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Bears Confirmed & Rumoured Signings

Red&BlackBear

Red&BlackBear

First Grade
Messages
6,224
Player managers have started engaging companies for TPD’s. No surprise to anyone I’m sure.

A colleague who runs the operations of a prominent WA based national tier-1 company was approached by a player manager earlier this week about a potential deal that would have his client be a representative face for promotional purposes (ie conference engagement, meet & greets etc) for the company. Starting asking price was around $230k per year for 3 years.
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

Bench
Messages
3,594
Red&BlackBear said:
Player managers have started engaging companies for TPD’s. No surprise to anyone I’m sure.

A colleague who runs the operations of a prominent WA based national tier-1 company was approached by a player manager earlier this week about a potential deal that would have his client be a representative face for promotional purposes (ie conference engagement, meet & greets etc) for the company. Starting asking price was around $230k per year for 3 years.
Click to expand...
that lines up

would you looks to third party deal a player if given the chance? is your company in west aussie?
 
Red&BlackBear

Red&BlackBear

First Grade
Messages
6,224
SirPies&Beers said:
that lines up

would you looks to third party deal a player if given the chance? is your company in west aussie?
Click to expand...
No, we aren’t in WA. Yet..

Hard to say; my business partner and co-owner already has a deal with Raiders due to him being a former player and his relationships with the Furner’s and Sticky.

Ideally though, yes - I can see a world where I’d endorse a 3rd Party Deal towards a player. Ultimately the cost of that and the return value would be the stinger. However, at the moment because we aren’t in Perth it wouldn’t make much sense.
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

Bench
Messages
3,594

Are Perth Bears being used as contract bait by player agents?​


Peter Maniaty
3 hours ago11:23 am AEST
https://library.nospam47.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_desktop_webp/s3/2025-07/GettyImages-2221781942.jpg.webp?itok=Hlf_w18I

Concerns have been raised that player agents are using the imminent arrival of the Perth Bears to drive hardball negotiations with existing NRL clubs.
Speaking on Freddy and the Eighth, Perth Bears director and Nine journalist James Bracey acknowledged the challenges facing the NRL’s 18th franchise as it prepares to enter the contract market on November 1.

“It seems that every player at the moment is being tied to the Bears if they’re off contract,” Bracey said.
“We’re definitely getting used at the moment—even though (official) discussions for the Bears can’t actually start until November 1.”
MORE: Cameron Munster: The NRL's first $2m player?
“That’s what’s going to happen, managers are going to use your team (Perth) and the new PNG team,” co-host Brad Fittler agreed.
“But if you’re not starting now you’re already behind the eight ball.”
Turning to recruitment opportunities, the panel then raised a potential source of playing talent on the Bears’ doorstep that’s yet to be tapped by other NRL clubs.
“I understand there’s a big South African population in Western Australia,” co-host Andrew Johns said flagging interest from rugby union players and clubs in South Africa looking for pathways to the riches of the NRL.
“I just watched a bit of the U20 Rugby World Cup,” Brad Fittler added.
“South Africa flogged everyone, their players are athletic, big, incredible—they (Perth Bears officials) should be straight over there and targeting them.”
James Bracey agreed, suggesting the onus was on the Bears to find the right players and then entice them to Perth.
“I just look at a player like (Roosters star and ex-Wallaby) Mark Nawaqanitawase and think ‘there’s more of him out there’, especially with that direct flight into Perth from South Africa and the UK,” he said.
“My biggest fear is the assumption that to get players to Perth we’ll have to pay overs, so if it’s a $1.4 million player you’ll have to pay $1.7 million—and then you’re also competing against the tax-free income they could be getting from PNG.”
“It’s got its challenges, and we know we’ll need a big ticket item (marquee player) to attract other players and grow the game,” Bracey added.
“We have our first board meeting next week and we’ll be able to chat to Mal Meninga about all this stuff then—but knowing him, he’ll have a hit list ready to go.”
The Perth Bears enter the NRL competition in 2027 and are able to begin signing players from November 1 this year.
 
