'Funny mob': WA premier says talks with NRL over expansion should stay private

Question marks remain about the NRL's 19th team as talks between the West Australian government and the NRL are on hold ahead of the state election on March 8.

WA Premier Roger Cook is expected to win the upcoming poll and has been on the offensive to win hearts and minds.

In doing so, he conducted a radio interview with Triple M that gave a glimpse into how negotiations have been.

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Plans for a club to be based out of Perth were set off course slightly, when ARL boss Peter V'landys rejected an offer from a private group to take up the licence in October.

That group was headed by Cash Converters executive chairman Peter Cumins.

V'landys wants the government to pour money into the team with the NRL to ensure its survival, similar to how the PNG deal was executed.

It's understood he NRL's wants the Cook government to tip $120 million into the NRL and a $200m upgrade to Perth's rectangular HBF Stadium to a 27,000-seat venue.

"He's a tough bugger, Cook said when asked about V'landys.

"Look if he could just shut up for a little. You ring him up and say how are you and the next day in the Daily Telegraph, you get 'The Premier asks about my health'.

"They (NRL) are a funny mob to deal with."

Cook said more details needed to be rounded out before a deal was made but reiterated how the NRL needs a team in the state and how he's not opposed to have the Bears branding for the side.

"WA is the only state that can put the N in NRL, it's not a national comp until you get a WA Side, but we aren't talking about this year, next year or even the year after that, this is a long term plan," Cook said.

"We're open to that idea. That gives us a player base, a membership base and resource base. It would start us off well.

"But again, look, everyone is getting a bit bent out of shape, 'Why are you talking about this during an election campaign?'

"We're not talking about it. We're having some conversations with the NRL, if they work out some point in the future."

Wide World of Sports have contacted the NRL for comment.

Speaking last week, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said league officials expected to resume talks with the WA government after the election.

"Once that election is finished we will re-engage with the government and hopefully put a business case to the (ARL) Commission which will provide certainty for the next couple of years," Abdo told AAP.

"Nothing has been finalised and we need to work on it.

"It won't be rushed, it would be something the commission needs to be very, very clear on. We are doing that work.

"These decisions are really important because they fall decades into the future. We want to make sure we have all the analysis done."