NRL REJECTS Western Bears Expansion Bid

[@timbred8532]

Barely anyone from Perth will support an offshoot of some defunct NSW team. Let them forge their own identity, or don't bother at all.

[@BDub2024]

They will get enough support. After all the NRL doesn't get very good crowds. If they're getting 15k to 20k then that will be great. The stadium holds 22k approx.

[@WhatsCheeze]

Funny enough - I'm a perth guy and I know a few people who supports the Bears as an entity. We had the Reds very briefly and they kinda had "some" identity but I think it's nice universally for the NRL to bring back something with identity. If it worked for Fitzroy/Brisbane Lions, South Melbourne/Sydney then it can work for North Sydney/Perth

[@VelvetRiot-hz5mp]

They'll get on board. They could call the club the Perth Potatoes and people would still follow them if the quality product is there.

[@hallbags7444]

Didn't we try this? The Western Reds 😢

[@conandis5542]

​@@VelvetRiot-hz5mpPerth Potatoes 😂😂

[@Richard1H65S]

The consortium running the bid has been rejected. Perth team is still on the cards under a NRL/North sydney joint venture.

[@VelvetRiot-hz5mp]

Newtown and North Sydney should just enter a team in the union competition. They would welcome them in with open arms. That would gazump NRL completely.

[@_peepyopee]

They are desperate to push PNG in...

[@LazMan-w2g]

Going to cost tax payers millions to start, millions to run and then it will collapse when a new government comes in and cuts the funding. Also who wants to live in a compound on a tropical Island while playing for them? Aint going to lure any big names thats for sure.

[@thygfr]

I can't see PNG being success. For starters the players will have to live in a prison facility for the duration of their contracts and therefore they will have to be payed 3 times as much by PNG than any other club. How is it fair that PNG will have a salary cap 3 times more than anyone else? All this will be kept secret though and when it's announced that Nathan an Ivan Cleary are heading to Port Moresby to take up an exciting new challenge, you and I will know the reason why.

[@russellhorsefield9199]

@@thygfr Funny you should say that as my nurse's son was playing in Port Moresby for the Australian schoolboys side against the PNG schoolboys team and they we're entertain by The Australian Defence Forces by them staying at their barracks. If you want to list an army compound as a prison then go for it as personally I think you are married to Mrs Fulla Shit.

[@PoppinC-l3w]

PNG has agreed to Tax exemptions for NRL players for first couple years. They get to keep most of their salary instead of forking over half.

[@Unbearable.Unbearable]

The guy running the Perth Bears bid, also ran the Dolphins bid and the Dolphins DID NOT pay a licence fee. The application for the 18th team allowed the applicants to nominate a licence fee. The Perth bid put $zero, because none was asked for and the NRL set a precedent of $zero with the Dolphins. Now the NRL are sooking, insulted and offended by being "low balled" on a licence fee? If the NRL wanted a licence fee, they should have nominated such a fee upfront instead of wasting everyone's time. The way the NRL is carrying on, points to political moves behind the scenes to bring foward the PNG bid. The smell of $600m of Australian tax payers money, including a big fat licence fee to be divided among the current 17 clubs is probably closer to the truth. If the NRL's priorities have changed or they got a better offer, then they should just be upfront and say so. Don't have a public sook about being "Low Balled".

[@spinmyhead1667]

That's Vlandys MO unfortunately.Terrible man to do business with.

[@sizzas4503]

West Aussie's dont want Sydney left overs. We are a parochial people we want a club with a West identity. Perth Pirates!

[@hotdogrotdog1358]

Hope the bears can make it because it’s a smart idea 🔴⚪️⚫️

[@beebeenyneeee7692]

No it's not.

[@thygfr]

its only smart if they merge with souths, easts and wests and move all those losers to Perth. That would free up some slots for more worthy areas to be represented.

[@91Caesar]

It's pretty wild to talk about how the various bids they are receiving arent finanically sound enough, but the one that requires a couple hundred million of federal funding? Yeah that one's surely a financially stable set up that wont implode the second that 10 year fed funding deal expires!

[@adelaidecrowshighlights4413]

There is clearly a shortage of teams in WA only 2 AFL Teams, 1 NBL team and 1 Soccer team. It's crazy to have no Rugby Teams in WA.

