Super Netball chief Kelly Ryan has confirmed that team expansion is on the cards after the current broadcast deal ends, with the Gold Coast, Tasmania, Newcastle and regional Victoria among those interested in launching a team.

The new broadcasting deal that starts this weekend at the Team Girls Cup, will run through the 2026 season, with the league focusing on rebuilding its financial position after spending two years in a COVID-19 bubble.

Commenting on the potential expansion Super Netball chief executive office, Kelly Ryan, told News Corps: “We want to make sure that our existing eight (clubs) are sustainable and strong.”

“But naturally, I don’t think we want to just sit here and just expect that the eight teams will continue to go around forever and a day.

“So, as we grow the sport, as the interest level grows, we’ll absolutely be having public conversations on expansion.

“We receive calls regularly to be honest about people inquiring about how they can go about getting a license and what are the things that they should do today to position themselves for a license in the future.

“That’s a great signal that there is plenty of interest and appetite – but for now, we are just fully committed to our existing eight being sustainable and strong,” she said.

The Gold Coast Titans have expressed their interest in entering a team into the competition, with the NRL club fielding a team in this year’s Queensland state league.

If successful, the Titans would follow in the footsteps of the Melbourne Storm and Collingwood Magpies, who already own sides in the competition.

Former player Sharon Finnan-White has developed the idea of an Indigenous side based in North Queensland, with the team playing their first season in the Townsville Premier League, Netball Tasmania have also made their interest clear in fielding a team in the national competition.

Despite the wait for an expansion team, Ryan believes there are still plenty of opportunities for netball beyond the next five years, but the current timeframe gives the league a chance to cement netball as a top sport.

Additionally, Ryan has the ability to lead the Super Netball competition in the right direction after serving as an AFL executive, which included jump starting an AFLW team, the league boss also has extensive knowledge in the structural issues league expansion brings and how to remain dynamic in a world where women’s sport is growing rapidly.