Former Western Reds chairman wants NRL to declare interest in expansion

DES Hasler, Michael Maguire, Neil Henry and John Cartwright would all be on the radar of a new Perth NRL team.

Former owner of Perth NRL team the Western Reds Laurie Puddy at his home in Newport, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

DES Hasler, Michael Maguire, Neil Henry and John Cartwright would all be on the radar of a new Perth NRL team, whose prospective owner wants a head coach appointed by the end of this year.

Former Western Reds chairman Laurie Puddy has declared he’s preparing to pay some of the $20 million he believes it will cost to own and operate the return, for the first time in 25 years, of a new Perth NRL team.

CRAWLEY: What about Sutton’s testimonial?

SUPERCOACH: Champion’s choice — Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Puddy also revealed he’s already met with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and wants to pitch to new ARL Chairman Peter Beattie — and expansion supporter — ahead of the round one double-header in Perth in 12 days’ time.

Former owner of Perth NRL team the Western Reds, Laurie Puddy, at his home in Newport, Sydney. Pic: Brett Costello

Puddy, who made his millions in forklifts, simply wants to know how serious the NRL is about expanding to Perth — because unequivocally, he is.

“I have people, we have sponsors in Perth ready, but all we need is direction,’’ Puddy said.

“My business colleagues are getting to the stage where it’s becoming all too hard and all we need is Beattie or Todd Greenberg to say ‘Laurie, come in — let’s have a talk and put something on the table.’

“If Peter is going to be in Perth for the double-header, that would be ideal. I’m organising a meeting with the WA Minister for Sport next week about stadium availability, their support and so on ... they’re all the things that have to be done.’’

COACH AND CEO

Puddy said the most crucial element towards ensuring a new Reds team thrived was time to recruit and build a playing roster.

To ensure a team is ready to fire in 2022 — the first year of what will be the new TV broadcast deal — a coach and CEO needed to be identified now with Puddy acutely aware that coaching heavyweights including Hasler, Maguire and Henry were on the open market.

“You couldn’t put a team together before 2020,’’ Puddy said.

Michael Maguire is one high profile coach available. Pic: Phil Hillyard

“Before we came in 1995, we had two, three trips to the UK to find players and we’d have to do it all again.

“The first thing you need to do, the immediate cost, is you go and employ a coach and there’s some outstanding ones out there.

“You’d want to have a coach on board by the end of this season. That gives you this entire season to talk with prospective coaches.

“You’d need to put a CEO or businessman in place, who has done it before to commence the recruitment and business phase.

“This isn’t tiddly winks, this is serious stuff.

“But I just don’t know if the guys in there (NRL) get it.

“You’ve got to be a looking at a cost of $20 million.

“You’ve got to take it very seriously right from the outset, we’ve got to employ the right people.

“I did (helped fund the Reds) last time and I would again — it’s just a matter of how much.’’

‘INSANE’ SECOND-TIER INSANITY

It’s been widely suggested that the best way to assess the legitimacy of interest in a new Perth team is to start with an under-20s or NSW Cup team.

Puddy says simply “that’s insane.’’

Start with an NRL team, or nothing. Pic: Ken Matts.

“Who is going to put their hand up to fund the travel of a reserve grade side or under-20s team across the Nullarbor every second week, if there’s no garauntee it will result in an actual NRL team,’’ Puddy said.

”You’re not going to get players from England, the east or from Queensland to go to Perth to play reserve grade. They all want to play first grade.

“And you’re not going to get sponsors to pay for a team that isn’t on TV every week and is playing second-tier football.

“Any suggestion to do this piecemeal is insane."

CROWDS AND STADIUM

When the Reds played at the WACA during the 1995-96 seasons, their average crowd was 14,500.

That average would have placed the Reds fifth highest for crowd averages across the NRL last year, ahead of the likes of South Sydney, St George Illawarra, Parramatta and Manly.

“The other big thing is, we had a population back then of 1.2 million, today it’s closer to three million," Puddy said.

nib Stadium would be a perfect home. Pic: Getty Images

“14,500 people is what we averaged and that was at the WACA where if you were on the far side, you couldn’t see the try scorer or the ball on the other side.

“The WACA suited our needs at the time, but I think nib Stadium (previous home of Western Force) is ideal for us."

WHY GO WEST

Puddy said he recently accepted a request to meet with the North Sydney Bears expansion team who want to amalgamate bids, ‘out of respect’.

However, he added, “I don’t feel right wearing two hats, I can’t be giving them advice and paddling my own canoe.

“They know I’m pursuing a Perth-based team, but they want to pursue having the Bears brand and I can’t be party to that.

“Is there support for the Reds in Perth, of course there is.

“The Western Australian people are crying out for rugby league. And contrary to belief, we were successful.

“Had it not been for the Super League war, we’d still be there today.

“Right now, the people of Perth just want an answer, one way or another."

Originally published as Former Western Reds chairman wants NRL to declare interest in expansion