Talk of expansion in the NRL is continuing to heat up and with reports the Australian Rugby League Commission could grant the 18th team license by the end of the year, bidders are lining up to host the next franchise.
Despite previous rumours suggesting the 18th license would be given to Papua New Guinea, recent reports indicate that the franchise wouldn’t be able to get up and running prior to 2028, leaving the door open for a Perth-based team.
With the Dolphins home game in Perth drawing in an impressive 20,000 fans on Friday night, SEN’s Justin Horo believes that number is a significant indication to the potential success of the expansion bid.
“They had the West Coast Eagles playing last night as well, same time 40,000 for the AFL, 20,000 for the rugby league,” Horo said on SEN 1170 Mower’s Club.
“That is a great advertisement for the game in Perth right now.
“With those sorts of numbers, I am very confident a Perth team is going to be successful.
“It’s going to happen and I’m all for it.
“I was a little bit hesitant a couple of years ago but on the back of one game from the Origin series a couple of years ago that went really well.
“Then seeing the fans turn up to a Roosters versus Dolphins game as well.”
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, who masterminded the Dolphins' early success as an expansion side has backed the Perth bid to be a good outcome for the NRL.
“Absolutely (Perth is ready for an NRL team). (There was) an AFL game on here tonight the Suns played West Coast and there was 40-odd thousand people there and we had 20,000 people here tonight,” Bennett said.
“It was a wonderful crowd and great atmosphere…and an entertaining game, we couldn’t ask for much more.”
The clash on Friday night was the sixth-highest attended event at HBF Park, falling just 1500 short of an official sell-out.