The Bears have landed another premiership-winning signing, with Panthers back rower Scott Sorensen committing to the Perth club for their inaugural season.
According to Code Sports, Sorensen informed Penrith officials he will make the move to the new franchise at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
He is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Bears, becoming a crucial figure within Mal Meninga’s squad with title and Test experience.
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The 32-year-old will also join Panthers teammate Liam Henry is making the move west, having spent six years at the foot of the mountain by the time he departs the club.
The veteran enforcer played a pivotal role in Penrith’s quartet of premierships, having joined the club when it begun in 2021.
Sorensen is expected to take up one starting edge spot for the Bears, alongside Super League recruit James McDonnell as it stands.
He also already has links to the club’s coaching staff, having played under Bears assistant Ben Gardiner during the pair’s time in Penrith.
Adding to the appeal, Sorensen’s wife is also from Western Australia.
Tigers back rower Mav Geyer has also been linked with a move to the Perth club in recent days.
KNIGHTS ENFORCER ON THE MOVE
A Newcastle Knights forward has reportedly been given permission to depart the club as he enters the final months of his current deal with the club.
Able to play a variety of positions in the forward pack, The Newcastle Heraldreports that Brodie Jones has been told that he can leave the Hunter-based club effective immediately, if he is able to secure a new contract elsewhere on a long-term deal.
One of six players who are off-contract at the end of the season along with veterans Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell, foxsports.com.au understands that the Dolphins, Gold Coast Titans and Canterbury Bulldogs have all shown interest in his services in the past.
Debuting in 2020, the 27-year-old has featured in 87 appearances for the Knights but will not play in Las Vegas as he continues to heal his foot injury.
The news comes after the Knights recently extended Thomas Cant on a long-term deal until the end of 2028.
Versatile in a number of different roles, the East Maitland Griffins junior has featured in 22 matches for the club over the past three seasons and will be looking to add to his game tally this season under new coach Justin Holbrook.
Brodie Jones has nearly 90 matches to his name.Source: Getty Images
FAVOURITE EMERGES FOR DOLPHINS GUN
The Dragons have been revealed as one of a handful of clubs in a race for Dolphins flyer Jake Averillo’s signature, heats up.
According to Code Sports, Averillo sat down with Red V officials last week as Shane Flanagan continues to attempt to bolster his squad.
The Dragons have already landed marquee man Keaon Koloamatangi from the Rabbitohs ahead of the 2027 season, while Sharks recruit Daniel Atkinson will gear up in his new colours in Las Vegas.
However, the Red V reportedly have competition from rival Sydney clubs, with Averillo also previously being linked with a switch to the Super League.
As it stands, the Dragons are favourites to land the versatile flyer, but the Dolphins also have a desire to keep him under Kristian Woolf.
The utility back is in hot demand.Source: Getty Images
Averillo wants to remain in the NRL, pouring cold water on his rumoured Super League switch, saying: “That was definitely news to me – moving to England – the first time I heard about that.
“We’re in the process (of talking to the Dolphins) at the moment. I’ve missed a lot of training so I’m focused on that and leaving it to my management.
“My manager said we started (extension talks) so we’ll see how it goes.”
Averillo can play in the centres, on the wing, at fullback or in the halves.
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GOULD POURS COLD WATER ON BURTON SWITCH
Phil Gould has dispelled rumours that Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton is considering a move to the Perth Bears.
Although Burton is contracted until the end of 2027, veteran reporter Brent Read made comments over the last fortnight claiming Burton could be departing the club earlier than expected, joining the Bears in their inaugural season.
“They’re waiting to see what happens with Matt Burton. Just how that shakes out at Canterbury,” Read said previously on Triple M.
That story has also previously been shot down by Gould, who once again took to X to explain the situation.
He revealed he had spoken with the Bears and expects to see Burton continue to play alongside his Canterbury teammates until at least the end of 2027.
Gould initially responded to a post with four emojis, before writing: “The Bears came to see me months ago.”
The Bulldogs supremo also said in the past he was unsure where the claims originated from.
“I have absolutely no idea where that story came from, so much so that I fronted the journalist that originally wrote the story and he admitted that he speculated and made it up,” Gould said on 100% Footy in September.
“That’s the stuff that we have to deal with every day and we have to mop up that sort of stuff and thankfully we’ve got a great relationship with Matt.”
Phil Gould has spoken on the Burton rumours.Source: Supplied
BEARS’ MOVE FOR FAMILIAR NAME
Three decades after Mark Geyer was signed on to become the face of the Western Reds, yet another Geyer could be making the move to Perth.
According to Code Sports, the Bears are negotiating a deal to sign Mavrik Geyer, who made the move from the Panthers to the Tigers ahead of the 2026 season.
However, he only has a one-year contract with the merger club, meaning he is free to sit down with the Bears to strike a deal for their inaugural season in 2027.
Former Penrith teammate Scott Sorensen is reportedly close to securing his move to the Bears, while Liam Henry was also one of the first players to sign on with the new franchise.
Geyer has reportedly been offered a multi-year contract to make the move west to play under Mal Meninga.
The 25-year-old has made 14 first-grade appearances since his NRL debut in Round 4 of the 2024 season, when the Panthers bested the Roosters.
Mark Geyer was the Reds’ marquee player, signing on for the 1995 season, going on to play 22 games for the Perth-based franchise before it eventually folded in 1997.
The Western Reds played in the ARL in 1995 and 1996 before joining the Super League in 1997.
That season, the franchise changed its name to the Perth Reds, marking rugby league’s last franchise in Western Australia before the Bears’ reintroduction in 2027.
He has yet to play a single match for the Wests Tigers.Source: Supplied