NRL expansion: ARLC in talks with WA government over plans to set up its own Perth-based Bears team

Having recently rejected the private proposal of the Perth Bears consortium, the ARL Commission has been locked in talks with the WA government over plans to set up its own Bears-aligned team in Perth.

The ARL Commission could be in position to put a proposal for a revamped West Australian franchise to the clubs in the next fortnight as it zeros in on making an announcement on expansion by late next month.

Chairman Peter V’landys also held talks with at least one consortium in Christchurch at the weekend and walked away surprised by how strong support for rugby league was in what has traditionally been a rugby union stronghold.

Having recently rejected the private proposal of the Perth Bears consortium, the ARL Commission has been locked in talks with the WA government over plans to set up its own team in Perth.

Under the ARL Commission’s revised proposal, the team would still work with the North Sydney Bears but be run by a company the NRL set up.

The team’s board of directors would also be appointed by the NRL in conjunction with the WA government.

The focus would be on local business identities and the team itself based on members.

Peter V'landys x Western Bears.

After a period of consolidation, the NRL would hand the licence to the members.

V’landys said the NRL hoped to take a proposal for the business case to the newly formed club advisory group in the next fortnight.

If it got the green light from the clubs, it would be in position to announce WA as the 18th team and Papua New Guinea as the 19th, potentially before the end of next month.

If the clubs decided the WA bid needed more work or they needed more convincing, the NRL may push ahead with plans to announce PNG as the 18th team and continue to work on WA as the 19th team.

The next fortnight is crucial but V’landys said the new licence agreements, which guarantee existing clubs a place in the premiership for the next decade, would help speed things up.

“We’re in a better position now because under that new license agreement we now consult the people on that (club advisory group),” he said.

“It’s going to be streamlined a bit now. The chairmen can then relay back to all the other clubs and they can have their own meetings and discussions.

“We’re always consulting the clubs. We want them engaged in the process.”

The advisory group is made up of Souths chairman Nick Pappas, North Queensland’s Lewis Ramsey and Manly’s Scott Penn.

Under the new agreements, they will be consulted by the NRL over major issues in the game and then relay any developments to the rest of the clubs.

Peter V’landys was impressed with the level of support for rugby league in Christchurch. Picture: Richard Dobson

V’landys, who was in Christchurch to watch the Kangaroos play the Kiwis, also gave the New Zealand bid teams hope that all was not lost after the three bids from the South Island were rejected last week.

“They had 16,000 people here (on Sunday) and the atmosphere was terrific,” V’landys said.

“They’re getting a brand new stadium that’s going to fit 30,000 with the roof, which is very similar to CommBank Stadium.

“It was an opportune to do an assessment. There’s a lot of support over here for it because everywhere I went people were screaming out give us the team, give us a team.

“I was surprised at how well aware of it they are over here. It’s always traditionally been a very big rugby union area.”

Originally published as NRL expansion: ARLC in talks with WA government over plans to set up its own Perth-based Bears team