LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Perth Bears are set to begin player negotiations today, marking the start of their journey as they prepare for their inaugural season in 2027. With November here, the team is a little over a year away from their first pre-season.
As the newest expansion project in the NRL, following their previous venture to Perth and the upcoming PNG Chiefs initiative, the Bears have a substantial budget of $12.1 million to assemble their inaugural roster of 30 players.
However, building this team will not be without its challenges. The difficulties encountered by the Dolphins in attracting top talent ahead of their inaugural season raise questions about how the Bears will fare. Despite being based in Queensland and having a well-known coach in Wayne Bennett, the Dolphins struggled to land marquee players. This raises concerns about the Perth team's ability to draw high-profile talent, particularly since they are situated far from the eastern seaboard.
Coaching legend Mal Meninga, despite his impressive background in NRL and international play, has not coached at the club level for over 20 years. Furthermore, the Bears face the significant hurdle of persuading players to relocate across the country, which includes the stress of long flights for away games.
Nevertheless, "money talks," and the Bears have ample financial resources at their disposal.