Thunder's NSW Cup bid gets green light

In the most significant move since Albury unveiled its NSW Cup proposal four months ago, officials from NSW Cup clubs have agreed to let the Thunder join the competition in 12 months.

The decision gives the progressive border club a timeline to meet financial and player requirements to compete in the second strongest rugby league competition in NSW.

Mike Eden, who is head of Albury's NSW Cup bid, yesterday revealed he had held talks with top NSWRL officials Bob Millward and Bob Saunders last month.

Eden said the chief executives of the NSW Cup clubs had also given tacit approval for Albury to have a team in the competition in 2014.

"The main thing is that it has to be done properly," Eden said yesterday.

Working closely with the Melbourne Storm, Albury expects to be in a position to spend as much as $500,000 on the NSW Cup team in its infancy.

"Melbourne won't give money as such, but will buy players (for the team)," Eden said.

In a lightning bolt announcement, Eden also revealed other Group Nine clubs would have the opportunity to come on board the NSW Cup project.

"My aim is to have players from the other clubs also playing in the NSW Cup," Eden said.

"For example, Kyle McCarthy from Southcity would have the opportunity to play for Albury.

"He (McCarthy) would come down (to Albury) to train and then fly to Sydney to play."

The concept of including the other 10 Group Nine clubs has already been raised with some senior officials, with a favourable response.

Under the idea, players would sign with the various Group Nine clubs, but would also be on a provisional list for the Thunder's NSW Cup outfit.

Eden is also keen to give Group 20 clubs the chance to be a part of the NSW Cup experience.

The Albury solicitor and past Rothmans Medal winner disclosed Albury has until June to lodge its application for the 2014 NSW Cup competition.

Newtown, which won the NSW Cup grand final at ANZ Stadium a week ago, has already "welcomed" Albury into the fold with a Twitter offering.

Eden is working on a business plan that will outline the budgetary measures Albury will have in place to make the giant leap into the cup.

Albury City Council has already agreed to support the plan, matching Albury's ground development program at Greenfield Park in Lavington on a "dollar-for-dollar" basis.

Significantly, a NSW Cup game is set to be played at Greenfield Park in March, possibly on a double-header bill with the Group Nine All Stars versus the Indigenous All Stars.