Sources talking under the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions told this masthead that a Perth bid representative met with Arthur on Monday as part of its push to enter the competition as early as 2027.
Brad Arthur could potentially head to Perth if the NRL chooses to expand into Western Australia.
The chairman of the Western Australian government working group responsible for the NRL bid,Peter Tinley,was in Sydney on Monday to meet with the sport’s key stakeholders.
He met with NRL executives and Foxtel boss Patrick Delany to better position the Perth bid ahead of an NRL announcement that could be made as early as Wednesday.
The ARL Commission will meet in Melbourne ahead of State of Origin II. The commission is trying to establish a 20-team road map.
Perth has emerged as the preferred location for the 18th team,potentially as early as 2027. The NRL wants the WA government to link with the North Sydney Bears as part of the next license,but the WA government’s preference is to stand alone as its own team.
Brad Arthur and his wife Michelle.Getty Images
They have also been in discussions with the Newtown Jets about a partnership. Tinley met with Arthur after learning the coach’s partner was born and raised in Perth and still has family residing on the west coast of Australia. Arthur has also been linked to the vacant Leeds Rhinos job in the Super League.
The Papua New Guinea expansion bid is still before government,with the NRL now shifting its focus to including a team based in Port Moresby as the 19th team.
The delay will provide the NRL time to build a mini-city which would house the players,staff and their families. The facility,which will include a hotel and centre of excellence,will be funded by the government and owned by the NRL as an asset.
The preferred destination for a 20th team is down to another Queensland side and a team on the south island of New Zealand.
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