October 30th:
Those talks have already hit a barrier. WA government and rugby league sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said the NRL had asked for approximately $12 million in annual funding for the next decade.
The figure is the same as what was pledged by the Tasmanian government to the AFL’s newest club the Tasmanian Devils, which is expected to receive $144 million over 12 years and a further $60 million for a new high-performance complex.
Sources said the NRL’s request was rejected earlier this month and a task force, led by WA treasury officials, had now been established to negotiate with the NRL.
The WA government confirmed it had rejected the NRL’s initial funding request but would not discuss the figure proposed by the rugby league body. It is still offering to upgrade HBF Stadium and build a high-performance facility.
WA government insiders say it has no interest in pouring tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money into what amounts to a “subsidy” for the NRL just months out from an election in a state where rugby league is viewed as a peripheral sport.
“The reason we have a strong budget is because we are disciplined with our spending decisions,” a senior WA government source said.
The WA government has set up a taskforce to work directly with the NRL on brokering a deal for an 18th rugby league club.
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