Melbourne Storm skipper Christian Welch admits even he would be “shocked” if the NRL’s next expansion team is based out of Victoria.
It comes after ARL commission chairman Peter V’landys confirmed that the NRL will “100 per cent” look into the option in an interview with News Corpon Tuesday.
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“Absolutely, 100 per cent. You would have to be mad not to look at it,” V’landys said to the publication.
“The reason why we would never rule it out is because one thing the The Dolphins have proven to us is people love cross-town rivalries.
“The fabric of rugby league is built on tribalism and rivalry. That’s why we can’t rule out.”
V’landys also pointed towards the fact that rugby league’s junior base in Victoria has “expanded considerably” as another reason to support a potential second team in the state.
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Melbourne forward Welch was quizzed about the potential development on radio on Tuesday afternoon and said he was surprised the NRL could look to Victoria for its 18th team.
“I hadn’t heard that,” he said on SEN 1116’s ‘The Run Home with Andy & Gazey.
“Look, if any sporting city could do it Melbourne could, but I’d be thinking Western Australia or a second team in New Zealand.
“They’ve nailed it with the Dolphins, getting a strong team in there but it’s got to be expansion not necessarily consolidation I would think for the NRL but it’s great to see they’re thinking about that.”
Welch added that he thinks an 18th team in Victoria “would work” but also questioned whether it could take away from what makes the Storm such a successful brand.
“I think it would work,” Welch said.
“But I think one of the special things about being the Melbourne Storm, it unifies the city.
“There’s different AFL clubs here, if you’re a Collingwood fan you shouldn’t like the other fans, but I think a lot of AFL people, they also support the Storm because it’s about Melbourne and one team in the city.
“I think that’s why the Storm works well. We obviously play second fiddle to the AFL clubs but I think a lot of the AFL people go, ‘Oh yeah, I also go for the Storm as well’. I’d be surprised, but the rivalry could work, it’s great to have some of that stuff but I’d be shocked to be honest if that happened.”
