The rugby league landscape in Australia is evolving as clubs vie for a chance to expand the National Rugby League (NRL). Recently, the Ipswich Jets expressed strong optimism about securing a new franchise, competing against bids from New Zealand.
During a conversation on SENQ radio, Moses Mbye, a former NRL player and the Jets' Program and Development Manager, stated his firm belief that the Jets could secure the 20th NRL franchise following the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs set to join in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
"We're confident… and I'll leave it at that," Mbye asserted during his interview with Corey Parker. "If I was a betting man, load up!"
The Jets' bid has gained support from prominent figures in the rugby league community, including Nick Politis of the Sydney Roosters. Steve Johnson, the head of the Ipswich bid, described their proposal as "risk-free," attributing this to the established talent pathways and the rapidly increasing population in the region.
"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 conveyed in a statement to The Courier Mail. He emphasized that the Ipswich Jets are an existing league club with robust talent development from juniors to the NRL.
Should the Ipswich Jets' bid prevail, it would mark the fourth NRL franchise in southeast Queensland, highlighting the area's significant growth and potential in rugby league.