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-Mail 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 V’landys met with 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.

“We’re certainly interested, there’s no doubt about that,” Torpy told The Courier-Mail.

“I haven’t spoken to Peter V’landys but we’ve already had preliminary discussions with the NRL. We spoke to them to get an awareness of what would be needed to get involved.

“We are keen to find out more information from the NRL on their plans for expansion and what is required.

“We haven’t been mentioned in the expansion race until now but we believe we are the perfect option for a 17th team.

“The Broncos are on the northside and we are on the southside so it sets up a great River Rivalry.

“A North versus South derby with the Broncos sounds pretty exciting for Brisbane fans doesn’t it?”

After a successful meeting with Murdoch who gave the blessing to front broadcasters for a 17-team league, V’landys 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.

“From our point of view, it’s important the team is based in the heart of Brisbane and we are in the right location,” Torpy said.

“We’re 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.

“The 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.

“We are just waiting until there is confirmation from the NRL before we press ahead.”

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.

“If 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,” Torpy said.

“We would have to consider other alternative names.

“I think we could get a bid delivered (if the NRL calls for tenders). I don’t 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.”

57 COMMENTS

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. “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

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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 you’re in Broncos? Give it a rest..
    If the Easts Tigers joined the NRL, wouldn’t they have to change their mascot? We can’t have 2 Tigers. It would be as silly as the Canterbury Cup , when it’s Magpies versus Magpies.

  15. They should lock you out eels47.. Just Kidding!
    Nice to see you putting money into the Panthers Club!!

  16. Kev
    March 6, 2020 at 1:48 pm
    “More chance of South’s merging with Roosters than South’s 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. What about the Brisbane Banana Benders 🍌OR the Brisbane Bennetts. Heck Wayne might even be the inaugural coach!

  21. Bombers sounds too AFL like . How about the Cyclones . At least there’s no AFL team with the same name & that name’s very much to do with the north of the country.

  22. 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 Stallion’s

  23. So we already have Broncos & Cowboys. You want another thing to do with the Wild West & horses.
    At least they could go with something that’s to do with the sea? They’re probably not going to be out west. The Broncos & Cowboys are also not out west . Why all the Wild West names , when they’re all on the coast?

  24. Brisbane Rays, Crays, Dunes, Surf, Coast.. come on. There’s lots of sea , coastal type names..

  25. 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, Denver 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…..

    “We’ll round up the Raiders, shoot down the Seagulls, and break in the Broncos,” 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.

  26. I’m absolutely dumbfounded how the NRL can view itself with any credibility by allowing NRL clubs to operate without a grass roots juniors

  27. Twenty ones post went on a little too long… it really should have ended here 😂😂😂😂

    TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
    I’m absolutely dumbf

  28. To the most jealous man/ boy/ girl on this site

    Please see a professional about your jealous obsession with the back to back champs.
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
    6 trophies in 7 years

  30. Adamhoward we don’t have cowboys in Australia. We have jackaroos, So should it have been the North Queensland jackaroos
    Or perhaps the Brisbane brumbies

  32. TheMole52
    March 7, 2020 at 4:50 pm

    Twenty ones post went on a little too long… it really should have ended here 😂😂😂😂

    TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
    I’m 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
    I’m absolutely a dumbf..k

  33. I can use the words ‘Wild West’, any time I feel like it AdamOfTheDimTipsWood. As America doesn’t own those words.
    However, the use of the Words ‘Broncos & Cowboys’ really became popular in the American West. So it’s quite appropriate to call those names ‘Wild West’ 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.. Doesn’t Australia have a West & mining areas out west . That were pretty wild areas in the past? I think so ! 👍

  35. 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

  36. They already have two Wild West type names WoodTool . You’re the only one who’s so simple , that all he can think of ,is to add a third. Stallions , another horse name. You’re just Brilliant Einstein.
    Why don’t 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!

  38. Another racist rant… .
    What an intelligent remark. More people from India in Australian cities than in India.
    Population of India: 1.339 billion.
    That’s as good as your football tipping ability AdamWoodTool.

  39. TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm
    I’m 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
    I’m absolutely a dumbf..k

    LOL That’s Gold AH…. Gold 👍
    Hopefully ZT gets rid of Jealous guy once and for all.

  40. 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. 🤣👍

  41. 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.

  43. 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?

  44. EastOfDivide March 7, 2020 at 11:28 pm
    “Go back to your tipping Woodville . You’re 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.

  45. Let’s hear all about the so called World Champions , for about the 500th time AdamBoringFloppyRedShoesWood.
    They played one other team , outside of the NRL. That’s about as good a claim to being a World Champion, as the winner of the Super Bowl ( in the NFL ). Where they say they’re 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…

  46. 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. 🏆🏆🏆🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏆🏆🏆

  47. 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?

  50. Played one team , in one country. That’s how sad it is. Whoop it up ! Hardly the Davis Cup , is it Ropey…

  51. 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.

  52. 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 clowns💪🤣👍
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

  53. 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.

    🎣🎣Together your dud teams combined in 54+48=102 seasons
    🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤡🤡
    Thats right 102 seasons have won three comps.

  54. 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.💪🤣👍

  55. ‘Best 28 Best teams’ ,AdamFloppyRedShoesWood.. No one needs to reply to this . You can’t 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 can’t come up with anything to dispute that. As there isn’t anything. Again, not much better than ‘ Richmond ‘ & ‘ Kansas City ‘, World Champions.
    As for the other rubbish. Before you had South’s moving to Parramatta to combine with Parramatta. Now they’re moving to Parramatta, to combine with Penrith? Aren’t they in the wrong location ?
    As for juniors. Doesn’t matter how pathetic they may be? . They’re always better than the non existent Nuggets juniors. That’s the best reason for your Nuggets to be relocated .
    Glebe gone. Newtown gone. Wests gone. North’s gone. Balmain gone. Nuggets, slip sliding away…. Bye, Bye. Ipswich here we come!!!

  56. 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

  58. 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.
    That’s besides the new conference centre , hotel etc.

  59. 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?

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