Centy Coast

Centy Coast

Juniors
Messages
2,130
SirPies&Beers said:

Are Perth Bears being used as contract bait by player agents?​


Peter Maniaty
3 hours ago11:23 am AEST
Are Perth Bears being used as contract bait by player agents? image


Concerns have been raised that player agents are using the imminent arrival of the Perth Bears to drive hardball negotiations with existing NRL clubs.
Speaking on Freddy and the Eighth, Perth Bears director and Nine journalist James Bracey acknowledged the challenges facing the NRL’s 18th franchise as it prepares to enter the contract market on November 1.

“It seems that every player at the moment is being tied to the Bears if they’re off contract,” Bracey said.
“We’re definitely getting used at the moment—even though (official) discussions for the Bears can’t actually start until November 1.”
MORE: Cameron Munster: The NRL's first $2m player?
“That’s what’s going to happen, managers are going to use your team (Perth) and the new PNG team,” co-host Brad Fittler agreed.
“But if you’re not starting now you’re already behind the eight ball.”
Turning to recruitment opportunities, the panel then raised a potential source of playing talent on the Bears’ doorstep that’s yet to be tapped by other NRL clubs.
“I understand there’s a big South African population in Western Australia,” co-host Andrew Johns said flagging interest from rugby union players and clubs in South Africa looking for pathways to the riches of the NRL.
“I just watched a bit of the U20 Rugby World Cup,” Brad Fittler added.
“South Africa flogged everyone, their players are athletic, big, incredible—they (Perth Bears officials) should be straight over there and targeting them.”
James Bracey agreed, suggesting the onus was on the Bears to find the right players and then entice them to Perth.
“I just look at a player like (Roosters star and ex-Wallaby) Mark Nawaqanitawase and think ‘there’s more of him out there’, especially with that direct flight into Perth from South Africa and the UK,” he said.
“My biggest fear is the assumption that to get players to Perth we’ll have to pay overs, so if it’s a $1.4 million player you’ll have to pay $1.7 million—and then you’re also competing against the tax-free income they could be getting from PNG.”
“It’s got its challenges, and we know we’ll need a big ticket item (marquee player) to attract other players and grow the game,” Bracey added.
“We have our first board meeting next week and we’ll be able to chat to Mal Meninga about all this stuff then—but knowing him, he’ll have a hit list ready to go.”
The Perth Bears enter the NRL competition in 2027 and are able to begin signing players from November 1 this year.
Click to expand...
Yes, the Perth Bears first ever Board meeting next Monday & Tuesday, should be interesting.
If player managers are raising their players salaries due to the Perth Bears then it is up to the existing clubs to take the gamble and call their bluff ?.
Personally, I believe that the Perth Besrs should be able to negotiate with players now or when they are able to, waiting for November 1 is absolutely ridiculous, the Bears being able to negotiate with players early would not hurt the existing clubs as they already have most of their rosters in place.
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

Bench
Messages
3,594

Why Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui would be the ideal marquee signing for the Perth Bears​


Mark Molyneux
9 hours ago10:29 pm AEST


Jahrome Hughes spurned potential interest after inking a long-term deal to remain with Melbourne, while the likes of Cameron Munster and Payne Haas have been highlighted as dream signings.
MORE: 'Hard to handle' - Michael Maguire lifts the lid on dealing with Reece Walsh

