WA BEARS

[Bukowski]

For CEO Id go for Peter Parr. He's well respected, been in club land for decades and started his career at the Western Reds.

Good call there. I don't mind Artur aswell, as long as he brings his talented son.

 

[T-Boon]

For CEO Id go for Peter Parr. He's well respected, been in club land for decades and started his career at the Western Reds.

what about Ben Cousins?
He would know how to put on a good time for the fans.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Arthur getting $1.1m a year ?

Does this include a hardship allowance ?

Imagine how much Jason Demetriou will earn to coach the PNG NRL team

 

[Wb1234]

Arthur getting $1.1m a year ?

Does this include a hardship allowance ?

Imagine how much Jason Demetriou will earn to coach the PNG NRL team

Don’t rule out Bennett his souths deal will be done by then

Loves his coin

Get some of those sweet tax exemptions

 

[Centy Coast]

Out of interest ….are there big Polynesian communities In Perth?

When I was over there for the NRL double header in 2023 I went to a local game Fremantle Roosters v South Perth Lions, others clubs like the North Beach Sea Eagles and Willagee Bears were playing in the lower grades. There was a massive Polynesian presence in the crowd not to mention playing.
Both the Joondalup Giants and Rockingham Sharks also both have a heap of islanders in their playing squads.
The local league also holds their own Anzac Challenge between Perth City and the Perth Kiwi.
It is actually on atm.

 

[Centy Coast]

Good call there. I don't mind Artur aswell, as long as he brings his talented son.

Yeah bring Matt, not Jake lol.

 

[Centy Coast]

Actually the match is on live atm on YouTube under Anzac Challenge 2025.
It is still 0-0 after 10 mins.

 

[Centy Coast]

Brad Arthur is regularly up here on the Central Coast, this was October 25th last year at Shelly Beach Golf Club.

 

[JD359]

The more time I've had to think about it, Brad Arthur is the man they need from the expansion team's official announcement. He probably won't win them their first premiership. But he'll definitely lay the foundations for the nxt coach to build on that come the time

 

[Centy Coast]

 

[RedVee]

I’d be throwing a bucketful of dollars to Cleary Snr and Jnr, as inaugural Coach and Captain.

 

[Wb1234]

View attachment 101486

A wa based pommie said there are loads of Poms in those teams and loads in general over in wa juniors / teams

 

[reanimate]

I was on a surf trip over WA during Origin about 10 years ago and talking to aboriginal blokes they all fall for the myth that QLD picks on ability and that NSW was racist and only picked white players. I thought it was interesting

Surfing? Penrith? How’s retirement Mr Fanning?

 

[Red&BlackBear]

For CEO Id go for Peter Parr. He's well respected, been in club land for decades and started his career at the Western Reds.

This is why commercially minded people with a strong nous for business make these decisions.

Peter is a fantastic football operations manager and football director and/or football general manager. But he isn’t a CEO.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I’d be throwing a bucketful of dollars to Cleary Snr and Jnr, as inaugural Coach and Captain.

I think they've peaked mate 🫣

 

[blue bags]

I think they've peaked mate 🫣

They might be cooked

 

[Perth Red]

This is why commercially minded people with a strong nous for business make these decisions.

Peter is a fantastic football operations manager and football director and/or football general manager. But he isn’t a CEO.

Didn’t dragons try to get him there as ceo and he’s widely tipped to take over as knights ceo at end of this year?

 

[Wb1234]

The sticking point the NRL and WA government overcame to bring back the Bears

It was the sticking point that almost torpedoed the deal, but the NRL and the WA government have resolved the final hurdle to an 18th franchise.

www.smh.com.au

The NRL has struck an in-principle agreement for a Perth-based Bears team after acquiescing to the Western Australian government’s wish not to be charged a license fee to become the game’s 18th franchise.

The payment of a license fee was a sore point for all parties after a consortium headed by Cash Converters boss Peter Cumins did not offer one. The NRL, expecting a figure of $20 million, dismissed the bid and began negotiating directly with the WA government. A revised offer of $30 million from the consortium was not considered.

The ARLC met on Wednesday morning and signed off on an increased offer from WA Premier Roger Cook, but a license fee was not part of the deal.

“Over the past few weeks, the State has engaged in further negotiations with the Australian Rugby League Commission about establishing an NRL club in Western Australia,” a WA government spokesperson said.

“While we have taken a strong negotiating position, these discussions have been positive and respectful.

“As part of these negotiations, we put a revised and final position to the ARLC.

t the terms of any agreement reached.

“Should we not reach agreement, this will be a massive lost opportunity.
“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.

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.

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.

Loading
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.

 

[Perth Red]

The sticking point the NRL and WA government overcame to bring back the Bears

It was the sticking point that almost torpedoed the deal, but the NRL and the WA government have resolved the final hurdle to an 18th franchise.

www.smh.com.au

The NRL has struck an in-principle agreement for a Perth-based Bears team after acquiescing to the Western Australian government’s wish not to be charged a license fee to become the game’s 18th franchise.

The payment of a license fee was a sore point for all parties after a consortium headed by Cash Converters boss Peter Cumins did not offer one. The NRL, expecting a figure of $20 million, dismissed the bid and began negotiating directly with the WA government. A revised offer of $30 million from the consortium was not considered.

The ARLC met on Wednesday morning and signed off on an increased offer from WA Premier Roger Cook, but a license fee was not part of the deal.

“Over the past few weeks, the State has engaged in further negotiations with the Australian Rugby League Commission about establishing an NRL club in Western Australia,” a WA government spokesperson said.

“While we have taken a strong negotiating position, these discussions have been positive and respectful.

“As part of these negotiations, we put a revised and final position to the ARLC.

t the terms of any agreement reached.

“Should we not reach agreement, this will be a massive lost opportunity.
“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.

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.

Hmmm now whose been telling you for 6 months theres no way the wa govt will pay a license fee? lol

 

[Wb1234]

Hmmm now whose been telling you for 6 months theres no way the wa govt will pay a license fee? lol

Looks like the nrl is offering each club one million each from its own cash reserves plus their share when the club gets sold

Who knows maybe your mate will buy it off the nrl

Interesting to see he offered a license fee of 30 milllion which Was rejected

I can’t remember which posters were telling us he would never offer a license fee under any circumstance or that the revised offer was 20 million

Can you remember who that poster was ?

Nrl would want to be selling it for 30 to 50 million to get its money back plus give the clubs a nice kick back

Wonder if Perth get a share of that down the track lol