Thomson supports Gold Coast bid

Manly boss Ian Thomson has thrown his support behind a consortium bidding to base a National Rugby League team on the Gold Coast from 2006.

Gold Coast syndicate head Paul Broughton and bid accountant Michael Searle made a presentation to Thomson following Tuesday's pitch to the NRL.

Thomson says the tourist strip is the ideal base for a 16th NRL team, with no competition from other major football codes. He says the Gold Coast bid should be high on the NRL's priority list for a stand-alone licence, ahead of Gosford and Wellington.