Bears Confirmed & Rumoured Signings

[Iamback]

not really,. you guys for example still had the may's and let them go esp taylan after a few incidents.
other clubs have blokes still doing dumb shit. thatll never change, ya cant baby sit them all,

you flagged GC but their recruitment wasnt the issue, it was bad coaching and systems, they have good players in the squad. same with tigers, same with knights. but poor systems and worse coaching will make the best playing group look mediocore no matter the sport.

also bears arent looking to set themselves apart from the rest of the comp with policies. they are quite literally kicking off. theres been no trial and error runs from them.

i feel like theres 3 groups of posters here. 1 that are looking at 2027 and basing their opinions off 12 players signed for that year. 2 that are waiting to see what their entire roster looks like before giving opinion and 3 that are looking 5-10 years in the future. i thinks the key debate and different thinking is due to the above.

i feel like you might be and gobthroat def is concentrated on next year. others are reserving judgement until end of year and then bear and centy coast are forecasting into 5-10 years knowing the initial squad is built for a purpose and that purpose isnt to try win the comp.

May's got sacked by the Board not the club, Taylan's suspect social media posts had nothing to do with the culture at the club.

My point is though, Most NRL players know what is required. Particularly someone that picks up and moves over there. They aren't doing that if they aren't committed.

I am not concentrating on any year, Who do you think in that Perth squad in 2026, will be doing the same role as they will for Perth?

I don't see any, So having Wishart play another 20 games off the bench doesn't make him any more ready for playing as an NRL half as he is now

 

[Red&BlackBear]

The way you have it isn't that complicated if it was a business.

Reality is they needed to set the bar higher to not always be 2 steps behind other clubs.

I don't think there is a current club looking at the culture of their club as a measure of if the club is going well or not. It is a results business.

Using your above example,

If you have 2 teams

1 - team of great blokes no issues but the work is substandard or late

2 - have attendance issues, clowning around on the site but the performance is outstanding and done on time.

Which Manager is doing their job better?

That’s not a correct outlook for what the situation is because yes, whilst this is a business and it is a results based business - so is every other major business. Irrespective of what they do. The same applies. Perth Bears is a business, as is the NRL overall.

The examples you provided are irrelevant because it’s already been explained what the intent is. Character, work ethic and moving for the right reasons.

Therefore I don’t get the point of you stating point 1 and point 2 as per your post - when the crux of this original example was managers looking after the immediate works and above them looking after the forecasted and upcoming pipeline of works. In relation of course to the thought process of how culture building through recruitment is being outlayed.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

May's got sacked by the Board not the club, Taylan's suspect social media posts had nothing to do with the culture at the club.

My point is though, Most NRL players know what is required. Particularly someone that picks up and moves over there. They aren't doing that if they aren't committed.

I am not concentrating on any year, Who do you think in that Perth squad in 2026, will be doing the same role as they will for Perth?

I don't see any, So having Wishart play another 20 games off the bench doesn't make him any more ready for playing as an NRL half as he is now

the board is the club. its the same shit, just different tiers of management...

yes i do because another full year of footy is more reps at training, more reps at games, more experience, more awareness, better understanding. its the same principal in all fields. gobthroat will be a better trolley boy next year than he is this year because he would have had more experience.

experience is experience.
in wishy's case he hasnt been committed to a particular position becaase thats how storm use him. that is the context ya brushing over.
same as watson at roosters until watson became a dummy half full time.
crossland became a fulltime dummyhalf at knights etc.

evolution, growth, experience. more time spent doing something, better someone becomes at it...

 

[Gobsmacked]

Ok so we give them an extra year.

Ivan has proven he play guys even if they signed elsewhere.

Henry had a poor year last year granted. Sorro had couldn't stay on the field - him fit starts prop over Henry.

Papalli jumped him form wise.

So you are looking at him needing 3 guys in front of him to be a starter.

If Hughes and Munster play all year - Storm will be good so it takes injury for Wishart to start in the halves.

Sexton looks to be the 7, He is ESL so he won't get any better at leading an NRL team around the park.

London aren't even in the Super League so those guys aren't going to improve much.

Russell should play more. So you are looking at their centres so far being the only 2 who have started regularly in NRL.

