The NRL's Perth expansion team could be finalised by Christmas as discussions with the WA Government reach their final stages.
On the same day a team from PNG was granted a licence to join the NRL from 2028, Australian rugby league chair Peter V'landys flagged confidence a Perth-based franchise would soon also be over the line.
Perth had originally been slated to enter the NRL as the 18th franchise in 2027 and play out of HBF Park.
But the sports-mad city's hopes of securing a licence were thrown into doubt in October when a consortium comprising local investors and ex-NRL club North Sydney Bears had its bid rejected.
Organisers of that bid had failed to include a licence fee in their proposal documents, prompting the league to engage the WA Government in expansion talks.
It appears a Government-backed bid will be the only way a Perth team can get off the ground, with V'landys saying the consortium's hopes were "gone".
"That's in the dustbin," he said of the previous bid on Thursday.
But V'landys was far more positive about the WA Government's push for inclusion in the league, spearheaded by Premier Roger Cook.
"We've got a very good relationship with the Premier, a rugby league fanatic, a pleasure to deal with, a really good guy," he said.
"(The expansion) is in the hands of the West Australian Government. We've made them of aware of what our requirements are.
"They've never shown any concern about the requirements, they've been very positive about what we've said. If that all translates into a deal, I think that'll be done very shortly."
V'landys was optimistic a Perth deal could be over the line by Christmas.
"Hopefully it's under the tree. I'm not sure," he said.
The NRL's plan remains to expand to 20 teams across the next decade, though the location of the mooted 20th side is still to be determined.
The South Island of New Zealand appears a strong choice, but three separate bids were rejected during the latest round of expansion applications. A fifth Queensland team is another option.
Christchurch welcomed a sold-out crowd to the Pacific Championships in October as the latest reminder of the potential in the South Island city, where construction on a new stadium is due for completion in 2026.
"There's a bit of work left to get to 20 but that's the goal and this (PNG) is the first one," V'landys said.
"The West Australian one's next and we've got many options for the 20th team."