[@albertmiller2electricbooga897]

BBL doesn't exist?

[@LomuHabana]

Western Force?

[@adelaidecrowshighlights4413]

@@LomuHabana There is NO NRL Team. There is a clear shortage of teams in WA. The West Coast Eagles finished last and still have a waiting list for their membership. The Wildcats also sell out all their matches. There is a clear shortage of teams in WA.

[@LomuHabana]

@@adelaidecrowshighlights4413 You wrote “No Rugby Teams”, that is wrong. First of all, West Coast has high membership (partly also because it is hard to regain the same benefits once you cancel your membership, I am being told by WAC fans), but the Dockers have one of the lowest membership numbers in the league. They currently have less members than clubs like the Bulldogs, Brisbane Port Adelaide and Melbourne. Not counting the two new expansion sides, only North and St. Kilda have less members, and the saints just barely. And that’s while Freo played a good season just, narrowly missing the finals. And the lack of widespread support is explainable given that they have played 30 seasons in the league but still made just 1 GF. They still haven’t really “arrived” in the AFL, their crowd numbers are also relatively low/by far not at the max. This fact also indicates that people on the WCE waiting list really want to see THE EAGLES live. Not just any team. And even those facts you je mentioned meant a shortage of clubs, it wouldn’t make sense create a team for a completely different sport. People trying to sign up for the Eagles usually want to see Aussie Rules, People trying to get tickets for the Wild Cats like basketball. The fact that Western force is struggling to get decent crowds confirms that. I agree that an NRL Team on Perth would be a good thing, but not because there is a general shortage of sport teams. Because there is NO NRL TEAM yet.

[@BDub2024]

Western Force Rugby Union. Was reasonably popular until ARU kicked them out. They got saved by Twiggy Forrest and now back in. But the Rugby union community aren't feeling the love. Its actually a good time for rugby league to return.

[@albertmiller2electricbooga897]

What's a national league without a team west of Melbourne? How are West Aussies meant to care about league when we don't even have a team to support

[@BDub2024]

its actually a good time to strike in Perth. As immigration is up from rugby league and union places. Also, Perth has been treated badly by ARU and Force has struggled since being kicked out and then having to return. So a good time to join in Perth while Rugby Union is struggling. 10 years ago and I would have said that League would have taken second place to Union. Not now.

[@VelvetRiot-hz5mp]

NRL is an abbreviation of New South Wales Rugby League.

[@jackhillthepill2324]

​@@VelvetRiot-hz5mpno its national rugby league.

[@directmessage912]

@@BDub2024 Nah no one in Perth cares, only soccer and afl there.

[@BDub2024]

@@directmessage912 rugby league would have more people at their games. soccer has more participants.

[@drewkiely901]

I just don’t get how WA got slugged with an attempted licensing fee when the dolphins or no other team ever was.

[@PjRjHj]

Because Peter V'Landys is a piece of work, who has more than once shown open contempt for Australians outside of NSW and Qld

[@BDub2024]

When Eagles and Brisb Bears joined AFL in 1986 they paid $4 million upfront and then had to pay for travel for themselves and teams to travel to Perth. Work out in 2024 money how much that is.

[@91Caesar]

​@@BDub2024and it nearly left the Brisbane Bears dead in the water. The Eagles succeeded despite that lack of support, because at the time the Western Australian football League wasn't actually that much lesser then the VFL and provided a strong starting point for them. But the Bears perpetually struggled in their early years, and never really made any ground in developing a supporter base until they finally moved to the Gabba. When the AFL decided to seed two new teams in non-traditional AFL regions, they very specifically did everything they didn't do with the Bears, specifically to avoid a rerun of that near disaster. If the NRL's goal is the expansion of the game as a whole, they'd do wise to learn from the AFL's mistakes.

