Western Force 2025
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Slim 293
George Smith (75)
The Bears are back…
www.theage.com.au
NRL approves fresh Perth bid to bring back the Bears
The ARL Commission on Wednesday morning agreed to an increased offer from Western Australia premier Roger Cook.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
How much money does the WA gov currently commit to rugby? Or is it all coming from Twiggy?
This new revived offer is pretty much based on a huge cash dump from the government to strengthen rugby league grassroots.
This new revived offer is pretty much based on a huge cash dump from the government to strengthen rugby league grassroots.
To go along with the cash grab from the Aus Government for the PNG team.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
This is a bit different though.
I don't think the PNG team is a good idea and the NRL are definitely milking the funds from the Aus Gov for a team which I feel like won't have a strong PNG identity and also may not last a long time.
My understanding of the WA bid is that the NRL essentially walked away from it and now the WA gov has come back with more money and says they really want a league team there.
Derpus
Phil Waugh (73)
V'Landys walked away when it became apparent that the consortium working on the bid wern't going to pay a 'licence fee'. Which no other team has had to pay to date.
So yeah - V'Landys is treating it purely as a cash cow as I assume he is treating the PNG team. I don't think the original consortium are involved any longer.
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PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Yeh I understand that. But what I'm trying to get at is what the flow on effects are for rugby in WA. What the NRL are doing and who is willing to give them money isn't really an issue for me.
Am I correct that the WA government have come back saying they really want a league team in Perth and are willing to throw money at grassroots investments? I am interested to know what they're currently doing in that space for rugby and whether this might impact their obligations in that space.
It is probably too early to know that I guess.
Yeah they are different. Personally, I think the NRL are at a danger of expanding too quickly. Although, I don't really know the timeline. They're trying to be this nationwide comp but they don't have a good way of equalizing the talent. It'll just be the same 4 teams contending for the title each year. And once Bellyache goes, the storm will struggle.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Yeah V'Landys was asking way too much, WA Govt are the one's who walked away because they weren't going to pay the stupid demands that the NRL wanted, not the other way around.
Crashy
Alan Cameron (40)
this is bad for rugby in WA. love it or hate it, these new NRL teams get the crowdsThe Bears are back…
NRL approves fresh Perth bid to bring back the Bears
The ARL Commission on Wednesday morning agreed to an increased offer from Western Australia premier Roger Cook.
Didn't they draw a bad crowd with the last NRL fixture there?
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
31,437 for the recent double header.
Not sure "bad" is how I would describe a crowd that big!
Oh true. It didn't look that well attended but optus is massive. The NRL do have a habit of fudging the numbers (e.g. 1st Vegas round).
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Even if they somehow managed to fudge 50% of that - it is still significantly more than the average Force crowd of 5k.
Tazzmania
Jim Clark (26)
Teenage prodigy Charlie named for LA SVNS World Championship
18-year-old Wallace Charlie has been named in Australia's squad for the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles on May 4-5.The Torres Strait Islander was named MVP at the Global Youth Sevens tournament in Auckland last year and comes in for the decider, which also doubles as the Grand Final of the SVNS World Series.
Charlie is also signed with the Western Force Academy and will wear the number 77 jersey, signifying his seven siblings.......
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Mr Pilfer
Alex Ross (28)
I just don’t see where the crowds will come from for the Perth bears. They might start off with good support but will end up similar to the force and Perth glory and getting crowds of 5k - 8k. I think they had the balance right with the double header plus another game and then an origin every 3 years
SteveWA
Charlie Fox (21)
Claimed 31k but I can assure you that Optus wasn't half full, not even close.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I didn't even know the NRL game(s) were on over here. There will always be a crowd for them, but I'm not convinced that league would usurp union in the long run.