Perth team still on NRL’s agenda – but it all rides on WA election

The NRL still has a Perth team on its agenda for 2027 — and those in Rugby League HQ really want the expansion there — but everything hinges on reigning WA Premier Roger Cook being re-elected.

Cook, the 31st premier of Western Australia, has been one of the main drivers behind bringing an NRL team to the western state and has been actively working with consortiums to get a possible deal done before the end of his term.

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The issue will be that the 2025 WA state election is rapidly approaching; voting pundits will turn out in droves on March 8 to elect new parliamentary members. Cook is among those in the battle and his Labor government is looking to win a third straight four-year term. It’s all become very important for rugby league fans suddenly.

Should Cook and Labor be ousted by Libby Mettam and her Liberals, expansion plans may change.

There’s every chance Mettam comes to the table, of course, but nothing’s guaranteed.

Interestingly, Peter V’Landys actually twice rebuffed the closest bidder, a Perth-based bid that was looking to enter as the Perth Bears. He called their $30 million approach a “low-ball” — but the oft-lauded rugby league boss may come to regret that decision considering a locked-in team would have more chance to make it past the election.

V’Landys had at the time said he was confident things would progress again quite quickly. They haven’t though, and The Sporting Base last heard it was all dustballs between NRL HQ and the WA side of things.

It begs the question: Did V’Landys muck it up here a little trying to get more cash squeezed?

Either way, all eyes are now on March 8 — the shock next hurdle for NRL expansion.