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WA BEARS

jim_57

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
4,727


WA Premier Roger Cook refuses to reveals details of negotiations with NRL to bring a team west​

Roger Cook has refused to open up about negotiations with the NRL and what the State Government is offering the east-coast based competition to bring a team west.
While facing mounting pressure to come clean, the rugby-loving Premier refused to weigh in on the talks, despite vowing during the campaign the League would not get any money from WA taxpayers.
Asked to clarify what was being discussed, given his election promise not to give the NRL any money, Mr Cook said: “I’m not going to provide you with an ongoing commentary in relation to the discussions with the NRL.”
“What I did say during the campaign is that no West Australian taxpayers’ money will go to the NRL.”
In the final week of the election campaign, Mr Cook told The West Australian’s Leadership Matters event not a single taxpayers’ dollar would be given to the League as part of a licence fee — reported to be in the realm of $120 million.
As part of the negotiations, WA would become the home to the “Western Bears” — with the now-defunct North Sydney Bears side moving to Perth.
WA confirms no deal cut on new NRL team, with league to reveal Papua New Guinean team in Sydney
Part of the NRL’s claimed offer would be a redevelopment of HBF Park in Perth — the likely home ground of the Bears — rumoured to be at a cost of $200 million.
Questioned about a potential announcement timed with the NRL’s double header next Saturday, Mr Cook said: “I’m not planning to make an announcement.”
“But if there is, we’ll give you plenty of notice.”
It comes after Mr Cook revealed on Monday talks with the NRL had restarted, following a downing of tools during the State Election campaign.
“I’ve had conversations with the CEO of NRL (Andrew Abdo), and I’ve also had conversations with the Minister for Sport, and I’ve had conversations with the Treasurer while I was at it,” Mr Cook said, referring to his Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti.
Immediately after the election, powerful league boss Peter V’Landys said a “deal had to happen quickly”, revealing an April deadline for discussions because of looming broadcast contract talks.
Following the election, Mr Cook said he thought the April deadline was “achievable”, but it was the League’s timeframe rather than the State Governments.

They sure love saying “East Coast based competition” like it’s some kind of gotcha. Meanwhile in the real world every professional sports league in Australia is majority East Coast based including their Victorian overlords.
 

Loose Cannon

Bench
Messages
4,206


WA Premier Roger Cook refuses to reveals details of negotiations with NRL to bring a team west​

Roger Cook has refused to open up about negotiations with the NRL and what the State Government is offering the east-coast based competition to bring a team west.
While facing mounting pressure to come clean, the rugby-loving Premier refused to weigh in on the talks, despite vowing during the campaign the League would not get any money from WA taxpayers.
Asked to clarify what was being discussed, given his election promise not to give the NRL any money, Mr Cook said: “I’m not going to provide you with an ongoing commentary in relation to the discussions with the NRL.”
“What I did say during the campaign is that no West Australian taxpayers’ money will go to the NRL.”
In the final week of the election campaign, Mr Cook told The West Australian’s Leadership Matters event not a single taxpayers’ dollar would be given to the League as part of a licence fee — reported to be in the realm of $120 million.
As part of the negotiations, WA would become the home to the “Western Bears” — with the now-defunct North Sydney Bears side moving to Perth.
WA confirms no deal cut on new NRL team, with league to reveal Papua New Guinean team in Sydney
Part of the NRL’s claimed offer would be a redevelopment of HBF Park in Perth — the likely home ground of the Bears — rumoured to be at a cost of $200 million.
Questioned about a potential announcement timed with the NRL’s double header next Saturday, Mr Cook said: “I’m not planning to make an announcement.”
“But if there is, we’ll give you plenty of notice.”
It comes after Mr Cook revealed on Monday talks with the NRL had restarted, following a downing of tools during the State Election campaign.
“I’ve had conversations with the CEO of NRL (Andrew Abdo), and I’ve also had conversations with the Minister for Sport, and I’ve had conversations with the Treasurer while I was at it,” Mr Cook said, referring to his Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti.
Immediately after the election, powerful league boss Peter V’Landys said a “deal had to happen quickly”, revealing an April deadline for discussions because of looming broadcast contract talks.
Following the election, Mr Cook said he thought the April deadline was “achievable”, but it was the League’s timeframe rather than the State Governments.
Up your Cazaly, to whoever penned this.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
71,770
They sure love saying “East Coast based competition” like it’s some kind of gotcha. Meanwhile in the real world every professional sports league in Australia is majority East Coast based including their Victorian overlords.
No other professional sports league isnt in the west though. Nrl holds a unique position in that lol
 

titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
6,733
Afl doesn’t have teams in nz Canberra Townsville gong Newcastle

No other code has teams in Townsville

It’s a dumb argument

Nrl hasn’t had a team in Perth for 30 years and it hasn’t made much difference to the game

Good sports do what’s best for them rather than copying other failing sports
7 of the top 10 population centres in Australia are RL dominant
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
71,770
Nrl only pro comp not have a club in perth. Either they are smarter than other sports or they are dumb for ignoring Australias 4th biggest city for 28 years. Time will tell.
 

BuffaloRules

Coach
Messages
15,869
Irrelevant, every pro comp has a club in perth, except one.

And I don’t recall the other Perth sporting teams having to put up with such hostility from the local media prior to joining…. Why is the NRL team singled out?

Is this what lies ahead for the team … no doubt silence from the local media when they are doing well , and shitcanned and told to move back to Sydney when they are struggling…
 
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titoelcolombiano

First Grade
Messages
6,733
Nrl only pro comp not have a club in perth. Either they are smarter than other sports or they are dumb for ignoring Australias 4th biggest city for 28 years. Time will tell.
It's neither, it's obviously nice to have a large market like that, but clearly not essential if you have a strong east coast base like the NRL does.

Soccer, Union and AFL would all trade their (edit) *Perth market share for what the NRL has in NSW and QLD in a heartbeat
 
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Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
38,359
It's neither, it's obviously nice to have a large market like that, but clearly not essential if you have a strong east coast base like the NRL does.

Soccer, Union and AFL would all trade their market share for what the NRL has in NSW and QLD in a heartbeat
Even the afl tv numbers in wa are like 70 to 80k vs 10k for nrl

Adelaide and Perth are just not hugely important as nrl has shown

Sure a nieche part of wa is nice but it’s not a game changer
 

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