“The guiding principles for the State in these negotiations have been:
1) that any financial assistance provided to the club be spent in Western Australia;
2) that the club not be charged a license fee for participating in the NRL; and
3) That the deal represent a positive return for WA taxpayers in terms of economic benefits.”
The in-principle agreement must also be agreed to 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 subcommittee then relayed information to all clubs where they discussed how they could benefit financially from the addition of a new team.
Sources speaking under the condition of anonymity due to not being authorised to discuss the matter said an amount of $1 million per club was discussed.
“We continue to have those negotiations; we haven’t had a formal response from the NRL,” Cook said during a press conference in Perth alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I assume they have a number of processes to go through before they consider anything in relation to these conversations.
“I will say the conversations are positive, and we look forward to those conversations continuing.”
Negotiations between the NRL and WA government appeared to have ended earlier in the month, with both parties unable to find common ground.
After rejecting a bid from a private consortium, the NRL has been negotiating 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.
“There isn’t a bigger day for the Bears since 1922,” said Billy Moore, a former North Sydney player who is now a Bears director.
“Our supporters have waited 26 years to hear this news. This is a day for the true believers, the ones who have continued to get themselves back up and hope. Without being too cliched, that’s what this personifies.
“For the game itself, please, somebody tell me a negative. There is no negative in this.”
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett also welcomed the news.
“We’ll never have a more favourable climate in Western Australia,” Bennett said. “The premier over there is a great supporter of rugby league, full stop … I think it’s a great decision and [I’m] really pleased.”
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.
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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Dragons coach Shane Flanagan backed the move, but noted that the battle for rugby league talent will become even fiercer.
“If it’s for 2027, there will be a mad scramble for players to get into the new side,” Flanagan said.
“There will also be a mad scramble to secure your own nest. We’ve had that in the back of our mind for a fair while now; we’ve secured most of our juniors, which is a good thing, and some of our senior players ...
“We talk about National Rugby League – we can’t just be on the east coast. A successful football team over there will only enhance the national game. I’m really looking forward to that … I think it’s a great move.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson rejected suggestions that two new teams will dilute the player talent pool.
“We’ve got enough talent, and it’ll come through,” Robinson said.
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