Ivan Cleary has cautioned the NRL against making hasty moves to expand into New Zealand, believing that this is not the time to oversaturate the market and weaken the Warriors’ position.
The NRL has begun the process of expanding to a 20-team league; additional franchise expressions of interest will be accepted formally within the next month.
The favorites to receive the 18th and 19th franchises, respectively, are Perth and Papua New Guinea. A second Kiwi team is most likely to receive the 20th franchise.
The ideal schedule for the NRL will probably be announced in September, although more clubs are anticipated to join in 2027, 2028, and the first part of the following decade.
Ivan Cleary has cautioned the NRL against making hasty moves to expand into New Zealand, believing that this is not the time to oversaturate the market and weaken the Warriors’ position.
The NRL has begun the process of expanding to a 20-team league; additional franchise expressions of interest will be accepted formally within the next month.
The favorites to receive the 18th and 19th franchises, respectively, are Perth and Papua New Guinea. A second Kiwi team is most likely to receive the 20th franchise.
The ideal schedule for the NRL will probably be announced in September, although more clubs are anticipated to join in 2027, 2028, and the first part of the following decade.
Get ahead of the news of tomorrow with FREE Australian journalism covering business, politics, culture, and opinion.
NOW READ
There are several parties fighting to enter the country in various parts of New Zealand, so that bid is probably going to be the most competitive.
At least three bid teams, led by former NRL CEO David Moffett and former Warriors coach Frank Endacott, are assembling a team on the south island.
Moffett has stated in the open that he is prepared to move into his intended South Island Kea side as early as 2026.
Since he played or coached rugby league in New Zealand throughout the most of the 2000s, Cleary is well-versed in the peculiarities of the sport there.
With 14 straight sell-outs at home, the Warriors are in the best position they have ever been, but Cleary thinks national expansion shouldn’t happen too quickly.
“I would prefer we keep progressing with the Warriors,” he replied.
“Over in New Zealand, they are doing incredibly well in that field. Rugby is helping them to close the gap.
“When I arrived in New Zealand 25 years ago, rugby league seemed like a little brother to me. It was a significant distance.
Preseason games for the Warriors have been completely sold out around the nation. To avoid flooding that market, I would proceed with some caution.
“I haven’t done the numbers, but that’s the way I would be leaning.”
Following a similar view expressed by Warriors coach Andrew Webster two weeks prior, Cleary made his remarks.
“I really do hope that we keep one team in New Zealand for a lot longer, just keep making this product even better,” Webster stated.
“As a club, as players, as staff, or as anyone else involved in the club, we are by no means complacent that we have reached our desired point.
“I’d like us to nail that first before we did (expand).”
In the meantime, the heads of Perth’s bid team had a meeting with the leaders of North Sydney on Thursday, following their Wednesday meeting with their counterparts in Newtown.
In the upcoming month, Perth authorities will probably have to choose whether to submit their bid as a stand-alone company or in collaboration with one of the two former teams in order to become the 18th team.
