The Perth Bears have made their biggest statement yet with the NRL’s newest club landing 230kg of firepower in a monster double signing.
News.com.au can reveal Canberra enforcer Morgan Smithies has inked a three-year deal to join the Bears for their inaugural 2027 season, while veteran Parramatta prop Junior Paulo is expected to follow him through the door as soon as today — in a deal that could also see him become the Bears’ first-ever captain.
In a twin signing coup that gives them some much-needed forward firepower, the Bears have beaten off clubs from the Super League, including the Eels and even start-up rivals PNG, to give their start-up some teeth.
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Paulo, 32, needs little introduction. The Auckland-born, Samoan-heritage front-rower is closing in on 270 NRL games.
Paulo has represented NSW in State of Origin across four series and was part of Samoa’s history-making run to the 2021 World Cup final.
Smithies has proven himself to be another Super League star to make it in the NRL after moving to Canberra in 2024.
He has barely missed a game since, playing 48 across his first two-and-a-bit NRL seasons and starring as the Raiders claimed the 2025 minor premiership.
The England international was in-demand on both sides of the world – making it a genuine coup for the Bears’ recruitment team.
He could be with the Bears for up to five years, with sources telling news.com.au his three-year deal comes with an option for another two.
The pair go a long way to answering the biggest question hanging over Perth’s build: can they field a competitive pack from day one?
The Bears already have size and experience committed elsewhere in the forward pack, with the likes of Mikolaj Oledzki, Scott Sorensen, Siosifa Talakai and Josh Curran all signed, alongside spine pieces Toby Sexton and Nick Meaney.
Landing Smithies and Paulo on top of that gives Meninga a middle third that will at the least be competitive.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing behind the scenes — the club and Meninga were hit with a combined $40,000 fine in June for breaching the NRL’s anti-tampering rules, after the coach was a little too candid publicly about targets still contracted elsewhere.
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