NRL WA

[SirPies&Beers]

Bears claw their way to first Grand Final in 41 Years - NRL WA

PRELIMINARY FINAL : North Beach Sea Eagles 6 - Willagee Bears 12 By PETER ROWE The Bears brand may have made a welcome return to the NRL in 2025, but rugby league in WA is this weekend talking about another group of Grizzlies - the Willagee Bears. The team forgotten for so many years, languishing

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Junior Grand Final – FTG&P U17 Boys Wrap - NRL WA

The Ellenbrook Rabbitohs finally won a game in normal time, in a complete heartstopper against the imposing Rockingham Sharks, to win their U17 Boys FTG&P Premiership. Ellenbrook, who had played two golden point matches in the first two weeks of the finals, were high on emotion, but the question...

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Junior Grand Final – FTG&P U15 Boys Wrap - NRL WA

In the penultimate game of the day, the Willagee Bears found a way against a committed Alkimos Tigers team to win and reverse the result from two weeks ago, in a thrilling contest to become the FTG&P U15 Boys Premiers. In a powerful start, both teams traded blows, with some brilliant kicking as...

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Junior Grand Final – FTG&P U14 Boys Wrap - NRL WA

In the FTG&P U14 Boys Grand Final, the Kwinana Titans made up for their shock loss in last years decider, by finally getting the job done against a never say die Ellenbrook Rabbitohs, who finished the game with a flourish to make the Titans supporters nervous. The Titans started fast today, and...

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Junior Grand Final – Westpac U14 Girls Wrap - NRL WA

In the Westpac U14 Girls Grand Final, the Kwinana Titans, who have played for 6 weeks in sudden death after a horror start to the year, completed their cinderella story with a boil over victory against the heavily favoured hometown Willagee Bears. The first 5 minutes of the fixture was played...

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Junior Grand Final – FTG&P U13 Boys Wrap - NRL WA

In a brilliant showcase of junior talent, the Rockingham Sharks played their best game of the year and slayed the unbeaten Bears to win in the FTG&P U13 Boy's Grand Final. Playing in front of a big home town crowd, the Willagee Bears were actually slow out of the blocks, with the Rockingham...

nrlwa.com.au

 

[Perth Tiger]

interesting that a lot of the newer teams like Ellenbrook, Alkimos and Kwinana seem to be dominating the junior grades.

I wonder if it will eventually translate to first grade so that we can have a strong 10-12 comp top grade

 

[Dragonwest]

interesting that a lot of the newer teams like Ellenbrook, Alkimos and Kwinana seem to be dominating the junior grades.

I wonder if it will eventually translate to first grade so that we can have a strong 10-12 comp top grade

Unfortunately a lot of the clubs don't want to be promoted into first grade.

In reality if Ellenbrook, Alkimos and Kalamunda all joined at the same time they could at least be playing winable games every second week.

 

[Perth Tiger]

Unfortunately a lot of the clubs don't want to be promoted into first grade.

In reality if Ellenbrook, Alkimos and Kalamunda all joined at the same time they could at least be playing winable games every second week.

you would think once there is a steady stream of juniors aging out there will develop enough to want to challenge at higher levels, may take a decade though. hopefully the NRL team can push that along

 

[Nuke]

Ellenbrook were in and out of First Grade for a few years there. Kalamunda used to be in, but were in the same league as Willagee were (ie: the teams with only 8 top grade players and the remaining 9 players each week backing up from ressies, therefore they were getting hammered 60+ to nil every week).

Absolutely good on Willagee for getting themselves into the First Grade Grand Final this week. Not having a go at them, but in all my years around WA League, any success they have in the senior grades is usually very fleeting and within a year or two they are struggling for results yet again. I hope they win, and I hope they really enjoy the moment.

I was a ressies player for Joondalup in 2000 when the Giants won our first First Grade premiership, then we had 19 years of fluctuation (with no success in that time excluding Thirds or Womens teams, and mostly languishing barely making finals or near the bottom of the table ... just above the Willagees / Kalamundas). Then we won the First Grade premiership again in my final year of Giants President in 2020. I understand how fleeting the joy of success is outside of the SthPerth / NthBeach / Fremantle triad.

