November 7, 2024 • 9 mins
Chairman Sir Graham Lowe joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the Southern Orca's official bid for an NRL license.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be ten after seven News came out only a couple
of hours ago. Southern Orcers have climbed back on board
again to try and persuade the NRL the AARL to
grant them a franchise license for the second NRL team
based in New Zealand. There are a number of consortiums
(00:32):
out there. There's this one, there's one without really a name,
Tony Kird behind that, and then of course David Moffatt
behind the KA.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
They want to be involved. The South Island wants to
be involved.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
They're all roundly rejected by Abdoh and by the Landers
of recent times, suggesting, among other things, there's not enough
money in it for them. They need a bigger, better
and better proposal from all of these teams. If you
really want to get into the NRL, what have you got?
So people are still jostlings, still elbowing, and a team
(01:08):
that's at the front of the jostle right now is
the Southern Orcas. We're talking now to Sir Graham Low,
the chairman of the Orcas Rugby League bid. Welcome to
the show. Sir Graham, I hope.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
You're will I'm well, Darcy, thank you mate.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So the Southern orcas looking for an NRL license. Just
fill us on on where we sit right now. There
was reports going around recently that the NRL wanted a
pile of money.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I don't know how much truth was, and that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Who Abdoh and Flanders met when they came over here.
No one really knows, so just put us in a position.
What do we know at the moment.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Pretty much know the same as you. So we submitted
a bid a while ago when the opportunity was there,
and part of that part of that process, then we
were entered NDA, which we start rigidly too, so that
that's why no one's had any idea, not even the
slightest until today. So it's been it's been a long
(02:06):
sort of a process. But it sort of brightened up
that I suppose when when Peter Landy's a chairman of
the League of the Australian came out and said that
all the bid is needed to lift their game.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
So we've taken it.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
We took that on board, spent a lot more time
on it because we didn't have a lot of time
the first. In the first instance, the NRAL didn't give
us many days to put everything together. But we've put
our best foot forward now and so we just await
with bated breath and see the impact that it's had
on the NRL.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
You said, lift your game or they have to everyone
has to lift their game. Was that purely a financial
input situation?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Where else would you lift such money?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
So we don't really know what they meant.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
They didn't give us any explanation that was you know,
we pretty much that was all all that was said,
you know, and Petervlandy has made it pretty clear in
the media we actually didn't to tell the truth, Darcy.
We didn't think we were far off the mark in
the first place, but we took it on board. You know,
we've had more time, had more time now. But the
presentation that we put forward for the media today, even
(03:15):
though it sounds like I'm big noting, I thought were
stunning and has certainly given them plenty to consider.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
It's not a bit risky, though, Graham, if you don't
really know what they meant by left and you're not
really sure what they're after to put a whole lot
of work and effort and power into something you're not
quite sure where it's going.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
You see it. I'm hinting at there.
Speaker 5 (03:34):
Oh yeah, yeah, But I mean that's that's how it is.
So we don't make the rules and we just want
to fit in and be as helpful as we can
in the whole process. Put forward something that we consider
will be hard for them or you know, be interesting
to see if there's a reason why it's not successful.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
So we put our best foot forward. It's really well supported.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
We had a fantastic was received really really well from
the Sydney media today when we did it, and it's
you know, really, I suppose everybody thinks the same, everyone
that's putting a bid in thinks the same wherever they are.
But I'm just absolutely totally confident we've done a professional job.
(04:16):
We've explained a vision and we've given them what we
think it can do for the for the game, but
more in particular for christ Church, for the South Island,
what it can do for the future and the avenues
that can take take the game and the Orcas down
and with the NRL. So anything you can think of,
we've tried to cover as well as we possibly can.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Chair of the Southern Orcas are bidden for the NRL
to become a South Island franchise. In the NRL's name's
Graham Lowe, he joins us. Now, so did they accept
this plane? Was there anying official or did you stick
it in the mailbox? You just sit back and wait
when wants the process from now?
