Nick Politis, a seasoned administrator in the league, has asserted that Queensland should be the destination for the 20th NRL team instead of New Zealand.
As part of the NRL's new broadcasting agreement set to commence in 2028, the league is required to introduce a 20th team for the 2029 season.
This will signify three consecutive years of expansion, with the Perth Bears arriving in 2027, followed by the PNG Chiefs in 2028, and the new team in 2029.
It's widely speculated that, with league's rising popularity in New Zealand, the likely place for Team 20 could be Christchurch, featuring the Southern Orcas as a leading possibility.
There are additional proposals from New Zealand, alongside several bids from Queensland vying for attention.
In a conversation with News Corp, Politis expressed his conviction that the new team should be established in the western area of Brisbane, where an Ipswich proposal has already made its intentions clear.
Politis stated, "The 20th team has to go to Brisbane's west."
He noted, "I've spoken to Peter (V'landys) and if you look at Christchurch, it's got around 400,000 people."
He added, "Brisbane has three or four million and if you look at the population and economy, we need to strengthen Queensland."
Politis emphasized the need to establish Brisbane as the heart of league, stating, "We need to shore up that south-west corridor right from northern Brisbane out to Ipswich and Toowoomba."
He further mentioned that placing the 20th team in this area would help counter the encroachment of the AFL in Queensland.