ARL Commission head Peter V’landys remains committed to bringing the Western Bears to the NRL, despite their bid to become the league’s 18th team being formally rejected. The bid, a partnership between the North Sydney Bears and a Perth consortium led by Peter Cumins, had financial issues, particularly the absence of a $10 million annual license fee. V’landys explained that while the financial aspect was problematic, the project is far from dead.
He stated that the ARL Commission is now working directly with the WA Government to secure a Perth-based team, targeting the 2027 season, with the North Sydney Bears still included. “The Bears will be there,” V’landys said, dismissing claims that the Bears are out of the race. He confirmed that discussions have taken place with Bears Chairman Daniel Dickson to clarify the situation.
WA Premier Roger Cook, a passionate rugby league supporter, remains hopeful. He emphasized his commitment to seeing WA represented in the NRL again, recalling the Western Reds’ time in the league during the 1990s. Cook confirmed his discussions with V’landys and said they are working on addressing the issues in the bid. He believes the Western Bears proposal is still one of the strongest, despite competition from other bids, such as one from Papua New Guinea. If successful, the team would revive the North Sydney Bears and return top-level rugby league to Perth.
