Not long ago it seemed a second New Zealand team based out of Christchurch was virtually inevitable.<\/p>\n
While that may yet happen representatives from the Ipswich Jets are increasingly bullish about their chances of leapfrogging the current Kiwi bids when the NRL announces its next expansion franchise, most likely before Christmas.<\/p>\n
Speaking on SENQ radio on Monday morning, former NRL star and Ipswich Jets Program and Development Manager Moses Mbye\u00a0was full of confidence that his club would be the 20th NRL franchise following the arrivals of the Perth Bears in 2027 and PNG Chiefs in 2028.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re confident\u2026 and I\u2019ll leave it at that,\u201d Mbye declared<\/a> to SENQ host Corey Parker.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I was a betting man, load up!\u201d<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Defensive disaster-class: Cowboys leak their way into NRL finals with record worst defence<\/a><\/p>\n Mbye\u2019s comments follow public declarations of support from several high profile figures within the game including Roosters<\/a> supremo Nick\u00a0Politis, as well as comments last week from Ipswich bid chief Steve Johnson who declared the Jets bid \u2018risk free\u2019 given Ipswich\u2019s long established talent pathways and rapidly growing population.<\/p>\n \u201cBrisbane\u2019s western corridor is the fastest growing region in Australia and with the Olympics coming here in 2032 we\u2019ll only get bigger,\u201d Johnson told The Courier Mail.<\/p>\n