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Well, I expect that that NRL will be well aware
of it. They'll they'll have a copy of the of
the release, so we'll just wait and see.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Well, so no official communications between you or or the
ARL or the NRL.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
That's that's That's how it seems to have been with everyone.
So it leaves you a little bit in the dark.
So we wanted to put That's where I was saying,
Darcy will put our best foot forward. So we've left
no one in the dark about our ambition, the opportunity
that we see for christ Church and the club and
the game and for thousands of young kids with regards
(05:30):
to the opportunities and pathways for them.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
And also the rest of the country.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Expect other NRL franchises overly pleased with a second franchise
in New Zealand because steal all of their players off them,
because they're all based on here anyway, lowie time scale.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
What are we looking at here? When are you expecting
some form of response?
Speaker 2 (05:49):
When do you think something's going to be green lit
as far as a new expansion team, because it's quite open,
isn't it.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
But I think the NRL have got a lot on
their played at the moment, you know they I'd say
they've had heavy focus on what they what their plans
are with P and G and also there's been some
challenges for them by the looks of it with Western Australia.
So we I mean, we're we're not pushing anything. We
just wait and see. We've put we've we've we've given
(06:19):
it our best shot, so now we will just wait
and see that.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
So there's no timeline for you.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
You're not saying, hey, you got a year and a half,
two years and stuff, as your investors have.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
We got if we've got a phone call this afternoon
and said can you start straight away, we'll be into
it straight away.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
So you've got a number of investors involved in this
and they're pretty much they're open ended.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
They're there until we know one way or the other
of the next few years.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
They know the investors know exactly the challenges that we're
facing and and there's no issue there enough and even
worry about.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Why do you think it wouldn't work?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
If you had any fears about what the a r L,
the NRL will say, where would they sit.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I've got I've got no idea what I've got, no
fears about what it wouldn't work. It's just it's very
very solid. We've you know, when you consider the sen
the center of excellence that will have, it's world class,
we'll be based out of Rolliston and it be multi
sport and it'll be something in the whole of the
(07:23):
country can be proud of because there's nothing like it
at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Take this overall bit with a value of what what
they're saying, Australians threwnd and twenty five million dollars that's
worth the license fee and so on and so forth.
Where does most of that money come from?
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Graham?
Speaker 5 (07:38):
It comes from varying sources. You know, the investors obviously
provide a bit, but there's we've got partners and there's
very various sources that comes from.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
And so with the senser at Rolliston rubber stamp, does
that been approved or you're not going to go on
that until you know what's going on.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
I mean, we can't, we can't.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
It's a it's it might seund you know, a little
bit unusual for a lot of your listeners, Darcy. But
until we get the tick, when we get at the tech,
it'll be put flat on the floor.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
So we can't. We can't do anything.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Until we get an understanding of where the NRL see us,
as simple as that.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
And finally, with the home games at Taka, I don't
know so many people are so keen to see that
place open. That's a reality. You're not fighting with anyone
else for for dates. That's going to be fine.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
You're presuming, oh no, no, that's that's all fine. That's
that will be our base and it'll be just just fantastic.
And I mean you just can't just imagine the first
game or the Southern Orcas up against the Warriors, can
you can you just sit back from arm and get
your head around that and think about what that you
what what it will, What it be for the Warriors,
(08:49):
for the for the Orcers, for the for the whole
Canterbury region.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Be fantastic, just be absolutely fantastic.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
The fee to be paid to the n r L,
the a r L, whoever's involved. It's been sat around
sixty sixty five million dollars. What have you in mark
for that? What kind of offer are you putting forward?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Graham?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Well, I think it's a lot of things we've got
to keep confidential, and that's one of them.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And I'm sure you'll understand that.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I wish we know you couldn't give us a wee hent,
could you, Sir Graham?
