By Simon Brunsdon and Brett Graham
The Redcliffe Dolphins person officially won the contention to participate the NRL successful 2023, with the contention to grow to 17 teams.
The Dolphins - who volition present driblet Redcliffe from their rubric altogether - bushed bids from the Firehawks and Jets to go the 4th Queensland squad successful the competition.
A committee gathering of the ARLC this greeting approved the move, the archetypal clip a caller nine has been admitted since Gold Coast re-joined the contention successful 2007.
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The squad volition beryllium based astatine Moreton Daily Stadium, but volition play astir of their location games astatine Suncorp Stadium, alternating with the Broncos.
"This is breathtaking due to the fact that it's not conscionable astir adding a 17th team, it's astir a strategy, specifically successful Queensland," NRL brag Andrew Abdo told media.
"The NRL tin get successful down a strategy that is holistic, that covers each corners of the state, that thinks astir the maturation of the crippled from the bottom, each the mode to the top.
"This was a strategical consideration. It's been thought astir implicit a fig of years. It's been a precise thorough and rigorous process. It has been precise heavy researched, it has been data-driven, and that's wherefore it has taken arsenic agelong arsenic it has taken."
NRL admits Dolphins arsenic 17th team
Abdo revealed wherefore the Dolphins had edged retired the Jets and the Firehawks to triumph the licence.
"From a governance and a hazard perspective, from a stableness and fiscal diversification of revenues... this is not thing the Commission wanted to put tens of millions of dollars into," helium said.
"We request a nine that tin basal connected their ain 2 feet and person diversified gross streams and person a plan. A precise beardown commercialized plan.
"It was important for immoderate caller nine to bring caller sponsors into the game, not cannibalise existing sponsors. With the Dolphins we've seen the quality of a nine to bring in, and person already contracted a naming rights sponsor and respective important sponsors that aren't presently invested successful the game.
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"And we privation a squad that tin beryllium palmy connected the tract precise quickly, and what we saw successful their connection were unit instructions astir a squad that we judge tin execute precise rapidly astatine the highest level.
"What we've seen from the Dolphins is simply a program to turn the men's competition, the women's competition, to link with affiliations passim Queensland, unfastened opportunities to bring caller participants into the game."
Seven-time premiership winning manager Wayne Bennett is wide expected to pb the Dolphins successful their inaugural season.
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The nine volition beryllium capable to attack players from November 1 with a presumption to signing contracts for the 2023 season.
"Today is an breathtaking infinitesimal successful the past of our game. I would similar to congratulate The Dolphins connected being granted the 17th licence,'' ARLC brag Peter V'landys said.
"I would besides similar to admit and convey the different bid teams for the enactment they enactment into their submissions. All 3 bids were of the highest calibre and item the spot of rugby league successful Queensland."
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