NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is keen to have a second team in New Zealand to “create tribalism’’ and “a new rivalry’’ with the Warriors.
A second Brisbane team has been mooted to take the 16-strong competition to 17 clubs, but Abdo also favours adding another New Zealand-based side.
“Considering whether a 17th team is viable fits under that growth phase,” Abdo said. “We haven’t been that explicit about it but a 17th team is a step to 18 teams,’’ Abdo told NRL.com.
“An 18th team allows you to think about what we might want to do about expanding in New Zealand. Having two teams in New Zealand creates a tribalism and a new rivalry in New Zealand.”
Abdo said having 18 clubs would allow the NRL to create two pools of nine teams.
“As you see with some of the big US sports, as you grow your competition and the scale of the number of teams, you can create a dynamic around who plays who and ultimately create more rivalries in regional areas and have competitions within competitions.
“You have to begin with the end in mind, you have to always keep an eye on the long term, and you have to think about what is moving you closer to becoming an even more sustainable and relevant and viable sport.”
The NRL sustained a $24.7 million loss in the Covid-19 disrupted 2020 season, although NRL.com noted “the deficit would have been just $3.7 million iif revenue from November’s State of Origin series was included’’.
But Abdo said a plan was in place to “stabilise, renovate and then grow’’.
He said the NRL were “thinking about how we can grow new markets, not just in Australia but in New Zealand and the Pacific, “and how we can connect and grow the strength of rugby league participation in those areas and the elite game as well, which then obviously flows on to the international game,” Abdo said.
The Warriors – yet to win a premiership – have been New Zealand’s sole NRL team since their advent in 1995.
Wellington or Christchurch would be potential NRL team bases, with both venues attracting reasonable crowds for one-off NRL games, generally involving the Warriors.
However, Australian rugby league personality Phil Gould claimed in 2020 – before he signed on as a Warriors consultant – that a second New Zealand team ”needs to be in Auckland, not anywhere else. Auckland is the only place [in NZ] that can sustain another NRL franchise, in my opinion.
“It’s a game in Auckland every weekend, the same as a game in Brisbane every weekend. They’re playing home and away, and the local derby becomes a big event every season.”
A second NRL team might have some appeal for Māori and Pacific Islands players, who currently comprise over 45 per cent of the NRL workforce.
Kiwis superstar Benji Marshall gave his backing to a second New Zealand team in a NRL 360 interview last year.
“I think a second team in New Zealand would be unbelievable, next year in the competition 50 per cent [of players] will be of New Zealand or Polynesian descent.
“We’re crying out for a second [New Zealand] team, at the moment everyone goes for the Warriors. I think down south – whether Christchurch or Wellington would be good, judging by how much Kiwi talent is coming through the ranks.”
Three bids have been lodged by Queensland consortia seeking to become the second Brisbane NRL team.
The Redcliffe Dolphins are an established Queensland Cup side while the Brisbane Firehawks have links to Easts Tigers and Brisbane Bombers/Western Corridor consortium is affiliated with the Ipswich Jets.
