Newtown Jets pull out of Perth NRL race leaving North Sydney Bears in box seat for merger

Sydney club Newtown Jets are out of the race to join Perth as the NRL’s 18th team.

Jets backer, Sydney marketing guru John Singleton, confirmed their withdrawal in a bizarre text to Sydney media from his holiday in the US overnight on Monday: “Newtown out of Perth bid. Too many games being played by Norths and WA government.”