NRL expansion 2023: Phil Sigsworth and Josh Mansour back Perth Jets bid
Plans to bring the Newtown Jets back into top flight rugby league as an NRL expansion franchise in Perth have gained heavyweight backing.
One of Newtown’s greatest ever surviving players Phil Sigsworth says there would be nothing better than watching the Jets take the field in the NRL again.
And the highest profile current Jets player Josh Mansour has spoken about what makes the club so special as they look to resurrect their fortunes in top tier rugby league.
This masthead revealed on Saturday that the Jets are in deep discussions to align themselves with the Western Australian bid to be part of an expanded NRL competition.
The Jets nickname, their colours and one or two games in Sydney would be part of any agreement which could see them return after four decades in the wilderness.
Sigsworth was named in Newtown’s team of the century in 2008 and played in Newtown’s final grand final appearance in 1981 where they lost to Parramatta.
“There are so many Newtown supporters still out there,” Sigsworth said. “You always live in hope. Without hope you have nothing.
“It would be a historic day if they were to come back. Newtown means the world to me … when I think of Newtown I think of Tommy Raudonikis. I think of early days when Jack Gibson was there. I think of Kenny Wilson.”
Just two years after their grand final appearance they were removed from the competition because of growing financial woes. Sigsworth’s own exit happened in 1982 when he joined Manly as the club’s terrible money situation hit the playing group.
Despite going on to play for the Sea Eagles, Canterbury (where he was part of the 1985 premiership win) and Balmain, Sigsworth said nothing compared to the 108 matches he played for the Jets.
“The camaraderie wasn’t the same at other clubs,” said Sigsworth, now living in Port Macquarie. “It was the best club I played for.
“We all banded together to try and keep Newtown in the competition. But the club couldn’t find a way to pay the players. I’d just bought a house and had a mortgage but they couldn’t pay. I could’ve signed with Parramatta after the 1981 grand final but I had a handshake deal with the Jets for 1982. I had given them my word.”
Mansour only joined the Jets this year following a decorated NRL career which included appearances for Australia and NSW. While he still holds out hopes of returning to the top level, the 33-year-old winger has enjoyed every minute turning out for Newtown. He played for the Jets against the Eels on Saturday afternoon in front of a strong Henson Park crowd.
“The same question I had myself was ‘what makes this club so special’ when I was on the outside looking in,” Mansour said. “It’s in the area I grew up in. It has bones and foundation.
“The people that work within the club, they live and breathe Newtown Jets. That’s what caught my eye the most. How much love they have for the place and the care.
“Reserve grade was never on the cards. I still felt like I had a lot to give in the NRL. I could’ve gone overseas but I’ve been loving my time here.
“Playing at Henson Park is unbelievable and it doesn’t feel like you’re playing reserve grade. If they were to make a comeback in the NRL it would be out of this world. It would create a lot of buzz.”
Explainer: Where the ‘WA Jets’ fit in NRL expansion bids
There are plans to bring the Newtown Jets back into top flight rugby league after four decades in the wilderness.
The Saturday Telegraph can reveal the Jets have aligned themselves with Western Australia’s bid to be part of an expanded NRL competition.
The shock resurrection of the Jets would be the greatest comeback story in Australian sport with the inner-west club on the professional sporting scrap heap since it was unceremoniously dumped from the then NSW Rugby League in 1983 just two years after losing the 1981 grand final to Parramatta. Western Australia Premier described Perth’s bid as a “no-brainer for the NRL”.
Newtown chief executive Stuart McCarthy confirmed discussions had occurred to bring back the club which produced household names such as Frank “Bumper” Farrell, Tom Raudonikis, Johnny Raper, Brian Clay and Phil Sigsworth.
“It’s nice to be recognised and acknowledged,” McCarthy said. “It’s in the very embryonic stages. Western Australia has a strong case for a future NRL licence.
