1 week Ago
Perth is on the verge of having its own NRL franchise after an in-principle agreement was struck between the Australian Rugby League Commission and the Western Australia government. The ARLC signed off on WA Premier Roger Cook’s revised offer on Wednesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, after it had initially rejected a bid for a private consortium last year. The agreement is a major step in the right direction for the Bears to return to the NRL, in its new home of Perth, more than 25 years after the club was booted from the competition when North Sydney was its home.
The Bears merged with Manly to become the Northern Eagles from 2000 to 2002, but later had to settle for a reserve grade side only, as Manly returned to the league under its own licence in 2003. It comes after negotiations between the NRL and WA government suffered roadblocks over the past six months. Mr Cook at one point accused the NRL of trying to use Western Australia as a "potential cash cow".
Now both parties appear to have agreed on the franchise’s finances. The NRL is hoping Perth's HBF Park will be the home of the new team, as it aims for a $200 million redevelopment to transform the ground in a top-class rugby league arena. In order to get the deal over the line, all NRL clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association have to sign off on the agreement, before the NRL can get back to the WA government with its position.
The NRL is reportedly holding a meeting on Thursday with a subcommittee of NRL clubs. The meeting could lead to the approval required for the Bears to potentially be introduced to the competition as soon as the 2027 season. Perth has previously been home to a rugby league franchise - the Western Reds - which was short-lived from 1995 to 1997 before being dissolved when the NRL was formed in 1998.
In October, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys knocked back Cash Converters owner Peter Cumins’ bid after he lodged an application for the Bears to become the league’s 18th franchise. Mr V’landys said at the time the bid failed to meet the financial requirements to efficiently fund the team. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and Mr V'landys have reportedly been working to revive the WA bid in recent weeks.
The competition will be joined by a team in Papua New Guinea which has already been approved, in 2028, expanding the league to 19 clubs..