Why Tino would be the ideal marquee signing for the Bears​

The newly-appointed foundation coach, Mal Meninga, declared he would take some time upon his appointment to devise what the Bears’ DNA would be.
Who could underpin these as yet undetermined values remains to be seen.
However, former North Sydney board member Billy Moore has declared that he knows the ideal man to build the franchise around for years to come.
"The last team to expand, and that’s what I base this on, is the Dolphins," Moore said on The Late Show with Matty Johns.
"They missed the stars but got the steel.
"The Phins missed out on Daly Cherry-Evans, Kalyn Ponga and Munster, but they got the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi.
"They bought habits, they bought steel and, for me, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui would be our man to replicate that."
MORE: Sydney Roosters coach dismisses talk of impending DCE signing
The Gold Coast skipper inked a mammoth 10-year deal to remain on the Glitter Strip until 2033.
However, it has since emerged that the Queensland representative forward has several clauses included in this contract that could allow him to jump ship.
The first of these get-out clauses will reportedly come into play soon, making him a potential candidate to target for a move to WA.
"If you look at what happened with the Dolphins, Isaiya Katoa went there as a 19-year-old kid," Moore stated.
"They never got flogged and what that steel did was allow them to incubate someone like him. He has polished his skills and now they’ve got one of the great halfbacks on the rise.
"For the Bears, I think it’s important to have that same steel and the right habits.
"Tino could be the perfect guy who will do that."
The Titans are currently trying to navigate another tumultuous period on the Gold Coast.
They have been anchored towards the bottom of the ladder all season, while Des Hasler’s short reign has been nothing short of a disaster to date.
Yet Tino declared just two months ago that he would not turn his back on the club during its time of need as he sought to reverse the fortunes of the perennial underachievers.
"I'm doing everything I can to change this club and make it a winning culture and strong club to compete in the NRL," the premiership-winning forward said.
"I'm not backing out of anything. I'm in it for it all, through the hard times and the good times, hopefully in the future."
 
Red&BlackBear

Red&BlackBear

First Grade
Messages
6,224
For a few weeks I’ve been saying Garner and a couple Raiders surplus forwards are being heavily looked at. Guess Buzz has the inside word now too…
IMG_9583.jpeg
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

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Centy Coast

Centy Coast

Juniors
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SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

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Perth Bears prepare to make $7.5 million offer to lure Tino Fa'asuamaleaui west​

Titans skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will test the open market as the Perth Bears prepare a record $7.5 million deal to make him the NRL's highest-paid player.
Peter Badel

@badel_cmail

5 min read
August 10, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/0NHIx/again?url=...ory/c65b1851fafa24ae1e2d416b03d14d53#comments

Out of the Titans, Rabbitohs, Eels and Cowboys, which team's rebuild is in best shape?
It’s official: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is heading to the open market as the Perth Bears prepare a massive $7.5 million poaching raid to make the Titans skipper the highest-paid player in NRL history.
This masthead can reveal the Titans face a huge battle to retain Fa’asuamaleaui with the Queensland Origin enforcer deciding to test his value on the open market when he becomes a free agent on November 1.
It is a bombshell development for the Titans as they fight to avoid the wooden spoon in Sunday’s must-win clash against equal last-placed Souths at Cbus Super Stadium.
New Perth coach Mal Meninga needs a marquee signing for 2027 and the Bears will be going hard for the Origin and Test prop.
Meninga and his new recruitment boss Ezra Howe were the two key men who convinced Fa’asuamaleaui to quit the premiership-winning Storm side to join the Titans in 2021.
At the time, Meninga was Gold Coast’s head of performance and culture, while Howe was the Titans’ recruitment manager.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is going to explore his options as a free agent come November 1. Picture: Getty Images
Now the pair have reunited at the Bears and the Meninga-Howe alliance shapes as a potent one-two punch in their bid to floor the Titans and poach Fa’asuamaleaui to be the NRL’s poster boy in Perth.
It is understood the Bears are armed with a five-year contract worth $1.5 million-a-season - a deal that would see Fa’asuamaleaui trump Kalyn Ponga, Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster as the No.1 earner in rugby league.
In 2023, Fa’asuamaleaui signed a 10-year Titans deal until the end of 2033, but the contract contains two get-out clauses, the first of which can be activated for the 2027 season.
That technically makes Fa’asuamaleaui a free agent from November, and the Maroons prop will explore his options on the open market amid the Titans’ woeful performances and uncertainty over coach Des Hasler’s position.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager Simon Mammino stressed the prop is happy at the Titans, but confirmed the Gold Coast captain wants to assess all options with NRL rivals, including Meninga’s Bears.
“We will be testing the market,” said Mammino, who inserted the get-out clauses in Fa’asuamaleaui’s deal with the imprimatur of Titans management.
“At this stage, he wants to stay at the Titans, but it’s a business and we’ll be having a chat to interested parties, including the Perth Bears.

