The proposed 19th NRL team appeared dead and buried weeks ago when the ARLC rejected the WA government's initial offer of $35m, prompting an angry WA Premier Roger Cook to lash out at the NRL for treating the state as "a cash cow".
But quiet negotiations over the following period appear to have been fruitful, with the Sydney Morning Herald first reporting that the parties reached an agreement on Wednesday morning.
Inside sources told the newspaper that a meeting between a subcommittee of NRL clubs has been set up for Thursday, where the other 17 NRL clubs will need to sign off on the arrangement. The Rugby League Players Association will also need to agree to the expansion proposal before a binding commitment from the WA government and the ARLC can be signed.
The Western Bears would play out of the recently upgraded and centrally located HBF Park (Perth Rectangular Stadium), which currently shares tenancies with Super Rugby Pacific franchise Western Force and the A-League's Perth Glory. A $20m rugby league 'centre of excellence' would also be built by the state government at the site of the Malaga Sports Precinct as part of the deal.
Following the breakdown in discussions earlier this year, Bears director Billy Moore told reporters he was "very hopeful the Western Bears will not be dead". It would appear his optimism was justified, with more details set to emerge today should the NRL clubs approve the expansion.