Look out Perth and Papua New Guinea!

Momentum is now with a South Island New Zealand bid with former NRL CEO David Moffat joining the South Island Kea bid.

“If the opening game of the 2026 or 2027 season was going to be the Warriors versus the Kea, I could sell 50,000 tickets in a 25,000-seat stadium tomorrow,” David Moffat told SEN Radio.

Following the recent success of the New Zealand Warriors, rugby league has never been more alive in New Zealand. The Warriors’ first two home games were sold out before a ball was kicked and the ‘Up the Wahs!’ movement has taken over the NRL.

It’s upon this hype that the South Island Kea want to base their bid to become the NRL’s 18th side.

“If the opening game of the 2026 or 2027 season… was going to be the Warriors versus the Kea, I could sell 50,000 tickets in a 25,000-seat stadium tomorrow,” said David Moffat, the leader of the South Island bid, speaking on The Jimmy Smith Show.

“It’s going to be the equivalent of State of Origin when we play them (Warriors).”

The Kea would be based out of Christchurch.