Bears Confirmed & Rumoured Signings

[SirPies&Beers]

Bracey reveals 'biggest fear' as crunch Bears meeting looms

'They are definitely getting used'

www.nine.com.au

Roosters set for huge James Tedesco move after backlash as Ponga links continue

James Tedesco does not have a contract beyond the 2026 NRL season. Find out more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[Red&BlackBear]

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]

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.

that lines up

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

 

[Red&BlackBear]

that lines up

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

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]

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]

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

Peter Maniaty
3 hours ago11:23 am AEST

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.

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]

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."

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Bad news, Bears: Roosters have no intention of letting Tedesco go

Coach Trent Robinson plans on the star fullback finishing his career in red, white and blue.

www.smh.com.au

Sharks duo squeezed out in cap headache; Roosters’ Teddy move as rival circles: Transfer Whispers

Sharks duo squeezed out in cap headache; Roosters’ Teddy move as rival circles: Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[SirPies&Beers]