WA BEARS

[T-Boon]

There has to be a better option than Brad Arthur. He can’t be the face of a new club looking to establish itself. Zero personality and an average or below average football coach.

 

[Perth Red]

See my question above. He bought fairly decent players from other clubs and only scrapped in a 50% record.

vastly different build is needed for the new teams

So who would you say is a better option?

 

[King-Gutho94]

was a roller coaster record:

took over in 2014 after two successive wooden spoons
yr 1 finished 10th, then 12th , then14th

then finished 4th

then wooden spoon

then 3 semi finals

then grand final

then 10th

6 seasons he had a winning %, 2 seasons a 50-50 and 2 seasons a losing %

all in all I wouldn't say the worse. In 10 years made the finals 5 times inc 4 semis and a GF. If the Western Bears achieved that in our first decade I wouldnt be unhappy!

That wooden spoon side in 2018 were tipped to make the Top 4.

He should have been sacked then.

If you want this Perth side to play an exciting brand of footy they won't get it under Brad Arthur.

Chase the collision and front load your efforts areas was his MO.

Tactics left a lot to be desired and lacked a lot of attention to details in key areas.

 

[MugaB]

Nathan cleary wasn't handed his debut by his father it was by Griffin.

By the time Ivan came back Nathan was NSW halfback am I right.

So nepotism isn't an issue as Nathan had already earned his spot.

Fancy comparing him to Jake Arthur the only thing they have in common is they have both scored the last try in the final 5 mins of a GF

That's right Ivan was tired
.....
I am right too, just the optics are skewed

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

all in all I wouldn't say the worse. In 10 years made the finals 5 times inc 4 semis and a GF. If the Western Bears achieved that in our first decade I wouldnt be unhappy!

The crowd thread on L.U. relentlessly drives home the belief that winning games is the only way for RL clubs to thrive and build crowds.

Expansion ventures always prioritize on-field results. Which typically leads to artificial initial success, followed by harsh reality and constant struggles. Best (or worst) example in the UK was Fulham in 1980 who effectively fielded a first division team in the second division. Huge mistake to associate novelty value with winning in the minds of new fans. Impossible to manage expectations thereafter. Growing RL in London has been an uphill battle ever since.

Western Bears would be wise to pursue off-field prosperity first and foremost.

An imaginative administration in Perth ought to be able to trade on general goodwill in their early years. Playing open attacking football might popularize the team more than simply winning. For that reason, Brad Arthur is a good choice as coach. Despite the strictures of others on here, I thought Parra were generally great to watch under him.

Western Bears shouldn't be thinking about finals and premierships until after the club is firmly established. All the more pertinent when some vested interests are keen to see them fail and retreat to NSW.

 

[Iamback]

So who would you say is a better option?

I'd be looking at Michael McGuire or someone that has experience in England too, try and get contacts to bring some poms over.

Also has relationships with quality players through NZ and NSW. Still had to do some tinkering with Souffs and even Wigan had a drought of 10 years when he coached them to the comp win.

I presume Holbrook will be PNG coach because he does the national team and player connections for that job. So I am ruling him out

 

[MugaB]

I'd be looking at Michael McGuire or someone that has experience in England too, try and get contacts to bring some poms over.

Also has relationships with quality players through NZ and NSW. Still had to do some tinkering with Souffs and even Wigan had a drought of 10 years when he coached them to the comp win.

I presume Holbrook will be PNG coach because he does the national team and player connections for that job. So I am ruling him out

Wayne Bennett and Adrian Lam duo, similar to Bennett and Wolff currently at the Dolphins

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Tactics left a lot to be desired and lacked a lot of attention to details in key areas.

I remember distinctly in the early days of captains challenge an Eels` player being quizzed after the game about what his thoughts were surrounding that new rule (mind you, it had been in for a couple of months) player responded we don`t really have any tactics or planning around that, we haven`t really discussed it.
I was horrified, Brad Arthur lost me after that, can you imagine a Trent Robinson, Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler, Brian Smith - had he been around when it was introduced - not having discussed or have plans around the CC.
I thought it was a very poor reflection on Arthur`s attention to detail to be honest.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I remember distinctly in the early days of captains challenge an Eels` player being quizzed after the game about what his thoughts were surrounding that new rule (mind you, it had been in for a couple of months) player responded we don`t really have any tactics or planning around that, we haven`t really discussed it.
I was horrified, Brad Arthur lost me after that, can you imagine a Trent Robinson, Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler, Brian Smith - had he been around when it was introduced - not having discussed or have plans around the CC.
I thought it was a very poor reflection on Arthur`s attention to detail to be honest.

Thanks for reminding i forgot about that one.

BA is a dope and everything you have said here is 100% spot on.

Its why Parra fans were happy the club finally cut the chord this year.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Mate Wally's Lewis as Captain/Coach is better then Brad Arthur and Wally's retired!

 

[Centy Coast]

The Bears drop back to 2nd position behind the Raiders on points differential.
The Raiders, the Bears and the Jets have all secured their positions in the NSW Cup Finals’ series with the final two spots to be determined with two rounds remaining.

 

[Perth Red]

The Bears drop back to 2nd position behind the Raiders on points differential.
The Raiders, the Bears and the Jets have all secured their positions in the NSW Cup Finals’ series with the final two spots to be determined with two rounds remaining.

