Perth Bears confirmed for NRL – what does this mean for AFL in WA?

[leeroy*NRL*]

I never said that - I said playing touch does not mean you are a rl or ru fan ? I’d play touch for sure - looks like fun - but not a rl or ru fan for instance.

Fred wrote: Fri Jul 25, 2025 2:24 pm
I think people with no interest in rl or ru play tag etc.


( again i will lose your logic)

People play AFL in Northern states just for FUN>> not because they like the sport>>

your theory goes both ways

I said people can play touch and have no interest in union or league ? As I said, I’d happily play touch but no interest in either union or league. I’m sure people play touch who have no interest in Aussie rules either - but I’m sure there are lots of people who play touch in AFL states that follow AFL and have no interest in league or union. I’m not sure why that is too hard to follow? You can play a sport like touch and not like another sport ? Or like for that matter?

And on Perth, not sure on the numbers who play touch but rugby league only had about 5500 registered players.

i get your point, but than it is valid across all sports than... (so we will take AFL numbers in QLD and NSW with a grain of salt

and it was around 5500 to 7000 2023 numbers.. for CONTACT RUGBY LEAGUE>

news flash Tag touch and tackle is under the umbrella of NRL
they promote all forms of the game>>

because you will find only a small percentage can play tackle footy.

[Fred]

Touch is not rl or ru - it is its own sport in its own right. It may be bought or whatever by the nrl in Australia but doesn’t make it rl. There a very good article I’ve posted before by the Federation of international touch about the evolution of “football” which is quite good - and points out that just as rugby union evolved from soccer, rugby league from union - and also mention other forms of football - so to has touch evolved into its own sport. I think you also have touch associated with Union in other countries - doesn’t make it Union but there is no rl of course so uses the umbrella of Union to grow its game and being a pathway for Union

So I think I see where your confused - or where we are seeing things differently - you are saying people playing touch are playing RL - I would disagree naturally.

So back to numbers of participants in WA - you could pad these out by adding touch numbers - but my view is just because people go down to have a social game of touch doesn’t mean they follow or like Rugby league. I know the people you play touch with all like rl - but you’d expect,t that given we are in qld and most people grow up with RL. I’m sure in Victoria if you played touch most people would love AFL.

And registered rl players in WA were listed as just over 5000 on wiki .


Here’s the FIA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/16ZX4UP1 ... tid=wwXIfr

I see the World Cup of touch is coming - and the European touch tournament is soon - very big sport - possibly bigger than rugby league - maybe not Union.

Webpage : https://www.internationaltouch.org/

I wonder if people in countries that have never heard of rl and play touch consider themselves as rl player lol.

[Wharf Gaoler]

Well, it’s official — the NRL has confirmed its 18th team will be based in Perth, with the rebranded Perth Bears (via a North Sydney partnership) entering the comp in 2027.
NRLwill go no where in WA. It is another stupid pommie game that real Aussies don't watch!
After years of lobbying, the WA government and ARLC have struck a $50m deal to bring NRL footy back west. Rugby league hasn't had a presence there since the Western Reds folded in the '90s, but now it’s back — with a vengeance.

So here’s the question for the footy heads here:

What does this mean for the AFL in WA — and beyond?

Will this challenge West Coast and Fremantle’s grip on Perth sports fans?

Are we about to see a battle for juniors, broadcast space, and stadium scheduling at Optus?

Does this make AFL’s NT or second QLD team more urgent to keep its lead?

Could a third WA AFL team ever be on the cards to match it?

While AFL remains king in WA, this is a reminder the NRL is playing the long game with expansion, especially ahead of PNG joining in 2028. Curious how everyone sees this playing out, especially with a city like Perth already housing two AFL teams.

Does this spark genuine rivalry? Or is it a case of two different worlds coexisting?

...

[Wharf Gaoler]

Rugby will go nowhere in WA. It is an Aussie Rules State, the same as SA, Vic and Tassie. It is another stupid pommie game that real Aussies don't want to watch!

[Wharf Gaoler]

I have a question about the AFLW? Who won the 2016 flag? The women players have been saying in the media that the 2025 season is the tenth? I t is only the ninth! This sounds a bit like Trump Economics! Absolute garbage!

[Wharf Gaoler]

Weak as piss

[leeroy*NRL*]

Rugby will go nowhere in WA. It is an Aussie Rules State, the same as SA, Vic and Tassie. It is another stupid pommie game that real Aussies don't want to watch!

hmmm interesting >>> the stats speak differently

Storm are travelling quite well.. in an 10 Team AFL dominated State

Perth have bigger Grassroots numbers and Tv Numbers look promising all this without a team

[Fred]

Rugby will go nowhere in WA. It is an Aussie Rules State, the same as SA, Vic and Tassie. It is another stupid pommie game that real Aussies don't want to watch!

hmmm interesting >>> the stats speak differently

Storm are travelling quite well.. in an 10 Team AFL dominated State

Perth have bigger Grassroots numbers and Tv Numbers look promising all this without a team

I am intertested in what the Perth grassroots numbers are - how many teams, leagues, registered players for Rugby League? I did read a while back that there was one guy who was quite motivated in promoting and growing grassroots RL. The last I read - which I think I posted, was that it went down from 7000 to 50000 but I am a bit skeptical of the source (wiki I think - of chatGPT). I will see if there is a webit for WARL.


