NRL deal ‘very, very close’, Premier Roger Cook says as he rules out HBF Park upgrade as part of talks

Roger Cook has dismissed reports the Government has agreed to a $200 million redevelopment of HBF Park as part of a deal with the NRL for a WA side. Amid feverish speculation about the status of negotiations, the Premier will join NRL bosses Peter V’Landys and Andrew Abdo to formally announce the Perth Bears at HBF Park tomorrow. Reports from the east coast claim the deal is now worth $65 million in support for a grassroots league, and includes a $200 million redevelopment of HBF Park. “This is about growing sport in Western Australia. It’s about growing the economy in Western Australia. It’s about growing the opportunity for people to follow a Western Australian team in the NRL,” he said. “It does not involve significant conversations around infrastructure or around particular dollars going to the NRL. “We always look to see what we need to do to make sure that our sports infrastructure is fit for purpose but that is not the subject of a conversation with the NRL. “Obviously, they’ve looked at our facilities. They made the note that some of our facilities at HBF Park are actually better than a lot of the pitches that they play on the east coast.” While refusing to confirm whether a deal had been agreed to — despite reports suggesting the Government and the League had done so — Mr Cook would only say the parties were “very close”. “I can confirm that the conversations have have continued over the last 48 hours. I can confirm that those conversations have been very positive,” he said. “Those conversations are very, very positive, and they’re very, very close. “I cannot confirm the numbers, and when we are in a position to do so, we will make that completely transparent and available to the WA public.” Asked about the role of Freshwater Strategy — the consultant and pollster who has faced questions over its role in the Liberal Party’s electoral rout over the weekend — Mr Cook said it informed the private-led, failed bid for a team. “I’m not familiar with the detail of the document, but my understanding was it was used to inform the private bid to the NRL in the early stages of this conversation, and that took place in the second half of last year,” he said. “My teams have been looking at it and they probably referred to that document to get some guidance. “Obviously, we’ve done a range of work and analysis ourselves to understand the scope and and the opportunities associated with this agreement.”