WA’s unhinged front page on Perth Bears sparks widespread backlash
An often divisive newspaper has struck again with it’s latest offering firing up NRL fans in the wake of a major announcement.
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NRL commentator Andrew Voss has unleashed at The West Australian’s front page in the wake of the Perth Bears being officially confirmed as the league’s 18th team.
WA Premier Roger Cook confirmed the news on Wednesday with a $65 million deal set to see the team join the expanded competition in either 2027 or 2028.
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While the news was met with excitement from long-time fans of the club, Perth’s major newspaper The West Australian was not on the same page.
The newspaper’s Thursday front page was titled “The bad news Bears” with the subheading further stating: “Rugby mad Roger Cook forces WA taxpayers to pay Sydney NRL rejects $65m to play in Perth”.
The story went on to criticise the move and slam projections regarding the economic benefit the new franchise would have for the state.
“Treasury has watered down NRL claims in east coast media that the club would bring more than $500 million in economic benefit over the next decade to WA,” the story read.
“Analysis of the League’s modelling by ACIL Allen showed a WA club would bring in $28 million a year once competing, rather than $52 million as initially claimed by the Australian Rugby League Commission.”
The backlash came in thick and fast with Voss slamming the front page display as nothing more than “clickbait”.
“Most people don’t read newspapers,” he said. “The cover of the West Australian isn’t on their digital.
“The headline is inflammatory. It’s clickbait.
“Newspapers are scrambling for attention with a clickbait headline, but does it move the needle on public opinion? It would seem not.
“In the story it says there is negligible growth, negligible presence of rugby league – there’s 6,000 juniors, it’s a slap in the face to them.”
Voss said NRL CEO Peter V’landys should go guns blazing and host State of Origin matches in Perth for the next three years.
But he said the headline wouldn’t have sat well with the NRL supremo and believes it could impact potential negotiations surrounding broadcast rights in the future.
Seven have previously been linked with NRL rights however the league may think twice if this is the coverage they’re going to cop relentlessly.
“If I’m rugby league today I say ‘I’m looking forward to coming to Perth for Origin and we’re locking in the next three years of Origin for Perth, in the build up to the Bears coming in we’re committing the game to WA’,” Voss said.
“They couldn’t be anymore anti if we’re talking propaganda. The language of that headline is so damning.
“V’landys picking up that headline today, he will be saying forget about it when it comes to the rights sale.”
Voss wasn’t alone in blasting the newspaper’s attempt at rubbishing the Perth Bears and their return to the NRL.
Many were quick to point to the newspaper being owned by Seven West Media and therefore it’s obvious allegiance to the AFL.
Seven inked a blockbuster broadcast rights deal, alongside Foxtel, with the AFL from 2025 to 2031 for a gargantuan $4.5 billion deal.
The NRL entering into the market with Channel 9 could have a major impact on the viewership numbers.
2GB’s Mike Pearsall wrote on X: “There’s some pretty awful ‘journalism’ out there these days but this is as bad as it gets. A Facebook comment grade editorial dressed up as a front-page story, which is factually inaccurate. Rag.”
ABC Sport commentator Zane Bojack wrote: “For those who thought it was going to be easy, this confirms how difficult it might be! The WA paper is owned by Kerry Stokes who has the broadcast rights to the AFL, but this is the opposition to our game on show.”
The Roosters Podcast added: “Perth is easily the most unique market in Australia. Fingers crossed the Bears cut through. The Stokes family runs that town - it will be difficult.”
Veteran journalists Adam Peacock, Danny Weidler and Michael Chammas spoke about the issue on the Journos podcast, with Peacock saying Seven’s monopoly on the media landscape is rubbing people the wrong way.
“I’d be shocked if they’re given an easy run in the media because it’s a Channel 7 state,” Danny Weidler said on Triple M NRL.
Michael Chammas added: “They won’t be because it’s Channel 7.”
“I spoke to somebody over there about this and because it is so, it’s a one paper town,” Peacock said.
“Channel 7 and 9 go at each other, but it’s changed over there. The people because of things like this (podcasts), you can shape your narrative a bit easier than you could 15 years ago over there.
“People are a little over being dictated to, they’re just being fed the whole time West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.
“It is the biggest show in town but there is an opportunity if you do it smartly to get your message out there and be part of the conversation in town.”
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys officially unveiled the new franchise on Thursday in Perth.
V’landys delivered a clip to the media coverage in the state, claiming the biased reporting was out of fear that the league would be stealing the limelight.
“I think the media coverage has been a bit biased. The main newspaper here is owned by Seven West Media that has the AFL rights,” he said.
“Let’s be quite frank. They don’t want us to be here because they realise we’re going to be competitive and we’re going to take some of their lunch. We eat a lot so we’ll be taking a fair bit of their lunch.”
V’landys was also asked if the NRL had consulted with the AFL about the move into Perth, a question that received a straightforward response.
“No. I don’t see McDonalds checking with Kentucky Fried Chicken when they’re opening a new store,” he said.
“We certainly have not consulted with the AFL. They don’t consult with us.”
NRL STATEMENT ON PERTH BEARS
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the agreement was a watershed moment for rugby league. Not only returning an NRL team back to Perth, but also bringing back the mighty Bears.
The Western Australian based team will join the NRL Telstra Premiership in 2027.
“Rugby League is the biggest sport in Australia and the Pacific, so a team in the economic powerhouse of Western Australia is a natural fit. Why should West Australian fans miss out on the greatest game for all,” Mr V’landys said.
“Western Australians love sport and now they have the opportunity to get behind a Perth based Rugby League Club that will capture the hearts and minds of fans across the country.
“As a foundation club, the Bears have a rich history in the game and automatically provide hundreds of thousands of East Coast supporters for the Perth based team. The heritage of the Bears combined with the energy of the West will have this team flying from the outset.
Mr V’landys AM thanked Premier Roger Cook for his commitment to investing in WA Rugby League.
“Thanks to Roger Cook and the Government’s partnership and investment, we expect to double Rugby League participation in WA over the next five years,” Mr V’landys said.
“There are already 240 schools currently engaged in Rugby League programs in WA, and with Government support we are hopeful of driving this number to more than 500 schools.
“It should also be noted that the West Australian Premier is a shrewd operator as his investment will return much economic benefit to the West Australian economy,”
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the game has had a long 77-year history in Western Australia and this was an important moment in time to celebrate a Perth based NRL team entering the Telstra Premiership.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be part of Rugby League, and we are excited for sports fans in Western Australia and the country who will no doubt get behind the Perth-based team when it enters the competition in 2027.
“I’d like to thank Premier Roger Cook and the WA Government for their support of the game. This is a landmark moment for the state as well as for Rugby League,” Mr Abdo said.
Premier Cook said: “This is a great day for sports fans and a great day for the WA economy.
“A new WA NRL club will deliver jobs and new economic activity, including a boost in tourism and visitation as the WA brand is exposed to millions across Australia and overseas.
“I’d like to thank the ARLC for the robust negotiations we’ve undertaken, as both parties have sought to get the best deal for our stakeholders.”
Originally published as WA’s unhinged front page on Perth Bears sparks widespread backlash
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