A key figure in Western Australian rugby league has declared his relief, and optimism, following the inaugural meeting of the Perth Bears board.
Speaking on SportFM’s Sports Breakfast program, NRL WA CEO John Sackson described Monday’s meeting of the nine-person board as ‘surreal’ while also marking a ‘significant milestone.’
“I had the opportunity to present to the board and it was a little surreal,” Sackson said.
“After so many years of going through the highs and lows with the broader Western Australian rugby league community, passionately wanting an NRL franchise only to be let down on a number of occasions, it’s real now—we finally have the opportunity and it’s full steam ahead, it’s a very special moment for everyone who’s worked so hard for over two decades.”
It may still be more than 18 months before the Bears play their first NRL match at Perth’s HBF Park, but Sackson revealed the ripple effect of the team’s arrival is already being felt.
“We’ve always thought nothing would accelerate the growth of rugby league in WA more than the commitment to an NRL franchise,” he said.
“Just in the last week we’ve had three high schools contact us who in the past have not let us get a foot in the door in terms of rugby league programs—two have already committed to adding rugby league to their curriculums in 2026, and the other school has indicated the same.”
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg and it’s going to continue as the Bears story unfolds, it means rugby league will be exposed to more boys and girls and that will feed directly into the junior club system.
“There’s a huge objective to produce home-grown talent to play at the elite level in the black and red of the Perth Bears.”
With a head coach, CEO and board now in place, Sackson was asked what the next big appointment would likely be for the Bears.
“Probably someone co-ordinating HR, people and culture,” he suggested.
“It’s still a very small team at the moment, they need to put some meat on the bones because there’s an enormous amount of work to be done with a very short runway.
“They need people, really good people, to get around the CEO Anthony De Ceglie and start getting it done.”
Head coach Mal Meninga and assistant Ben Gardiner can start signing players from November 1.
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