Bears Confirmed & Rumoured Signings

[Gobsmacked]

they have 16 announced with another 3 locked in (according to Mal). so 19 total with 11 to go.
apparently the money for at least 5 or 6 of that 11 remaining is big $ for players that happen to get early releases
ie. like watson has.
i hear both butcher bros getting early releases too

so what are you talking about? you back to silly mode or something cob?

Watson, Butcher? A gigantic MEH!
They're looking at Stains ffs..
It's a disaster, going to get flogged from day one.

Any decent players agitating for a release are linked with other clubs.

When are you going to come around to reality?

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Watson, Butcher? A gigantic MEH!
They're looking at Stains ffs..
It's a disaster, going to get flogged from day one.

Any decent players agitating for a release are linked with other clubs.

When are you going to come around to reality?

You make alot of assumptions without any substance to back it up lol.

seriously no one gives two flicks about shit takes cob. This isn’t a video game muppet. Butcher and Watson are good players. Yeah looking at Staines also n reports but they need backline depth cover and he can cover multiple spots if need be. Barely be used really in nrl. You claim they’ll get flogged I reckon for their home games they’ll be fine. They’ll compete.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/im-not-ashamed-scott-sorensen-tipped-to-lead-the-bears-next-year-as-panthers-veteran-reveals-emotional-meeting-where-tears-flowed/news-story/5150d277057c6c6e33a7dbd1b7e72a95?amp

‘I’m not ashamed’: Scott Sorensen tipped to lead the Bears next year as Panthers veteran reveals emotional meeting where tears flowed​

Tears flowed when Scott Sorensen told his Panthers teammates he would be leaving at the end of the year, with the forward tipped for a major honour at the Bears.

Martin Gabor

2 min read
April 10, 2026 - 1:28PM
NewsWire

Panthers star forward Scott Sorensen has been tipped to be the inaugural captain of the Perth Bears. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Scott Sorensen has been backed to become the Perth Bears’ inaugural captain when they join the competition next year, with the Panthers veteran and his teammates reliving the emotional speech he gave to tell them that he was leaving.
The four-time premiership winner has been enormous for Penrith since he joined them in 2021, but he’ll head west next season on a two-year deal where he’ll be one of their most important leaders in the pack.
Sorensen, 33, is a club favourite at the Panthers which is why things got emotional when he told his teammates that this would be his last season with them.

Scott Sorensen teared up when he told his Panthers teammates that this would be his last season at the club. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
“Absolutely (there were tears). I’m not ashamed of that at all,” he said ahead of the double-header in Perth this weekend.
“It was tough. Everyone in this organisation knows how much I love this place. So I guess that’s why it hit me so hard to be saying that I’m leaving.
“But in saying all that, I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to join the Bears and I’m very excited about that, as I said at the time
“I’m absolutely so grateful and love my journey here, and I continue to enjoy my journey here. So it was very difficult and very emotional, but I’ve still got a few games yet, so I’m going to enjoy those.”
Sorensen had been thinking about the move since Christmas, and said his wife’s family living over there had played a key role in his decision.
The Bears continue to build their squad ahead of their first season, with Sorensen the ideal candidate to lead them next year just like the experienced Jesse Bromwich did when the Dolphins entered the competition.

Sorensen has won four titles with Penrith. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
“It was very emotional for me (when he told us he was leaving),” Panthers centre Paul Alamoti said.
“When I first came into the NRL squad, he was the leader among the left edge and I slotted into that position (outside him) and he pushed me to my limits.
“I remember when he broke the news to the squad as a whole, I did get touched by it because his influence on my career has been immense.
“I have no doubt he’d be a great captain. He has so much passion and he’s a true competitor.”
Regardless of who leads them next year, the Bears will face the same question that all expansion sides have – have they got the talent to be competitive from the outset?

