Queensland great Gorden Tallis is adamant that New Zealand deserves a second club following the NRL’s interest in launching an 18th team.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ARLC Chairman Peter Vlandy’s have expressed their desire to add another team to the roster, with several options supposedly under consideration.
Papua New Guinea has pledged for their a Pasifika-based club, while QRL club Brisbane Tigers have also launched their bid to enter the competition.
While Tallis agrees that the next club should be based outside of Australia, he believes it is New Zealand that deserves the 18th license.
“My theory, and I’ve said it a few times, (is) I want a second NRL team in New Zealand,” Tallis told SENZ Breakfast.
“I knew how powerful the game was when the Warriors (under) 20s were there, there were certain pathways.
“I know COVID probably put a hold on rugby league there and I know we’re going to be the second biggest game there or third or whatever but if we show pathways for kids and there’s a North Island-South Island rivalry, I know what it’s like when you have a rivalry.
“In Queensland, whether it’s the Dolphins versus the Broncos or Cowboys versus the Broncos or Souths versus the Roosters, it just adds extra spark.
“I’m not sure everybody in New Zealand is a Warriors fan but if you get one from their own island, I think that’s growing (the game) and there’s so much talent.
“I think the Polynesians, they take up nearly 50 per cent of our game so that’s our future, so why not give them an extra pathway?”
While Tallis would like a club to rival the Warriors in New Zealand, he admits alternative options may already have one hand on the next license.
“There is talk about Queensland, there is talk about Pasifika; getting Fiji, PNG … and that might be the way because PNG has been putting money away to get a side in,” he added.
“They’ve been in the Queensland Cup now for about five years so watch this space … but I believe another team in Queensland, I think we’ve got enough.
“There’s four million people in Queensland and we’ve got four teams now, I think it’s about growing the pie and going to another area and getting some new fans.”
The Warriors are currently one of 17 teams in the NRL following the Dolphins’ addition at the start of 2023.
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