My Perth Bears (The Western Bears) Team for 2027

[Wheeled Warrior]

My Bear's team is selected from players who are off contract at the end of the 2026 season.

Excluded: Tier 1 internationals, State of Origin players, and anyone who will be over 31 when the 2027 season begins.

High-profile off-contract players like Payne Haas, Jahrome Hughes, and Harry Grant are likely to stay with their current clubs.

However, if the Bears manage to secure one or two quality signings, it could really shake things up.

01. Taine Tuaupiki. (Warriors)
02. Alofiana Khan-Pereira. (Titans)
03. KL Iro. (Sharks)
04. Rueben Garrick. (Sea Eagles)
05. Jesse Arthars. (Broncos)
06. Tyran Wishart. (Storm)
07. Jayden Campbell. (Titans)
08. Blake Lawrie. (Dragons)
09. Reed Mahoney. (Bulldogs)
10. Braden Hamlin-Uele. (Sharks)
11. Josh Curran. (Bulldogs)
12. Zac Hosking. (Raiders)
13. Ray Stone. (Dolphins)

14. Billy Walters. (Broncos)
15. Liam Henry. (Panthers)
16. Sione Fainu. (Tigers)
17. David Fifita. (Titans)

Coach: Brad Arthur.

 

[BuffaloRules]

I think they need a couple of of big names in the spine like Paps and Hughes . Although Hughes will probably stay

 

[Fangs]

It'll resemble the original Dolphins team except it will be worse.

Who wants to live in Perth?

 

[nick87]

You've got a better chance of f**king Sydney Sweeney than you do of having a 17 that good off the jump

 

[Dogs Of War]

Why exclude players over 31? As these are great players if you target the right ones to set the culture of the joint, and you can pay big money to and know if you get the junior players right will be off the books in a couple of years.

 

[Special K]

I would think they would land a few guys who are off contract in 2025 for 26 who end up working out a 1 year deal at their current clubs if the NRL lets them start soon vs November.

You would assume middle of the road, back end players like Rudolph or JAC who would be 31-32 could be part of bulking out a squad. Add in mostly unknown lower graders with the hope of landing 1-2 big fish. A guy like Haas who deserves mega bucks and has shown in the past a desire to cash in could be a great start to build around.

Dolphins squad - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Dolphins_(NRL)_season . Guys like Brenko Lee, Edrick Lee and Robert Jennings etc types are more realistic.

 

[Gobsmacked]

So glad we have another Perth thread, I almost forgot about it.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I think they need a couple of of big names in the spine like Paps and Hughes . Although Hughes will probably stay

They’ll most likely secure a few high-profile players, but I just can’t see the biggest superstars signing on, as they’re a top priority for their current clubs. I didn’t include development players in my projection, though I can see a few managing to break through.

Why exclude players over 31? As these are great players if you target the right ones to set the culture of the joint, and you can pay big money to and know if you get the junior players right will be off the books in a couple of years.

They’ll likely have a few older players in the team you mentioned, those around 31 or 32 at the start of the season will probably make the cut. I chose to leave them out, though, because they can build around veterans closer to the 30-year mark without needing to overpay for too much experience.

 

[Twizzle]

Who wants to live in Perth?

have you ever lived there ? its a great place

 

[Fangs]

have you ever lived there ? its a great place

You think NRL players from the Eastern seaboard will move there?

It's not PNG but it's too far from home. If the Dolphins struggled to attract big names in Redcliffe then Perth is going to have even bigger issues.

 

[Twizzle]

You think NRL players from the Eastern seaboard will move there?

It's not PNG but it's too far from home. If the Dolphins struggled to attract big names in Redcliffe then Perth is going to have even bigger issues.

its a fair drive to training mate, I recon they'd have to move there

 

[Perth Red]

You think NRL players from the Eastern seaboard will move there?

It's not PNG but it's too far from home. If the Dolphins struggled to attract big names in Redcliffe then Perth is going to have even bigger issues.

Yeh nobody ever moves for the east coast to perth lol

 

[Trifili13]

Yeh nobody ever moves for the east coast to perth lol

Not if they don't have to

 

[Fangs]

its a fair drive to training mate, I recon they'd have to move there

Not quite the point I was making haha.

Yeh nobody ever moves for the east coast to perth lol

PR I wish the new WA franchise the best. Its great for the game in the long run.

But they are going to have a pretty terrible time of it at first. Recruitment is going to be far more difficult than what the Dolphins experienced. And PNG is going to be 10x harder.