NRL unveils 'ambitious' expansion plan as decision is made on North Sydney Bears future

The NRL has revealed its bold plans to grant two new NRL licenses in the coming years with a goal of reaching 20 teams in the next decade. Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman Peter V'landys, is reportedly targeting the Perth Bears and adding the first side from Papua New Guinea as the first stage of the NRL's expansion.

According to The Daily Telegraph, V’landys has already held discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding a $600 million ‘soft diplomacy’ package to provide funds to Papua New Guinea to set up a side fit to join the NRL. A PNG side is set to be the next team added to the competition, with the aim to see have the club in the league by 2028.

In an even bolder plan, V'landys has reportedly set his sights on Wayne Bennett to coach the new PNG franchise. The Dolphins coach is reportedly set to sign a three-year deal with the Rabbitohs, meaning he'd be a free agent for the 2028 season to take the helm of the NRL's newest team.

"Naturally, we would love to have Wayne Bennett involved with an 18th team," V’landys said. "He is a genius and if he is available for the next expansion bid, absolutely we want him... Wayne shares our vision on expansion and he wants to be part of that vision absolutely.”

The PNG franchise is still being analysed by the ARL to ensure that they would be fit for the NRL but V'landy's is confident that they will be added in the coming years. The success of the Dolphins franchise has reportedly given rugby league bosses confidence that further expanding the league is a good idea.

Bears set to make NRL return as a joint venture

The Bears are considered to be the most likely to win the second expansion spot. Perth and North Sydney chiefs have reportedly been discussing a joint venture proposal, with the NRL hopeful that the Bears will play several games at the historic North Sydney Oval, with the remainder of home games to be played in Perth.

The Bears last featured in the top flight of Australian rugby league in 1999 and the NRL is reportedly keen to bring them back, while also giving Western Australia a long overdue team to support. "The Perth Bears is the ideal partnership," V’landys said.

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"By the end of June, we will be in a position as a game to make a call on expansion... I am super confident there will eventually be 20 teams, that’s the ambition. Perth are absolutely on our hit list for expansion and it’s sooner rather than later. There’s no way North Sydney can be a stand-alone team at the moment because there’s too many teams in Sydney as it is."