However, by the end of the year the Reds had become a casualty of the Super League War peace deal and were shut down.

The Reds even recruited local identity and decorated WAFL and West Coast Eagles (AFL) player Adrian Barich.

Barich, having grown up in Canberra reverted from Australian rules football to rugby league, finishing his career with seasons with the Reds, however he never played in first grade.

Although the club had made some promising signings, such as Rodney Howe and Robbie Kearns, the crushing $10 million debt that hung over the club (from having to pay the airfares for all visiting teams) at the end of the season led to Super League axing the Perth Reds on 1 October 1997.

Darwin Rugby League product Aaron Barnes was named the Reds' player of the year.

The first trial game on 30 January 2010 was against the runners-up of the Western Australia Rugby League competition the Central Bulldogs – they won 38–20.

The WA Reds juniors won their first SG Ball game beating the Balmain Tigers at ME Stadium 28–8.