I wish Willagee success this weekend.

 

[Nuke]

I love the universe's synergy in having Perth Bears entry in to the NRL announced and also having Willagee Bears successful for the first time in 40-odd years.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

I love the universe's synergy in having Perth Bears entry in to the NRL announced and also having Willagee Bears successful for the first time in 40-odd years.

100% agree.

 

[Dragonwest]

Ellenbrook were in and out of First Grade for a few years there. Kalamunda used to be in, but were in the same league as Willagee were (ie: the teams with only 8 top grade players and the remaining 9 players each week backing up from ressies, therefore they were getting hammered 60+ to nil every week).

Absolutely good on Willagee for getting themselves into the First Grade Grand Final this week. Not having a go at them, but in all my years around WA League, any success they have in the senior grades is usually very fleeting and within a year or two they are struggling for results yet again. I hope they win, and I hope they really enjoy the moment.

I was a ressies player for Joondalup in 2000 when the Giants won our first First Grade premiership, then we had 19 years of fluctuation (with no success in that time excluding Thirds or Womens teams, and mostly languishing barely making finals or near the bottom of the table ... just above the Willagees / Kalamundas). Then we won the First Grade premiership again in my final year of Giants President in 2020. I understand how fleeting the joy of success is outside of the SthPerth / NthBeach / Fremantle triad.

I wish Willagee success this weekend.

You need to remember Willagee have come in this year and paid players exorbitant amounts of money compared to some of the other clubs. This has forced clubs hands to increase player payments. Their rise isn't organic and will put stress on the clubs.

 

[Nuke]

I didn't know that, but did suspect it. They did it years ago and absolutely stacked their ressies team just so they could win something. Reserve Grade team won every game 60+ to nil every week and their First Grade lost every week that same year by 80.

I don't know too many names in their team this year, but those that I do know have come there from other clubs. They must have some incentive to go there.

 

[Perth Red]

Future Bears on show as NRL team gives boost to WA juniors​

Perth Bears chair Ben Morton and CEO Anthony De Ceglie will attend the WA junior grand finals on Sunday as the franchise steps up its focus on pathways for the state's players to the NRL.
Just three months after the confirmation that the Bears would become the NRL’s 18th team in 2027, the impact of the announcement can already be seen with growing participation numbers and more Perth schools playing rugby league.
NRL WA General Manager John Sackson said three schools had contacted him in the past month about introducing rugby league in 2026.
“These are schools where in the past we really haven’t been able to get a foot in the door in terms of introducing programs and they have now committed to adding rugby league to their curriculum next year,” Sackson said.
“Prior to that we had seven schools with a rugby league curriculum, but three more schools are now committing to that, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
“If we expand our school network that augers well for those kids to feed into our junior systems and then into our pathways and possibly our representative programs.”
Sackson said Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga was keen for the new club to enter a team in the Under 17s NSWRL Harold Mathews Cup and eventually the SG Ball and Jersey Flegg competitions.
The NRL WA Junior Grand Final day at Webber Reserve, Willagee feature six matches headlined by the Under 17s Boys decider between Rockingham Sharks and Ellenbrook Rabbitohs.
The U15s Boys grand final is between the Alkimos Tigers and Willagee Bears, while the Kwinana Titans will take on the Ellenbrook Rabbitohs in the U14s Boye decider.
Willagee Bears are in the U13s Boys and U14s Girls grand finals, taking on the Rockingham Sharks and Kwinana Titans, while the day kicks off with the U13s girls League Tag decider between the Alkimos Tigers and South Perth Lions.
“Over the years we have developed kids who have progressed to higher levels of rugby league, and I am very optimistic about this state’s ability to produce players for the Perth Bears,” Sackson said.
“I believe that Mal Meninga and the Bears are looking at some point to have a Perth Bears team enter into the Harold Mathews Cup, and that would probably be a forerunner to the SG Ball and so on.
“The same will apply further down the track with the women’s teams.”
The announcement about the Perth Bears in May had an immediate impact with record State of Origin ratings and Sackson said junior participation numbers were up 13 per cent this season to 4600.
“Our numbers are the highest in terms of overall registrations since the days of the Western Reds (1995-97) and I think the Bears will trigger a lot more growth,” Sackson said.
“The NRL’s commitment to a franchise from 2027 has created so much excitement and anticipation, particularly with the parents of young kids, that moving forward they will be able to aspire to playing at the elite levels without necessarily having to leave their home state.
“With the Bears having that pathway, home grown talent will be able to see their heroes training and playing, and I think that is going to be very inspirational to them.”
While Meninga is unable to attend the WARL Junior Grand Finals due to media commitments in Sydney, Sackson said the Perth Bears would be strongly represented.
“The chairman of the Perth Bears, Ben Morton, and the CEO, Anthony De Ceglie, will be at the junior grand finals and we will get them engaged in some capacity,” Sackson said.
“Then we have got our Ken Allen Medal awards night on Wednesday, which is our equivalent of the Dally Ms, and Anthony, Ben, and the WA-based members of the Perth Bears board will be in attendance, and next Saturday we have our senior grand finals so it is a big week for WA rugby league.”

