WA BEARS

[reanimate]

it is the same as dogs to belmore or phins to kayo.

did i miss somethings? did a bunch of you posters wake up today and forget what the chat about nso and a game there has been for months on end?

It’s not, as it’s the one home game they’re getting in Sydney. The Dogs having select games at Belmore works to maximise crowd numbers for otherwise low drawing fixtures. A lot of people disagree with the Dolphins hosting games at Kayo, the whole point of Brisbane 2 was to get a game happening at Suncorp every week, not lock potential attendees out for the sake of hosting games at a 10k stadium.

There are meant to be 200,000+ Bears fans, surely they’d fill Allianz for their one Sydney home game.

 

[Canard]

The beer and footy festival held at NSO on some years is a great experience for fans.

You’re confusing your personal opinion as facts. If you like to point your finger and laugh as per one of your posts today, start with the bloke looking back at you in the mirror.

It will be a loss maker, that is a clear fact.

But if the Bears want to do that, and have fans watch games on an oval, than its up to them. They can make there own decisions.

 

[Canard]

Why do people use the phrase "the Western Reds folded". Insinuating that they voluntarily stopped operating because of some financial issues?

The Reds were a victim of the Super League/ARL compromise, plain and simple.

 

[mongoose]

Why do people use the phrase "the Western Reds folded". Insinuating that they voluntarily stopped operating because of some financial issues?

The Reds were a victim of the Super League/ARL compromise, plain and simple.

Reds, Chargers, Crushers, Rams folded because they weren't viable but Souths, Norths, Balmain were hapless victims is the narrative.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Why do people use the phrase "the Western Reds folded". Insinuating that they voluntarily stopped operating because of some financial issues?

The Reds were a victim of the Super League/ARL compromise, plain and simple.

News Ltd going to close them up and put their license in Melbourne to maintain 10 team comp in 98 had SL gone into a second season.

Reds were $1.4m in the red by the end of 94 before they had even commenced on the field. They were over $10m in the red by 3/4 way of the year in 97. News Ltd were spending more on them to keep them afloat than half the combined SL comp clubs. They were always going to shut shop.

RLDigest is the most complete research into the SL war you’ll find, ever. More than Mascord’s and Gibson’s books. All the above info is directly from that channel which researched hundreds of articles, clippings, reports and interviewed people involved.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Reds, Chargers, Crushers, Rams folded because they weren't viable but Souths, Norths, Balmain were hapless victims is the narrative.

incorrect.
chargers and crushers were true victims because of broncos exclusivity deal in the war ending.
bears were asked to relocate, they did all the ground work and then the criteria worked against them because they had their money tied up in bluetongue stadium gosford.

i knows some here try to re-write history to fit their narrative but geez the info is literally available for all to read. maybe try doing that instead of thinking ya's some experts. newsflash ya not experts, just blokes with NFI

 

[wb2027]

RLDigest is the most complete research into the SL war you’ll find, ever. More than Mascord’s and Gibson’s books. All the above info is directly from that channel which researched hundreds of articles, clippings, reports and interviewed people involved.

Only just listened to the episode covering the Reds recently (or the full expansion in 1995). Reds apparently weren't getting the green light for a license until they offered to pay for Away clubs. "The thing that got them over the line was the same thing that ended up killing them."

 

[SirPies&Beers]

It will be a loss maker, that is a clear fact.

But if the Bears want to do that, and have fans watch games on an oval, than its up to them. They can make there own decisions.

hows it a fact? ya know the books? ya just guess working kennards and not very well too. ya reaching perthwrongs levels of being incorrect lately. smarten up, ya better than that

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Only just listened to the episode covering the Reds recently (or the full expansion in 1995). Reds apparently weren't getting the green light for a license until they offered to pay for Away clubs. "The thing that got them over the line was the same thing that ended up killing them."

theres another episode later. maybe 10 later down the line. this idea was actually theirs (reds), not the arl. perth owners needed something to make them stand out in the bids and thats what they proposed and this was based on some verbal agreement between airline carrier and reds that they shook hands on for more economically friendly flights. however it later wasnt honored.

rugby league digest. best rugby league poddy relating to SL. half the posters here could learn a thing or two if they actually listened.

THE RLD

www.theleaguedigest.com

 

[SirPies&Beers]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-westernperth-reds-players-every-story-as-bears-brings-rugby-league-back-to-western-australia/news-story/08a33eddab3610177b83db46342ae19b

 

[Wb1234]

 

[Wb1234]

News Ltd going to close them up and put their license in Melbourne to maintain 10 team comp in 98 had SL gone into a second season.

