澳大利亚橄榄球联赛（NRL）的广播合约中暗含一项秘密条款，为联赛增设第20支球队提供了高达1.2亿美元的激励[1]。根据这一条款，NRL必须在2029年前完成扩队，否则将面临严厉的财务惩罚——从该年起连续6个赛季，联赛将从5.3亿美元的广播权协议中每年被扣除2000万美元[1]。这份广播权协议为期7年，从2028年至2034年生效，创造了澳大利亚体育史上最大的传媒权利包[1]。
扩队计划已初见端倪。珀斯熊队预计将于2027年加入成为第18支球队，巴布亚新几内亚酋长队则将于2028年成为第19支球队[1]。新西兰的Southern Orcas正竞标成为下一支特许球队，该队主席格雷厄姆·洛表示"那是一个绝好的机会，你不能忽视这个事实"[1]。Southern Orcas计划以拥有3万个座位的One NZ Stadium作为主场，该场馆已于今年开放[1]。
The National Rugby League has secured a $120 million financial incentive embedded within its broadcast agreement to expand to 20 teams by 2029, according to confidential contract terms [1]. Under the arrangement, failure to meet this expansion deadline will result in annual deductions of $20 million from the league's broadcasting revenue package beginning in 2029, continuing for six years [1].
The seven-year broadcast rights deal, valued at $530 million and running from 2028 to 2034, represents the largest sports media rights package in Australian history [1]. The expansion roadmap is already taking shape, with the Perth Bears set to join as the 18th team in 2027, followed by the Papua New Guinea Chiefs entering as the 19th team in 2028 [1]. New Zealand's Southern Orcas are now competing for the opportunity to become the league's 20th franchise, with Southern Orcas chairman Graham Law stating that "it's an absolute opportunity, you can't ignore that fact" [1].
The Southern Orcas have identified the One NZ Stadium, a newly opened 30,000-seat venue, as their intended home ground [1].