WA premier hits back at NRL with Perth expansion plans on the brink of collapse

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has accused the NRL of viewing his state as a “potential cash cow”, with Perth expansion plans on the brink of collapse.

North Sydney legend Billy Moore has made an impassioned plea for the NRL not to forget his club with the Western Bears concept on the brink of collapse.

It comes as Western Australia Premier Roger Cook accused the NRL of viewing his state as a “potential cash cow”.

A heartbroken Moore, who is also a Bears board member, is holding out hope that talks between the NRL and WA government can be restructured after it emerged the NRL were set to postpone any expansion talks for at least 12 months. While the NRL won’t totally walk away from Western Australia, the chances of a side coming into the competition as hoped in 2027 now looks unlikely.

If the NRL and Western Australia are unable to come to an agreement it would almost certainly kill off the Bears hopes of ever returning to top flight rugby league.

“I am shocked,” Moore said. “There is no second prize here. I really hope the NRL don’t close the door on the Bears. I have been led to believe that the parties can’t find an amicable middle ground. Clearly both parties want it to happen and this is a golden opportunity, but for some reason they just can’t quite connect the dots.

Bears legend Billy Moore (left) has made an impassioned plea for the NRL to not forget his club, with expansion plans on the brink of collapse. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian.

“It would be beyond devastating if we couldn’t get back in. This is a zero-sum game. There is no alternative, we are either in or that’s it. For me and all the 250,000 Bears there’s only one thing that will satisfy our desire after a quarter of a century waiting in the wings. And that’s to be readmitted to the competition that we were so wrongfully taken out of, in conjunction with the Western Reds.

“Hopefully both parties can take a deep breath and realise the best thing is to cut a deal. If the Western Bears are dead, the NRL would regret not doing a deal.

“This is not just a great opportunity for the Bears, but the state of WA.”

Prolonged talks finally came to a head in recent days with Cook’s government made an offer to the NRL to support the game in the state.

The NRL are yet to formally make any comment on the talks but it is understood they are prepared to put the Bears’ on ice for at least 12 months before potentially returning to the table.

Premier Roger Cook has accused the NRL over only seeing WA as ‘a potential cash cow’. Picture: NewsWire

It comes as Perth’s Optus Stadium prepares to host a double header between Cronulla and Manly while South Sydney will play North Queensland.

“This week, we made an offer to support a potential NRL licence in WA,” Cook said in a statement. “It was based upon support for grass roots 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.”

WESTERN BEARS EXPANSION PLANS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE

The NRL’s expansion plan to Perth is on the brink of collapse in a move that could represent a fatal blow for the return of the North Sydney Bears.

This masthead understands the ARL Commission could put expansion to Perth on the backburner for 12 months - or abandon the idea completely - after talks with the West Australian government have stalled.

The NRL were hoping to introduce Perth to the big league in 2027 but the proposed move to the west could fall over, leaving the Western Bears on life support.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys declined to comment on Friday night but told this masthead a fortnight ago a decision on Perth would be made in April to give the code clarity with upcoming TV rights negotiations.

It is understood the NRL has hit fresh turbulence in high-powered talks with the WA government, whose premier Roger Cook has come under attack over plans to inject more than $300 million into a Perth team.

Peter V'landys x Western Bears

The NRL also feared they were being sabotaged by rival code the AFL in a state dominated by the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.

The NRL agreed to put expansion talks with Perth chiefs on hold last month to allow the WA election to conclude, which saw Cook reappointed for another term in a resounding win.

But since resuming talks, the parties have hit some roadblocks, with the NRL running out of time to introduce an 18th team for 2027 with broadcast negotiations about to commence.

The NRL could decide as early as next week to vote against expanding to Perth, or delaying the Western Bears’ entry by 12 months for the 2028 season.

Either way, it is a potentially crippling blow for the NRL’s strategic plan for growth and the Bears, who were hopeful of a triumphant return to the big league after 25 years in the wilderness.

Long-suffering Bears fans will need to be even more patient after it emerged that talks between the NRL and WA government had reached an impasse.

It comes in the week the NRL prepares to host a double-header at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where Cronulla will face Manly and South Sydney take on the Cowboys.

Last month, the Western Bears expansion bid became an unwitting political hot potato.

Viewed as a rugby league advocate, Cook was slammed by WA opposition leader Libby Mettam for allegedly holding “secret meetings” with V’landys. Mettam also promised WA voters her government would not commit to paying $320 million for an NRL team.

Suddenly under fire, Cook played a straight political bat, saying: “What he (V’landys) has to understand is that NRL in WA is not a major sporting code”, before adding: “WA NRL has to be worthwhile for the WA taxpayer.”

The NRL has hit fresh turbulence in high-powered talks with the WA government and premier Roger Cook. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smit

Bears director Billy Moore has been involved in high-powered merger talks with WA chiefs. He is adamant the Western Bears can coexist with AFL’s West Coast and Fremantle without bad blood in the Wild West.

“We are very hopeful the Western Bears will not be dead,” he said.

“This is not a shotgun marriage, it’s a perfect fit.

“There’s no doubt WA is currently an AFL state but I see it very much like Queensland where all sports have a bona fide supporter and participation base.

“There doesn’t have to be a sporting war, just a realignment of attention.

“Until the box is ticked and we get the nod, I accept there is a possibility that something could go wrong.

“But I know from our talks the WA government very much wants a team in Perth.

“If you look at the AFL, Sydney Swans were born out of South Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions had links to Fitzroy, so there’s no reason the WA people won’t embrace the Bears.

“We’re humble enough to be part of the Western Australian family and they would be part of our historical family at the Bears.

“The Western Bears would absolutely be a team for the WA people.”

Convoluting the issue is the ARL Commission’s desire to have some certainty as they prepare to open broadcasting talks over a new deal – the existing agreement runs out at the end of the 2027 season.

Long-suffering Bears fans will need to be even more patient after talks between the NRL and WA government reached an impasse. Picture: NRL Imagery

ARL Commission chair V’landys has already spoken of his expectations that the game will attract a record broadcasting deal as they enter talks armed with record viewing numbers.

The rise of streaming services has also given the NRL extra leverage as they look to extract as much as $3 billion from the broadcasters over the next cycle.

Papua New Guinea is already entering the premiership in 2028, meaning the game will head into those talks with an extra game up for grabs.

Perth would have meant a 19th side but plans to expand to 20 seem some distance away given the NRL’s disappointment with some of the bids that arrived when they called for expressions of interest.

Earlier this week, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the code had some expansion certainty with PNG green-lit for entry.

“The good news is we have PNG locked in,” he said.

“We’ve got 18 teams in 2028 and that’s the start of a new broadcast cycle, so that’s good, that gives us another fixture.

“We will continue to explore options to potentially expand beyond 18 to 19 and 20 teams but it has to be the right decision for the game.”