Toowoomba and Rockhampton announce joint bid for NRL club — ABC News Australia
In Queensland, Australia, Toowoomba and Rockhampton have announced a joint bid to establish a new National Rugby League (NRL) club. The Queensland heartland project covers the Darling Downs, south-west and central regions of the state and is seeking the competition's 20th licence, ABC News Australia reports.
NRL chief Peter V'landys is expected to announce the 20th team by Christmas. The new franchise is due to begin competing in 2029. The Toowoomba and Rockhampton bid will compete with initiatives from Ipswich and New Zealand. The Perth Bears are set to enter the national competition next year, while a Papua New Guinea team will join in 2028.
Focus on local players
Former North Queensland Cowboys chief executive Denis Keeffe, who was the first chief executive of the Central Queensland NRL bid in 2009, called the region a compelling candidate for league expansion. According to him, work from the previous bid, including its business plan, remains relevant, while the region already has grassroots sport and player development programmes.
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Keeffe referred to the Cowboys' experience in the early 2000s. According to him, the club focused on local young players and doubled its audience within 18 months because fans wanted to feel connected to the team. He believes the same approach could work for a team linked to Toowoomba and Rockhampton.
More than 6,000 juniors
Consortium head Mark Mason said there are more than 6,000 junior players in the region. He also noted the bid's ties to Queensland Cup clubs Western Clydesdales and CQ Capras. The Darling Downs, south-west and central Queensland regions have produced NRL, NRLW, State of Origin and international rugby league players, including Darren Lockyer, Shane Webcke, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant.
Mason acknowledged that a project split between two cities would require difficult decisions, but stressed the cooperation of working groups from Central Queensland and the Darling Downs. Wagner Corporation director John Wagner said an NRL team could become an impetus for building a new stadium in Toowoomba.
