- NRL wants a team up and running in WA by 2027
- However, it definitely won’t be the Western Bears.
- WA Premier Roger Cook behind new expansion talks
The NRL expansion team in Perth could be finalized by Christmas as talks with the WA government reach their final stages.
On the same day a PNG team was granted a license to join the NRL from 2028, ARLC president Peter V’landys expressed confidence that a Perth-based franchise would also soon move on from the stripe.
Perth had originally been scheduled to enter the NRL as the 18th franchise in 2027 and play at HBF Park.
But the sports-mad city’s hopes of securing a license were thrown into doubt in October when a bid from a consortium made up of local investors and former NRL club North Sydney Bears was rejected.
The organizers of that bid did not include a licensing fee in their proposal documents, prompting the league to engage the WA government in expansion talks.
It appears a government-backed bid will be the only way a Perth team can get off the ground, and V’landys said the consortium’s hopes had “gone”.
“That’s in the trash can,” he said Thursday of the previous offer.
But V’landys was much more positive about the WA government’s push for inclusion in the league, led by Premier Roger Cook.
The NRL expansion team in Perth could be finalized by Christmas as talks with the WA government reach their final stages (pictured ARLC president Peter V’landys)
A WA government-backed bid looks set to be the only way a Perth team can get off the ground, with Peter V’landys saying the Western Bears consortium’s hopes had been “disappeared” (pictured, identity of the Bears, Greg Florimo).
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook is said to be a ‘rugby league fan’
“We have a very good relationship with the Premier, a rugby league fan, a pleasure to deal with, a really good guy,” he said.
‘(The expansion) is in the hands of the Western Australian Government. We have let you know what our requirements are.
‘They have never shown any concern about the requirements, they have been very positive with what we have said. “If all that translates into a deal, I think it will be done very soon.”
V’landys was optimistic a deal with Perth could be finalized by Christmas.
‘I hope it’s under the tree. “I’m not sure,” he said.
The NRL’s plan remains to expand to 20 teams over the next decade, although the location of the 20th team is yet to be determined.
New Zealand’s South Island seems like a good option, but during the last round of expansion applications three different bids were rejected. A fifth Queensland team is another option.
Christchurch welcomed a sold-out crowd to the Pacific Championship in October as the latest reminder of the potential in the South Island city, where construction of a new stadium is due to be completed in 2026.
“There’s a little bit of work left to get to 20, but that’s the goal and this (PNG) is the first,” V’landys said.
“Western Australia is next and we have a lot of options for the number 20 team.”