Following the recent success of the New Zealand Warriors, rugby league has never been more alive in New Zealand. The Warriors’ first two home games were sold out before a ball was kicked and the ‘Up the Wahs!’ movement has taken over the NRL.
It’s upon this hype that the South Island Kea want to base their bid to become the NRL’s 18th side.
“If the opening game of the 2026 or 2027 season… was going to be the Warriors versus the Kea, I could sell 50,000 tickets in a 25,000-seat stadium tomorrow,” said David Moffat, the leader of the South Island bid, speaking on The Jimmy Smith Show.
“It’s going to be the equivalent of State of Origin when we play them (the Warriors).”
The Kea, named after a species of bird found on New Zealand’s South Island, are proposing to base their club out of Christchurch using the new Te Kaha stadium, which can hold up to 30,000 people.
The club plan to adopt an unprecedented financial blueprint never seen in rugby or rugby league called a hybrid-cooperative model; the same framework adopted by the Green Bay Packers in the NFL.
“(The model) means that the fans will get an opportunity to own a percentage of the team, as will investors… we’re actually going to be able to demonstrate what a powerful financial model that’s going to be,” said Moffat.
Moffat knows their bid faces stiff competition - both from Australia and a second South Island bid - but he welcomes the challenge.
“The game has never been on a higher note than right now,” Moffat added.
“Competition is a great thing… we’ll put the very best bid we can forward.”
And on his South Island challengers, Moffat says it’s important one of them get over the line.
“Whoever gets it has to get over the line for the benefit of Christchurch and rugby league and the NRL.”
Moffat hopes to organise a meeting with NRL Chairman Peter V’Landys to discuss the bid but confirmed he has had contact with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
With the NRL moving closer and closer to expanding the competition to 20 teams, Moffat knows now is the best chance the Kea will have.
“If we’re ever going to get a team, now’s the time,” he said.