The Ipswich Jets are refusing to be pushed aside in their long-running bid for an NRL team.
Ipswich is up against Toowoomba and the Queensland Heartland, two New Zealand clubs, Central Queensland, the Brisbane Tigers and Logan for the 20th licence.
The Toowoomba bid is reportedly backed by a wealthy investor.
The growing interest comes after the Crisafulli Government confirmed earlier this week it was willing to throw its support behind a fifth Queensland NRL team.
Ipswich Jets chairman Steve Johnson said Ipswich had been chasing a licence for 16 years and remained confident.
“Every day there is a new bid. It is getting more difficult, but we are the original bid and we are still the best bid,” he said.
Jets chairman Steve Johnson said Ipswich’s junior talent was one of its biggest strengths, with 44 players from the region’s junior system reaching the NRL in the past three years.
“If we had an NRL team, it would bring more money and resources into Ipswich to develop players locally and keep them in the region longer,” he said.
The Ipswich Jets chairman also questioned whether Toowoomba had enough fans and corporate backing to support an NRL team long-term.
“You need supporters and you need corporate support, not just one or two wealthy people to throw money at you because it is an ongoing process,” Mr Johnson said.
Mr Johnson said that Ipswich already has strong support and deserved the chance to prove it could make an NRL team work.
“If we can give Ipswich a fair go and give it a red-hot crack, if it’s good enough and if it’s not, then we’ll move on,” he said.
The Ipswich Jets bid is firmly anchored to a $40 million upgrade of North Ipswich Reserve.
Work has started on a new western grandstand, with the 2,199-seat facility to include coaches’ boxes, four modern change rooms, media facilities and function spaces for up to 250 guests.
The project is jointly funded by the Federal and State governments, as well as Ipswich City Council.
It is due to be completed by late 2027.