Speaker 5 (09:22):
I wish I could, but I find you're a really
good friend, but no, I can't give you idiots.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to news Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be ten after seven News came out only a couple
of hours ago. Southern Orcers have climbed back on board
again to try and persuade the NRL the AARL to
grant them a franchise license for the second NRL team
based in New Zealand. There are a number of consortiums
(00:32):
out there. There's this one, there's one without really a name,
Tony Kird behind that, and then of course David Moffatt
behind the KA.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
They want to be involved. The South Island wants to
be involved.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
They're all roundly rejected by Abdoh and by the Landers
of recent times, suggesting, among other things, there's not enough
money in it for them. They need a bigger, better
and better proposal from all of these teams. If you
really want to get into the NRL, what have you got?
So people are still jostlings, still elbowing, and a team
(01:08):
that's at the front of the jostle right now is
the Southern Orcas. We're talking now to Sir Graham Low,
the chairman of the Orcas Rugby League bid. Welcome to
the show. Sir Graham, I hope.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
You're will I'm well, Darcy, thank you mate.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So the Southern orcas looking for an NRL license. Just
fill us on on where we sit right now. There
was reports going around recently that the NRL wanted a
pile of money.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I don't know how much truth was, and that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Who Abdoh and Flanders met when they came over here.
No one really knows, so just put us in a position.
What do we know at the moment.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Pretty much know the same as you. So we submitted
a bid a while ago when the opportunity was there,
and part of that part of that process, then we
were entered NDA, which we start rigidly too, so that
that's why no one's had any idea, not even the
slightest until today. So it's been it's been a long
(02:06):
sort of a process. But it sort of brightened up
that I suppose when when Peter Landy's a chairman of
the League of the Australian came out and said that
all the bid is needed to lift their game.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
So we've taken it.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
We took that on board, spent a lot more time
on it because we didn't have a lot of time
the first. In the first instance, the NRAL didn't give
us many days to put everything together. But we've put
our best foot forward now and so we just await
with bated breath and see the impact that it's had
on the NRL.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
You said, lift your game or they have to everyone
has to lift their game. Was that purely a financial
input situation?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Where else would you lift such money?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
So we don't really know what they meant.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
They didn't give us any explanation that was you know,
we pretty much that was all all that was said,
you know, and Petervlandy has made it pretty clear in
the media we actually didn't to tell the truth, Darcy.
We didn't think we were far off the mark in
the first place, but we took it on board. You know,
we've had more time, had more time now. But the
presentation that we put forward for the media today, even
(03:15):
though it sounds like I'm big noting, I thought were
stunning and has certainly given them plenty to consider.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
It's not a bit risky, though, Graham, if you don't
really know what they meant by left and you're not
really sure what they're after to put a whole lot
of work and effort and power into something you're not
quite sure where it's going.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
You see it. I'm hinting at there.
Speaker 5 (03:34):
Oh yeah, yeah, But I mean that's that's how it is.
So we don't make the rules and we just want
to fit in and be as helpful as we can
in the whole process. Put forward something that we consider
will be hard for them or you know, be interesting
to see if there's a reason why it's not successful.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
So we put our best foot forward. It's really well supported.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
We had a fantastic was received really really well from
the Sydney media today when we did it, and it's
you know, really, I suppose everybody thinks the same, everyone
that's putting a bid in thinks the same wherever they are.
But I'm just absolutely totally confident we've done a professional job.
(04:16):
We've explained a vision and we've given them what we
think it can do for the for the game, but
more in particular for christ Church, for the South Island,
what it can do for the future and the avenues
that can take take the game and the Orcas down
and with the NRL. So anything you can think of,
we've tried to cover as well as we possibly can.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Chair of the Southern Orcas are bidden for the NRL
to become a South Island franchise. In the NRL's name's
Graham Lowe, he joins us. Now, so did they accept
this plane? Was there anying official or did you stick
it in the mailbox? You just sit back and wait
when wants the process from now?
