Western Australia’s bid consortium needs to raise $30 million to support its push towards a National Rugby League licence, bid chair Peter Cumins says.
Western Australia’s bid consortium needs to raise $30 million to support its push towards a National Rugby League licence, bid chair Peter Cumins says.
In an online statement to WA’s rugby league community on Monday, Mr Cumins said progress had already been made to raise the required funds.
“The WA bid consortium will need to raise $30 million to support the bid and to provide the NRL with a comprehensive plan: which clearly outlines our organizational structure, our elite development programs, how we establish our player academy, expand the number of schools participating in rugby league curriculum programs, establish feeder club arrangements, execute sponsor pre-commitments along with a host of other arrangements,” he said.
“We have been working away quietly in the background to raise the funds and engage the professionals we need to help us complete the exhaustive bid document required to be lodged within four weeks of receiving the invitation to lodge a bid.”
Last Wednesday, the Australian Rugby League Commission met in Melbourne, with expressions of interest called for 18th and 19th team licences.
Following the four-week period, a comprehensive assessment period will begin. Business News understands that the two successful bids will be named in either late September or early October.
If given the green light, a WA side would likely take to the field in 2027 – a year before the NRL’s new TV rights deal.
Mr Cumins said he had met with representatives from the North Sydney Bears and Newtown Jets – two former New South Wales Rugby League first grade sides – who are keen to understand a ‘marriage of sorts’ with the WA bid.
Last week, WA premier Roger Cook told Business News he had also met with ARLC chair Peter V’Landys and NRL chief executive officer Andrew Abdo in relation to WA’s bid.
Mr Cumins, heavily involved with Cash Converters International, is no stranger to rugby league in WA, having supported the Western Reds during the club’s brief stint in the Australian Rugby League and Super League during the mid-1990s.
