The ARL Commission has halted plans to expand the NRL to a 17-team competition in 2023.
A report in the Courier Mail says that the 17th team, likely to be based out of Brisbane, will have to wait until at least the 2024 season amid the game’s current COVID crisis.
The report says powerbrokers from all 16 clubs met via phone link on Tuesday night where they were told the expansion plans had temporarily been suspended.
While ARL Chairman Peter V’Landys didn’t rule out meeting the 2023 date, he did confirm that “analysis of expansion” had stopped.
“The analysis of expansion has stopped for the moment,” V’landys told the Courier.
“I have said to the clubs that the work on expansion has stopped for the moment, but the work will recommence on it.
“I’m the chairman of the board and it’s not true to say expansion is absolutely off (for 2023). The ARL Commission will make the final decision.
“We have put the tools down on expansion and until we pick up the tools again, I can’t tell you if we will have another team for 2023.
“We have a lot of variables we have to consider, including the current challenges (of keeping the NRL competition alive in Queensland).”
The three clubs who were vying for a place as the new franchise – Brisbane Firehawks, Brisbane Jets and Redcliffe Dolphins – were expecting a decision in July this year, but it looks like they’ll now need to wait another 12 months.