National Rugby League Chairman Peter V’landys impressed by Perth big amid premier Roger Cook’s persitence

Jackson Barrett

The Nightly

2 Min Read

17 May 2024

Peter V'Landys and Roger Cook. Credit: WAN

West Australian Premier Roger Cook has launched another impassioned plea for the NRL to bring a team to Perth as the race for a 19th and 20th license ramps up.

And the premier believes a team in the west would be an economic boost.

NRL boss Peter V’landys says Cook “rings me every day” over the matter as the State competes with bids in Brisbane and New Zealand — where teams are already located.

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The Federal Government has also committed $600 million over 10 years in a diplomatic move to support Papua New Guinea’s push for a team in the competition.

“It’s a passion project for me. Only Western Australia can put the ‘N’ in NRL,” Cook said.

“WA is a key opportunity for the NRL as part of its expanded competition to bring a franchise to Western Australia — back to Western Australia.

“It represents an important economic opportunity for us, it is also an important opportunity for young people who play league in WA.

“Obviously I have been working very closely with NRL to make sure that Western Australia is given an opportunity to bid for a franchise when they expand their competition.”

V’landys, the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, revealed at the weekend his “ideal partnership” would be for the defunct North Sydney Bears franchise to relocate to Perth to bolster their bid.

But he today said that bid was not essential to the success of a new team in Perth, which hasn’t been home to a professional rugby league side since the end of the Western Reds in 1999.

Joseph Suaalii (2nd L) of the North Sydney Bears stands with team mate Sam Walker (C) and team mates during the Rugby League NSW Cup round 2 match between the Western Suburbs Magpies and North Sydney Bears at Campbeltown Stadium in Campbelltown, NSW, Sunday, March 21, 2021. (AAP Image/David Gray) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: DAVID GRAY/AAPIMAGE

“I’m taking an AVO out on (Cook). He rings me every day asking to put a Perth team in,” V’Landys said.

“Their bid is looking very, very good and maybe PNG isn’t the one that is first.

V’landys said it was not a condition of the Perth bid that they link with North Sydney Bears.

“It would certainly help their bid because the Bears have got a strong supporter base.

“They have also got the feeder system and juniors so it makes sense for Perth to look at that proposal.”

Meanwhile, Brisbane has won the right to host the competition’s Magic Round for the next three years, with the league poised to replicate the format for NRLW in New Zealand.

Magic Round, contested over three days at Suncorp Stadium, is sold out this year and is expected to generate $120 million into the Queensland economy through until 2027.

“There were a lot of cities in the mix and it wasn’t the highest bid but we repay loyalty in spades,” V’landys said.

“The Queensland government and the Brisbane council have been with us and took the risk with us.