NRL: 'Brisbane Bombers' bid for NRL inclusion

A franchise called the Brisbane Bombers could join the NRL. Photo / Getty Images

One of the teams vying for inclusion in an expanded NRL competition hope to take off as early as 2013 as the Brisbane Bombers.

That's the name that bid chairman Craig Davison is tipped to unveil, along with the team's official playing colours of navy blue and orange, at a major announcement this morning at Albion Park Raceway in Brisbane.

Several potential names were suggested by 12,000 fans including Braves, Bayliners and Barracudas, before market research strongly recommended Bombers.

While the name might anger AFL officials and fire up fans of Melbourne club Essendon, who believe the Bombers' name is their property, there are already instances of NRL-AFL cross-code clashes with Wests Tigers and Richmond (Tigers), and Canterbury Bulldogs and Western Bulldogs sharing the same nicknames.

Manly (Sea Eagles) and West Coast (Eagles) also share similar names.

The bid team's logo will feature a bomber pilot and air force wings with the name Bombers embroidered across the top of the pilot's aviator cap and goggles.

Checks with ASIC confirm the name Brisbane Bombers was registered on July 5.

Davison however declined to confirm Bombers as the name the team would announce.

The inner-city trotting and greyhound complex, Albion Park, a virtual ghost track these days, is rumoured as the Bombers' likely home base.

Trotting and greyhound racing is relocating to a redeveloped $50 million multi-purpose track at Deagon on Brisbane's northside.

With plans for state-of-the-art training fields, a community club, pool, gymnasium and administration offices, their set-up would rival any in the NRL.

The bid team has already flagged its interest in rugby union superstars Quade Cooper and Sonny Bill Williams and been approached by agents representing more than 20 NRL players interested in signing up.
Bid directors Davison, Nick Livermore and Bill Rae, who have dedicated thousands of hours to putting together their detailed expansion proposal, have letters of intent from about 20 players and a shortlist of coaching candidates and potential chief executives.

- AAP