From what I can see there are 4 clubs/teams/locations with NRL expectations. Not in any order;
PNG Hunters, funded by the Federal Government to win the hearts and minds of PNG by welcoming their national sport into the NRL. Possibly do a Tigers (Leichhardt), Bulldogs (Belmore), StGeorge (Kogarah) home game strategy and play a small number of games in PNG and the rest in Cairns. Their training facilities to be located in Cairns and they already have a Qld Cup team.
Perth Bears, plenty of WA money, home ground HBF Park which holds 21,000, has good corporate facilities and quality lighting for broadcast. The Bears could provide the juniors and the logo, as much like Melbourne, there are not many league players in Perth.
West Brisbane, the Ipswich Jets and/or Toowoomba Clydesdales, both have a Qld Cup team, home grounds are not NRL quality, probably play most games out of Lang Park. Huge local juniors competition and much like the Dolphins would be up to NRL standard relatively quickly.
South Island NZ, Scorpions based in Christchurch at Te Kaha Stadium which, when completed by the time they would be admitted to the NRL, will hold 30,000, have corporate facilities and broadcast quality lighting. There also have local rival in the Canterbury Bulls. Both clubs have numerous sponsors and well developed juniors competitions.
My guess is 3 of those 4 will be admitted to the NRL, most likely with 2 years notice minimum.
Always a Bulldog