Reds were $1.4m in the red by the end of 94 before they had even commenced on the field. They were over $10m in the red by 3/4 way of the year in 97. News Ltd were spending more on them to keep them afloat than half the combined SL comp clubs. They were always going to shut shop.

RLDigest is the most complete research into the SL war you’ll find, ever. More than Mascord’s and Gibson’s books. All the above info is directly from that channel which researched hundreds of articles, clippings, reports and interviewed people involved.

Super League: The inside story

Leading sports writer Coleman goes behind the headlines…

www.goodreads.com

For a news Ltd journo very honest about what went on

George Piggins has a chapter in his book and he didn’t miss. Especially about bullfrog

 

[Wb1234]

Titans makes most sense.

Nso used to hold around 20k until recently

Some club union final claimed close to that in 2018

Surely it goes back to that

12k or whatever it is now is too small

 

[Canard]

News Ltd going to close them up and put their license in Melbourne to maintain 10 team comp in 98 had SL gone into a second season.

Reds were $1.4m in the red by the end of 94 before they had even commenced on the field. They were over $10m in the red by 3/4 way of the year in 97. News Ltd were spending more on them to keep them afloat than half the combined SL comp clubs. They were always going to shut shop.

RLDigest is the most complete research into the SL war you’ll find, ever. More than Mascord’s and Gibson’s books. All the above info is directly from that channel which researched hundreds of articles, clippings, reports and interviewed people involved.

As a result of the unsustainable SL war.

What where the other clubs financials like?

.

 

[Canard]

Nso used to hold around 20k until recently

Some club union final claimed close to that in 2018

Surely it goes back to that

12k or whatever it is now is too small

How can it "go back to that"?

 

[Red&BlackBear]

As a result of the unsustainable SL war.

What where the other clubs financials like?

.

There was no super league was in 94 when they were already financially in the red prior to commencing on field in 95. The club was originally set up pretty well as a business in very late 92 and into 93 but something started heading south in 94 and only spiralled worse into 95-97.

In the end the costs associated with keeping them afloat far exceeded that of other bleeding clubs. To the people who were forking out the cash, it was simply irreversible. News Ltd lost faith, and as stated before in a separate post, they were on the cusp of closing Reds down for a new Melbourne based franchise months before the peace deal with ARL came to fruition.

The SL War has masked a lot of truths and embellished many false statements. Too many people to this day still run with these false statements.

All that aside I do feel like if Perth was given a chance to steady their ship in an united competition from 98 onwards, I thoroughly believe that they would have eventually crawled into the black, financially, and then prospered. Even with the terrible commercial and operational initial start that they had. I don’t agree that their woes were irreversible, I think they only required some time to find their feet. It’s a big what if, but here we are now.

Super League: The inside story

Leading sports writer Coleman goes behind the headlines…

www.goodreads.com

For a news Ltd journo very honest about what went on

George Piggins has a chapter in his book and he didn’t miss. Especially about bullfrog

Yep good read and I meant to say Coleman, not Gibson, as per my post.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Storm star Jahrome Hughes responds to staggering $1.5m Bears link

Storm star responds to staggering $1.5m Bears link

www.foxsports.com.au

if papy stays then aim for fa'alogo. if hughes stays then aim for pezet

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Abdo adamant Perth club will not be run by NRL

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has revealed a new club in Perth will become a members-owned franchise, after the...

www.huntervalleynews.net.au

Abdo adamant Perth club will not be run by NRL​

By Scott Bailey and Joel Gould
Updated May 1 2025 - 12:01pm, first published 11:53am
FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmail


NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has delivered more information about a future Perth-based franchise. Photo: Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS

The NRL have rejected claims they will have control over the new Perth-based franchise, adamant the revived Bears club will run at arms-length from head office.

League bosses are expected to confirm a Western Australian-based side as the NRL's 18th team this month, after reaching a deal with the state government.

The team will enter in 2027, before the previously-announced Papua New Guinea club join them in a 19-team competition in 2028.

Current clubs continue to have several questions over the new Perth-based franchise, with many expected to be raised in a meeting with all 17 current CEOs on Friday.


One concern remains around the control of the club, after the NRL rejected a bid from a Peter Cumins-led consortium last year.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed on Thursday that the plan was for the ARL Commission to assist in formative stages by appointing a board.

Directors would be free to make crucial decisions from there, before the licences are transitioned into member-owned clubs.

