Western Australian consortium looks to secure 18th NRL licence

Interest in securing a potential 18th licence to compete in the National Rugby League has been expressed by a Western Australian consortium, reviving a plan for a Perth-based team that was last proposed in 2022.

While a proposed team from Papua New Guinea has gained significant attention in recent months, reports in recent days have indicated that a Western Australian consortium, led by Cash Converters Executive Chairman Peter Cumins, along with a New Zealand South Island bid, are looking to join the competition by 2027 or 2028, ahead of the PNG team.

The Australian Rugby League Commission are expected to finalise expansion plans at their meeting tomorrow before State of Origin II in Melbourne, where they are expected to call for expressions of interest for an 18th and 19th licence.

Advancing the Perth bid, Cumins is reported to be meeting with potential partners North Sydney Bears and Newtown Jets in Sydney next week to discuss potential collaboration before submitting an official bid.

The Bears have been vocal about supporting a Western Australian proposal, promising a “marriage not a takeover” while the Jets’ bid, backed by high profile Sydney marketing executive John Singleton, and interest from Hungry Jack’s founder Jack Cowan, adds to the potential for a Perth-based team.

Cumins’ consortium has collaborated closely with a Western Australian Government working party backed by Premier Roger Cook, chaired by MP Peter Tinley, and Freshwater Strategy, the firm that assisted the Dolphins in securing the NRL’s 17th licence.

The Perth bid also has the support of broadcasters due to the favourable time zone.

South Island Kea Bid
Following the recent success of the New Zealand Warriors, former NRL Chief Executive David Moffat has been advancing a South Island bid for the NRL’s 18th side.

Moffat, the figurehead for the Christchurch-based ‘Kea’ bid, named after a species of bird found on New Zealand’s South Island, are proposing to base their club out of the city’s new Te Kaha stadium, which can hold up to 30,000 people.

The club plan to adopt an unprecedented financial blueprint never seen in rugby or rugby league called a hybrid-cooperative model; the same framework adopted by the Green Bay Packers in the NFL.

With the Warriors enjoying unprecedented popularity, Moffat recently advised in an interview “if the opening game of the 2026 or 2027 (NRL) season… was going to be the Warriors versus the Kea, I could sell 50,000 tickets in a 25,000-seat stadium tomorrow.

“It’s going to be the equivalent of State of Origin when we play them (the Warriors).”

Commenting on the bid’s financial model, Moffat noted “(it) means that the fans will get an opportunity to own a percentage of the team, as will investors … we’re actually going to be able to demonstrate what a powerful financial model that’s going to be.”

Acknowledging the competition in securing a licence, he added “the game has never been on a higher note than right now.

“Competition is a great thing … we’ll put the very best bid we can forward.”

Image courtesy of BankWest Stadium.