A deal for Western Australian taxpayers to subsidise an NRL expansion franchise has largely been met with joy from the rugby league community. However, concerns have been raised over whether the competition can sustain 19 teams and exactly how much the state will pay for the entity dubbed the Perth Bears.
The Australian Rugby League Commission, led by chair Peter V’landys, struck an in-principle agreement with WA premier Roger Cook on Wednesday for the inclusion of the Bears in the NRL in 2027. The state government is to provide tens of millions of dollars covering infrastructure, pathways and a licence fee.
The deal must be approved by existing NRL clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association, before an expanded men’s competition – which would grow to 18 teams in 2027 before PNG joins one year later – is pitched to broadcasters for a new media rights agreement beginning in 2028 that will be worth billions of dollars to the code.
Rugby league sources on Thursday confirmed the existence of the deal, however Cook – speaking alongside prime minister Anthony Albanese in Perth – said conversations were “positive” but he had yet to receive a formal response from the NRL.
“I assume they have a range of processes they need to go through to consider anything in relation to these conversations,” Cook said. The premier is a rugby league fan and has been outspoken about his desire for an NRL team in WA.
“I will say that conversations are positive, and we continue to look forward to those discussions continuing,” Cook said.
The community of the North Sydney Bears, a foundation club which exited the first grade competition in 1999, showed less restraint on Thursday. Former player and board member Billy Moore told AAP, “this is the greatest day since the 1922 grand final.” Hornsby councillor Nathan Tilbury posted on Facebook saying “Forget the federal election, this is the biggest and best news of the day!”
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy ruled himself out of the running for the Bears’ job on Thursday, but warned the game needed to work hard to ensure there is enough talent to ensure a high-quality product.
“There are more kids playing soccer and AFL, they see probably the rugby codes with [the risk of] head knocks,” Bellamy said. “It’s really important that we do work hard to increase our junior numbers in rugby league everywhere but, like I say, that’s probably out of my jurisdiction, so I’ll leave that to the hierarchy.”
The ARLC has already taken steps to help improve the standard of players ahead of the inclusion of a Port Moresby franchise in 2028. Two PNG pathway players can be signed by other NRL clubs outside the ordinary 30-person roster.
Negotiations around the Perth franchise have been tense, and discussions between a Bears consortium and the ARLC ended last year with disputes over a licence fee. That entity pitched a Perth-based franchise leveraging the Bears’ history, and included two regular season games in Sydney.
After last year’s breakdown in talks, the WA government under Cook became the lead negotiating party. During these discussions the premier declared he would not allow his state to be treated like a “cash cow”.
Wednesday’s deal is reportedly worth $50m over five years, but additional public expenditure on a rectangular stadium and junior programs is expected to be required. WA opposition leader Basil Zempilas posted on X: “How much is it going to cost Mr Cook?”
The federal government pledged $600m over 10 years for the establishment of the PNG franchise.
The now defunct Western Reds competed in national top-level rugby league competitions in the 1990s.
