By Adrian Proszenko
The Western Australia government believes the NRL should never have severed ties with the Western Bears consortium that pitched for a franchise as new details emerge about the latest Perth offer the NRL rejected.
The NRL is on the brink of walking away from talks to install a North Sydney Bears-affiliated team in 2027 after an offer from the WA government fell short of expectations. The development is poised to leave the Bears in limbo and result in the NRL going into negotiations for the next broadcast deal with a pitch for 18 teams rather than 19.
WA Premier Roger Cook accused the NRL of treating the state as a potential “cash cow” and claimed he needed to protect the interest of his constituents. The details of the deal he put forward to the NRL can now be revealed.
They included a commitment of $20 million election commitment to a centre of excellence at the Malaga Sports Precinct development, situated 13km from the Perth CBD. There was also a commitment to expedite works to establish a high-performance centre for the Western Force, with elements that included exclusive access for a NRL WA team.
There was also a commitment to invest up to $35 million over five years towards grassroots development, through the secondary school system and the Clontarf Foundation.
The government was also prepared to provide a game-day support package, akin to those given to other professional sporting associations.
North Sydney’s latest bid for the return to the big time has hit another snag.Credit: Stephen Lunam
However, the government never intended to enter into a joint-venture arrangement with the NRL, nor be involved in the day-to-day running of the club. The state government felt that the NRL should have continued to negotiate with a private consortium headed up by Cash Converters boss Peter Cummins. Those talks broke down after the bid team opted not to offer a license fee, at a time when Rugby League Central sought a figure of about $20 million.
“This week, we made an offer to support a potential NRL licence in WA,” Cook said in a statement provided to this masthead. “It was based upon support for grassroots development of the game, while protecting the interests of WA taxpayers.
“Given our location on the Indian Ocean rim and in the same time zone as 60 per cent of the world’s population, the strategic value of a Western Australian side should be self-evident to the NRL.
“Unfortunately, like some people from the east, the NRL only appears to see WA as a potential cash cow. I love rugby league, but as I said during the election, I will always do what’s right for WA.”
WA Premier Roger Cook has fired a shot at the NRL.Credit: Trevor Collens
Earlier this week, Cook intimated that he wanted the Albanese government to chip in for a stadium in its bid to establish an NRL team. The federal government has already committed $600 million over a decade to fund a PNG team in the NRL from 2028, as part of soft diplomacy in the Pacific to combat the rise of China in the region.
However, further federal funding appears to be a moot point after the offer the state put to the NRL fell short of the mark.
It is the latest setback in head office’s bid to give Perth its own team since the Western Reds became a casualty of the Super League war almost three decades ago. The NRL rejected a private consortium headed up by Cash Converters boss Peter Cummins after it opted not to offer a licence fee. Rugby League Central had been seeking a figure of about $20 million at the time.
That led to the NRL negotiating directly with the WA government, which was recently re-elected. League officials were seeking an investment of about $120 million over the course of a decade for Perth to join the competition.
Should the price tag have been met, the plan was for the NRL to run the team in its foundation years before handing control to the club’s members and elected directors.
The WA government was to assist with pathways and infrastructure projects, including an upgrade of Perth’s HBF Stadium from a 22,500-seat venue to 27,000 seats.
However, the breakdown in talks comes just as the NRL hosts a double-header at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where Cronulla will take on Manly and the Rabbitohs clash with the Cowboys.
The decision to go into the next broadcast cycle, which begins in 2028, with just 18 teams would have huge implications for the game. Had Perth joined PNG, there would have been a mad scramble for playing talent, while existing clubs would have sought compensation in the expectation that the game would have generated more money.
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