NRL

Not long ago it seemed a second New Zealand team based out of Christchurch was virtually inevitable.

While that may yet happen representatives from the Ipswich Jets are increasingly bullish about their chances of leapfrogging the current Kiwi bids when the NRL announces its next expansion franchise, most likely before Christmas.

Speaking on SENQ radio on Monday morning, former NRL star and Ipswich Jets Program and Development Manager Moses Mbye was full of confidence that his club would be the 20th NRL franchise following the arrivals of the Perth Bears in 2027 and PNG Chiefs in 2028.

“We’re confident… and I’ll leave it at that,” Mbye declared to SENQ host Corey Parker.

“If I was a betting man, load up!”

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Mbye’s comments follow public declarations of support from several high profile figures within the game including Roosters supremo NickPolitis, as well as comments last week from Ipswich bid chief Steve Johnson who declared the Jets bid ‘risk free’ given Ipswich’s long established talent pathways and rapidly growing population.

“Brisbane’s western corridor is the fastest growing region in Australia and with the Olympics coming here in 2032 we’ll only get bigger,” Johnson told The Courier Mail.

“Just like the Redcliffe Dolphins we’re an existing rugby league club with a full (talent) ecosystem from juniors all the way through to hopefully the NRL… Brisbane’s western corridor can hit the ground running for 2029.”

If the Ipswich bid is successful it would become the fourth NRL club to be based out of south-east Queensland.

NRL

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