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Well, I expect that that NRL will be well aware
of it. They'll they'll have a copy of the of
the release, so we'll just wait and see.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Well, so no official communications between you or or the
ARL or the NRL.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
That's that's That's how it seems to have been with everyone.
So it leaves you a little bit in the dark.
So we wanted to put That's where I was saying,
Darcy will put our best foot forward. So we've left
no one in the dark about our ambition, the opportunity
that we see for christ Church and the club and
the game and for thousands of young kids with regards
(05:30):
to the opportunities and pathways for them.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
And also the rest of the country.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Expect other NRL franchises overly pleased with a second franchise
in New Zealand because steal all of their players off them,
because they're all based on here anyway, lowie time scale.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
What are we looking at here? When are you expecting
some form of response?
Speaker 2 (05:49):
When do you think something's going to be green lit
as far as a new expansion team, because it's quite open,
isn't it.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
But I think the NRL have got a lot on
their played at the moment, you know they I'd say
they've had heavy focus on what they what their plans
are with P and G and also there's been some
challenges for them by the looks of it with Western Australia.
So we I mean, we're we're not pushing anything. We
just wait and see. We've put we've we've we've given
(06:19):
it our best shot, so now we will just wait
and see that.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
So there's no timeline for you.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
You're not saying, hey, you got a year and a half,
two years and stuff, as your investors have.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
We got if we've got a phone call this afternoon
and said can you start straight away, we'll be into
it straight away.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
So you've got a number of investors involved in this
and they're pretty much they're open ended.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
They're there until we know one way or the other
of the next few years.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
They know the investors know exactly the challenges that we're
facing and and there's no issue there enough and even
worry about.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Why do you think it wouldn't work?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
If you had any fears about what the a r L,
the NRL will say, where would they sit.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I've got I've got no idea what I've got, no
fears about what it wouldn't work. It's just it's very
very solid. We've you know, when you consider the sen
the center of excellence that will have, it's world class,
we'll be based out of Rolliston and it be multi
sport and it'll be something in the whole of the
(07:23):
country can be proud of because there's nothing like it
at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Take this overall bit with a value of what what
they're saying, Australians threwnd and twenty five million dollars that's
worth the license fee and so on and so forth.
Where does most of that money come from?
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Graham?
Speaker 5 (07:38):
It comes from varying sources. You know, the investors obviously
provide a bit, but there's we've got partners and there's
very various sources that comes from.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
And so with the senser at Rolliston rubber stamp, does
that been approved or you're not going to go on
that until you know what's going on.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
I mean, we can't, we can't.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
It's a it's it might seund you know, a little
bit unusual for a lot of your listeners, Darcy. But
until we get the tick, when we get at the tech,
it'll be put flat on the floor.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
So we can't. We can't do anything.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Until we get an understanding of where the NRL see us,
as simple as that.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
And finally, with the home games at Taka, I don't
know so many people are so keen to see that
place open. That's a reality. You're not fighting with anyone
else for for dates. That's going to be fine.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
You're presuming, oh no, no, that's that's all fine. That's
that will be our base and it'll be just just fantastic.
And I mean you just can't just imagine the first
game or the Southern Orcas up against the Warriors, can
you can you just sit back from arm and get
your head around that and think about what that you
what what it will, What it be for the Warriors,
(08:49):
for the for the Orcers, for the for the whole
Canterbury region.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Be fantastic, just be absolutely fantastic.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
The fee to be paid to the n r L,
the a r L, whoever's involved. It's been sat around
sixty sixty five million dollars. What have you in mark
for that? What kind of offer are you putting forward?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Graham?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
Well, I think it's a lot of things we've got
to keep confidential, and that's one of them.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And I'm sure you'll understand that.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I wish we know you couldn't give us a wee hent,
could you, Sir Graham?
Speaker 5 (09:22):
I wish I could, but I find you're a really
good friend, but no, I can't give you idiots.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to news Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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