Redcliffe Dolphins is expected to be confirmed as the NRL's newest team this week.
News Corp reports the Queensland-based expansion bid has clinched the league's 17th licence, staving off bids from Brisbane Firehawks and Brisbane Jets.
The ARL Commission will formally unveil the AU$74 million powerhouse as the preferred candidate for expansion on Wednesday, with Redcliffe becoming Brisbane's second NRL team for the 2023 season and beyond.
Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson has responded "none whatsoever", when asked if there'd been an indication of a preferred bidder.
Jets chief executive Nick Livermore refuses to speculate, saying the bid hasn't had any communication with the EAC, apart from an email in August and an initial meeting that month, when all three bids pitched directly to the commission.
Last week, ARLC chair Peter V'landys informed the NRL's 16 existing clubs of the decision to introduce a 17th team into the competition, after a $53 million surplus for the league.
Legendary coach Wayne Bennett is the favoured choice for coach, with the club targeting Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans as marquee signings.
The Dolphins will be the NRL's first expansion team since Gold Coast Titans, who were introduced to the league in 2007.
"The Dolphins have a detailed 100-day plan ready to initiate as soon as we are awarded an NRL licence to ensure we can be highly competitive from what could be our very first season in 2023," Dolphins bid chief Terry Reader told News Corp last week. "The Dolphins are NRL ready and can start tomorrow."
The Dolphins will have 12 months to put together a 30-player senior squad and coaching staff, before pre-season begins in November 2022.
