3
![Not allowed!](images/buttons/up_dis.png)
The men leading the Perth consortium vying to be the NRL’s next team insist they will be ready to enter the competition by 2027 as they prepare for talks with the North Sydney Bears about a “potential marriage”, while leaning on Nick Politis for support.
A Western Australian franchise has rocketed into calculations to be the NRL’s 18th team – surpassing the federal government’s $600 million supported Papua New Guinea push – as the ARL Commission nears an announcement about an expansion road map.
Perth’s bid boss Peter Cumins, executive chairman of Cash Converters, will visit Sydney this month to discuss a potential alliance with the Bears, despite confirming the consortium’s preference to brand the team as exclusively Western Australian.
The meeting between Perth officials and the Bears could prove crucial to the NRL’s expansion plan, which is rushing towards a 20-team competition and an 18th franchise as soon as 2027 – the final year of the broadcast deal.
A new entity by 2027 would allow the ARLC to potentially renegotiate its existing contract with broadcasters given a ninth game would be played every week, and provide a unique time slot for Perth’s home matches.
Asked if the Perth bid would be able to launch in 2027, with doubts over PNG’s readiness, Cumins told this masthead: “We would. We’ve been sitting here like [an elastic] band wound up, ready to be sprung.
“There’s a substantial amount of money required, probably $30 million before you’ve kicked a football, but there’s a lot of money here in Perth. We’ve had people on the east coast willing to be investors, and it’s quite a compelling case.”
One of their biggest advocates is Roosters owner and chairman Politis, who has argued the merits of the NRL introducing a Perth franchise.
Politis has been approached to advise the Perth consortium through the final weeks of the bid process, which will include talks with the Bears. The NRL is exploring aligning a new Perth franchise with the historic club, potentially allowing some home games at North Sydney Oval.
“We’ve got talks about a potential marriage later this month,” Cumins said.
“The consortium I head up, our preferred option is to go a standalone West Australian team, based on the fact West Australians are very parochial. And without being rude about the history of the North Sydney Bears, it doesn’t have a lot of relevance to people in Perth. We want a team where all the players reside in Perth and the players who are not in the NRL side play in the local competition.
“But I’m a commercial animal, and if the case is compelling, you’d be silly not to consider it.”
The Newtown Jets have also explored the possibility of linking with the Perth bid. The NRL is weighing up whether it will be ready to enter the competition before the high-profile PNG push.
On Wednesday, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo admitted on-field competitiveness would be a key factor in determining expansion plans, with fears PNG will struggle to attract top talent.
“Absolutely, on-the-field-football competitiveness is a criteria that will be assessed and analysed,” Abdo said at the Beanies for Brain Cancer launch.
“So the ability to invest in infrastructure, a centre of excellence that creates a high-performance centre, investment in pathways and talent development.
“And then, obviously, the recruitment of football staff appropriate to get a team that can win on the field. That is absolutely a criteria that will be assessed.”
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...2407dc8e&ei=39
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Interesting aspect, had a look at the North Sydney Bears website and the Melbourne Storm are listed as a Major Sponsor.
Did you have a date on this one TIF?
I don't fully appreciate what the benefit of a JV with a "Historic Club" is?
Does the legacy outweigh the baggage?
Do many old supporters genuinely follow to the new entity (particularly 3,800kms away) in the long term?
I understand the AFL had some success in transferring allegiances, but also heard of other supporters that refused to follow.
Is it IP around how to run a Club, even though the original club in the JV hasn't been at National level for 25 years? (Or 41 years in the case of the Jets.)
While from a selfish view I worry for the Force of any NRL expansion into Perth, from a sports supporter I see it as a natural evolution.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Today's news..
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
I'm not keen to see this at all. Travel is a big enough burden as it is, without doing it 3 weeks in a row a few times per season. North Sydney Oval? Gimme a break FFS. The only way this can work might be if the Norths/Bluebags supporters and boards are happy to watch them at other Sydney teams home grounds.
On a personal level the Mungo's are a tribal thing for me from growing up in Sydney. Quite happy for it to stay that way and watch the odd live game at HBF.
The Bluebags have a loyal following and have had 8972 fans at each home game since the 1990's. I'd bet a lot of them would be sad to see an end to this fun & quirky situation.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
I wonder what a JV with the Force could look like? Save on admin costs, share some coaches etc. pool of players available to both teams
Dropped the grenade now its my time to:
![]()
Gareth Chilcott after his last game for Bath in 1993
“I thought I would have a quiet pint… and about 17 noisy ones.”
Prolly be ok once PVL buys out RA......OK OK....I'm running, I'm running already.![]()
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
I don't think it's as maverick idea as it seems at first read, though not the sharing of players, I think we may have discussed on here before.
It would need to be underwritten by an ironclad anti-competition policy on respective Squads, but otherwise I can see major benefits.
Sharing of players would be super messy, particularly around injuries, availability etc.
However, combined Pre-Season, S&C, nutrition, travel management, admin, facilities could all be viable.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
I'd think the anti competition policy would not necessarily be as ironclad as you might think. Up until specialisation is required by a contract or simply the progressively increasing demands of the games being different at the highest level most kids play both all the way through school.
SUre your locks and props would specialise early, but they wouldn't be wanted by the NRL types anyway for the most part. Keep the colts training together and only have a hands off policy once one of the two organisations has decided to make a commitment.
C'mon the![]()
![]()
You get it on mine sites where particularly the biggest contractor/s and principal client agree not to pilfer staff from other companies (particularly cleaning staff looking to drive machinery and junior contractors) on site.
If they do then there is a significant stand down period (so equivalence being missed matches) or they have to go to a different site.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.