Rival bidders for Christchurch NRL team closer to co-operation

Saturday, 14 December 2024

Southern Orcas outline bid for Christchurch-based NRL team

Two groups seeking a NRL franchise for Christchurch are getting closer to agreeing to work together.

The Southern Orcas - led by former Kiwis coach Sir Graham Lowe and ex-New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers - are in talks with a group chaired by former Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott.

The two parties, and the South Island Kea - led by former NRL and NZ Rugby chief executive David Moffett - have all expressed interest in a NRL franchise in Christchurch.

Talks between the Keas and Endacott’s group about a potential bid broke down in November.

The Orcas and Endacott’s team - formed from the initial South Island NRL Bid Ltd group - remain in discussions about a joint approach.

“We are positively working forward with Frank Endacott and Poto Williams following on from our talks a few weeks ago,’’ Chalmers said.

Frank Endacott is feeling positive about the progress of talks with the Southern Orcas about working together to secure a NRL franchise for Christchurch. (File photo).

Endacott also said the talks were “progressing well’’ and getting “very close’’ to an agreement.

Chalmers has previously said the Orcas were willing to work with anyone prepared to endorse or support their bid.

Roles for Endacott and Williams, a former Labour government minister and MP for Christchurch East, would be expected to be an asset for the Orcas given their strong Canterbury connections.

The Orcas claim their bid could be worth $360 million, with $NZ60 million in capital funding from yet-to-be named South Island-based private investors. They are looking at establishing a 20-ha $100 million Centre of Excellence at Rolleston with the prospect of an associated $180 million central city hotel, leagues club and entertainment precinct funded by public and private investors.

The NRL confirmed on Thursday that a yet-to-be-named Papua New Guinea team would become the 18th club in 2028.

NRL officials want 20 teams by 2032. It has already held talks with the Western Australian state government about a potential new club in Perth.

Christchurch and a group from Ipswich, near Brisbane, are also potentially in contention for the 20th place.

Meanwhile, the Orcas have confirmed plans to roll out 22 regional academies across New Zealand from 2025, catering for up to 2200 student athletes.

Southern Orcas NRL bid team chiefs Sir Graham Lowe (L) and Andrew Chalmers.

They say the programme will “guarantee a production line of talent’’ for the new club and the NRL as a whole with up to 100 students in each centre.

The first regional centres are expected to open in the first half of 2025, with Christchurch expected to be the first base. The proposal would also see academies in Otago, Southland, the West Coast and the Tasman districts in the South Island and North Island regions, from Wellington to Auckland.