The NRL have rejected claims they will have control over the new Perth-based franchise, adamant the revived Bears club will run at arms-length from head office.
League bosses are expected to confirm a Western Australian-based side as the NRL's 18th team this month, after reaching a deal with the state government.
The team will enter in 2027, before the previously-announced Papua New Guinea club join them in a 19-team competition in 2028.
Current clubs continue to have several questions over the new Perth-based franchise, with many expected to be raised in a meeting with all 17 current CEOs on Friday.
One concern remains around the control of the club, after the NRL rejected a bid from a Peter Cumins-led consortium last year.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed on Thursday that the plan was for the ARL Commission to assist in formative stages by appointing a board.
Directors would be free to make crucial decisions from there, before the licences are transitioned into member-owned clubs.
"It's not an NRL-run club," Abdo said at Thursday's Magic Round launch in Brisbane.
"This will be a club that will be owned by the members and it will be controlled in the transition period by its own board.
"It will have its own chairman, own board and own CEO. That board gets appointed by the commission. So it's very much at arm's length from the NRL.
"After the transition period that will obviously then be a member-elected board.
"It's the model that we've looked at for PNG and it's the model that we're looking at for WA."
The appointment of the board will have ramifications for key decisions such as coach and football bosses, who will then determine inaugural rosters.
Under current rules, the Perth-based side will not be able to approach players until November 1 this year, while PNG will need to hold off until November 2026.
The NRL has previously assisted in making key appointments at multiple clubs.
The league were part of the Wests Tigers' board shake and corporate governance reform in 2014, which ultimately led to Marina Go's appointment as chair.
Head office also took control of Newcastle and Gold Coast in 2014 and 2015 respectively amid financial woes, before they were bought back out in 2017.
In the case of the new franchises, Abdo suggested he wanted the licenses to go to member-backed models, which were still being explored.
"Rugby league is a game of the people and this is an opportunity for the fans and the members of that club to have a say and to govern it," Abdo said.
"Using this model for expansion of franchises has many advantages and one of them is the fact that the members are empowered after a certain period of time.
"It's not about making money, this is about growing the game."
