Peter Vlandy's floats ridiculous player-share agreement between Perth Bears and Western Force

News.com.au

09-05-2025

NRL supremo Peter V'landys has floated a truly bizarre player-share proposal which would see stars currently signed to rugby union side the Western Force and those who sign with the Perth Bears able to play for both teams in a truly bizarre cross-code player-share agreement.
The Bears were officially unveiled as a new team to enter the NRL competition in 2027 at a press conference on Thursday.
It was revealed that the league's 18th team will play the majority of home games in Perth's HBF Park, although V'landys did hint that at least one match would likely be played at North Sydney Oval – the spiritual home of former top-flight side the North Sydney Bears.
However, that bombshell revelation was soon outdone as V'landys went on to say he would be open to the Bears sharing players with the Western Force.
'We've had talks with Twiggy Forrest in regards to the Western Force,' V'landys said of the Force's multi-billionaire owner.
'There's an opportunity here that may never have been done anywhere in the world where the two teams could be combined to a certain degree and can use each other's players in specific matches.
'So we're gonna look at that. It's a novel idea and who's to argue with Twiggy Forrest, who's a self-made man? We'll look at it, absolutely.'
The Force and Bears are set to share some facilities and infrastructure but a player-share agreement seems far-fetched.
For it to occur V'landys and the NRL would need to throw out their entire rule book and rewrite code regulations.
That's because currently NRL players aren't allowed to hold a contract with a rival code.
But even beyond that how a player-share agreement would work salary cap-wise is also something that would somehow need to be addressed.
However, regardless of the logistical nightmare, V'landys is rather bullish on the idea.
'As anyone that knows me, we look at the things outside the square,' V'landys continued, speaking about a potential player-share arrangement.
'That's outside the square, and we'll look at it. If it can help both games in Western Australia, why wouldn't we do it?'
But the NRL world was sceptical, believing it would be truly peculiar for rugby league to help Super Rugby by sharing top talent.
'Not a chance in hell. With very few exceptions rugby players do not do well at league and the NRL aren't about to do the force any favours,' one fan wrote on X in response to V'landys's suggestion.
'I don't see how this works, but I wish it could. Australian Rugby would be stronger if we could work with the NRL, not against it,' another added.
'This does not have a good history of going well. Leeds rhinos tried it and it was at times a debacle,' a third chipped in.
While veteran journalist Paul Kent delivered a scathing assessment of V'landys' idea.
'It's one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard,' Kent said on his podcast Kenty Blitz on Thursday.
'I hate the idea and I know he's (Vlandys) just being receptive to it, but I hope he's just being polite. Twiggy mate go away please, I hate it.
'...I don't think they should even entertain it, they should tell rugby to rack off.'