[@AKACitizan101]

Totally political Because Albo has promised PNG it even though it completely impractical

[@thequartersfooty]

Either Peter V'Landys and his team are running scared after the AFL torpedoed them this season or too afraid to expand. The NRL is known as the National Rugby League when there are only 3 states and another country that's New Zealand with teams playing in the league, while the AFL is almost there to a true full national competition. The NRL talk about a big game when its comes to expanding, why are they mucking around on getting more representation across Australia. Western Australia is a full sporting state we have just about every sport represented in all major codes except for NRL, given Western Australia is West Coast Eagles & Fremantle Dockers territory. Its puzzles a lot of minds here, what is going on with the NRL, they either want it or not.

[@glenmale1748]

Rugby is far more popular than League in WA because of the huge South African ex-pat population.

[@NickStevens-o7n]

Tonga, Samoa and New Guinea are not nations?

[@petergmred2005]

Most ppl in nsw and qld don't give 2 fks about afl.

[@JOEY69-69]

Warriors participation is justified all their home games is a sellout plus the interest in rugby union is depleted except for all blacks, league is a better game out of all the codes AFL was tried in NZ 5 years ago and nobody was interested in watching it.

[@thequartersfooty]

@@petergmred2005 You have to admit that within NSW & QLD there has been big growth for the AFL, that's off the back of only 4 teams. Look at membership within the two states, over 200,000 members within 4 clubs with the bulk numbers going to the Sydney Swans & Brisbane Lions, ironically the two Grand Finalists in our Grand Final. VS NRL's membership numbers which is roughly about 350,000 members and that's off the back of 15 teams. Home game attendance AFL had over 1 million in NSW & QLD home games vs NRL which had 3.3 million people attend home games. When you think about it, 200,000 members and over a million people coming through the games off the back of only 4 teams, that's impressive.

[@maiin0w]

Sharks to Adelaide makes marketing sense.

[@VelvetRiot-hz5mp]

Cronulla fans don't show up, so it's time to shuffle them out of the Shire.

[@LazMan-w2g]

Won't happen, Scomo and his mates will keep pumping money in to keep them there. Bring Back the Adelaide Rams!

[@darkstars-torpedoes-of-truth]

Spot on.

[@LazMan-w2g]

@@maiin0w Adelaide Rams struggled to draw a crowd during their brief existence, how would it be different now with a team relocated from NSW?

[@cumbrianmackem9296]

100%. Boot the sharks to the NSW cup and give their place to Adelaide as either the Adelaide sharks or a standalone Adelaide team without a sharks presence.

[@markmatthews8675]

30% of the players in the NRL are Kiwis. Let that sink in. Why on earth would would you neglect such a hotbed of talent? A new, state of the art stadium in Christchurch and a solid business plan. Also a chance to take valuable market share from Union (which is in a position of vulnerability in NZ for maybe the first time ever). A South Island team is a no brainer.

[@mikespearwood3914]

Would there be enough support in Christchurch for a second rugby team though?

[@zohanstu6821]

What’s the percentage of islands in general you think in NRL? 75% ?

[@donaldjgumpofficial5754]

@@mikespearwood3914 Almost definitely.

[@PoppinC-l3w]

NZ, WA and PNG should all be let in with expansion teams. You're absolutely right about Union being in a position of vulnerability in NZ and even in the Pacific and WA. Rugby League has grown tremendously in the region, and although the NRL has been horrible at promoting the sport in other continents despite being the only ones with the means to do so, they can do right by capturing New Zealand from Union.

[@donaldjgumpofficial5754]

@@PoppinC-l3w PNG is a shit option. No infrastructure, huge costs required to keep them afloat, dangerous place and for what? People who are too poor to buy anything and already support the league. The NRL should go with Adelaide or another Queensland team.

[@christendomempire5657]

Central Coast Gosford isn't in Sydney. Though NRL doesn't need another NSW or Queensland team

[@rmar127]

An easy solution for the Adelaide question is for cronulla play 2-3 home games a year in Adelaide as sort of a soft relocation. Similar to Hawthorne Hawk and Nth Melbourne kangaroos before them playing a set number of games in launcestern

[@Firedogies]

no

[@AbitLippy]

Wtf

[@CommissionerManu]

Cronulla would play in a bigger, better stadium in Adelaide as well. Maybe they can finally host some finals 😂

[@colinquinn5734]

Relocate the shark to Adelaide. But play all or other nsw teams as away game in nsw. And have a memberships to the shark fan for all the games played in NSW. And have it lock in that that have to play 10+ games in nsw. A term with to homes.