Sorensen would be a terrific option to captain the Bears next year. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
“I’m not going to shy away from that,” Sorensen said, with Perth yet to sign a true marquee man.
“We know it’s a massive challenge going into the unknown, which I understand. But I suppose in a way, I went into the unknown coming here at Penrith in 2021.
“So I didn’t know what was going to happen, and that was exciting, that was motivating. I guess it’s the same thing going to the Perth Bears.
“Being given an opportunity and going into the unknown a little bit, that’s exciting and that’s something I’m looking forward to.”

 

[SirPies&Beers]

It hurts: Sharks vow to fight Bears' poaching players

By Justin Chadwick
Updated April 10 2026 - 3:53pm, first published 3:51pm

Cameron McInnes is believed to be another Cronulla player being targeted by the Perth Bears. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS

Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has a simple but stern message to the Perth Bears: you won't get our players without a fight.
The Bears are in the midst of a widespread recruiting raid under master coach Mal Meninga ahead of next year's highly-anticipated entry into the NRL.
Meninga has already poached two Sharks players - Tongan international Siosifa Talakai and Kiwi centre Chris Vea'ila.

And it seems like the Bears have their eyes on a few more Sharks, with co-captain Cameron McInnes and fullback Will Kennedy reportedly on their hit list.
McInnes, 32, is in the latter stages of his recovery from an ACL tear and would make an ideal inaugural captain at the Bears.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon says the club won't give up players to the Bears without a fight. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

"He's a terrific man, terrific leader," Fitzgibbon said ahead of his team's clash with the Sydney Roosters in Perth on Saturday.
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"He's coming back soon from an ACL injury, and just such a fantastic guy and leader that it'd be an asset for any club that he's at.
"He's definitely an asset for the Sharks, and it won't be without a fight."
Kennedy is one of 13 Sharks off contract at year's end, and the 28-year-old is open to a move away from Cronulla.
"It won't be without a fight," Fitzgibbon re-iterated when asked about the Bears potentially trying to sign Kennedy.

Fitzgibbon had mixed feelings about losing Talakai and Vea'ila.
"Look it hurts, because we would have liked to have kept those players," he said.
"But we're also happy for them and proud as a club that if we've had a player in our service that's got a better opportunity for him and his family, then we're doing our jobs as Sharks to offer that to the players."
The Sharks finished fifth on the home-and-away ladder last year, fourth in 2024, sixth in 2023 and second in 2022.
They currently sit seventh with a 3-2 record, and Fitzgibbon would love to keep the bulk of the squad together for at least another year.

"We've been really stable in our roster for a number of years now," he said.
Jesse Ramien will be out of the Cronulla side for a month with a knee injury. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

"And what we've actively developed behind the players that are playing in the NRL team, we've got a crop of players that are ready to come into positions over, if not in the next 12 months, the year after.
"So we've positioned ourselves with some ready-made replacements that we value and think are going to be good players in the future."

Sharks centre Jesse Ramien will be sidelined for a month due to a knee injury.
The Roosters enter Saturday's double header in Perth, which also feature the Rabbitohs up against Canberra, with a 2-2 record.

Australian Associated Press

It hurts: Sharks vow to fight Bears' poaching players

Sharks co-captain Cameron McInnes and fullback Will Kennedy could be on the Perth Bears' radar as the incoming...

www.illawarramercury.com.au

 

[Colk]

Watson, Butcher? A gigantic MEH!
They're looking at Stains ffs..
It's a disaster, going to get flogged from day one.

Any decent players agitating for a release are linked with other clubs.

When are you going to come around to reality?

Fair out. Are you even a fan of Rugby League lol?

By the way, they will obviously be closer to the bottom of the ladder however there are a lot of crap sides in the competition atm. For example, they are already better than the Raiders, Titans, Dragons etc.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Fair out. Are you even a fan of Rugby League lol?

By the way, they will obviously be closer to the bottom of the ladder however there are a lot of crap sides in the competition atm. For example, they are already better than the Raiders, Titans, Dragons etc.

They'd kill to have half the roster of those clubs.

 

[Colk]

They'd kill to have half the roster of those clubs.

