Rugby League media personality James ‘Sully’ Sullivan spoke to Sports Breakfast on Thursday morning, giving an inside scoop on who we can expect to see at the Perth Bears in 2026.
The NRL’s 17 team competition is set to expand to 19 teams by 2028 with the addition of WA’s Perth Bears and Papau New Guinea’s Chiefs.
Sullivan claims Bears General Manager Dave Sharpe said we can expect to see 10 players named before Christmas.
The Bears have already named English centre Harry Newman and Toby Sexton from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as their first official signings.
Upon speaking on more potential signings, Sullivan said he doesn’t believe many players stand out from the rest in the current era of NRL.
“I don’t think there’s that many big names in the game anymore,” he said.
“I’m not degrading the competition I think its wonderful, I think that’s why its great at the moment because we’ve got even play”
“the fitness level of the game is elite, the skill level of the game is elite… whoever you’re gonna get is gonna do the job”
Sully also mentioned Luke Smith from the Bulldogs and Emarly Bitungane from the North Queensland Cowboys are likely heading west, and won’t be seen playing in the NRL in 2026.
“All these players signed at the moment, we won’t see them play in the NRL in 2026, they will all be playing in the super league,” said Sullivan.
Perth’s new addition to it’s sporting scene will hopefully gain NRL popularity in the West, with the redeveloped WACA and accompanying water bank set to home the Bears’ training facilities.
“I think they’ll hit the ground running, I was a little bit worried about a month ago about how it was all coming along but I’m starting to get a bit excited.”
IMAGE: Perth Bears