Per reports, the deal to make Perth Bears the 18th NRL team is done and dusted with Super League coaches set to be considered for the head coach gig.
After 26 years of NRL exile, the Bears will return but this time in Perth with The Daily Telegraph revealing that the competition and the Western Australian government have struck a deal.
That deal is reportedly worth $85 million with the money split between grassroots investment and a Perth-based Centre of Excellence. The huge money doesn’t stop there though with a “$200 million-plus upgrade” for the HBF Stadium in the works as well.
Expansion to Western Australia sees the NRL break new ground and both Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo are expected to fly out West before an official announcement is made at the stadium later this week.
There is still well over year until Perth join the NRL with the club set to become the 18th team from the 2027 season but talks will now quickly turn to who will oversee the project, with two Super League coaches among the front-runners.
Perth Bears to be confirmed as NRL’s 18th team this week
Those men are former Parramatta Eels head coach Brad Arthur with the current Leeds Rhinos boss having the sort of NRL pedigree and longevity that make him the front-runner.
Previous reports have revealed that a $5.5 million deal has been put forward to him with the Australian having bought a property in Perth last November.
Arthur discounted that with one of his responses citing that the deal was not yet done for Perth to enter the NRL but questions will be asked once again after this confirmation.
The Leeds boss told the media: “I’ve got interest in it, but there’s nothing to have interest in at the moment because there hasn’’t even been an announcement.
“It is not official they are in the competition. My immediate focus is right here, right now, and what we’ve got tomorrow. I’m excited about that.”
The other Super League boss on the radar is Sam Burgess and he’s another to have expressed his interest in the job with recent comments adding fuel to the fire.
Burgess told Aussie media that the “Perth job has obvious appeal” and admitted that he would “love to be part of a building a team from the ground up”, having previously addressed reports when speaking with UK media.
Not only will Super League coaches be on the radar but players as well with an 18th team meaning an extra 30 players in the competition, as well as a lower grade side.