Edit - had a look and found the draws for this year.

this is the under 15 draw - doesn't look like too many team - but admittedly had some trouble reading it and making it out
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... w-V1-1.pdf

This is the Men's draw - which seems easier to read
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... -1.0-1.pdf

I think there are 6 teams - which - given the size of perth - not too bad.

Then there is the lower divisions - which look healthier again
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... OPHY-1.pdf


So all in all - not hugh but seems a decent number of teams.

[leeroy*NRL*]

Rugby will go nowhere in WA. It is an Aussie Rules State, the same as SA, Vic and Tassie. It is another stupid pommie game that real Aussies don't want to watch!

hmmm interesting >>> the stats speak differently

Storm are travelling quite well.. in an 10 Team AFL dominated State

Perth have bigger Grassroots numbers and Tv Numbers look promising all this without a team

I am intertested in what the Perth grassroots numbers are - how many teams, leagues, registered players for Rugby League? I did read a while back that there was one guy who was quite motivated in promoting and growing grassroots RL. The last I read - which I think I posted, was that it went down from 7000 to 50000 but I am a bit skeptical of the source (wiki I think - of chatGPT). I will see if there is a webit for WARL.


Edit - had a look and found the draws for this year.

this is the under 15 draw - doesn't look like too many team - but admittedly had some trouble reading it and making it out
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... w-V1-1.pdf

This is the Men's draw - which seems easier to read
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... -1.0-1.pdf

I think there are 6 teams - which - given the size of perth - not too bad.

Then there is the lower divisions - which look healthier again
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... OPHY-1.pdf


So all in all - not hugh but seems a decent number of teams.

its passable>> especially with little no help from NRL or Government>>
but this is all about to change>> be interesting to see growth
with NRL funding and Government funding along with an ACTUAL NRL TEAM based in Perth.

[Fred]

hmmm interesting >>> the stats speak differently

Storm are travelling quite well.. in an 10 Team AFL dominated State

Perth have bigger Grassroots numbers and Tv Numbers look promising all this without a team

I am intertested in what the Perth grassroots numbers are - how many teams, leagues, registered players for Rugby League? I did read a while back that there was one guy who was quite motivated in promoting and growing grassroots RL. The last I read - which I think I posted, was that it went down from 7000 to 50000 but I am a bit skeptical of the source (wiki I think - of chatGPT). I will see if there is a webit for WARL.


Edit - had a look and found the draws for this year.

this is the under 15 draw - doesn't look like too many team - but admittedly had some trouble reading it and making it out
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... w-V1-1.pdf

This is the Men's draw - which seems easier to read
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... -1.0-1.pdf

I think there are 6 teams - which - given the size of perth - not too bad.

Then there is the lower divisions - which look healthier again
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... OPHY-1.pdf


So all in all - not hugh but seems a decent number of teams.

its passable>> especially with little no help from NRL or Government>>
but this is all about to change>> be interesting to see growth
with NRL funding and Government funding along with an ACTUAL NRL TEAM based in Perth.

Yes - agree - I would think the team need to be successful quickly - if seen as a joke people will not jump on board - also need to be seen as a Perth team not Central NSW team (don't make mistake GWS did) - but think Vlandy's will be over this in spades.

[leeroy*NRL*]

I am intertested in what the Perth grassroots numbers are - how many teams, leagues, registered players for Rugby League? I did read a while back that there was one guy who was quite motivated in promoting and growing grassroots RL. The last I read - which I think I posted, was that it went down from 7000 to 50000 but I am a bit skeptical of the source (wiki I think - of chatGPT). I will see if there is a webit for WARL.


Edit - had a look and found the draws for this year.

this is the under 15 draw - doesn't look like too many team - but admittedly had some trouble reading it and making it out
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... w-V1-1.pdf

This is the Men's draw - which seems easier to read
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... -1.0-1.pdf

I think there are 6 teams - which - given the size of perth - not too bad.

Then there is the lower divisions - which look healthier again
https://nrlwa.com.au/wp-content/uploads ... OPHY-1.pdf


So all in all - not hugh but seems a decent number of teams.

its passable>> especially with little no help from NRL or Government>>
but this is all about to change>> be interesting to see growth
with NRL funding and Government funding along with an ACTUAL NRL TEAM based in Perth.

Yes - agree - I would think the team need to be successful quickly - if seen as a joke people will not jump on board - also need to be seen as a Perth team not Central NSW team (don't make mistake GWS did) - but think Vlandy's will be over this in spades.

yeah spot on, GWS mistake will see disconnection>> which would not go down good.
a winning team will help and not make it look so invisible
i still think a sub par team will do well>> especially if they can have a good Home Record.

[WookieReturns]

I have a question about the AFLW? Who won the 2016 flag? The women players have been saying in the media that the 2025 season is the tenth? I t is only the ninth! This sounds a bit like Trump Economics! Absolute garbage!

I mean it is garbage - if you are ignorant.

There were two seasons - 6 (7 January – 9 April) and 7 (25 August – 27 November) in 2022, when they switched from january to august starts.