Southern Orcas franchise bid CEO Sir Graham Lowe says the fledgling club would be ready to go if handed the 20th NRL franchise for 2028.
Lowe, a legend of the game and former coach of Manly-Warringah and Queensland, has told SEN Radio that the Orcas would make no excuses if they were given the green light.
“It won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination and we are realistic,” Lowe began.
“But there’s a lot of players available and you’ll be surprised where we get them from.
“We are ready to go.
The really important thing though, is to get the tick [from NRL) so we can get the coach in place.
That’s got to be a key factor in the whole lot.
“But I mean, chances like this come along less than once in a blue moon.
“So, we are ready, we have to be ready and we won’t be coming along with any excuses at all.”
A second NRL club in New Zealand would be another shot fired against rugby union over the ditch and would create an immediate rivalry with the Auckland-based Warriors.
