The cost of opening HBF stadium is estimated to be $150,000 each game but the government has offered a period of rent-free use for the NRL.
Another significant development is the in-principle agreement to match, dollar-for-dollar, any funding from NRL Western Australia.
HBF Stadium in Perth could be getting an upgrade.Credit: nib Stadium
Other channels of funding from the government would include an injection of $25 million (joint funded by the City of Fremantle and the state government) into a temporary high-performance facility at Ken Allen Field in Fremantle while a long-term centre of excellence, which will double as a community asset, is built in Malaga.
The government’s revised proposal included a revised offer of payment for a $20 million licence fee from the Western Bears consortium that was rejected by the NRL last month.
The NRL believes a direct partnership with the WA government is a better option than allowing private investors to run the Perth club.
The WA government has also pledged to introduce rugby league into the curriculum of up to 24 high schools in the Perth metropolitan area and says it will fund community development officers to ensure that the elite program is linked to the community grassroots programs. A lack of connection between the two was deemed as a shortcoming of failed Super Rugby franchise Western Force.
The NRL is expected to meet resistance from some clubs over the prospect of the ownership of the game’s newest team and the problems that may arise as a result.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality told this masthead the NRL was willing to draw forward on the annual club grant (approximately $17 million a year per club) to provide the Perth team financial assistance in its start-up months before they entered the competition.
The WA government has indicated it is not opposed to the Bears brand, which has been a prerequisite for the NRL to consider a team from Perth.
Preliminary discussions have been had for the team to play at least a trial game at North Sydney Oval each year. There is also a suggestion that a Perth-based team could play at least one NRL game in Sydney each year, potentially against North Sydney’s former joint venture partner Manly at Allianz Stadium.
Loading
While it wasn’t discussed at Thursday’s meeting, a Perth-based team would like the NRL to consider making players available to sign in 2027 as soon as the team is announced as the 18th franchise.
Under current rules, a team in Perth would not be able to sign a player until November 1 next year, as long as they weren’t contracted beyond 2026.
One of the ideas floated is the potential for Perth to enter negotiations with any player coming off contract in 2026 at any time but an expression of interest in a particular player would then make him available for all other clubs to negotiate with to ensure the Bears aren’t given an unfair advantage.
The NRL wants to press forward with discussions in the hope of announcing a new team by the end of the year, providing it with a launchpad to go to broadcasters with as it heads into negotiations for the lucrative TV rights from 2028. It appears a foregone conclusion that a team in Papua New Guinea will be handed the license to be the 19th team.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
