THE IPSWICH Jets NRL bid has been given new life after securing $40 million in funding in the hope of entering an expanded NRL competition by 2028.
The master coach Wayne Bennett is seen as the best candidate for head coach, providing he is still keen to continue his stellar career.
The partnership between the former Brisbane Jets’ NRL bid and foundation premiership club Newtown Jets would be based west of Brisbane in Ipswich, if given a licence by the ARL Commission.
The NRL is on track to include two new teams by 2028, with the Perth Bears favourites. The Jets are of the view that they, and not Papua New Guinea, should be the other expansion side.
The Jets have received a secured $40 million commitment by three levels of government to upgrade North Ipswich Reserve and establish a centre of excellence.
The bid has an in-principle deal with Suncorp Stadium to initially play all home games at the venue, where they would wear the green and white strip of Ipswich.
For away games in Sydney, they would don Newtown’s traditional strip and have their captain’s run at Henson Park.
Media has been told the Newtown Jets would be co-owners of the club, with the bid having multiple millionaire benefactors, including businessman and Newtown life member John Singleton, with funding not an issue as it was with the Brisbane Jets.
Jets NRL bid chairman Steve Johnson, also the Ipswich Jets boss, has signed a non-disclosure agreement with the NRL. Johnson is chairman of Ipswich Group Ltd, which has put in the bid, and cannot make public comment.
Scott Sattler, who won the 2003 premiership with Penrith, was on the Brisbane Jets committee and is at liberty to speak on the Jets’ bid.
“In Ipswich, leading up to Toowoomba, the Scenic Rim and Darling Downs you have got a rusted-on population that are begging to support their own NRL team, much like when the Cowboys got their own team,” Sattler told media.
“Newtown Jets bring a famous name, a nostalgic angle and a ready-made fan base that you would be silly not to reinvolve in the NRL.
“You also have to consider the threat of the AFL, which is very important to the NRL as well. Internally at the NRL, they agree that the western corridor (of Brisbane), with the AFL training facility at Springfield, has really eaten into that rugby league heartland, which we don’t want to become an NRL wasteland,” Sattler said.
