WA BEARS

[SirPies&Beers]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/04/25/bears-are-back-after-grizzly-demise-super-league-killed-norths-but-wa-should-embrace-long-lost-cousins/amp/

 

[SirPies&Beers]

MSN

 

[Canard]

Cook still isn't publicly saying the deal is done.

I assume he doesn't want anything hurting WA Labor chances at the Federal Election.

So whomever leaked this from the NRL has f**ked him over a bit.

 

[Canard]

Assuming it does happen (and I hope it does) the timing is everything.

This completely gazumps PNG in terms of coaching and player recruitment.

It just doesn't make sense to launch them so soon after the Bears, they will just be the dregs of the dregs.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Assuming it does happen (and I hope it does) the timing is everything.

This completely gazumps PNG in terms of coaching and player recruitment.

It just doesn't make sense to launch them so soon after the Bears, they will just be the dregs of the dregs.

The NRL is already spending the Aust Govt money . $1.7m will be paid to every club next week as a first payment and $4m in total per club… it will be a bad look if they aren’t delivered on time…

 

[wb2027]

Cook still isn't publicly saying the deal is done.

“Who keeps making deals with the NRL?”

Cook:

 

[Canard]

The NRL is already spending the Aust Govt money . $1.7m will be paid to every club next week as a first payment and $4m in total per club… it will be a bad look if they aren’t delivered on time…

You know what's a worse look? A Z grade team getting flogged every week.

Trust me I'm a Cowboys fan.

 

[BuffaloRules]

You know what's a worse look? A Z grade team getting flogged every week.

I don’t think bringing them in 12 months later will do much to change that

 

[taste2taste]

You know what's a worse look? A Z grade team getting flogged every week.

Trust me I'm a Cowboys fan.

PNG will be made up of local talent with a few veterans, similar to the warriors.

PNG has only just starting putting pathways into place, last year PNG lost to Australia in the U18’s by a last minute try. In previous years Australia has lapped PNG. Big progress in only a short time.

PNG will be fine.

 

[taste2taste]

The telegraph has put together a fantasy team for the Bears with players that will be off contract. Pretty handy team

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen (vc)

2. Greg Marzhew

3. Mark Nawaqanitawase

4. Reuben Garrick

5. Will Warbrick

6. Jamie Humphreys

7. Jahrome Hughes (c)

8. Naufahu Whyte

9. Tom Starling

10. Lindsay Smith

11. Viliame Kikau

12. Connelly Lemuelu

13. Lachlan Hubner

14. Jack Cogger

15. Blake Lawrie

16. Griffin Neame

17. Siosifa Talakai

 

[BuffaloRules]

PNG will be made up of local talent with a few veterans, similar to the warriors.

PNG has only just starting putting pathways into place, last year PNG lost to Australia in the U18’s by a last minute try. In previous years Australia has lapped PNG. Big progress in only a short time.

PNG will be fine.

They will struggle for a while IMO … it’s still a massive leap from u/18 level to the NRL

 

[Wb1234]

They will struggle for a while IMO … it’s still a massive leap from u/18 level to the NRL

Lucky they have local talent already playing for the png hunters in the Queensland cup together with more local talent in super league

The same local talent that played in the pacific bowl and defeated Fiji and Cook Islands which had loads of established nrl players

 

[taste2taste]

They will struggle for a while IMO … it’s still a massive leap from u/18 level to the NRL

While some are predicting they’ll be permanent seller dwellers there are as many who think they’ll be top of the ladder or there abouts.

I agree the first few years will be tough but once the players start coming through theyll be running through teams.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Cook still isn't publicly saying the deal is done.

I assume he doesn't want anything hurting WA Labor chances at the Federal Election.

So whomever leaked this from the NRL has f**ked him over a bit.

That’s because he was asked about it prior to the ARLC via the NRL having met the clubs and RLPA to consult them.

He couldn’t answer simply because at the time they hadn’t officially come back to him (but they had in an informal manner, let’s not beat around the bush here).

The clubs and RLPA endorsed the deal and therefore expansion club hours later in their meeting.

Today is ANZAC day so you won’t hear anything from Cook about it either. Not during this weekend either. Likely prior to, on or a day after Magic Round will be the official announcement.

 

[flippikat]

You can have Firehawks for free if you like

I know you're half-joking, but I think I could get behind darn near any brand if it guarantees NZ 2.

Even "Christchurch Skibidi-Toilets"

 

[flippikat]

Then Fiji and either Wellington or Hawaii for 24 teams

If the NRL ends up adding teams in twos, I imagine the balance will be adding a low-risk team and high-risk team in each phase.

So teams 21 & 22 would perhaps be Ipswich & Adelaide - a relatively safe SEQ team plus a team in AFL-land.

Likewise 23 & 24 being NZ 3 (relatively safe) & Fiji.

Bringing it back to the current phase, we've had the Dolphins (a safe option), then we'll have Perth (AFL-land BUT a pretty cashed-up state, AND a known Bears brand to mitigate any risk), and PNG (risky).. team 20 will be very interesting, and I wonder how much risk the NRL wants to take there, to balance PNG & Perth.

 

[ThornlieBear]

There's a suburb near Perth Airport called Redcliffe. I'd start looking there.

While we are shit talking. I propose the name of the club be the “Redcliffe Bears”. Creates an instant arch rival in the competition.

 

[Canard]

While some are predicting they’ll be permanent seller dwellers there are as many who think they’ll be top of the ladder or there abouts.

I agree the first few years will be tough but once the players start coming through theyll be running through teams.

They are not going to be top of the ladder, that's laughable. Everyone is getting carried away with the results of a one off junior game.

And no team can survive without a serious injection of NRL quality talent. The Dolphins have existed for decades and have only fielded 2 players from there pre-NRL squad.

They are going to struggle massively to recruit non-PNG players.

I'm not talking about delaying the team for one season, I'm talking about 2030 at the earliest. Give those pathways a chance to shine.

 

[Canard]

Lucky they have local talent already playing for the png hunters in the Queensland cup together with more local talent in super league

The same local talent that played in the pacific bowl and defeated Fiji and Cook Islands which had loads of established nrl players

Most of the PNG side key position players where Australians with PNG heritage like Kyle Laybutt etc.

 

[flippikat]

They are not going to be top of the ladder, that's laughable. Everyone is getting carried away with the results of a one off junior game.

And no team can survive without a serious injection of NRL quality talent. The Dolphins have existed for decades and have only fielded 2 players from there pre-NRL squad.

They are going to struggle massively to recruit non-PNG players.

I'm not talking about delaying the team for one season, I'm talking about 2030 at the earliest. Give those pathways a chance to shine.

If you're thinking "2030 at the earliest", I reckon a good plan would be Perth (2027), Christchurch (2029) then PNG (2031) - it staggers three teams over 4 years, PLUS PNG would be the team that takes us from 9 games per weekend to 10, spinning a bit more rights money to mitigate the risk.