One of Shane Richardson's opening tasks in his new role as the NRL's head of game strategy and development could be to meet with Marwan Koukash, who is behind a daring bid to introduce an English club into the NRL after the game's governing body confirmed it would explore all expansion proposals.
Fairfax Media revealed Koukash's bold plans on Sunday with the Salford Red Devils owner keen to explore the possibility of an English-based franchise joining the league's premier competition. Koukash's desire comes just days after Richardson quit as South Sydney boss to join the NRL's senior ranks.
A NRL spokesman confirmed the game would explore all possibilities if they decide to expand the competition beyond its current 16-team format. "We will be launching the biggest NRL calendar to date this week and have our eyes firmly on delivering a great year across the nines, all-stars, premiership and representative calendar," the spokesman said. "We have always said we would consider expansion at the appropriate time but there will be many considerations if and when that day arrives. Shane's appointment as head of game strategy is about looking at the footprint of the game, and we will be a taking planned approach to this as we head towards the next rights agreements."
Any expansion is expected to coincide with the game's current television deal expiring at the end of 2017. Extra teams in New Zealand and Queensland are among likely bidders for a place in the NRL alongside Perth and the Central Coast. However, Koukash told Fairfax Media he had already secured an international airline to sponsor any franchise. "This the only way the sport is going to grow, through integration between the two competitions," Koukash said. "I have asked the NRL if it would ever allow an English side to play in the NRL. The way it would work is you apply for a franchise and assemble a team over here that operates under the same salary cap as the NRL."
Koukash is planning on discussing the idea with the NRL in March.