“It’s nice that we’ve been approached as a potential viable partner. Everyone dreams big. We are a foundation club of rugby league in Australia. The way the club was treated in 1983 was pretty despicable. Our fans, long-term fans, diehards, they’d be very aspirational.
“We are very supportive of Western Australia’s case for admission. One can always dare to dream. “
Talks between the Jets and a Western Australian government led working party started six weeks ago. It is understood the groups want to work together to headline a formidable expansion bid.
A consortium attended a Jets home game at Henson Park recently.
Details of the deal include;
– Keeping the Jets moniker.
– Ensuring their blue strip remains.
– Playing one or two games in Sydney with either Henson Park or Leichhardt Oval hosting matches.
– Newtown Jets to act as a feeder club to the Perth side.
The club could follow the NRL’s newest side the Dolphins by simply going with a moniker instead of a region-established name. Otherwise they could be known as the Perth Jets.
There are also discussions to formulate a game-first ‘away’ team membership package to enable Sydney-based fans to attend matches. The Jets would make a deal with rival clubs.
The NRL plans to add at least one more side to their 17-team competition in 2026 or 2027 with a push to eventually have a national 20-team competition.
McCarthy said it was plausible for Henson Park to host an NRL match with a $10 million upgrade planned for later this year.
“We are fortunate that there will be a major upgrade of the oval,” McCarthy said. “That’s a really exciting development. An NRL game there one day would be an amazing experience.”
The Roosters and Cronulla last played a top flight game at the venue in 1990.
Newtown’s poor financial situation saw them booted from the competition at the end of 1983. They re-emerged playing in the Metropolitan Cup in 1991 – a third-string senior competition – before entering the second-tiered reserve grade competition in 2000.
They have established themselves as an iconic inner-west brand in the heartland of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate.
The Jets serve as a feeder-club to Cronulla and are keen to maintain that relationship.
McCarthy conceded the phone call to align with Western Australia caught him off-guard.
“Wherever you wear your Jets gear, someone will say ‘go the Jets’,” McCarthy said. “They’ll ask ‘when are they going to be back in the NRL. I just laugh and say we’re in the NSW Cup and still playing at Henson Park. That’s our main focus. We’re fully committed to the Sharks.”
A return to Perth would also be a second coming for rugby league in the state.
The Western/Perth Reds lasted just three seasons in the 1990s but Perth has since successfully hosted State of Origin and club matches and has a new 60,000 seat stadium.
Their new premier Cook has a long held interest in pushing rugby league. It is understood Cook phoned ARLC chairman Peter V’landys in recent days to reiterate the government’s commitment to rugby league.
Cook said the NRL needed to head to Perth.
“If the NRL is to become a serious national competition then they need a WA team,” Cook said. “It’s as simple as that. “From my recent discussions, I am confident that WA will have an NRL team at some stage in the future. It is just a matter of how and when.
“Peter V’landys has an ambitious and exciting plan to grow the NRL and the Commission now understand that WA simply has to be part of the vision.”
The government has established a rugby league working committee chaired by Labor MP Peter Tinley.
V’landys said recently that Perth had made a “compelling” case.
The Bears also want to form a partnership with any potential new franchise and have held discussions with Western Australia. A PNG led Pasifika team are the frontrunners for the 18th spot but another team in Queensland is also being considered alongside Perth.
A second team in New Zealand and Melbourne would also come into consideration when the NRL moves to 20 teams.
Convicted wife-killer Chris Dawson played for the Jets so too did NFL star Manfred Moore.
More Coverage
Addo-Carr sweats on NRL future after two-hour grilling
Josh Addo-Carr’s future at the Bulldogs is now at the crossroads, after he was subjected to a marathon two-hour grilling as he faced up to the NRL integrity unit at League Central.
Sport Con: Allianz flood disaster that threatened finals double header
Allianz Stadium resembled a swamp last month, but the comeback from a flooding disaster is complete ahead of this weekend’s finals double header. See the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.