I can see what they are doing too, they have signed young promising players from successful clubs with a high upside.

They haven't signed senior guys or guys to lead the culture though Yet

This post articulates the exact position of where Perth are and the players they've signed are.
Yet they'll argue the color of the sky with you all day long.
You're wasting your time.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Recruitment is going as expected. There is a holistic approach to it to navigate and mitigate the known challenges. There are action plans implemented from the football department to get as close to the roster Mal wants, as possible.

From before day 1 of recruitment the emphasis has been on character. The club wants the onboard players for the right reasons.

The squad is starting from net zero. There are no pre-existing players at the club who have come through the grades and understand the club systems and culture. All other clubs have these sort of systems and therefore guys (who came through them) in their squads, generally they will make up some of the core group to which the entire squad is bound around. That’s the reality of it.

Therefore Mal, David, Dane and Ian have chosen to select players (who are available) whose character is built on work ethic, 1%ers, accountability, competitiveness, and standards.

On field results will vary but the culture and standards won’t. It’s important to get off to a good start on November 1st, 2026 when these blokes meet eachother formally in Perth.

Game day footy isn’t even a thought right now. Players like Henry & Wishart are great because they are multi-positional. The whole bench thing is irrelevant because that’s what their current club game plans demand of them. Bears game plans will undoubtedly differ.

They’ve been offered long term contracts because of where they are at - in their career, where they are coming from - current club, and where they’re anticipated and expected to be. Every club projects players trajectory and hot tip - it isn’t isolated to just on the field game day footy.

Versatility is important. A set positional player is great, but one that can cover gaps and multi-positions is better. It’s clear to understand that these players won’t necessarily be masters of any 1 position but will be serviceable and adequate in multiple. That’s the reality of where the game is heading though. Meaney who will be close to 180 NRL games and Russell provides versatility in the backline.

Curran is committed. He won’t let anyone down. You’ll always get effort from him. The effort will translate to training - that is an expectation.

Luke Smith, Emarly Bitungane, Isaac F and Chris V are depth players that every club has like-type in their rosters. If they hit the ground hard, impress during off season then there’s no reason they can’t push for a bench spot and to be honest that’s how it’s expected to go. Not the bench spot per se but them hitting the ground running and giving it their all to push.

Of the available NRL players left off contract there’s a few I’d personally target.

The senior group:
Scott Sorensen on a 2 year deal.
Luke Garner on a 2 year deal.
Cam McInness on a 2 year deal.
Marata Niukore on a 2 year deal.
Kodi Nikorima on a 2 year deal.

Forwards:
Sam Hughes on a 2 year deal.
Jesse Colquhoun on a 3 year deal.
Jaimin Jolliffe on a 3 year deal (CO).
Charlie Guymer on a 3 year deal (CO).
Sam Verills on a 3 year deal.
Sam McIntyre on a 3 year deal (CO).

Backs:
Jack Cole on a 2 year deal.
Luke Laulilii on a 3 year deal (CO).
Jaxon Purdue on a 4 year deal.
Sam Stonestreet on a 3 year deal (CO).
Gehemat Shibasaki on a 3 year deal.

That leaves 2 spots left.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Matt Burton would be good club ambassadors and faces. I’d have both on 4 year deals.

I think you then start having a somewhat well balanced squad with plenty of versatility from a number of players, across a number of positions. They all have character and no frills about them. Key ingredients to build a culture. There’s no dickheads there. There’s no expectation to win the comp but all expectation to build the foundations of a great culture and standards moving forwards

Things that need to be remembered are:
There’s no pre existing club culture, there’s no pre existing football systems and therefore there’s no pre existing defensive structures or style of attacking play. There’s elements that are far more important than “ x-player should be recruited because he can run fast and has highlights “.

I’d be surprised if even half those players are nabbed, there will be more English contingent coming which I didn’t list.

