Western Australia Prime Minister Roger Cook revealed details of the Perth-based heavy NRL expansion team, although it is not yet certain whether the new franchise will join the competition in 2027 or 2028.

Cook said the deal would cost Western Australian taxpayers $60 million in seven years of "direct financial support" and spend another $5.6 million on matchdays and marketing aid.

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"We have worked hard to secure this deal and we have adopted a strong negotiating position," he said in a video posted on social media.

According to Cook, the club will be a member-based nonprofit hosted by Western Australians and government funds will not be provided to other NRL clubs.

“Every dollar of direct financial support provided by the WA government will be spent in Western Australia,” he said. “The NRL will not charge the clubs for licensing fees.”

The federal government has allocated $600 million to the PNG franchise, including $60 million in fees for the NRL, and the governing body promises to share it with the club.

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Cook said the Perth team will provide “a taxpayer return.”

“It’s not only good news for sports fans, it’s good news for our economy and for work,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s message raises questions about when to play, but previous speculation focuses on entering the 2027 season.

Cook said the new club will be participating in the NRL for the first time in 2027 or 2028.

The NRL's existing broadcast deal will end in the 2027 season.

That aspect is expected to be linked to previous year club North Sydney, but Cook did not mention the Bears.

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Billy Moore, a member of the North Sydney Bears board and former player, said the team will certainly be called the Bears, which will be the "double-sided" of "Perth DNA and Bear DNA."

He promised to release more information in the coming days.

"It will be Perth Bears, so I'm glad they're excited because they've been demolished since 1997 (Western) Reds are being demolished, as the lights will move to the East Coast tomorrow," he said.

“They are raising a lot of money, Roger Cook, and I appreciate the enthusiasm for making it happen.”

Melbourne Storm defender Ryan Papenhuyzen will exit the contract when entering the Perth side - saying that travel will be "hard" for players, but WA will be a draw.

"It's also an appealing thing, it's a foundation club, and you don't have a lot of opportunities to do that, so I don't think the problem of attracting players is too big," he said.