The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis has taken out his crystal ball and looked ahead to the next three rounds of NRL expansion set to happen in the next ten years.
News of another NRL expansion side has become a major topic once again after ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys admitted he wants to see the North Sydney Bears return to the league in some capacity.
“Everywhere I go, that always the question … when are you bringing back the Bears? I didn’t realise they had so many old fans,” V’landys told The Daily Telegraph.
“It makes sense that we bring them back in some capacity because they’ve got 200,000 (fans), that’s important.”
Regardless of where the teams are located, a return for the Bears seems guaranteed but their location is still up in the air with a range of suitors stating their case to gain the next NRL license.
“I think it’ll end up being the Pasifika Bears, that’s my gut on it,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Where we will have a second team in New Zealand and that plays potentially in other parts of the Pacific as well and a link with the Bears.
“Perth have sort of had some conversations with the (Newtown) Jets, whether that ends up happening or not I’m not sure.
“I think 19 will be Perth, 20 will be Pasifika slash New Zealand and one of those, most likely the Pasifika, will be the Bears, then we will get into a stage of conferences and all these things.”
Although there has been no official confirmation, Carayannis alluded to the NRL awarding PNG the 18th license with the potential of the Bears being associated with that.