Iconic footy club on the brink of sensational NRL return as $30MILLION deal is struck
- The Bears are set to return to the NRL
- According to reports, an agreement has almost been reached
- Western Australia is part of the bid
Reports suggest a sensational return to the NRL is on the cards for the Bears after a deal was struck between North Sydney and Western Australia.
According to News Corp, the Bears will become the NRL’s 18th team with a $30 million deal close to completion.
The Bears, originally from North Sydney, have been mentioned as a possible expansion club in Western Australia. A deal is reportedly close, with North Sydney relaxing the list of conditions for the deal.
Positive discussions were held in Sydney last week. A match at North Sydney Oval remains part of the ground, but North Sydney have softened their stance on holding multiple matches at the venue as a non-negotiable.
Newtown Jets were also mentioned as a possible partner for Western Australia, but support from some of the biggest names in football has tipped the scales in the team’s favour.
The report reveals that Peter Cumins, chairman of the Perth NRL bid consortium, sent an open letter to the managers of the Western Australian competition, saying they needed to raise $30 million to get the franchise off the ground.
North Sydney Bears reportedly set to return to NRL
‘Recent press reports indicate that the NRL is asking bidders to register their interest for the 18th licence as part of the NRL’s expansion plans to eventually become a 20-team competition,’ Cumins wrote.
‘It is expected that a successful bid will be announced by the end of this year and that the team will play in the 2027 season.
‘The WA bid consortium needs to raise $30 million to support the bid and provide the NRL with a comprehensive plan… You will have read a lot in the press about a potential marriage/partnership with the Newtown Jets or the North Sydney Bears.
“I can confirm that I have recently spoken to both clubs to see if an agreement can be reached that meets the aspirations of all stakeholders. Whatever the outcome of these discussions, you can be assured that if our bid is successful, it will be a WA team we can be proud of.”
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo had written a letter to expansion candidates confirming that the ARL Commission had approved a formal plan for adding new teams to the competition.
Current NRL clubs expect a financial boost in return for their support of a 20-team competition.