Big money says Ipswich v Brisbane

THE Western Corridor only has one contender in its quest to become the next NRL team, a broadcast expert says.

LEK Consulting?s Colin Smith, who has been engaged by the NRL as a consultant on the next broadcast rights deal, told league officials that the competition?s next club must come from south-east Queensland.

Mr Smith said basing a new club in the Sunshine State?s most populated region would maximise the code?s next broadcast rights deal, which begins in 2013.

Western Corridor bid chief Steve Johnson said it was obvious to anyone who knew south-east Queensland demographics that the region was the best option for the next NRL club.

?It?s the only logical option,? Mr Johnson said.

?Rugby league is this region?s number one sport. The game is embedded in this area.

?Even without expanding the game we should get the same money as the AFL did, but when you add in an expansion team or two the value of the rights will increase again.?

It was suggested the NRL could reap $1.4 billion from the next rights deal if the Western Corridor or Brisbane Bombers club were granted an NRL licence.

That figure is $200,000 more than the AFL received from broadcasters recently.

Mr Smith is understood to have told last Thursday?s conference of NRL club chief executives that the only new team broadcasters would pay more for was one based in south-east Queensland.

Mr Johnson said the news essentially ruled out the bids of Central Queensland and Central Coast NSW.

But he said the CQ bid deserved admission to the NRL this decade.

?I?m a fan of the CQ bid and I hope in a few more years when the region is ready they will be admitted to the NRL,? he said.

?But the Western Corridor is clearly the best option at the moment.?

It has been reported that rugby league?s independent commission would call for formal submissions from expansion clubs later this year, with a decision made in March next year.

Mr Johnson said he expected the anointed expansion club would compete in the NRL?s 2014 season.

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