[@TOTN17]

@@colinquinn5734 Sharks are one of the very few professional sports clubs in Australia that own their stadium would be insane to relocate them

[@jimrogers2390]

I hope Perth get a team even if it's without the Bears, it'll be a club with their own identity they can build up and hopefully be successful.

[@michaelgoodwin1239]

It's not the Nth Sydney Bears side. It's the Cash Converters Ceo / Owner tight arse side

[@andrewstrijland4258]

Totally agree Perth needs a new team.call them the west coast Pirates and the whole of WA would get behind them

[@darkstars-torpedoes-of-truth]

Western Reds 2

[@MERCURYSUNSET]

Why the hell are the NRL even thinking of merging Perth / Western Australia with the Bears or anyone for that matter ? What a farce . The Dolphins came in as a stand alone club and so should Perth .

[@todafett5865]

So it’s a good old-fashioned brown-mail then… give us a cheque and it’s all good. Pay them in wallaby skins and Witchetty grubs, traditional claim gets traditional payment

[@jenenam1237]

Nobody wants an nrl team in png before Adelaide and Perth

[@HarryGaryGary]

Unless you want a communist China near your doorstep, it is a political decision based on what's best for Australia in terms of influences in the Pacific and Png being the closest geographically.

[@MrTullyblue]

ditto

[@Unbearable.Unbearable]

PNG is a hell hole. They players and their families will have to live in a compound, or live in Australia and FIFO for home games. If Albo wasn't putting up $600m of Australian taxpayers money, PNG wouldn't be in the top ten contenders for teams 18, 19 and 20.

[@donaldjgumpofficial5754]

Nobody should want a team in PNG in general.

[@russellhorsefield9199]

GEE WIZ Everyone is full of crap PNG is already playing in Australia already in the Queensland Host Cup . It does not matter anyway. Personally I would be looking at Perth, Adelaide and Christchurch .

[@zebronki]

Toowoomba isn't in Central Queensland.

[@MostlyQuito95]

It’s close enough

[@glenmale1748]

@@MostlyQuito95 Mate, it's actually closer to the NSW border than Brisbane. Get a grip.

[@91Caesar]

​@@MostlyQuito95just curious, do you know where Toowomba is? It's so close to Brisbane that it's functionally the border of what is colloquially referred to as South East QLD.

[@russellhorsefield9199]

@@91Caesar Toowoomba is 125km west of Brisbane and it is 190km from the Qld/NSW border and the border is 106km from Suncorp Stadium.

[@christendomempire5657]

I hope the south island kias make it in. The translucent roof would be awesome

[@fairbsy7639]

I'd much rather the Bears than a Papua new Guinea side .. Bring em back 👍

[@davidpickford.]

The WA team should be a new team my idea was 'West Coast Pirates' and then maybe use the Bears identity for an Adelaide team, also am I the only one considering Fiji as a potential team? Maybe it's too far away distance wise

[@sizzas4503]

While any sports team can use West Coast in the name. The buying power and brand power WCE is simply to strong, "I support west coast' one instantly thinks of AFL. So better move is call it 'Perth Pirates' then less of an upheal battle on name recognition and easier how media refer to the team in sport pages.

[@laurens4561]

Hard to believe that it got rejected just because of the licence fee? The NRL is swimming in money aren’t they? Those jumpers for the Bears are a winner 🏆

[@BDub2024]

hopefully they can get involved with govt.

[@Unbearable.Unbearable]

The Dolphins didn't pay a licence fee. The NRL did not specify a licence fee upfront. The same guy that ran the Dolphins bid ran the Perth Bears bid. When he filled out the application form, there was a space to insert Licence Fee, so he put zero. The NRL then cry that they were insulted and low balled and they were expecting $20m to be offered. Utterly ridiculous. They are probably already in negotiations with the PNG bid, whom Albo is reported to be funding with $600m of Australian taxpayers money, a fair chunk of which is likely to go to a licence fee to be divided amongst the existing 17 clubs.

