IPSWICH’S 16-year fight for an NRL franchise has received a massive $200 million boost, with the Jets securing reported heavyweight financial backing and warning rugby league risks surrendering the booming Western Corridor to the AFL if it fails to protect its heartland.
After multiple unsuccessful expansion attempts, the Ipswich Jets have reportedly attracted support from prominent investors, including advertising tycoon John Singleton, with more than $200 million in real estate assets and financial backing underpinning their renewed push to become the NRL’s 20th team.
But Jets chairman Steven Johnson insists the bid is about far more than money, arguing the NRL faces a defining decision between chasing new markets and securing the future of one of rugby league’s most productive breeding grounds.
“When you’re looking at expansion, you’ve got places like New Zealand where you’ve got geographical expansion, but then you’ve got our corridor, which is a compelling game investment strategy,” Mr Johnson said.
“It’s one thing to try to get new eyeballs into the game, but you can’t afford to lose your heartland.”
The warning comes as new figures reveal rugby league participation across Ipswich is growing at more than twice the rate of the region’s population.
Rugby League Ipswich recorded a 13 per cent increase in registrations this year, reaching 4795 players, compared with regional population growth of approximately six per cent.
“What separates the Jets from Christchurch, Perth and even PNG is that we aren’t asking the NRL to create a new market,” he said.
“We’re asking the NRL to secure one it already owns and turn its growth into a value proposition for the whole competition.”
Mr Johnson pointed to the number of local teenagers already competing in elite development competitions interstate.
“We’re creating pathways for young people and we don’t mind that, but we’ve always said that, for the benefit of young people, you want your pathway to be at home.
“By 2040, our Ipswich corridor will have 440,000 people aged under 40.”