Cheers

thats a pretty good take to be honest.

it isn't a finals team or anything but all those guys are goers for sure and those senior guys are very good clubmen.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

This post articulates the exact position of where Perth are and the players they've signed are.
Yet they'll argue the color of the sky with you all day long.
You're wasting your time.

this is one guys opinion who doesnt have the context behind or reasons and it is also being countered with the great counter points which im sure he would acknowledge too. the opinion here is also these guys next year, whilst the counter opinion is these guys impact in 4-5 years. which is the debate and why i raised the point that some posters are looking at year 1 this post above screams it and others are looking at year 4, 5, 6



the trolleyboy bum gobthroat can only apply laughing emoji's at topics which go over his little chickpea brain lol
maybe is is laughing cause he doesnt think nrl is a business? maybe bears arent a business? they have an abn so screams business to me.. or maybe he doesnt know how things work so laughing emoji's is his only reaction. the reaction of a spastic.

@Canard and @Red&BlackBear are right. you really are a dumb moron @Gobsmacked no wonder ya on this site for 16 hours a day. all that time spent here and not one decent post, just moronic takes one after the other. being wrong time and time again. lol

 

[Gobsmacked]

the board is the club. its the same shit, just different tiers of management...

yes i do because another full year of footy is more reps at training, more reps at games, more experience, more awareness, better understanding. its the same principal in all fields. gobthroat will be a better trolley boy next year than he is this year because he would have had more experience.

experience is experience.
in wishy's case he hasnt been committed to a particular position becaase thats how storm use him. that is the context ya brushing over.
same as watson at roosters until watson became a dummy half full time.
crossland became a fulltime dummyhalf at knights etc.

evolution, growth, experience. more time spent doing something, better someone becomes at it...

This over simplification of the human experience is fascinating.
At mid 20's after 50 first grade games, the development bell curve starts to take shape - that's why they're moved on.
Wishart might find some extra instincts in a spine role with time but he might get found out too!

Second year syndrome is when the rest of the NRL know your game. Wishart looks great with his show and go but that'll only work for so long, then the confidence gets hit..then you have an injury...

I like him though, more as a 9. He needs to put on some weight though.

 

[Gobsmacked]

thats a pretty good take to be honest.

it isn't a finals team or anything but all those guys are goers for sure and those senior guys are very good clubmen.

" Senior guys"

 

[SirPies&Beers]

This over simplification of the human experience is fascinating.
At mid 20's after 50 first grade games, the development bell curve starts to take shape - that's why they're moved on.
Wishart might find some extra instincts in a spine role with time but he might get found out too!

Second year syndrome is when the rest of the NRL know your game. Wishart looks great with his show and go but that'll only work for so long, then the confidence gets hit..then you have an injury...

I like him though, more as a 9. He needs to put on some weight though.

thats because ya a trolley boy at 34 years old punching cones and have no real life experience. hence ya posting at 1230am. going to bed at 2am after ya 4th wank and video games and waking up smelling like a dogs arsehole at 10am straight back onto the forum.

we get it cob, ya a loser and think ya know rugby league but ya don't.
second year syndrome for players entering their 4/5 years interesting cob, interesting take.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

" Senior guys"

he mentioned mcinnes, sorensen, garner, nikorima and ya saying those guys arent senior as your post implies?
can ya even read cob... lol. nope he cant.

gobthroat, the trolleyboy a failure at life cause he cant read.

 

[Iamback]

This post articulates the exact position of where Perth are and the players they've signed are.
Yet they'll argue the color of the sky with you all day long.
You're wasting your time.

The article is the realist look at the squad.

I get being excited and hopeful, I think most people are but that doesn't mean you can't comment realistically

 

[Gobsmacked]

he mentioned mcinnes, sorensen, garner, nikorima and ya saying those guys arent senior as your post implies?
can ya even read cob... lol. nope he cant.

gobthroat, the trolleyboy a failure at life cause he cant read.

I thought it was in relation to the players actually signed.

 

[Iamback]

the board is the club. its the same shit, just different tiers of management...

yes i do because another full year of footy is more reps at training, more reps at games, more experience, more awareness, better understanding. its the same principal in all fields. gobthroat will be a better trolley boy next year than he is this year because he would have had more experience.

experience is experience.
in wishy's case he hasnt been committed to a particular position becaase thats how storm use him. that is the context ya brushing over.
same as watson at roosters until watson became a dummy half full time.
crossland became a fulltime dummyhalf at knights etc.

evolution, growth, experience. more time spent doing something, better someone becomes at it...

This is where you need to watch a game or 2.

