a little too long… it really should have ended here ๐๐๐๐
TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Iโm absolutely dumbf
To the most jealous man/ boy/ girl on this site
Please see a professional about your jealous obsession with the back to back champs.
๐๐๐๐๐๐
6 trophies in 7 years
Adam you are correct with your history lesson
Adamhoward we donโt have cowboys in Australia. We have jackaroos, So should it have been the North Queensland jackaroos
Or perhaps the Brisbane brumbies
You ought to know clown, being a hard riding jillaroo. ๐คฃ๐
TheMole52
March 7, 2020 at 4:50 pm
Twenty ones post went on a little too longโฆ it really should have ended here ๐๐๐๐
TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Iโm absolutely dumbf
I think he left out two letters when he wrote that The Mole52. Should have read………
TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Iโm absolutely a dumbf..k
I can use the words โWild Westโ, any time I feel like it AdamOfTheDimTipsWood. As America doesnโt own those words.
However, the use of the Words โBroncos & Cowboysโ really became popular in the American West. So itโs quite appropriate to call those names โWild Westโ names.
Do we need another horsey , Wild West name to go with them? Not really simple wood.
How about something a bit different this time?
So much for your supposed history lesson.
By the way.. Doesnโt Australia have a West & mining areas out west . That were pretty wild areas in the past? I think so ! ๐
So stick that in your Wooden Nuggets pipe & smoke , Buffalo Jill!!!
It is quite clear you are a simpleton ClownOfPenriff.
I know you dont want another horsey name, so what about another “Wild West” name.
I Know they aren’t red skins but…..With more Indians in Australian cities now than in India. How about the Brisbane Chiefs, or a bit closer to reality, the Brisbane CurryMunchers
They already have two Wild West type names WoodTool . Youโre the only one whoโs so simple , that all he can think of ,is to add a third. Stallions , another horse name. Youโre just Brilliant Einstein.
Why donโt you give us another boring story about some other former Queensland winger. That would be just wonderful!!!
You had zero argument to my reply yet again.
The next Queensland team could always just borrow the French National symbol & dress exactly like their team. Hold on, the simpletons who came up with Nuggets have already done that. They were as brilliant & full of ideas as you!
Go back to your tipping Woodville . Youโre just great at that . ๐
Another racist rant… .
What an intelligent remark. More people from India in Australian cities than in India.
Population of India: 1.339 billion.
Thatโs as good as your football tipping ability AdamWoodTool.
TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Iโm absolutely dumbf
I think he left out two letters when he wrote that The Mole52. Should have readโฆโฆโฆ
TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Iโm absolutely a dumbf..k
LOL Thatโs Gold AH…. Gold ๐
Hopefully ZT gets rid of Jealous guy once and for all.
What is racist about the truth ClownOfPenriff, The Indian population is out of control in Sydneys many suburbs. Being labeled as curry munchers is not racist either. We as white Australians are known as skips, I couldn’t care two hoots what people call me. Just don’t call me late for dinner. ๐คฃ๐
True Mole52, the jealous guy TwentyOne is so obsessed with trying to spread lies about our Back to Back World Champions. That he has sink to the lowest level. He is a bonafide nit.wit.
Match only by ClownOfDivide in the stupidity stakes.
My comment regarding clubs without grass roots juniors has obviously hit a big nerve (OUCH) amongst the stain sombreros on here if you look at the meltdown reaction to it.
Put it this way.
Its a little hypocritical rubbishing the credibility and existence of grass roots rugby league juniors in Australia and several other countries where any child aspiring to play NRL starts his path towards that dream.
If there were no grass roots junior competitions where would the roosters poach their development players from besides the already proven NRL elite that began as such?
Seriously, who are the real dummies on here?
EastOfDivide March 7, 2020 at 11:28 pm
“Go back to your tipping Woodville . Youโre just great at that .”
One of AdamHubcap’s best was posting ” I have it on good authority that Latrell Mitchell will 100% remain a rooster and will sign for another 4 years”
A few days later we witnessed a live telecast of Latrell signing a contract with his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs and his father proudly stating it was his “homecoming”
The sookpen went into inconsolable meltdown and will never recover from the humiliation and despair of losing their prize superstar and no1 fan idol.
He was always only on loan to them before coming home to his true family at the Rabbitohs where he wants to proudly play out his career.
