The Perth Bears want ‘reasonable’ salary cap concessions. Rival clubs won’t have a bar of it

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Inaugural Perth Bears NRL coach Mal Meninga says he hopes rival clubs will agree to “reasonable requests” for salary cap concessions that will help Perth attract players west.

The Bears are yet to land a marquee signing and have already asked the NRL if they can offer extra flights and assistance with accommodation and childcare costs to help with their sales pitch to players and their families.

Mal Meninga is hopeful rival clubs will agree to some “reasonable requests” that will help Perth attract players.

But ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has ruled out the possibility of the Bears being granted incentives on the grounds it would be unfair on the 17 existing clubs.

Meninga said the players with whom the club had held negotiations had expressed the hope they would be given leeway to make it easier for their families and partners to settle in the west. The Bears plan to raise the issue at next week’s club CEOs meeting in Sydney.

“Distance isn’t a factor for the players,” Meninga said. “It’s more about the families, and how we can keep them happy. We’re talking to the NRL about some reasonable requests that will help with the transition over here, including extra flights.

“We’ve already had that discussion. We still have time up our sleeve. There’s a big CEOs meeting next week, so that will be an ideal place to do some lobbying.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys says there will be no concessions for the new franchise.

“If we get told there will be no concessions, that’s fine, we’ll deal with it.”

The Dolphins did not receive any cap relief when they entered the NRL in 2023, but they were based in a rugby league stronghold and had an established junior nursery.

The Papua New Guinea Chiefs will enter the competition in 2028, and have the luxury of offering players major tax concessions. The PNG franchise will also be bankrolled by $600 million in federal government funding.

Cronulla’s Toby Rudolf, who is off contract at the end of next year, said while he hoped to remain in the Shire, extra flights and help with accommodation would add to the appeal of joining the game’s 18th franchise.

“It’s bullshit on every level if they think they’re going to get concessions.”

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson

“You’re moving to the other side of the country, and to have [extra flights] would make me feel less guilty leaving mum behind,” Rudolf said.

“She’s a single mum, she’s independent, but I love being around her, she loves being around me, and it would be nice knowing mum could come and go as much as she wanted to.

“Why not consider it? Perth don’t have a nursery like the Dolphins did. The word ‘national’ is at the start of NRL, so you need Perth to be somewhat successful. You wouldn’t expect them to win competitions off the bat, but you don’t want them getting rolled every week. That won’t grow the game at all.

“The least you can do is allow them to give players extra flights home, maybe furniture, anything to try and make it a little easier for them and their families.”

Rival clubs will resist any concessions. Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said on Tuesday: “Perth have to stand on their own two feet, there should be no salary cap concessions whatsoever.

“If they can’t make a go of it, it’s a poor situation, especially in a one-team town. There are nine clubs operating in Sydney. It’s bullshit on every level if they think they’re going to get concessions.

“They wanted to come in, they knew the rules, they knew what was happening – they have to play by the rules everyone else plays by.”

The Bears missed out on Melbourne’s Cameron Munster, Storm teammate Harry Grant, Parramatta winger Josh Addo-Carr, and Jayden Campbell, who last week snubbed a $6m five-year deal to stay with the Gold Coast.

Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui remains in their sights, with the forward expected to make a call on his future once he returns from a family cruise.

Meninga is not panicking, and said he was comfortable he can assemble a competitive roster for round one in 2027. They signed English international Harry Newman over the weekend, while Penrith pair Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen are targets.

While V’landys said there was no need to give the Bears concessions, Rugby League Players’ Association CEO Clint Newton on Monday said he had repeatedly asked the NRL how they would help the Bears attract talent.

“We’ve been crystal clear that Perth would face challenges in recruiting players, and we’ve been trying to get the NRL to problem-solve that since the bid was confirmed [in May],” Newton said. “We’re ready to work through sensible CBA amendments to support Mal and Perth.”