What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

WA BEARS

Centy Coast

Juniors
Messages
1,862
Jesus - some hard talk from the Premier "the deal is off" .... I hope its just posturing for the election.

I thought the stadium upgrades and CoE had already been agreed?

Seems like what was in the paper doesn't match what was discussed prior between the NRL and state government? Have the NRL moved the line again post Cummins?
Personally I feel it’s all election talk but I wouldn’t be surprised that he is a little pissed, I feel he would’ve liked to have kept a lid on this until after March 8.
Maybe now he has poured cold water on it until then.
 

The Great Dane

First Grade
Messages
7,976
Deepends on the detail.

Stadium upgrade, nothing wrong with that, perth is falling behind other cities for Rectangular stadium facilities and 13 years now since stage 1 HBF rebuild happened, about time for stage2!
CofE, WA govt has funded these for pretty much every sport except RL so again well within reason
License fee, if they are paying anything for this then it is outrageous abuse of tax payer money. NRL had the chance to get a license fee from the Western Bears and turned it down. No way Govt should be paying it.
Grassroots funding, improving SHS program and matching NRL grassroot funding 1:1 seems reasonable and on par with what AFL and Tassie Govt are doing for that new club
Free rental of HBF, bit of a stretch but if it makes the club more sustainable at beginning we can wear it

So all in all if the Nov SMH article is accurate then there isnt too much there that a State govt flush with cash shouldn't be doing.
Completing the upgrades to the stadium and giving it a bit of a spruce up is whatever, everything else is a joke.

The numbers being thrown around as annual funding are insane, and taxpayers shouldn't be paying license fees full stop. General investment to prop up community sport is one thing, but the NRL is basically demanding that the taxpayer underwrite their elite talent programs in WA. Mates rates rental deals happen all the time, but free rental of what will be a newly upgraded stadium is taking the piss.

All of the above is a blatant attempt by the NRL to offload their start up and running costs onto the taxpayer, and that's insane overreach for what is a luxury product at the end of the day.

Add on top of that the NRL demands all of that, but still wants to control the club and dictate it's banding, how it operates, and doesn't even want to commit to play all their games in Perth, and you've got a deal that no competent government should ever accept.
 
Last edited:

BuffaloRules

Coach
Messages
15,647
Jesus - some hard talk from the Premier "the deal is off" .... I hope its just posturing for the election.

I thought the stadium upgrades and CoE had already been agreed?

Seems like what was in the paper doesn't match what was discussed prior between the NRL and state government? Have the NRL moved the line again post Cummins?

these things were originally mentioned 6 months ago in the media ….

If the numbers have changed … why would Cook believe what was in the Telegraph over what he has previously discussed in person with PVL?

s
 

Red&BlackBear

First Grade
Messages
5,597
I can elaborate on what’s happened. There’s a Non Disclosure Agreement in place (which I’ve said for weeks) and someone leaked what was agreed to (for post election).

Cook is pissed off that it got leaked and in turn Liberal Government are now using it as an election point which is the whole point that NDA was in place to begin with. Nothing more. He will win the election regardless and this tough talk will be forgotten about in due time.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
70,673
And here come the politics. As I said, and you mocked, if deal was done in October we wouldn’t now have it at risk. Vlandys will have a lot to answer for if this falls over.

Hopefully it’s just political posturing after the libs dragged it into the spotlight.

anyone able to post this?

 
Last edited:

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
35,759
And here come the
Olivia’s. As I said and you mocked if deal was done in ocotober we wouldn’t now have it at risk. Vlandys will have a lot to answer for of this falls over.

Hopefully it’s just political posturing after the libs dragged it into the spotlight.

anyone able to post this?