Future Bears on show as NRL team gives boost to WA juniors

Perth Bears chair Ben Morton and CEO Anthony De Ceglie will attend the WA junior grand finals on Sunday as the franchise steps up its focus on pathways to the NRL.

www.nrl.com

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Future Bears on show as NRL team gives boost to WA juniors​

Perth Bears chair Ben Morton and CEO Anthony De Ceglie will attend the WA junior grand finals on Sunday as the franchise steps up its focus on pathways for the state's players to the NRL.
Just three months after the confirmation that the Bears would become the NRL’s 18th team in 2027, the impact of the announcement can already be seen with growing participation numbers and more Perth schools playing rugby league.
NRL WA General Manager John Sackson said three schools had contacted him in the past month about introducing rugby league in 2026.
“These are schools where in the past we really haven’t been able to get a foot in the door in terms of introducing programs and they have now committed to adding rugby league to their curriculum next year,” Sackson said.
“Prior to that we had seven schools with a rugby league curriculum, but three more schools are now committing to that, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
“If we expand our school network that augers well for those kids to feed into our junior systems and then into our pathways and possibly our representative programs.”
Sackson said Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga was keen for the new club to enter a team in the Under 17s NSWRL Harold Mathews Cup and eventually the SG Ball and Jersey Flegg competitions.
The NRL WA Junior Grand Final day at Webber Reserve, Willagee feature six matches headlined by the Under 17s Boys decider between Rockingham Sharks and Ellenbrook Rabbitohs.
The U15s Boys grand final is between the Alkimos Tigers and Willagee Bears, while the Kwinana Titans will take on the Ellenbrook Rabbitohs in the U14s Boye decider.
Willagee Bears are in the U13s Boys and U14s Girls grand finals, taking on the Rockingham Sharks and Kwinana Titans, while the day kicks off with the U13s girls League Tag decider between the Alkimos Tigers and South Perth Lions.
“Over the years we have developed kids who have progressed to higher levels of rugby league, and I am very optimistic about this state’s ability to produce players for the Perth Bears,” Sackson said.
“I believe that Mal Meninga and the Bears are looking at some point to have a Perth Bears team enter into the Harold Mathews Cup, and that would probably be a forerunner to the SG Ball and so on.
“The same will apply further down the track with the women’s teams.”
The announcement about the Perth Bears in May had an immediate impact with record State of Origin ratings and Sackson said junior participation numbers were up 13 per cent this season to 4600.
“Our numbers are the highest in terms of overall registrations since the days of the Western Reds (1995-97) and I think the Bears will trigger a lot more growth,” Sackson said.
“The NRL’s commitment to a franchise from 2027 has created so much excitement and anticipation, particularly with the parents of young kids, that moving forward they will be able to aspire to playing at the elite levels without necessarily having to leave their home state.
“With the Bears having that pathway, home grown talent will be able to see their heroes training and playing, and I think that is going to be very inspirational to them.”
While Meninga is unable to attend the WARL Junior Grand Finals due to media commitments in Sydney, Sackson said the Perth Bears would be strongly represented.
“The chairman of the Perth Bears, Ben Morton, and the CEO, Anthony De Ceglie, will be at the junior grand finals and we will get them engaged in some capacity,” Sackson said.
“Then we have got our Ken Allen Medal awards night on Wednesday, which is our equivalent of the Dally Ms, and Anthony, Ben, and the WA-based members of the Perth Bears board will be in attendance, and next Saturday we have our senior grand finals so it is a big week for WA rugby league.”

