The ARL Commission has agreed in principle to a revised proposal from the Western Australia government for an NRL team in Perth.
The Herald can reveal that the ARLC met on Wednesday morning and signed off on an increased offer from WA Premier Roger Cook, paving the way for the Bears to return on the west coast from 2027.
The in-principle agreement must also be signed off by the clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) before the NRL can go back to the WA government with its position.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald the NRL had organised a meeting for Thursday with a subcommittee of NRL clubs.
The NRL will also discuss the submission with the RLPA after receiving the tick of approval from the commission to take the proposal to the sport’s major stakeholders.
Negotiations between the NRL and WA government appeared to have ended earlier in the month, with both parties unable to find common ground.
Roger Cook has revived North Sydney Bears fans’ hopes of a return to the NRL via Perth.Credit: Steven Siewert
After rejecting a bid from a private consortium, the NRL has been in negotiations with the WA government for several months about a franchise in Perth and a formal affiliation with former first grade team the North Sydney Bears.
Earlier this month, the Perth NRL expansion bid was on life support when Cook accused the NRL of treating the state as a “cash cow”.
At the time, the government was willing to commit to a $20 million centre of excellence at the Malaga Sports Precinct development, situated 13km from the Perth CBD.
There was also a commitment to invest up to $35 million over five years in grassroots development, through the secondary schools system and the Indigenous Clontarf Foundation. The NRL was seeking $120 million over 10 years. Sources with knowledge of the situation said both parties had given ground in the negotiations to find a compromise.
The NRL had previously rejected a bid by a private consortium headed by Cash Converters boss Peter Cummins after it decided it would not pay a licence fee. The bid later proposed a $20 million licence fee, but the NRL said it would instead work with the WA government to set up a team.
Under the operating model proposed, the NRL will have control of the team in its start-up years before handing over the organisation to the club’s members and elected directors.
For its part, the WA government would help fund community, pathways, development and infrastructure projects.
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