Seeing you death riding your own team just bc you don’t have elite sources is peak you
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
70,673
A $320 million price tag for WA to get its own rugby league team has been labelled ‘fanciful’ by Premier Roger Cook, who warned demands by NRL boss Peter V’landys risked ‘killing’ the Western Bears deal.
However, he has not ruled ruled out a big cheque to secure a western team, saying: “It depends what the deal is and those discussions haven’t concluded.”
Mr Cook added that if the price tag was similar to a $320 million wish floated by Mr V’landys: “It’s a deal killer. The deal is off.”
In revelations in east coast media this week, the Premier reportedly had discussions with Mr V’Landys in the final days before caretaker mode started on February 5.
Liberal leader Libby Mettam declared on Thursday that she would not cut an expensive taxpayer-funded deal to secure a western team.
Ms Mettam seized on reports of secret talks, including demands for a $120m licence fee, grassroots investment and a $200m upgrade of HBF Park for a team facility to accuse the Premier of using taxpayers to “fund his hobby”.
”WA deserves a rugby team, but we should not be handing hundreds of millions of dollars to east coast businessmen to secure it,” she told The West Australian.
The Liberals would not rule out making some form of payment, but it is understood the stadium upgrades were deemed unnecessary, given rugby teams currently play games there, while no other team was required to pay licence fee.
Under a proposal to bring WA into the NRL, the North Sydney Bears would be relocated to Perth, and be rebadged as the “Western Bears”.
Cyclone Zelia declared category 5 system before crossing coast Friday, bringing destructive winds
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mr V’landys said the talks with the State Government had been “very positive”.
“I have been talking to the WA premier and I am very comfortable and confident with where we are at,” he said.
“I appreciate there is an election on (in Western Australia), but I’m confident after the election we will come to an arrangement.”
Calling the side “Roger’s Rugby Team”, Ms Mettam called for the Premier to be transparent over what funding he would commit to secure the Western Bears.
“WA Labor cannot treat voters as mugs – we deserve to know what has been promised to bring Roger’s Rugby Team to WA.”
WA Election 2025: Labor MP Paul Lilburne resorts to name-calling opponent

On Friday, Mr Cook ruled out a “blank cheque” but refused to be drawn on the proposed deal and whether voters deserved to know the details before the State election on March 8.
“We want to have a NRL team in WA, only WA can put the N in NRL, only WA can provide new eyeballs for the national competition,” he said.
“I like Peter V’landys, we’ve had great conversations, but if he thinks that Western Australians are going to be treated as second class NRL citizens, if he thinks we’re going to see a repeat of the Western Reds, he’s got another thought coming. The deal is off.
“The numbers I see today are ridiculous and the deal is off.”
Asked whether he should seek an election mandate for any proposed price, Mr Cook replied: “there’s no deal to put to the people of WA” yet.

 

The Great Dane

First Grade
Messages
7,976
.

Did the premier actually say, "the nrl needs us more than we need them"?

Haha. In their deluded dreams.

.
That's just a statement of fact.

Perth doesn't need an NRL team, but the longer the NRL goes without a team in Perth the more it will stunt their growth nationally, and if you're the deluded one if you think otherwise.

The NRL may as well not bother if it's going to be the Bears away. They'll be a WA team in name only, and barely even that.
 

BuffaloRules

Coach
Messages
15,647
Pretty much got most of it wrong lol. WA govt has already turned down the $120mill request, counter offering more for the SHS program and a matched 1:1 funding for NRLWA, I expect the HBF upgrade will be significantly more than $200mill, and didnt even mention the $12 mill for Ken Allen temp facilities plus the $Xmill for the clubs training HQ in Malaga. These journos really dont do their homework.

let your source in the WA Govt know that the article that has got everyone’s knickers in a knot is wrong ….. just don’t mention the part about the Govt actually agreeing more money than reported for the stadium upgrade until after the election…
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
7,627
A $320 million price tag for WA to get its own rugby league team has been labelled ‘fanciful’ by Premier Roger Cook, who warned demands by NRL boss Peter V’landys risked ‘killing’ the Western Bears deal.
However, he has not ruled ruled out a big cheque to secure a western team, saying: “It depends what the deal is and those discussions haven’t concluded.”
Mr Cook added that if the price tag was similar to a $320 million wish floated by Mr V’landys: “It’s a deal killer. The deal is off.”
In revelations in east coast media this week, the Premier reportedly had discussions with Mr V’Landys in the final days before caretaker mode started on February 5.
Liberal leader Libby Mettam declared on Thursday that she would not cut an expensive taxpayer-funded deal to secure a western team.
Ms Mettam seized on reports of secret talks, including demands for a $120m licence fee, grassroots investment and a $200m upgrade of HBF Park for a team facility to accuse the Premier of using taxpayers to “fund his hobby”.
”WA deserves a rugby team, but we should not be handing hundreds of millions of dollars to east coast businessmen to secure it,” she told The West Australian.
The Liberals would not rule out making some form of payment, but it is understood the stadium upgrades were deemed unnecessary, given rugby teams currently play games there, while no other team was required to pay licence fee.
Under a proposal to bring WA into the NRL, the North Sydney Bears would be relocated to Perth, and be rebadged as the “Western Bears”.
Cyclone Zelia declared category 5 system before crossing coast Friday, bringing destructive winds
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mr V’landys said the talks with the State Government had been “very positive”.
“I have been talking to the WA premier and I am very comfortable and confident with where we are at,” he said.
“I appreciate there is an election on (in Western Australia), but I’m confident after the election we will come to an arrangement.”
Calling the side “Roger’s Rugby Team”, Ms Mettam called for the Premier to be transparent over what funding he would commit to secure the Western Bears.
“WA Labor cannot treat voters as mugs – we deserve to know what has been promised to bring Roger’s Rugby Team to WA.”
WA Election 2025: Labor MP Paul Lilburne resorts to name-calling opponent

