WA in good shape for NRL return

Peter Parr experienced more than most the highs and lows of professional rugby league in Perth during the three tumultuous years of the Western Reds.

The coaching and development manager was the only person employed from day one who was still there when the doors closed in 1997 as the club became a victim of the Super League war.

But he believes rugby league in Perth is now in better shape than it was in the 1990s and is ready for a side if the National Rugby League goes ahead with expansion plans.

"I have no doubt that rugby league would have a far greater opportunity to succeed now," he said.

Parr coached the Reds under-20 team in 1994 in the WA Rugby League competition as the club prepared for its entry into the NRL the following year.

He took charge of the Reds reserve grade in 1995 before being appointed coaching and development manager.

Parr will be back in Perth next week as football general manager with the North Queensland Cowboys as they prepare for the NRL pre-season trial against St George Illawarra Dragons at nib Stadium on Saturday.

The match is part of the WARL campaign to lift the game's profile as they prepare for a possible side in an expanded NRL competition.

Parr said the rugby league landscape had changed dramatically since the Western Reds days and many of the problems they faced had been removed.

The Reds had to pay for flights and accommodation for the visitors' first and reserve grade sides for every home game and the WACA Ground was an appalling venue for rugby league.

"There were a number of reasons why the Reds failed and I still don't believe we got a lot of help from the governing body at the time," Parr said. "Super League was a difficult time and player payments went through the roof.

"The game has grown significantly in Perth since then.

"A lot of the costs are no longer there and from what I've seen of the venue (nib Stadium) it would give a new venture a bigger kick start than the Reds had.

"I couldn't be more impressed with the way the WA Rugby League has gone about setting up (next week's) game."

"I have no doubt that rugby league would have a far greater opportunity to succeed now.""Former Western Reds coaching and development manager *Peter Parr *