View attachment 92759

Is there any players in the squad that might be in contention for a 2027 position for the Western Bears? If we get the nod in October be interesting to see if we send some WA players over for 2025 to play for the NS Bears at different age groups and genders.

 

[Perth Red]

lol, I hope not!

A shock interstate move has been floated for Latrell Mitchell to help him escape the NRL “spotlight” amid the Rabbitohs’ “ultimatum” and crunch meeting on Thursday.

South Sydney bosses will meet with their fullback, planning to insert a strict behavioural clause into his contract following his latest off-field incident.

Mitchell was hit with a breach notice by the NRL after a photo surfaced picturing him leaning over a table with a white powder below him in a hotel room in Dubbo.

Veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield explained that Mitchell has struggled with being one of rugby league’s biggest stars and believes a move west could suit the Souths No.1.

The Western Bears are set to enter the competition in 2027, and Rothfield was of the belief Mitchell could become the club’s marquee player to escape the fanfare and media in Sydney.

“He can’t cope, he struggles to cope with being in the spotlight so regularly in the NRL as the superstar of the game,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.

“I started thinking about this new franchise, the Western Bears in Perth, and I don’t know if he wants to uproot his family, he loves Taree, he loves Souths.
“But I just tend to think to join a club to get away from the media, he could walk down the main street of Perth and most people wouldn’t know who he was.

“He could just have a more relaxed (life)... I don’t know.”

‘Needs to get away’: The shock club switch that could unlock Latrell as ‘ultimatum’ revealed

‘Needs to get away’: The shock club switch that could unlock Latrell as ‘ultimatum’ revealed

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Perth Red]

With news that Western Bears are set to be admitted into the NRL in 2027 – and that Brad Arthur is likely to be the coach – speculation is already beginning to emerge about which players could be recruited to the new franchise.
That speculation will inevitably include players from both the NRL and Super League, as the Bears look to put a squad together who will immediately compete in Australia, and with Arthur set to work in England with Leeds for the next two years prior to the Bears’ launch, it is likely he will be able to speak to players on this side of the world about the venture.

But several players on this side of the world are already being linked.
Code Sports have run the rule over the list of players that are available in time to sign for the Bears for the start of the 2027 season – and their potential starting 17 for the club includes two of Super League’s biggest names.
Warrington Wolves fullback Matt Dufty is one who has been lined up for a return, with the report stating it ‘will be time’ for Dufty to make his long-awaited return to the NRL come the end of the 2026 season.
My Ultimate Team: Warrington Wolves forward Luke Yates selects best 1-13 of players he's played alongside

Dufty has been a standout player for the Wire in 2024 under the leadership of Sam Burgess and the former St George and Canterbury man has long been tipped for a return to Australia one day.
He is not the only player linked with a return, though. Leeds Rhinos centre Paul Momirovski is another whose contract expires at the culmination of the 2026 season: the same time Arthur’s mooted deal with the Rhinos is also believed to last until.
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“Momirovski brings a wealth of experience and knows what it takes to reach the top,” the report says. “A goal-kicking option as well, the Super League player has an arsenal of skills that could kick off the Bears’ new franchise.”
There are a string of Super League players off-contract at the end of 2026 who could be ideal fits for the Bears on top of Dufty and Momirovski and if Arthur’s future plays out the way it is expected to – coaching Leeds for two seasons before returning to the NRL – it will only heighten speculation about which players on this side of the world could follow him home.

Warrington Wolves, Leeds Rhinos men tipped to be part of first Western Bears team

The wheels are already turning ahead of the Bears’ arrival in 2027..

www.loverugbyleague.com

 

[BuffaloRules]

Latrell would be a good signing for Western inaugural team

 

[Dragonwest]

Latrell would be a good signing for Western inaugural team

He's the exact type of player you don't build a new team around ....

An average fullback, an over-priced centre and doesn't have the work ethic you want to instil into a new team.

 

[Perth Red]

Not that Id want to see SL weakened but heres the potential SL hitlist Id be targeting based on current form (age in brackets at March 2027)

Full Back Jai Field (29) Wigan
Full BAck Jack Welsby (25) St's
Wing Matty Ashton (28) Warrington
Centre Harry Newman (26) Leeds
Half Back Mikey Lewis (25) Hull KR
Half Back Harry Smith (27) Wigan
Half Back Brodie Croft (30) Leeds
Prop Matty Lees (29) St's
Prop Tyler Dupree (27) Wigan
2nd Row Junior Nsemba (23) Wigan
Hooker Jez Litten (29) Hull KR
Loose Forward Elliot Minchella (30) Hull KR

 

[Perth Red]

Latrell would be a good signing for Western inaugural team

He'd be good for the local KFC outlets, thats about it.

 

[BuffaloRules]

He's the exact type of player you don't build a new team around ....

An average fullback, an over-priced centre and doesn't have the work ethic you want to instil into a new team.

Did you watch Origin 2 this year ?

He was to quote Donald Trump .. yuge

yes … those performances are few and far between .. also will be knocking on the door of 30 by then

But I still think he would be the kinda big name Western needs

 

[BuffaloRules]

He'd be good for the local KFC outlets, thats about it.

Maybe there is a local Perth Junior coming through the ranks that can grasp the local imagination instead come 2027?