SOUTH Sydney CEO John Lee says he’s confident rugby league can successfully co-exist with AFL in Perth ahead of the Rabbitohs’ now-customary game in WA this winter.

The NRL champions will clash with New Zealand at nib Stadium on June 6, marking the Bunnies’ seventh ‘home’ match in WA.

A crowd of 20,267 packed the stadium for last season’s fixture, with ticket sales for this year’s event tracking at an all-time best rate.

The fixture will be boosted by the fact it does not go directly up against the AFL draw for either of WA’s clubs. Fremantle hosts Richmond at Subiaco Oval the night before the Saturday clash, while West Coast is away to North Melbourne on the Sunday.

Speaking in Perth on Tuesday, Lee said he was thrilled that the code was not coming into direct competition with the AFL for the annual fixture.

“It’s great to see that there is no war between the codes,” Lee said.

“We have peace in our time.

“There won’t be a clash on that Saturday afternoon of the long weekend, and that’s what mature Australian codes need to do.

“I encourage that and I think it’s a good solution.”

The Rabbitohs’ existing deal to play a ‘home’ game in Perth each season will expire at the end of next year.

But Lee said he was eager for the arrangement to continue to help the growing success of rugby league in WA, with player representation levels climbing steadily.

“To have 25 per cent growth (in participation) over (the past) two years in this state is a signal that rugby league is a code for the future, not only in this city but in this state,” Lee said.

“We’re not FIFOing this city at all.

“We want to be here year in, year out.

“This (city) might have an origin of AFL, but many codes can live and survive here.

“That’s why we keep coming back and we’ll continue to do that.”

NRL WA CEO John Sackson said he would look for more direction from the NRL later in the year as to the prospects of the state getting its own franchise.

Sackson praised the commitment from South Sydney to continue to host games in Perth, with the broader goal of a permanent franchise in the balance ahead of the league’s new TV deal, slated for 2018.

Sackson said having former Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson working for the NRL’s strategy and development unit and making recommendations on expansion would be a boost to WA’s chances of securing an NRL club.

“He’s an advocate for rugby league in Western Australia,” Sackson said of Richardson.

“Shane probably knows more about rugby league in this state than arguably anyone else at rugby league central right now, because he’s experienced it here.

“For seven years now, the club that he formerly was the CEO of saw fit to bring home games successfully to WA.

“Shane will be a good voice of support for the prospects of having a franchise here.”

Sackson said he was confident a WA franchise could kick off with a membership of close to 10,000 in its first year, citing the state’s appetite for the game, government and corporate support, and the newly-developed nib Stadium as positives.

Tickets for the June 6 clash between Souths and New Zealand are available from Ticketmaster.

Follow Chris Robinson on Twitter: @CJKRobinson

Originally published as Rugby league continues to push WA case