The Perth Bears are eyeing their first significant signing by offering a two-year contract to Cameron McInnes.
Should McInnes accept, he would join Sharks teammate Siosifa Talakai as the inaugural players with State of Origin experience to commit to the Bears' forthcoming chapter.
Known as one of the toughest competitors in the NRL, McInnes boasts a remarkable reputation forged over a 228-game career that began with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2014.
At 32 years old, his pursuit comes less than a year after enduring a painful ACL injury in Round 24 last season, marking the second in his career. McInnes made his return in Round 8 this year following extensive rehabilitation.
His resilience and dedication have established him as one of the most respected forwards in the league, underscored by a record-breaking defensive performance against the Penrith Panthers in 2023, where he made 78 tackles in a single match, surpassing the previous NRL record of 74 held by former Canberra Raiders forward Shaun Fensom.
In addition to attracting seasoned players, Perth's recruitment strategy is reportedly reaching out to Jamie Humphreys and Jonathan Sua, who are engaged in serious discussions with club officials as the Bears work to lay the groundwork for their roster in preparation for their debut in the competition in 2027.