"It's not an NRL-run club," Abdo said at Thursday's Magic Round launch in Brisbane.
"This will be a club that will be owned by the members and it will be controlled in the transition period by its own board.

"It will have its own chairman, own board and own CEO. That board gets appointed by the commission. So it's very much at arm's length from the NRL.

"After the transition period that will obviously then be a member-elected board.
"It's the model that we've looked at for PNG and it's the model that we're looking at for WA."

The appointment of the board will have ramifications for key decisions such as coach and football bosses, who will then determine inaugural rosters.

Under current rules, the Perth-based side will not be able to approach players until November 1 this year, while PNG will need to hold off until November 2026.
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The NRL has previously assisted in making key appointments at multiple clubs.
The league were part of the Wests Tigers' board shake and corporate governance reform in 2014, which ultimately led to Marina Go's appointment as chair.

Head office also took control of Newcastle and Gold Coast in 2014 and 2015 respectively amid financial woes, before they were bought back out in 2017.

In the case of the new franchises, Abdo suggested he wanted the licenses to go to member-backed models, which were still being explored.

"Rugby league is a game of the people and this is an opportunity for the fans and the members of that club to have a say and to govern it," Abdo said.

"Using this model for expansion of franchises has many advantages and one of them is the fact that the members are empowered after a certain period of time.

"It's not about making money, this is about growing the game."

@Red&BlackBear this mights be a silly question but seeing your in seqld, are you personally catching up with any of the nrl club's ceo's tomorrow in brissy?

 

[The_Wookie]

Abdo adamant Perth club will not be run by NRL

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has revealed a new club in Perth will become a members-owned franchise, after the...

www.huntervalleynews.net.au

Abdo adamant Perth club will not be run by NRL​

By Scott Bailey and Joel Gould
Updated May 1 2025 - 12:01pm, first published 11:53am
FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmail


NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has delivered more information about a future Perth-based franchise. Photo: Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS

The NRL have rejected claims they will have control over the new Perth-based franchise, adamant the revived Bears club will run at arms-length from head office.

League bosses are expected to confirm a Western Australian-based side as the NRL's 18th team this month, after reaching a deal with the state government.

The team will enter in 2027, before the previously-announced Papua New Guinea club join them in a 19-team competition in 2028.

Current clubs continue to have several questions over the new Perth-based franchise, with many expected to be raised in a meeting with all 17 current CEOs on Friday.


One concern remains around the control of the club, after the NRL rejected a bid from a Peter Cumins-led consortium last year.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed on Thursday that the plan was for the ARL Commission to assist in formative stages by appointing a board.

Directors would be free to make crucial decisions from there, before the licences are transitioned into member-owned clubs.

"It's not an NRL-run club," Abdo said at Thursday's Magic Round launch in Brisbane.
"This will be a club that will be owned by the members and it will be controlled in the transition period by its own board.

"It will have its own chairman, own board and own CEO. That board gets appointed by the commission. So it's very much at arm's length from the NRL.

"After the transition period that will obviously then be a member-elected board.
"It's the model that we've looked at for PNG and it's the model that we're looking at for WA."

The appointment of the board will have ramifications for key decisions such as coach and football bosses, who will then determine inaugural rosters.

Under current rules, the Perth-based side will not be able to approach players until November 1 this year, while PNG will need to hold off until November 2026.
Advertisement
Ad

The NRL has previously assisted in making key appointments at multiple clubs.
The league were part of the Wests Tigers' board shake and corporate governance reform in 2014, which ultimately led to Marina Go's appointment as chair.

Head office also took control of Newcastle and Gold Coast in 2014 and 2015 respectively amid financial woes, before they were bought back out in 2017.

In the case of the new franchises, Abdo suggested he wanted the licenses to go to member-backed models, which were still being explored.

"Rugby league is a game of the people and this is an opportunity for the fans and the members of that club to have a say and to govern it," Abdo said.

"Using this model for expansion of franchises has many advantages and one of them is the fact that the members are empowered after a certain period of time.

"It's not about making money, this is about growing the game."

@Red&BlackBear this mights be a silly question but seeing your in seqld, are you personally catching up with any of the nrl club's ceo's tomorrow in brissy?

For reference: this means it will likely be functionally the same as the AFL and Giants/Suns/Swans/Crows/Power. The Swans "transition period" has been going since the early 90s. The Crows will leave AFL control in 2028 (in the constitution), while no fixed dates are known for the others.

In these cases, the club is member owned, but the AFL is the only actual member with voting rights.

 

[mave]

How are they proposing to fit 200,000 Bears fans into NSO for the Titans game?