Existing club launches fresh bid for NRL’s 20th team

The Brisbane Tigers are preparing a bid to enter the NRL as the competition's 20th franchise by 2029. Tigers chief executive Mitch Cook confirmed the club is pursuing the expansion license with backing to present to ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys. The Queensland Cup club aims to establish a cross-town rivalry south of the river with the Brisbane Broncos.

The club previously attempted to join the competition in 2021 as the Brisbane Firehawks before losing out to the Dolphins. Cook noted that the organization is open to partnerships, potentially collaborating with clubs such as the Newtown Jets or Ipswich Jets, while competing against rival bids from Toowoomba and Christchurch's Southern Orcas.