There is no way that playing 20 mins off the bench or whatever Wishart will get is the same as making 30 tackles a game and picking apart defences

For 30 weeks of the year.

There isn't a single player in the NRL that trains poorly. At training they run through drills that they are told often at half pace.

So again they will go to training and run the drills their current coaches say, they won't learn the art of game management or how to deal with kick pressure until it is put into practice

 

[Iamback]

That’s not a correct outlook for what the situation is because yes, whilst this is a business and it is a results based business - so is every other major business. Irrespective of what they do. The same applies. Perth Bears is a business, as is the NRL overall.

The examples you provided are irrelevant because it’s already been explained what the intent is. Character, work ethic and moving for the right reasons.

Therefore I don’t get the point of you stating point 1 and point 2 as per your post - when the crux of this original example was managers looking after the immediate works and above them looking after the forecasted and upcoming pipeline of works. In relation of course to the thought process of how culture building through recruitment is being outlayed.

Well what team would you say doesn't already have a good standards?

 

[Gobsmacked]

thats because ya a trolley boy at 34 years old punching cones and have no real life experience. hence ya posting at 1230am. going to bed at 2am after ya 4th wank and video games and waking up smelling like a dogs arsehole at 10am straight back onto the forum.

we get it cob, ya a loser and think ya know rugby league but ya don't.
second year syndrome for players entering their 4/5 years interesting cob, interesting take.

The effort you go to for personal insults is incredible and it's a copping mechanism.

You've built a false reality , based around a false prophet, a shared fantasy.
Naturally you lash out at anyone that doesn't support the fantasy.

You need therapy.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Well what team would you say doesn't already have a good standards?

Is this a trick question?

Knights standards dropped once O’Brien checked out. Tigers spent 4 seasons straight with poor standards and it was a couple of Panthers who brought their own into the wider squad. Vast improvement now.

Titans have had poor standards for a number of years. They’re finally self aware on this. This brought about a change of the coaching staff. Their own captain has mentioned his frustrations a number of times.

Lack of buy-in brings about poor standards and then high complacency. Every clubs looks raring to go round 1 but by round 20 you start to see the drop off and the checked out.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Is this a trick question?

Knights standards dropped once O’Brien checked out. Tigers spent 4 seasons straight with poor standards and it was a couple of Panthers who brought their own into the wider squad. Vast improvement now.

Titans have had poor standards for a number of years. They’re finally self aware on this. This brought about a change of the coaching staff. Their own captain has mentioned his frustrations a number of times.

Lack of buy-in brings about poor standards and then high complacency. Every clubs looks raring to go round 1 but by round 20 you start to see the drop off and the checked out.

So currently none?

 

[SirPies&Beers]

The effort you go to for personal insults is incredible and it's a copping mechanism.

You've built a false reality , based around a false prophet, a shared fantasy.
Naturally you lash out at anyone that doesn't support the fantasy.

You need therapy.

you need an education. ya cant read or understanding thing blatantly spelled out for ya.
ya a moron, a trolleyboy with no hope in life.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

This is where you need to watch a game or 2.

There is no way that playing 20 mins off the bench or whatever Wishart will get is the same as making 30 tackles a game and picking apart defences

For 30 weeks of the year.

There isn't a single player in the NRL that trains poorly. At training they run through drills that they are told often at half pace.

So again they will go to training and run the drills their current coaches say, they won't learn the art of game management or how to deal with kick pressure until it is put into practice

watch every game every weekend thanks.

i also been to training plenty of times to see it courtesy of my cuz when he was at sharkies.
experience and reps count.

wishy is like watson. give him time in a position and they'll thrive but that doesnt mean you can take away from fact the experience is already there. footy player is footy player wish can play 80 he is fit. the rest is semantics and specific game play from one club which wont be the same at another club.

no different to someone who is used in one position somewhere and another position else where.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

So currently none?

as of last round in 2025

titans
dragons
knights

and can add cowboys too at times.

no one has seen them in 2026 yet so can only go based on the dogshit 5 or 6 rounds those clubs had which was in 2025 and they stunk. standards werent there. didnt do simple things right, switched off. its evident, its fact, its statistically there etched in history for all to research.

another thing ya didnt read properly. he said round 1. we arent in round 1, we havent seen anyone play yet. cry harder gobthroat.