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FWC on Sport Nation guideExclusive: Council-led Christchurch bid emerges for second NZ NRL team
Alex Chapman • June 23rd, 2026 5:53 pm
One NZ Stadium hosting the NRL | Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
Another option in the ongoing NRL expansion has emerged.
A council-led amalgamation of two bidders and a visit from league bosses are seen as huge developments in the addition of a second New Zealand NRL team based in Christchurch.
Sport Nation understands Christchurch City Council intends to lead a bid, as part of a partnership which would combine two competing proposals into one.
That would create a group that one source described as "the best chance" for the city to enter the competition.
One of those, the South Island NRL Bid Limited (SINRL) has former Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott as its President, while former Christchurch East MP Poto Williams and Waikato Rugby Board President Coal Groves are also believed to be involved.
Canterbury Rugby League board director Darren Littlewood and ex-CEO Duane Fyfe are also associated with it, while former Canterbury Rugby League board chair Tony Kidd was an early contributor, though left last year.
Endacott didn’t want to comment when approached by Sport Nation, nor did the Christchurch City Council, who referred questions to the NRL.
Over 25,000 rugby league fans packed out Te Kaha for the Warriors' Round 16 clash with the Cowboys | Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
The other consortium, known as the Southern Kea, did have former New Zealand Rugby and NRL boss David Moffett leading the charge, although it’s understood he’s no longer associated with it and their lone bid has folded.
The latest development is believed to have come after the NRL told potential ventures they would need community backing, rather than relying solely on private ownership.
That's understood to have led to the Council's involvement and now leaves questions over the $360 million bid led by rugby league icon Sir Graham Lowe and former NZRL chair Andrew Chalmers.
Their well-publicised "Southern Orcas” option was launched in 2024, and included an ambitious 20 hectare centre of excellence and 10 regional satellite centres.
Australian Rugby League Commission boss Peter V'landys and outgoing NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo were both at the Warriors' 38-20 win over the Cowboys at the city's new One New Zealand Stadium on Sunday.
Warriors CEO Cameron George told Sport Nation's Millsy and Guy on Tuesday that there’s “no doubt that the NRL want to expand” and that “New Zealand is a great option and it should be explored.”
“From our perspective, the One New Zealand Warriors, my only challenge to the NRL has been if you are going to consider New Zealand has the preferred location and option for the 20th team, it is that they should be investing in the country far more significantly than what they are at this point in time, and build it from within.” George stated.
“Because right now, there’s no domestic competitions that are at the level we need to to sustain, not only for one team, because we fly all of ours to Sydney each week, and vice-versa, but to underpin two teams, that would mean you’re flying 12 teams to Australia every week.
Warriors run out at Te Kaha | Photo: Photosport
“So a three-to-five year strategy to build that up from within, I have no doubt a second team would be a very good option in New Zealand.”
George indicated that based on his conversations, the NRL’s willing to do that.
The Warriors are scheduled to host two more games in the Garden City over the next two years, while the Kiwis will also host the Cook Islands at the ground on October 25 as part of the World Cup.
Sources have indicated that the final decision will be as much about rugby league considerations as financial ones, with one source close to the Council-led-combined bid expressing that “money wouldn’t be a problem”.
The bid is thought to be backed by local private investment, which would stray from the models that have been seen with the latest expansions in the NRL.
In 2024, it was announced the Australian Government and the ARLC would fund a 10-year partnership to boost the game in the Pacific, starting with Papua New Guinea entering the NRL in 2028.
Of the NZ$600 million pledged, NZ$290 million will go towards the NRL franchise, while a further NZ$60 million will be paid directly to the NRL as a licence fee, expected to be shared among existing clubs.
Last year, the Western Australian Government and the ARLC signed off on funding the Perth Bears' entry into the competition in 2027 as part of a NZ$80.24 million deal over seven years.
While the timeline is unclear for the inception of a potentially successful Christchurch bid, early indications suggest a targeted entry date of between 2029 and 2030.
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