'You could have a successful franchise here': Renewed hope for Perth-based NRL side

As State of Origin returns to Perth, there is growing hope that for the first time since the Super League war Western Australia could finally get its own NRL team.

Origin II is nearing a sellout at Optus Stadium with the North Sydney Bears using the opportunity to meet with the WA government about plans to relocate one of the game’s foundation clubs to Perth.

The NRL will expand to 17 teams next year following the decision to admit the Redcliffe-based Dolphins, with the potential to go to 18 sides mooted for as early as 2025.

A second New Zealand team looms as another serious option but a Perth side has the benefit of being able to open up a new TV time slot for the NRL as well as drawing in corporate support.

“For kids, it can be quite a powerful thing if they have the luxury of looking at their stars and watching them play and train every week,” NRL WA general manager John Sackson told AAP.

“It is quite an inspirational tool.

“Without an NRL side it can be quite challenging for talented West Australian boys and girls, who have to leave the state to get to the top of the game.”

Rugby league hasn’t had a presence at the elite level in the West since the demise of the Perth Reds in 1997 and remains the only major code without a team in WA.

Despite that, Sackson says there are still 4000 participants, with Parramatta’s Waqa Blake and Cronulla’s Royce Hunt both recent products of WA.

“With the NRLW expanding it would be great to see more female athletes make it at the elite level,” Sackson said.

The Bears, who haven’t been a top-flight side since 1999, would play most of their home games in Perth with a few at their spiritual home of North Sydney Oval.

It is helped that as a result of Perth hosting games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, the city’s primary rectangular stadium HBF Park is due for a $35 million facelift.

“You probably need a rectangular stadium because with the Reds playing at the WACA, fans you were hoping would fall in love with the game were a long way from the action” said NSW Blues football manager Peter Parr, who previously worked for the Reds.

“Attracting players wouldn’t be an issue. Every time I’ve come here the players have always enjoyed the town.

“You would have to have the right infrastructure here before you started and I’m not privy to any of the proposals but I do know that if you did it properly you could have a successful franchise here.”