Former NRL hard-man Mark Geyer says it's time for a Perth-based NRL side.
With State of Origin heading to the WA capital this year, Geyer, who played 32 games for Perth's Western Reds in the mid-1990s, believes the timing is right for expansion.
"We're called the NRL and we shouldn't be, because we're not national," he said on Triple M.
"To go national, I truly believe - not just because I played there - but I've been there and I've seen the want and the need for a team in Perth.
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"The game needs a shot in the arm at the moment.
"With the second Origin being played in Perth, I think it would be a fantastic time to announce that in 2020 or 2021, we're going to have a team here in Perth.
"Whatever they're called, the Perth Pirates or the Western Suns. Whatever."
MG rubbished suggestions the rugby league talent pool isn't deep enough to support another team, and used the Western Reds as an example of how it could work.
"It's always the biggest argument, but it's a load of baloney, it really is," Geyer said.
"There's enough talent in New South Wales, Queensland, Fiji, Papua New Guinea to fill a side.
"When we were put together in 1994 with the Western Reds - a rag-tag team - we had instant success and we had one name: Brad Mackay.
"I was coming off a bad couple of years, we had blokes who were fringe first-graders, we had blokes who were playing Super League in England, but we came together with one cause - to be pioneers in Western Australia rugby league.
"We'd still be there if Super League didn't come along."
The former State of Origin and Test player doesn't want to add one more team either. He's thinking big.
"Eventually I'd love to get to a stage with the NRL where we have 20 teams and they play each other once," he said.
"There's 20 rounds. Start moving towards the NFL where every game is a contest and every game is a party.
"I know most people say there's isn't enough players, but there will be if we grow the game."
