Perth expansion bid gets approval to enter NRL

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has agreed in principle to a revised proposal from the Western Australia Government for a Perth-based NRL team.

In a significant development for the competition, the Commission has accepted a $50 million offer from the Western Government that will see the Western Bears enter the NRL in 2027.

Marking the return of the - formerly North Sydney - Bears to the League after a 25-year hiatus, the in-principle agreement must be agreed by the existing 17 clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association, with those meetings expected to be expedited to give the code extra bargaining power ahead of the next TV rights talks.

Negotiations between the NRL and Western Australia Government appeared to have stalled when Western Australian Premier Roger Cook accused the ARLC of treating his state like a “cash cow”.

However, the Western Australia Government has reportedly raised its bid from its initial $35 million over five years to get the deal done.

In addition to Perth, a Papua New Guinea team is set to enter in 2028, giving the NRL a 19-team competition. A New Zealand-based consortium is also looking to field a second New Zealand team in the competition.

A full announcement on the new NRL team is expected to be made in the coming weeks.