[@BDub2024]

NRL has a perfect chance in Perth. Rugby Union is at a low. Western Force was chucked out disgracefully by ARU and only Twiggy's money got them back. IF NRL ever want to be the premier rugby code in Perth then they need to move quickly. Otherwise Rugby Union will regroup in next 10 years.

[@BrianShan-b3c]

Can't wait for the NRL to keep denying further teams to expand. South Australia itself has a huge NRL following, and yet they never bother to try and place a team in the state. Great job, Peter. You're not helping your code properly

[@alexpedlar6438]

Huge 😅

[@trainco1643]

Please respectfully don’t ever put “South Australia” and “huge NRL following” in the same sentence ever again

[@BDub2024]

NRL has a perfect chance in Perth. Rugby Union is at a low. Western Force was chucked out disgracefully by ARU and only Twiggy's money got them back. IF NRL ever want to be the premier rugby code in Perth then they need to move quickly.

[@mikespearwood3914]

This is misleading: WF were kicked out due to pressure from NZR to cull a team. One of the massive issues with SR/SRP.

[@BDub2024]

Hopefully a team still gets started in Perth. I feel most sorry for the North Sydney fans as a Perthite.

[@beebeenyneeee7692]

Good riddance. Perth needs a real team

[@JamesSant1]

As a Dragons fan i feel a bit off about Cronulla relocating i like our derby with them lot & would kill a bit of both teams history if Cronulla becomes Adelaide

[@DarthWaldorf]

Why wasn't the Perth/Western Pirates not put in? I'm in WA we'd want our own identity instead of having a team that plays most of their "home" games in Sydney

[@joshraphael4628]

Always disliked this idea, would be disrespectful to not just a foundation club and its fans but also the people of WA who deserve their own team and identity, always seemed like they were just taking the easy route imo, bring the bears back and give WA their own team and then maybe a SA or another NZ team that would bring it to 20 teams

[@jamesmatheson5115]

If the NRL reject the Perth bid that will guarantee at least 20,000 spectators at every home game, for a PNG team that at best will have a crowd of 2000 to 5000 paying spectators, so be it, any player that goes to PNG on more than a 1 year contract is an idiot as Port Moresby isnt a very safe place to be if you are a non PNG citizen, even being in a Gated Community wont keep you safe, so my advise is dont take your family, personally I would rather play for $500K in Australia than play in PNG for $1M.

[@paulfromperth5713]

Disappointing but we need a team of our own as a first option.

[@da45ep]

what a mess. there should be another breakaway competition. just like the mid 90s. some teams from most aussie states and cities plus 1-3 from NZ. forget about PNG. then they can negotiate and set up a 2 division competition with promotion and relegation. NRL is the biggest joke

[@matthewanstey5185]

Was kind of looking forward too it shame

[@VelvetRiot-hz5mp]

There is already a rugby team in Perth.

[@khankake9576]

But there is no rugby league team

[@hallbags7444]

PNG/Cairns team? Got a international airport and mad footy fans.

[@slapdashrecords]

We don’t want the Bears, we want the REDS

[@andrewstrijland4258]

Bring back the western Reds

[@emtyskull]

Where do you get youre info? There has never been a licence fee paid by any other club in the NRL not even the Dolphins. This is a cash grab plain and simple

[@leighreganarblaster9852]

I think western Suburbs Magpies should go to South Australia the can call it Port Adelaide- western Suburbs Magpies because Port Adelaide and Western Suburbs has same nickname and colours once or twice a year should play at Campbell town with the black V and white jumoe

[@bunthoeunhas549]

That is a great idea

[@sherk-1234]

no because western suburbs are the west tigers now and they would get sued for calling it port adeladie

[@VelvetRiot-hz5mp]

Love it.

[@jimmydella7233]

There will be a Perth team, it just might not be the bears. It's a pity, but based on what's been said it must be a poor bid

[@sherk-1234]

any sport not just rugby league should involve politics unless its national team playing each other and 2 teams cant vs each other because they are at war or something.

[@glenmale1748]

Could I get a little dressing on that word salad please?

[@aetfggdgdfgret]

WA hav their team. West Coast Pirates. Sharks don't have fans in Sydney, so nobody will notice if they relocate.

