Western Australia will officially get the green light to have its own NRL team for the first time since the demise of the Western Reds in 1997.
Perth Bears will enter the compeition in 2027 after the ARL Commission has sealed a deal with the WA government for an 18th league franchise.
The deal is likely to officially be announced on Thursday which will include elements of the old North Sydney Bears coming out of hibernation after their last season as a stand-alone club in 1999 was followed by three years as the junior partner in the ill-fated Northern Eagles joint venture.
With the new Papua New Guinean franchise joining the NRL in 2028, expansion is in full swing with a 20th team to get the go-ahead early in the 2030s.
The ARL Commission has agreed to a revised proposal from the Western Australia government after negotiations broke down earlier this year.
The increased offer from WA Premier Roger Cook salvaged plans for the Perth Bears to operate out of HBF Stadium with former Eels mentor Brad Arthur likely to get the gig as the team’s inaugural coach.
A blast from the past: North Sydney’s 1983 team.
The agreement has been signed off by the existing 17 clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association with the new franchises giving the NRL extra bargaining power ahead of the next TV rights talks.
Negotiations between the NRL and WA government appeared to have hit a stonewall when Cook accused the league’s governing body of treating his state like a “cash cow”.
Cook had previously said ARL chairman Peter V’landys had been asking the government to provide $120 million in funding over the next decade to help establish the side, and that a team wasn’t a priority.
Western Reds captain Brad Mackay with the foundation team in 1995. (Getty Images)
A bid from a private Western Australian consortium was also rejected by the NRL.
Bears fans are hoping for one home match per season to be played at North Sydney Oval as well as having their team’s famous colours revived by the new club.
Arthur is considered the frontunner but Sam Burgess has put up his hand to coach the new franchise.
The 36-year-old Warrington coach has confirmed that the next step in his career was to put himself in the frame to lead the expansion club in 2027.
“It’s a great opportunity and a job I’ve certainly spoken about. I’d be interested in it for sure,” the 2014 NRL premiership winner told the Warrington Guardian.
“I’ve got a job to do here, but there will always be things happening in the background and I’m pretty open with the club about everything.
“Nothing is signed or agreed just yet, and I’ll be the first to let the club know of anything if I need to.
“(Coaching Perth) something I’d be really interested in and I feel I could make a total difference there, but for now I’m totally focused on Warrington.”
Reynolds confident cap won’t tear Broncos apart
Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds is convinced the Broncos will be able to afford to extend his deal and keep other off-contract rising stars on the books.
The 34-year-old said it was “well documented” he wanted to play on in 2026 but he added that he was of the belief it would not be at the expense of rising young guns.
Whether that transpires as he predicts is anyone’s guess as regular top 17 players Cory Paix, Kobe Hetherington, Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo are yet to have extensions confirmed.
AAP has been told the salary cap squeeze is real, particularly if the NRL rules Reynolds cannot be registered for a modest fee under the cap next year.
“I’m pretty confident that everyone can stay at the club,” Reynolds said.
(Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
“I feel like the club’s in a great position to achieve some success and obviously I want to be a part of that.
“I want all the younger boys to be a part of that. I don’t think me staying forces anyone out and if it does, that’s not what I mean to do .”
The 34-year-old will take on his former club South Sydney, where he won the 2014 title, away on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs elected to make a short-term offer to Reynolds at the end of 2021. He took a long-term deal at the Broncos instead.
Ahead of a clash with the Rabbitohs he was not prepared to stoke any fires, but instead was genuinely grateful.
“I love Souths. I’ve got a lot of history with Souths and I respect that place enormously,” he said.
“What they thought at the time (in 2021) might have been the right decision. It could have worked out extremely well. They had a young kid (Lachlan Ilias) waiting to play first grade and I believe he’s a first grader.
“Things turned out a bit different. It’s easy to write from the other side of the page there but they had a decision to make. I had a decision to make and we’re still on good terms.
“I still highly respect everyone in that place and that will continue.”
Reynolds was off his game last week in the loss to Penrith but he still jointly leads the NRL this season for try assists with 10. It’s why playing on makes sense.
“I’m happy with how my game’s going at the moment, albeit last week was a bit of a hiccup, but I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give,” he said.
“I’m enjoying myself and I think when you get the ingredients right, there’s no reason why you can’t go on.
“Last week it was well below par and I need to make sure that I get my own backyard sorted and do my part for the team.
“If I keep playing like that, no-one will want me. I’ll be playing local footy. Obviously that (contract will) solve itself in the background.”
The fifth-placed Broncos are not underestimating the injury-ravaged Rabbitohs, coached by Reynolds’ former mentor Wayne Bennett.
“I know Wayne will have the team up for this game,” Reynolds said.
“Everyone’s saying they’ve got nothing to lose, with obviously all the injuries and whatnot, but they still possess a quality team with a great coach who can get them up for any game, let alone one against his former club.”
with AAP
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