Future Bears on show as NRL team gives boost to WA juniors

Perth Bears chair Ben Morton and CEO Anthony De Ceglie will attend the WA junior grand finals on Sunday as the franchise steps up its focus on pathways to the NRL.

www.nrl.com

already posted champ, thanks for repost 5 days later. however it probably does deserve also being in this thread as well

 

[Dragonwest]

In reality all those boys don't stand a chance unless Perth Bears enter a teams next year, i.e. we have trials next month.

 

[Perth Red]

already posted champ, thanks for repost 5 days later. however it probably does deserve also being in this thread as well

try posting in the right thread then, and not just links to pay walled articles, champ.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

try posting in the right thread then, and not just links to pay walled articles, champ.

posted 1 in the last month because I couldnt get behind it chump, thats how business news rolls. i beens posting news articles left right center. aint my fault you cant use the search buttons or as usual you're late to the party with this sorts of things.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

 

[SirPies&Beers]

 

[SirPies&Beers]

2025 NRL WA Premiership Preview – Grand Final - NRL WA

By PETER ROWE The 2025 NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership grand final will be a battle on and off the field - a battle between two well balanced sides who have shone throughout the season, and a battle of minds between two very impressive Kiwi coaches. Minor premiers South Perth, seeking to win

nrlwa.com.au

Ken Allen Medal – What is the Players Player? - NRL WA

Ken Allen is the big award on the night, and rightly so with its history and long line of names who have been honoured to receive the award. But there are some questions. What is the Players Player? Voted by the players, it is sometimes considered the award players want to win. Voted by your

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Ken Allen Medal Report - NRL WA

See below for all the winners along with a brief write up of the winners! Congratulations to everyone on the night! Westpac Women's League Tag Player Of The YearSouth Perth Lions - Claire Smith A flashing playmaker, who can play out of dummy half or at first reciever, alot of the Lions dominance...

nrlwa.com.au

Langi a ‘class act’ and deserved Ken Allen winner - NRL WA

Langi a ‘class act’ and deserved Ken Allen winner By PETER ROWEPhotos By Carmel Potter-Green Samisoni Langi’s amazing season, leading the South Perth Lions to the 2025 NRLWA Premiership grand final, was rewarded on Wednesday evening when he was named the Ken Allen Medal winner. But the humble...

nrlwa.com.au

2025 Perth FTG&P Senior Grand Finals Information - NRL WA

Perth - Seniors - Grand Finals - PDF here

nrlwa.com.au

 

[Nuke]

First Grade Grand Final underway over here, for those interested.

Live-streaming link:

NRL WA Fuel To Go & Play Men's Premiership Grand Final - South Perth Lions v Willagee Bears

NRL WA Fuel To Go & Play Men's Premiership Grand Final - South Perth Lions v Willagee Bears live from Dorrien Gardens, Perth. Check out our other channels:NR...

www.youtube.com

6mins in, Willagee leading 6-nil.

I hope the rain holds off for another few hours. Weather's been pretty yuck the last couple of days.

**EDIT** 8mins in, it's Willagee Bears leading 6-4 over South Perth.

 

[Nuke]

Ignore the fact the TV scoreboard says 'Sea Eagles' and not 'Lions'. FFS.

**EDIT** 23mins in, they fix it.

 

[Nuke]

2025 is WA's year of the Bear. Perth Bears announced, and now Willagee Bears' first premiership. Well done to them. If my Joondalup couldn't win it, I'm happy to see another perennial struggler like Willagee win it.