Letโs hear all about the so called World Champions , for about the 500th time AdamBoringFloppyRedShoesWood.
They played one other team , outside of the NRL. Thatโs about as good a claim to being a World Champion, as the winner of the Super Bowl ( in the NFL ). Where they say theyโre World Champions.
I guess the winner of the grand final in the AFL , are also World Champions .
Like you with all your sign in names. What a sad joke…
EOD there is one huge hole in your argument above. The Roosters did not just play one team to be crowned world champs. They played the team that was the best in the super league. So although they played one game they are deemed to be better than 12 other teams outside of the NRL. Just like they were deemed to be the best team in the NRL and better than the other 15 teams. In total thats better than 27 other top notch professional rugby league teams.
Further you can not compare the NFL and the AFL to this situation as neither play any other teams outside their own national borders. The combined international countries competing in the NRL/Super League is 5, incl Aust, NZ, UK, France, Canada. That means the Roosters deserve to be called World Champs as would any other team that wins that comp. ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐
TheRopeableRooster
How does it feel being a proud indigenous Australian supporting a team void of any indigenous Australian presence and unlikely any in the future given the treatment of Latrell?
TheRopeableRooster
Where is your honour and dignity?
I tell it like it is McMahon
Played one team , in one country. Thatโs how sad it is. Whoop it up ! Hardly the Davis Cup , is it Ropey…
Adamhoward
March 8, 2020 at 9:28 am
True Mole52, the jealous guy TwentyOne is so obsessed with trying to spread lies about our Back to Back World Champions. That he has sunk to the lowest level. He is a bonafide nit.wit.
Adamhoward
March 8, 2020 at 9:30 am
Matched only by ClownOfDivide in the stupidity stakes.
Get over it ClownOfDivide and TwentyBumm and co……
Sydney are the number one Club on Earth becoming the Best two years running out of the Worlds best 28 best teams playing either in the Southern or Northern Hemispheres.
Yea thats right…. no response to FACTS you pair of clowns๐ช๐คฃ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐
But look I can cheer you up ClownOfPenriff, penriff with all their dud local juniors won two comps in 54 seasons.
But look I can cheer you up TwentyBumm, soufths with all their dud transit.lounge imports have won one comp in 48 seasons.
๐ฃ๐ฃTogether your dud teams combined in 54+48=102 seasons
๐คฃ๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ๐คก๐คก
Thats right 102 seasons have won three comps.
Soufths are moving out so far West (Parra Stadium) that they are trying to get a merger going with penriff.
I can just picture it now. The
Souff Penriff pink bunnies.๐ช๐คฃ๐
โBest 28 Best teamsโ ,AdamFloppyRedShoesWood.. No one needs to reply to this . You canโt even write down a correct sentence. We can just let you sign in time & time again. Typing out the ridiculous inventions of your retarded mind.
As I wrote earlier. Playing against one team in England. Pretty pathetic excuse for a claim to be a world champion. Still stands & you canโt come up with anything to dispute that. As there isnโt anything. Again, not much better than โ Richmond โ & โ Kansas City โ, World Champions.
As for the other rubbish. Before you had Southโs moving to Parramatta to combine with Parramatta. Now theyโre moving to Parramatta, to combine with Penrith? Arenโt they in the wrong location ?
As for juniors. Doesnโt matter how pathetic they may be? . Theyโre always better than the non existent Nuggets juniors. Thatโs the best reason for your Nuggets to be relocated .
Glebe gone. Newtown gone. Wests gone. Northโs gone. Balmain gone. Nuggets, slip sliding away…. Bye, Bye. Ipswich here we come!!!
The Roosters were the first to elevate an indigenous player to Captain.
One of their most honored players of all time was the first indigenous superstar and looked after for the remainder of his years after fotball.
Artie Beetson The Legend, and a gentleman was always treated with respect and love at the Roosters
All downhill since then.
Why the Panthers would never have to move or combine with any other area . Unless they chose to broaden their area to also be an even a bigger backer of country football.
Panthers: The not-for-profit conglomerate intends to build a retirement village, serviced apartments , a $500 million residential development of 850 apartments.
Thatโs besides the new conference centre , hotel etc.
Is that the conference centre that ICAC is about to begin investigating the grant for EastOfDivide? The one that was supposed to be used for sporting facilities?