“Need to capitalise”: Why NRL needs a second NZ team

Off the back of hosting its first NRL match at the brand new 30,000-seat Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch, Luke Keary believes that the city has shown that it should be the home of the NRL's 20th side.

With the competition already expanding to 19 teams for the 2028 season, there has already been a push for a 20th side added by 2029, thus creating a 10th game on the fixture.

Out of the potential options for that new side, two favourites have emerged in either a second team in New Zealand, based in Christchurch or a fifth side in Queensland, located in Brisbane’s western corridor.

Between the two, the NZ bid has emerged as the favourite for the license, with that team likely to use the brand-new Te Kaha (One New Zealand) Stadium at its home ground.

While they have been concerns whether there's enough talent to sustain that many sides, one concern that's been quashed has been fan appetite.

Having sold out the match against the Cowboys five months prior to it taking place, it's now the third straight sell-out the Wahs have had in Christchurch.

As a result, the three-time premiership player believes the NRL should have the 20th side there to capitalise on the growing momentum the sport has within the country.

“We need to get a team there as soon as possible, I think,” Keary said on SEN’s Kick Off.

“Like what they've done in rugby league in that country, just speaking to a few people, I spoke to Shaun Johnson at Magic Round, and I said, ‘Is it catching up to rugby union?’

“And he goes, I don't think it'll ever take over, but the momentum that it has, it is just massive now in New Zealand.

“They're talking about that 20th team. I don't know what (the) Brisbane (bid) looks like or anything else, but I feel like we need to capitalise on what's going on over there because what the Warriors have done is unbelievable.”

The NRL is yet to set a timeline on when it plans on bringing in a 20th side.