Sacked Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is in the running for a surprise lifeline in the NRL.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Arthur met with a representative from Perth’s expansion bid team on Monday.
Perth is hoping to snaffle the 18th licence, ahead of the likes of Papua New Guinea and a second New Zealand team.
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The ARL Commission will meet in Melbourne on Wednesday to discuss the options.
If Perth does land the right to host the 18th NRL team it appears Arthur is well and truly in the running to be their inaugural coach.
Arthur, 50, coached the Eels for a decade before being sacked by the club last month.
He has been linked to the Leeds job in England’s Super League, but may yet have offers in Australia to consider as well.
Arthur’s wife is from Perth and still has family in Western Australia, according to the Herald.
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While he enjoyed relative success with Parramatta he failed to lead them to a drought-breaking premiership, falling short in the 2022 grand final against Penrith.
Papua New Guinea appeared to be leading the race to be the 18th team but that has reportedly been put on the backburner.
The NRL reportedly wants to expand to a 20-team competition in the years to come.