On Friday, Mr Cook ruled out a “blank cheque” but refused to be drawn on the proposed deal and whether voters deserved to know the details before the State election on March 8.
“We want to have a NRL team in WA, only WA can put the N in NRL, only WA can provide new eyeballs for the national competition,” he said.
“I like Peter V’landys, we’ve had great conversations, but if he thinks that Western Australians are going to be treated as second class NRL citizens, if he thinks we’re going to see a repeat of the Western Reds, he’s got another thought coming. The deal is off.
“The numbers I see today are ridiculous and the deal is off.”
Asked whether he should seek an election mandate for any proposed price, Mr Cook replied: “there’s no deal to put to the people of WA” yet.


So libs will work with NRL too lol!!
 

Pippen94

First Grade
Messages
7,627
That's just a statement of fact.

Perth doesn't need an NRL team, but the longer the NRL goes without a team in Perth the more it will stunt their growth nationally, and if you're the deluded one if you think otherwise.

The NRL may as well not bother if it's going to be the Bears away. They'll be a WA team in name only, and barely even that.

WA seem to spending a lot to NRL tho.
 

i0Nic

Juniors
Messages
163
Hmm it’s a bit of a worry. It suggests that the 200-300m for an upgraded stadium may not happen even if the deal goes ahead.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
35,759
I know you're developmentally disabled, but even you are well aware that that isn't what I was said.
Pick a sport which hasn’t had significant govt help with an expansion team

Why not league ?

Didn’t you say the govt should help fund a new stadium in Canberra.

Why shouldn’t Perth get upgrades
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
70,673
Wouldnt hurt for Vlad to come out and squash the $120mil license fee nonsense. That is what the public here is seeing and arcing up about. HBF upgrade and training centre is not that contentious.

Considering the WA govt started to talk to the NRL in October 2022 why the frick are we now in the situation where it has been allowed to drag out to become a political hot potato?

Should have all been wrapped on on October 7th 2024 and it wouldn't have been an election issue for Libs to focus on.
 

BuffaloRules

Coach
Messages
15,647
Cook is almost right, 90% is too high but asking a government to stump up cash for a stadium when teams,are playing out of the likes of Cronulla and Jubilee oval is a joke.

the upgrade of the oval has been reported in the media for months…at even higher figures than this latest article this week…don’t understand the kerfuffle all of sudden …unless it’s purely election scaremongering…

it’s a Govt owned asset used by multiple sports …mens and women’s …. Not sure it’s really fair to compare it with Cronulla and Jubilee when it is the primary rectangle stadium in Perth …
 

AlwaysGreen

Post Whore
Messages
51,349
the upgrade of the oval has been reported in the media for months…at even higher figures than this latest article this week…don’t understand the kerfuffle all of sudden …unless it’s purely election scaremongering…

it’s a Govt owned asset used by multiple sports …mens and women’s …. Not sure it’s really fair to compare it with Cronulla and Jubilee when it is the primary rectangle stadium in Perth …
It is fair. Especially when a bears side wants to play a game at North Sydney Oval. And let's not start talking about the ground in png and that whole country's primary rectangular stadium.......
 

Latest posts

Top