Intrust grand finalists Neville Costigan from Townsville Blackhawks and Ipswich Jets captain Keiron Lander at Suncorp Stadium media call. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times

Intrust grand finalists Neville Costigan from Townsville Blackhawks and Ipswich Jets captain Keiron Lander at Suncorp Stadium media call. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times Rob Williams

FORMER NRL and Origin star Neville Costigan has thrown his support behind a new NRL team in Ipswich.

The 30-year-old lock will be a foe of the Ipswich Jets when he runs out for the Townsville Blackhawks in tomorrow's grand final.

But Costigan has proven to be a friend of the Western Corridor NRL bid.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant said this week that there were provisions in the new free-to-air broadcast deal for a 17th team to be based in Brisbane.

Costigan told the QT this week that having a team in Ipswich would prevent the likes of Jets hooker Matt Parcell being forced to leave town and move to Manly where he has secured a three-year deal.

"A new NRL team will good for Brisbane and good for Ipswich," Costigan said.

"There is only the Broncos now but Suncorp gets almost packed out most weeks during the season.

"Ipswich is a big city and they all love their footy.

"I'm sure they would definitely come to watch their own team."

Costigan said Ipswich produced "more than enough" players to make an NRL team viable.

"There is heaps of NRL talent that comes out of Ipswich and if you brought all the young players through to play for Ipswich I am sure they could do something special," he said.

"I've been watching Matt Parcell on TV this year and he is definitely something special.

"You don't want to be losing players like him from your community if you can help it.''

Costigan left the Broncos to pursue a career with the Raiders, Dragons, Newcastle and Hull KR but said he would never have left his home state if there was an Ipswich side.

"I definitely would have taken that opportunity," he said.

"I love living in Queensland and if there had have been a second Brisbane side after me I definitely would have picked them ahead of any other NRL side.

"Kevvie Walters and Alfie (Langer) have always told me about how good Ipswich is."