Lol Raiders won’t win another game for the rest of the season. Dragons not far behind

 

[SirPies&Beers]

They'd kill to have half the roster of those clubs.

Think you miss the point. Clubs like titans have awesome players yet still play like shit. Clubs like knights with their biggest players out are playing beyond their “roster” on paper because that’s all it is cob, names on paper.

effort, hunger and drive to be better and be the best someone can be doing what they do ie a footy player trying to be best version of themselves is the base foundation to any successful team. That starts with preparation, with doing simple basic core skills like catching passing tackling running hard and being fit correctly. Then you add the ability to compete on every playAny teams roster can do the basics right if they have the drive and hunger to do it. That includes bears roster.

if that squad are connected and do the basic rights they won’t get smashed. They’ll compete most weeks and be in most games. That’s effort,

so with all that said that is why a Ponga brown less spooner team in knights is 4-1 and a super talent team with JC Tino Aj titans is 1-4. One competes on every play and goes out to do the basics right and the other doesn’t. A roster is absolute meaningless if they can’t do the basic rights and don’t have the drive.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Think you miss the point. Clubs like titans have awesome players yet still play like shit. Clubs like knights with their biggest players out are playing beyond their “roster” on paper because that’s all it is cob, names on paper.

effort, hunger and drive to be better and be the best someone can be doing what they do ie a footy player trying to be best version of themselves is the base foundation to any successful team. That starts with preparation, with doing simple basic core skills like catching passing tackling running hard and being fit correctly. Then you add the ability to compete on every playAny teams roster can do the basics right if they have the drive and hunger to do it. That includes bears roster.

if that squad are connected and do the basic rights they won’t get smashed. They’ll compete most weeks and be in most games. That’s effort,

so with all that said that is why a Ponga brown less spooner team in knights is 4-1 and a super talent team with JC Tino Aj titans is 1-4. One competes on every play and goes out to do the basics right and the other doesn’t. A roster is absolute meaningless if they can’t do the basic rights and don’t have the drive.

I'm loving everything about the Knights atm, the coach is doing an amazing job by adapting the style of play to the squad he has but they've played mostly soft opposition and it's early days.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

I'm loving everything about the Knights atm, the coach is doing an amazing job by adapting the style of play to the squad he has but they've played mostly soft opposition and it's early days.

They beat last years minor premiers Raiders. Dogs who just beat panthers. Cowboys who have won 4 in a row now. Manly at brooky when they lost their best 2 players at half time.

soft opposition in hindsight. Not leading into the games. but again their current 17 that is on paper is subpar and yet they are 4-1 and beaten teams with “marquee” players in those rosters. Names on paper are just that.

Attitude and competing while executing the basics right goes along way to winning a game. This is why you cannot underestimate any team that does this and if bears do this no matter who they’ve signed they’ll be up for most games and be in them for long periods. They won’t get blown off the park.

 

[Colk]

They beat last years minor premiers Raiders. Dogs who just beat panthers. Cowboys who have won 4 in a row now. Manly at brooky when they lost their best 2 players at half time.

soft opposition in hindsight. Not leading into the games. but again their current 17 that is on paper is subpar and yet they are 4-1 and beaten teams with “marquee” players in those rosters. Names on paper are just that.

Attitude and competing while executing the basics right goes along way to winning a game. This is why you cannot underestimate any team that does this and if bears do this no matter who they’ve signed they’ll be up for most games and be in them for long periods. They won’t get blown off the park.

Raiders aren’t likely to win a game for the rest of the year. They are that bad they might not have much future as a club/entity. Manly were also awful. Bulldogs was a very good win.

They are playing well.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Drinky & Twidle?

Four-club race for boom Eels rookie; two more teams circle Cowboys star — Whispers

Four-club race for boom Eels rookie; two more teams circle Cowboys star — Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Gobsmacked]

They beat last years minor premiers Raiders. Dogs who just beat panthers. Cowboys who have won 4 in a row now. Manly at brooky when they lost their best 2 players at half time.

soft opposition in hindsight. Not leading into the games. but again their current 17 that is on paper is subpar and yet they are 4-1 and beaten teams with “marquee” players in those rosters. Names on paper are just that.