[@andrewstrijland4258]

Make a new team in Perth call them the West Coast pirates and the whole of WA would support them. Bring the bears back and move to Adelaide Than a new team in new Zealand south Island

[@jamiebartlett6887]

The western bears were rejected because Kevin Walters has no eyebrows 😮

[@AnthZee82]

Perth Pirates would be a better name

[@jonnies]

I don’t know anything about licensing fees, but if it really is a standard thing (e.g. the Dolphins and Titans had to fork out) then I don’t see why the Bears should be any different… especially when they already have a base in North Sydney which isn’t exactly the poorest area, not to mention the whole of Perth.

[@jonnies]

Just out of interest - how much is the NRL asking for, and how much did other expansion clubs pay? It doesn’t sound like the deal is dead, the NRL is just bargaining hard (which is good business). You always have to be prepared to walk away from a deal if it isn’t a good one.

[@jonnies]

PNG, on the other hand, probably IS good business for the NRL if our suspicions are correct that Albo will be throwing stupid amounts of money at the league to make it work. Whether it’s good business for the Australian taxpayer is another question entirely 🤨

[@jonnies]

Also, if you let the Bears lowball you, it sets a precedent for every future expansion club to do the same. So I can totally understand Vlandys’ perspective here.

[@Unbearable.Unbearable]

The Dolphins didn't pay a licence fee. The NRL did not specify a licence fee upfront. The same guy that ran the Dolphins bid ran the Perth Bears bid. When he filled out the application form, there was a space to insert Licence Fee, so he put zero. The NRL then cry that they were insulted and low balled and they were expecting $20m to be offered. Utterly incredible that the NRL didn't think to make that known upfront ! They are probably already in negotiations with the PNG bid, whom Albo is reported to be funding with $600m of Australian taxpayers money, a fair chunk of which is likely to go to a licence fee to be divided amongst the existing 17 clubs.

[@pabloneizion2592]

My opinion 18th - Perth Bears 19th - Adelaide Jets (from Newtown) 20th - PNG Hunters

[@AnthZee82]

Perth Pirates

[@clintjohnson2245]

Who the hell wants to be recruited by a png based team?

[@DavidLimofLimReport]

Wow

[@jtekchannel1262]

MAGPIES PERTH OR NEWTOWN/WILDCATS PERTH Bears Just Been SYDNEY TEAM GLAD GOT REJECTED

[@LazMan-w2g]

The Warriors suck, you watch now they dropped out of play offs the crowds will dwindle again and they will return to their home in mediocrity. Would another team in NZ have a chance? Considering how shit the Warriors are and the absolute state of NZ provincial/club league is in I very much doubt it.

[@markmatthews8675]

30% of the players in the NRL are kiwis. The Wahs being traditionally mismanaged has no bearing whatsoever on the success or business acumen of a new club and the people put in change of building and sustaining it. Too much talent in NZ, new state of the art stadium and a solid business plan. South Island is a no brainer. Not to mention Union in NZ is in a somewhat vulnerable position for maybe the first time ever. By your logic the Dolphins should never have been given a license since the Titans suck. Doesn't make much sense does it?

[@LazMan-w2g]

@@markmatthews8675 What % of that 30% you mentioned play professionally in NZ? Not many. Most players would rather play in Aussie because of the lifestyle and job opportunities after their playing career ends. Also population wise Moreton is larger than Christchurch (which is presumably where a south Island team would be based?) and league is number 1, its a distant 2nd in Christchurch. Dolphins got their spot because they deserved it due to the loyal support from their community for their team. A new team playing in the new stadium being built in Christchurch would have to compete with 2 union teams (Crusaders in Super Rugby, Canterbury in NPC) so scheduling would be a nightmare and after the initial novelty wears off it will struggle to draw a crowd.

[@carpetsnake83]

Going beyond the barrasi line is an advantage for afl cause they are taken there game to higher populations which means a greater pool of people to gain supporters It’s not that much of a leg up for nrl cause they’d be going to places with less people Eg Perth has a pop of 2. 2 million You probably have half of that from north Sydney to the central coast in pop Especially when norths and cc are rugby league heart land and Perth Adelaide nz are not It makes more sense to go where the consumers are They take everything that is from that place and shove it down the throat of people who don’t care