(L-R) Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Des Hasler. Picture: NRL Photos
“I am aware that there’s alleged interest from Perth, but until we speak to someone from the Bears, it’s all pie-in-the-sky speculation.
“From November 1, we’re allowed to talk to people and I will definitely be having a chat with the Perth Bears.
“In a perfect world, Tino’s preference is to stay at the Titans but whether he does remains to be seen.”
While the revelation will pique the interest of a slew of NRL rivals, the Bears have a blank, $12.1 million chequebook for 2027 to win any bidding war.
Fa’asuamaleaui is on $1.2 million this season at the Titans, but the Bears are prepared to go to $1.5m, beefed-up by the prospect of a ratchet clause should the NRL salary cap increase, as expected, for the NRL’s next TV rights deal from 2028.
The NRL’s last salary cap increase in 2023 was 22 per cent.
An estimated salary-cap increase of 15 per cent for the 2028 season could see Fa’asuamaleaui earn in excess of $1.7 million in Perth and inch towards becoming the code’s first $2 million player.
Known for his loyalty, Fa’asuamaleaui’s dream is to win the Titans’ first premiership.
But on the eve of Origin III last month, the 25-year-old raised concerns about the direction of the Titans, who could suffer further ructions if Hasler is sacked in the coming weeks.
Since joining the Titans from Melbourne, Fa’asuamaleaui has only won 31 per cent of the Gold Coast games he’s played and admits the club’s position is “upsetting”.
“The club doesn’t owe me anything. I just would like to see some direction, how we’re getting out of this as a group and not just as a playing group,” he told this masthead.
“As a club we need to sit down and road map and direct where things need to be headed and have clarity around that.
“Obviously there’s a lot of things up in the air at the moment and that’s probably what’s weighing me down the most.
“It’s hard to talk about, I get a bit emotional.
“We’re not performing and I know what it’s like, it’s a full-on business and it’s a ruthless business.
“When things aren’t going right there’s a lot of questions.
“As a club we are not in a good situation and we need to get clarity and have a direction where we want to head and plan how to execute that.”

Inaugural Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga has close ties with Fa’asuamaleaui. Picture: Getty Images
The danger for the Titans is the Meninga-Howe threat.
When Fa’asuamaleaui decided to quit the Storm, he only did so after a meeting with Meninga and Howe, who drove to his family’s property in Gympie to successfully pitch their vision for the Titans.
Now a similar pitch to be the NRL’s golden boy in the wild west and leave a famous Bears legacy could prove irresistible for Fa’asuamaleaui.
“Mal and Ezra are huge factors,” Mammino said.
“There is no grey area - Tino went to the Titans because of Mal Meninga. He has huge respect for him.
“That doesn’t mean Tino will definitely sign with them (Perth), but Mal and Ezra are huge fans of Tino.
“Those two aren’t there anymore and Tino has developed a real affection for the Gold Coast, but we don’t know where the Titans are heading.
“I know Tino likes Des, so we need to sit back and see what unfolds with the club and make a decision from there.
“Tino wants to win a comp at the Titans and he has a fair bit of belief in his playing group and the roster that is with him.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has played 80 games for the Titans at a lowly 31.25% win rate. Getty Images)
“There’s a lot of talent in that team, but a lot depends on what happens with the coach and where the Titans are going for 2027 and beyond.
“That will be a relevant part of his decision making, I’m not telling them which way to go, but Tino is happy with Des, so we need to work with the club and see which way they want to go.
“In the meantime, Tino will get interest from clubs, but I do know it will take a lot to get him out of the Titans.
“He does want to win. Steve Mitchell (Titans CEO) and Dennis Watt (chairman) are good operators, but the reason we put the clause in there was to give Tino a chance to reassess where the Titans were at after a three-year period.
“We will have a few months to sit back and decide which way he goes.”
Fa’asuamaleaui’s family ties in Queensland could be a trump card in staving off the Bears.
“It won’t be money alone that lures him out because he is already one of the highest paid players in the game,” Mammino said.
“Family is a huge factor.
“His in-laws live on the Gold Coast, his mum and dad are in Gympie and his brother is at the Titans.
“His family and support network is all around the Gold Coast area.
“If he goes to Perth, there’s no family support, so Perth will face the same challenges as Melbourne.
“Perth is a long way away and it will be tough to get players across there, that’s a realistic thing.”
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