Attitude and competing while executing the basics right goes along way to winning a game. This is why you cannot underestimate any team that does this and if bears do this no matter who they’ve signed they’ll be up for most games and be in them for long periods. They won’t get blown off the park.

Cream rises to the top, let's revisit this round 26.
And to be clear, even the Knights have half a dozen big name players Bears would kill for:
Dom Young
Fletcher Sharp
Bradman Best
Tyson Frizel
Phinix Crossland
Dan Gagi
Sifiti

The Bears don't have one player on this level.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Cream rises to the top, let's revisit this round 26.
And to be clear, even the Knights have half a dozen big name players Bears would kill for:
Dom Young
Fletcher Sharp
Bradman Best
Tyson Frizel
Phinix Crossland
Dan Gagi
Sifiti

The Bears don't have one player on this level.

And titans have much better players on paper than that and still can’t pop a shot which proves my point. Names on paper don’t mean anything if they can’t get it together.

you can try twist this any which way you want but the results inclusive of “name” players speak for itself. Try watching the game for a change instead of typing endless dribble on this forum. Might serve you well cob

 

[Gobsmacked]

And titans have much better players on paper than that and still can’t pop a shot which proves my point. Names on paper don’t mean anything if they can’t get it together.

you can try twist this any which way you want but the results inclusive of “name” players speak for itself. Try watching the game for a change instead of typing unless dribble on this forum. Might serve you well cob

Resorting to personal insults already?
Back to ignore.
f**kwitt.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Drinkwater supposedly going on the market … the Bears need to throw the kitchen sink at him and keep him away from the desperate Dragons .

Heard a rumour the Bears are going after Heath Mason from the Wests Magpies NSW Cup team ( he is not really under consideration for the Tigers) .. he is like the fourth player from that team they have interest in … must have some connection there ?

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Drinkwater supposedly going on the market … the Bears need to throw the kitchen sink at him and keep him away from the desperate Dragons .

Heard a rumour the Bears are going after Heath Mason from the Wests Magpies NSW Cup team ( he is not really under consideration for the Tigers) .. he is like the fourth player from that team they have interest in … must have some connection there ?

Where did you hear that rumour?
Don’t think it’s connection but more just coincidence.

Mav Geyer only there 1 year and it’s family thing with WA I reckon.

they signed Luke Laulilii and Kit is more family related to Luke.

if heath mason is true they might see him as their potential version of bears Jye gray?

Plenty good juniors in tigers set up though

Bears signed 3 Leeds, likely have 3 sharks and 3 panthers when all is said and done.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Where did you hear that rumour?
Don’t think it’s connection but more just coincidence.

Mav Geyer only there 1 year and it’s family thing with WA I reckon.

they signed Luke Laulilii and Kit is more family related to Luke.

if heath mason is true they might see him as their potential version of bears Jye gray?

Plenty good juniors in tigers set up though

Bears signed 3 Leeds, likely have 3 sharks and 3 panthers when all is said and done.

it was mentioned on the latest Wests Tigers Podcast … yeah it may not be true … im just putting it out there.

Heath Mason is an ordinary player … definitely not a fullback ..he refuses to contest high kicks .. he is depth halves only and will be flat out holding down a NSW Cup Starting spot for the Magpies ..

Yep., there are good juniors in that Tigers pathways … Tavana is a gun and is going to struggle for a start in the Tigers NRL team when they are at full strength… would have much preferred him over Luke L… Tavana is still on a non Top 30 Development deal

 

[Gobsmacked]

Perth Bears NRL team: Challenges mount for incoming franchise https://share.google/xHHu6d49veNdEVjB2

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Perth Bears head coach reveals long-term Harry Newman interest as Leeds Rhinos signings explained - Serious About Rugby League

Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga has revealed that he has previously tried to sign Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman earlier in his career.

www.seriousaboutrl.com

mal chats reasons behind some rhinos signings