The club, formerly known as Easts Tigers, currently plays in the Queensland Cup and has been around for 94 years, giving them ample time to build a powerful community in the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n
The race for the 20th team is heating up with recent emergence of a Toowoomba bid, while the Southern Orcas hailing from Christchurch also remain in the fight.<\/p>\n
Tigers chief executive Mitch Cook says they are ready to enter the expansion fight, accompanied by a strong financial arsenal to impress the NRL<\/a> head honchos.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we’re absolutely still keen to get the licence,\u201d Cook said to News Corp.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be recognised as a leading contender because we have great financial backing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going through a process of locking in meetings so hopefully over the next couple of weeks that (talks with the ARL Commission) will happen.<\/p>\n \u201cOur location is perfect – another team in Brisbane.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be great to have an alternative option to the Brisbane Broncos<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Dolphins<\/a> have created a really good tribalism with the Broncos but they are based at Redcliffe.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NRL<\/a> would go to another level if there’s another team south of the (Brisbane river) to the Broncos … it explodes the Brisbane marketplace.”<\/p>\n The Tigers’ last attempt to join the NRL<\/a> came in 2021, under the alias Brisbane Firehawks, but were pipped by the Dolphins’ bid based in the outer suburbs of Redcliffe.<\/p>\n The largest problem lies in their branding. There is zero chance the NRL<\/a> can sign-off on two Tigers franchises in the one competition.<\/p>\n Although Cook is open to the possibility of joining forces with another bid to continue with their expansion drive.<\/p>\n It includes the iconic Sydney-based Newtown Jets, or Ipswich Jets based in the western corridor of Queensland.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are open to being collaborative with who we are talking to and explore how the 20th licence could come to life,\u201d Cook said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe name is not something we have landed on.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had the Firehawks last time and consensus says we probably won’t go down that path again.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we’re open to looking at who we could partner with to make that team come to life with whatever brand we needed to have.<\/p>\n \u201cWe still have an appetite to engage in the south-west corridor (of Brisbane) through Ipswich and Toowoomba and to keep growing the game through there.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are open to being innovative.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re very open to partnering with other expansion contenders or any interested parties to explore what a partnership can look like.\u201d<\/p>\n The NRL<\/a> is picking up speed in the expansion of the code, which will see Perth join the NRL<\/a> next year, while the PNG Chiefs<\/a> will enter the competition in 2028.<\/p>\n![\"2013](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/182269620.jpg.webp\")
IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Cody Walker of the Tigers takes on the defence during the 2013 QLD Cup Grand Final match between the Easts Tigers and Mackay Cutters at Suncorp Stadium on September 29, 2013 in Ipswich, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Walker](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-491225316.jpg.webp\")
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 04: Chris Walker, Ben Walker, Shane Walker of the Jets hold aloft the winners trophy after the 2015 State Championship Grand Final match between Ipswich Jets and the Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n