Bench
Messages
3,594

Family detail that could prevent Tino Fa'asuamaleaui taking $7.5m offer from Perth Bears​

The NRL's newest franchise are reportedly preparing a monster offer.​

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
Updated Sun 10 August 2025 at 10:17 am AEST·3-min read

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's manager has revealed he'll test the open market when he technically becomes a free agent on November 1, but admitted it will take a lot to pry him away from his family support network in Queensland. The State of Origin star is contracted to the Gold Coast Titans until the end of 2033 on a 10-year deal worth $1.2 million per season.
But he has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave at the end of 2027. It means he's free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs on November 1 this year, and that's exactly what he'll be doing.
“We will be testing the market,” Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager Simon Mammino told News Corp on Sunday, while stressing he's happy on the Gold Coast. “At this stage, he wants to stay at the Titans, but it’s a business and we’ll be having a chat to interested parties."

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and partner Jordy Ngarimu are settled on the Gold Coast. Image: Getty
The same report states the Perth Bears are preparing a $7.5 million offer that could see Fa'asuamaleaui become the highest-paid player in the game (per season). Mal Meninga's new team are keen to offer the Queensland Maroons star $1.5 million per season for five years. It would take Fa'asuamaleaui past Kalyn Ponga ($1.4m) as the NRL's highest earner per year.
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“From November 1, we’re allowed to talk to people and I will definitely be having a chat with the Perth Bears," Mammino added. “In a perfect world, Tino’s preference is to stay at the Titans. But whether he does remains to be seen.”

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is free to speak to rival NRL clubs on November 1. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Family could keep Tino Fa'asuamaleaui on the Gold Coast​

Mammino pointed out that Fa'asuamaleaui would be hesitant to move away from family in Queensland. His parents live three hours away in Gympie, while his brother Izack is also a Titans player. Tino's partner Jordy Ngarimu is also a professional athlete with the Titans' netball team, and her parents also live on the Gold Coast.
Tino and Jordy have three young kids, meaning they'd be moving away from their support network if they left Queensland. “It won’t be money alone that lures him out because he is already one of the highest paid players in the game,” Mammino said.
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“Family is a huge factor. His in-laws live on the Gold Coast, his mum and dad are in Gympie and his brother is at the Titans. His family and support network is all around the Gold Coast area. If he goes to Perth, there’s no family support, so Perth will face the same challenges as Melbourne."

The fact Fa'asuamaleaui is weighing up an international switch from Australia to Samoa shows how much he values family. And it could hint at good news for Gold Coast Titans fans.

Perth Bears figures who could convince Tino to join​

Fa'asuamaleaui started his career at the Melbourne Storm, but it was Meninga and recruitment boss Ezra Howe who helped convince him to join the Titans. Meninga was the Gold Coast’s head of performance and culture at the time, while Howe was the Titans’ recruitment manager.
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Howe recently joined Meninga at the Perth Bears to work as the new franchise's head of recruitment, giving the Bears two big trump cards. "Tino went to the Titans because of Mal Meninga. He has huge respect for him," Mammino revealed.
“That doesn’t mean Tino will definitely sign with them (Perth), but Mal and Ezra are huge fans of Tino. Those two aren’t there anymore and Tino has developed a real affection for the Gold Coast, but we don’t know where the Titans are heading."

au.news.yahoo.com

Family detail that could prevent NRL superstar accepting $7.5 million offer

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has a clause in his Titans contract that allows him to leave. Read more here.
au.news.yahoo.com au.news.yahoo.com
 
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