NRL: The NRL is considering all expansion offers as it looks to continue to grow the game. Peter V’landys will meet with the Australian Government to explore the prospects of establishing a team in Papua New Guinea.

This top line may indicate that Queensland’s hopes for a fifth franchise are slim, with Papua New Guinea, Perth Bears and the other New Zealand team being favorites to win the three new licenses.

North Sydney bosses met with ARL Commission chief Peter V’landys on Wednesday ahead of State of Origin I with a view to forming a joint venture with Perth in a bid to return to the top flight.

The Brisbane Tigers have launched a $25 million bid to become the fifth club in Queensland, but sources say the NRL fears another Sunshine State team cannibalize the Broncos, Dolphins, Titans and Cowboys.

The Dolphins were added to the NRL last year, with the governing body keen to ensure the sustainability of Redcliffe’s operations without the market threat of a fifth Queensland club.

It’s a potentially fatal blow to the Brisbane Tigers, who underwent a minor rebranding last year after their Firehawks bid, backed by the Easts Leagues club, lost out to the Dolphins in their bid for a 17th NRL licence.

V’landys hasn’t completely closed the door on a fifth Queensland club, but has made it clear that any team added to the big league must show they can attract a new tribe of fans.

“The Brisbane Tigers are in the mix but you have strong offers from a lot of other areas,” V’landys said.

“Queensland is certainly being considered, but the analysis (of the new expansion) will show us what the best options are.

“The bidding teams have to prove to us that they will attract new fans.

“We don’t want existing fans to be taken away from the Broncos, Dolphins, Cowboys or Titans.

“Whoever comes has to prove that they will attract new fans.

“Papua New Guinea is easy. They will attract new fans. Perth is an easy market because it’s another new market. Christchurch (in New Zealand) will also attract new fans.

“The Dolphins have gone above and beyond because they have shown they will bring more eyes to the game, and more fan support means more revenue.”

The NRL hierarchy is working on putting the finishing touches on a strategic plan to be shown to the existing 17 clubs, which sets out rugby league’s most ambitious expansion plans since the Super League war.

The 17 clubs will receive details of plans to add three clubs within ten years of the NRL establishing an expansion task force, led by commissioners Peter Beattie and Kate Jones, to launch PNG due diligence.

Existing clubs in the game will receive financial assistance to obtain development support.

Talks are understood to have taken place with PNG and the federal government to collect a licensing fee of more than $50 million from the 18th team, which would be distributed among the 17 clubs to gain their support.

Well-placed sources say the clubs want as much as $170 million over the five years of the next broadcast cycle.

North Sydney came away from the V’landys game full of hope that the mighty Bears would return to the big league.

It is understood Perth will not be accepted into the NRL as a stand-alone club, nor will the Bears.

The NRL is favoring a relocation model of the Perth Bears joint venture operating under the slogan “Two Stories, One Future” – ostensibly becoming the NRL’s Sydney Swans.

North Sydney chairman Daniel Dickson has confirmed the meeting with V’landys and says the Bears, who last played in the Premiership in 1999, could launch as an NRL operation.

“We are confident that we are ready,” he said.

“Perth has a great climate and we would be very happy to march towards it.”

There were plans for Papua New Guinea to be based full-time in Cairns, which would have given Queensland links with a fifth NRL club, but V’landys rejected the idea.

“No, no PNG team will be based in Cairns,” he said.

“The team will definitely be working full-time in Papua New Guinea.

“If you want it to work, don’t put it in Australia.

“How is PNG going to engage with its team when it is based in Australia?

“You need to have a full-time team in PNG.

“We will have no impact on the ecosystem in north Queensland where the Cowboys have been so successful and that is where they are at their heart.”