The men leading the Perth consortium vying to be the NRL’s next team insist they will be ready to enter the competition by 2027 as they prepare for talks with the North Sydney Bears about a “potential marriage”, while leaning on Nick Politis for support.
A Western Australian franchise has rocketed into calculations to be the NRL’s 18th team – surpassing the federal government’s $600 million supported Papua New Guinea push – as the ARL Commission nears an announcement about an expansion road map.
Perth’s bid boss Peter Cumins, executive chairman of Cash Converters, will visit Sydney this month to discuss a potential alliance with the Bears, despite confirming the consortium’s preference to brand the team as exclusively Western Australian.
The meeting between Perth officials and the Bears could prove crucial to the NRL’s expansion plan, which is rushing towards a 20-team competition and an 18th franchise as soon as 2027 – the final year of the broadcast deal.
A new entity by 2027 would allow the ARLC to potentially renegotiate its existing contract with broadcasters given a ninth game would be played every week, and provide a unique time slot for Perth’s home matches.
Asked if the Perth bid would be able to launch in 2027, with doubts over PNG’s readiness, Cumins told this masthead: “We would. We’ve been sitting here like [an elastic] band wound up, ready to be sprung.
Mark Geyer in the 1996 jersey for the Western Reds.
“There’s a substantial amount of money required, probably $30 million before you’ve kicked a football, but there’s a lot of money here in Perth. We’ve had people on the east coast willing to be investors, and it’s quite a compelling case.”
One of their biggest advocates is Roosters owner and chairman Politis, who has argued the merits of the NRL introducing a Perth franchise.
Politis has been approached to advise the Perth consortium through the final weeks of the bid process, which will include talks with the Bears. The NRL is exploring aligning a new Perth franchise with the historic club, potentially allowing some home games at North Sydney Oval.
“We’ve got talks about a potential marriage later this month,” Cumins said.
Optus Stadium.Credit: Getty
“The consortium I head up, our preferred option is to go a standalone West Australian team, based on the fact West Australians are very parochial. And without being rude about the history of the North Sydney Bears, it doesn’t have a lot of relevance to people in Perth. We want a team where all the players reside in Perth and the players who are not in the NRL side play in the local competition.
“But I’m a commercial animal, and if the case is compelling, you’d be silly not to consider it.”
The Newtown Jets have also explored the possibility of linking with the Perth bid. The NRL is weighing up whether it will be ready to enter the competition before the high-profile PNG push.
On Wednesday, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo admitted on-field competitiveness would be a key factor in determining expansion plans, with fears PNG will struggle to attract top talent.
“Absolutely, on-the-field-football competitiveness is a criteria that will be assessed and analysed,” Abdo said at the Beanies for Brain Cancer launch.
“So the ability to invest in infrastructure, a centre of excellence that creates a high-performance centre, investment in pathways and talent development.
“And then, obviously, the recruitment of football staff appropriate to get a team that can win on the field. That is absolutely a criteria that will be assessed.”
with AAP
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