‘We’re well ahead’: Mal Meninga delivers bullish update on Perth Bears road to the NRL in 2027
Peter Maniaty
16 hours ago
Inaugural Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga has provided a candid update on the club’s build up to 2027, saying the NRL’s 18th franchise is well ahead of where many in the game currently think they are.
Appearing on the first-ever edition of the club’s
official podcast, Meninga was enthusiastic about the key moves being made by the Bears both on and off the field.
Speaking of Perth’s growing NRL roster that currently stands at 13 players, the Rugby League Immortal said he was delighted at the calibre—and motivations—of players being attracted west.
“They’re all coming for right reasons,” Meninga said.
“They want to be a trail blazer, they want to help the Perth Bears with their responsibilities to improving rugby league here in WA and they all feel they can offer something,” he continued.
“It’s been a really good process and we’re creating momentum, we’ve been working hard and diligently in selling the proposition of living in Perth and that’s been well received (by players), it’s a very liveable city and we understand how great it is.”
Contrary to some negative media reports, Meninga also explained everyone involved with the Bears has been pleasantly surprised at the reaction to the club’s arrival in Perth.
“We’ve been well received everywhere we’ve gone,” he said.
“There’s a place for rugby league here and there’s a place for the Perth Bears, regardless of what sport you follow there’s a real feeling people are going to embrace us.”
“The community and the government have been terrific, we’re well ahead of where most people think we are,” he added with a grin.
‘Having some of those costs outside the salary cap would be wonderful’
Speaking about the financial and logistical challenges of building a successful NRL club in the world’s most isolated capital city, Meninga admitted the new club would have loved to have received salary cap concessions, but understands the reasons why that hasn’t happened.
“We’re fully aware that when the ARL Commission went to the other NRL clubs about the Bears, the condition was that we weren’t going to get any concessions, we’re under the same terms as every other club as far as the salary cap and other grants,” he said, before offering a small but important qualification.
“There are clauses around what (the NRL) call ‘reasonable costs’ like one-off costs for relocation, we have to relocate 36 players to Perth initially plus families, we also have staff we need to re-locate.”
“If we can talk in a healthy way around the NRL allowing us to have some of those reasonable costs outside the salary cap, I think that would be wonderful.”
Speaking about the long-term desire for the Bears to enjoy sustainable on-field success, Meninga pointed towards two of the NRL’s most successful clubs of the past decade.
“We want to be a club that resembles the
Melbourne Storm and we want to be the new
Penrith Panthers because they’re up there every year, that’s our goal,” he said.
A smiling Meninga then threw in a final metaphor for what he hopes to deliver for the NRL’s newest club.
“We want the Perth Bears to stand on its own two legs, that’s what the WA Government wants and what the game wants—did you know the sun bear stands up on its legs and walks around more than any bear?”
There you have it folks, the
Perth Sun Bears.
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