After a 26-year exile, the Perth Bears are officially back in the NRL – well they will be in 2027.

Officially unveiled by NRL Chairman Peter V’landys, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and WA Premier Roger Cook, the agreement between government and the ARL was confirmed.

Describing it as a “watershed moment” for the sport, Peter V’landys said the move was the perfect next step to ensuring league fans all over the country could access the sport.

“Rugby League is the biggest sport in Australia and the Pacific, so a team in the economic powerhouse of Western Australia is a natural fit. Why should West Australian fans miss out on the greatest game for all,” V’landys said.

“A lot of people said that Las Vegas wouldn’t succeed and it’s been one of the most successful ventures the NRL has done. I’m more confident about the Perth Bears than I was about Vegas before that took off".

“Western Australians love sport and now they have the opportunity to get behind a Perth based Rugby League Club that will capture the hearts and minds of fans across the country.

“As a foundation club, the Bears have a rich history in the game and automatically provide hundreds of thousands of East Coast supporters for the Perth based team. The heritage of the Bears combined with the energy of the West will have this team flying from the outset.”

WHAT THE COST WILL BE

West Australian premier Roger Cook confirmed the news on Wednesday afternoon after agreeing to terms with the ARL commission.

The WA Government will supply $60 million in direct financial support over the next seven years, along with $5.6 million for match day and marketing support in the same period.

The team was expected to join the competition in 2027, however, headlining the details of the new club, Cook revealed the team may enter the NRL in 2027 or 2028, not definitively 2027 as anticipated.

Cook also revealed the club will be membership-based and not-for-profit from the outset, and the NRL will not charge the club a license fee which was previously a major sticking point between the two negotiating parties.

“I'm excited to announce today that the WA government has reached an agreement with the ARL to establish a WA based NRL club,” Cook said in a video statement.

“This is a great day for sports fans and a great day for the WA economy.

“The ARLC has accepted our position that the club should not be charged a licence fee and that every dollar in direct financial assistance provided by the WA Government be spent in WA.

“I’d like to thank the ARLC for the robust negotiations we’ve undertaken, as both parties have sought to get the best deal for our stakeholders.

“Perth will now join Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as cities that host both NRL and AFL sides, and I’d back us to compete just as hard at NRL as we do at AFL.

“So, now let’s get behind our new NRL side as we put the ‘national’ in NRL!”