'Don't give up': Wayne Bennett's simple message to Western Australians as NRL bid negotiations breakdown

Wayne Bennett has delivered a simple message to the people of Perth with the state's NRL bid on a lifeline.

A significant breakdown in negotiations between the NRL and Western Australian government means it's unlikely the 19th franchise will come from the state.

However, the Rabbitohs coach believes there's still time.

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"Don't give up," Bennett said from Perth ahead of his side's clash with the Cowboys.

"I came here in the '90s for the first time when the Western Reds were here.

"I can't believe the growth of the game here and the interest in the game and how many people recognise you now compared to when I arrived here in 1997.

"Perth's ready for it, I know they want it, so I just hope they get a deal done, and I'm sure they will."

Bennett, who was the first coach of the Dolphins when they started and the Broncos back in 1988, believes there's still plenty of value in having Perth in the NRL.

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"It's a great place, a great sporting state and would give us more assets to players that would be playing here with junior football and an NRL team here as well," he said.

"They're certainly a very good financial state, so they'd have good backing and you've got good fans here so I think it's the right place to come ... expansion will always go on in the NRL, it's just a case of when and where.

"... I'm sure the NRL is prepared to back their decisions. They backed the Dolphins three years ago and a lot of people didn't think that should have happened, but that's been a great success story.

"So I'm sure Perth will be the same – Papua New Guinea is coming as well."