The Perth Bears are yet to make an official NRL signing.<\/p>\n
But Mal Meninga isn\u2019t worried, even without having a player on his books 24 days into the free agency period.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no pressure on us to sign anyone before Christmas, or even into the New Year,\u201d Meninga said to Code Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n Watch The Ashes 2025\/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking our time. We will be patient, won\u2019t be pressured and don\u2019t want to put any players under pressure publicly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been talking to a lot of players and player managers and we\u2019re happy with the people we\u2019ve been talking to. How long it takes to sign players doesn\u2019t particularly worry me to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bears have been linked with a mountain of talent, but some of their biggest targets have turned their approaches down in big blows.<\/p>\n So here, foxsports.com.au takes a look at who Perth have missed out on and who remains on the club\u2019s radar ahead of the 2027 season!<\/p>\n FULLBACK<\/p>\n Who have they missed out on: It was a far cry from every happening, but a move for James Tedesco has been ruled out after the veteran signed a fresh contract until at least the end of the 2027 season. In a similar vein, Tom Trbojevic also signed a new contract to remain at the Sea Eagles, although he had made it clear he wouldn\u2019t play for a rival NRL club. <\/p>\n Who could arrive: Ryan Papenhuyzen was granted an immediate release from his contract with the Storm and his playing future is up in the air. The superstar No.1 has been linked with a move to rebel rugby competition R360, but there\u2019s a mountain of uncertainty surrounding its potential to get off the ground. Partner that with the potential for players to earn 10-year bans from NRL competitions, and it remains to be seen if players like Papenhuyzen will sign on. But that\u2019s where the Bears could come in. Papenhuyzen is said to be taking time away from professional sporting environments before he makes a call on his future and he could be afforded a full year to have a break before he returns to rugby league. While the spotlight will be on the new franchise at the start of their NRL career, Perth could also be a similar environment to that of Melbourne, with both being AFL-focused regions. Elsewhere, the Bears have also been linked with Storm gun Nick Meaney, who is a versatile player who could wear the No.1 jersey or slot into the centres. His departure would be a mammoth clow for Melbourne, who have lost Papenhuyzen and Eli Katoa for the 2026 season after his ugly head knock situation. In an interesting turn of events, Scott Drinkwater could also reportedly become available. \u201cScott Drinkwater\u2019s future beyond his current deal isn\u2019t secure,\u201d News Corp journalist David Riccio said on the Code NRL podcast. \u201cWhen you hear that, it means there might be some leverage or mediation potentially about Scotty getting out of that contract at the Cowboys earlier than what it actually runs for.\u201d The Cowboys gun is contracted until the end of the 2027 season, but should North Queensland bosses want to move on from him, the Bears could make a big play to land the gun No.1 for the 2027 season as a left-field option. <\/p>\n WINGERS<\/p>\n Who have they missed out on: Josh Addo-Carr was taken off the market by the Eels, who handed the veteran flyer a one-year contract extension for the 2027 season. Daine Laurie also signed a three-year deal with the Raiders, who could have been an outside option to play on the wing for the Bears. The Warriors also signed former Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who put pen to paper on a three-year contract ahead of the 2026 season. <\/p>\n Who could arrive: Theoretically, for the same reason as Papenhuyzen, Zac Lomax could sign with the Bears. The Eels would need to give the gun flyer their blessing after he was granted a release, but a rugby switch looms likely for Lomax. Elsewhere, Selwyn Cobbo has been linked with the new franchise, according to News Corp. The former Broncos star signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins ahead of the 2026 season, but he\u2019s already hinted he could be on the move for 2027. There\u2019s also a real possibility that Cobbo could sign on with a rival club before he even takes the field for the Dolphins and Mal Meninga could make a big play for his services. Cobbo only 23, but he can also play in the centres and at fullback, having Origin experience under his belt \u2014 making him a high-profile recruit. When at his best, Cobbo is one of the NRL\u2019s most dangerous players and Mal Meninga could harness his talent. Elsewhere, the likes of Will Warbrick, Tom Jenkins, Jeral Skelton and Murray Taulagi are all on the open market and could be signed by the Bears,<\/p>\n CENTRES<\/p>\n Who have they missed out on: The Bears weren\u2019t linked with a move for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but looks likely the veteran centre will remain at the Warriors and snub an R360 switch according to Code Sports. Elsewhere, Taylan May also signed a fresh two-year deal with the Tigers which sees him remain contracted until the end of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n Who could arrive: The Bears are reportedly leading the race to sign Reuben Garrick, in what could be a huge boost for the new franchise. WWOS\u2019 The Mole took to Facebook to reveal Garrick could land in Perth, having made it clear he would hit the open market. According to Code Sports, his extension talks with the Sea Eagles fell flat after they tabled a two-year contract extension to retain him. Garrick would be an excellent addition to the Bears squad, with the ability to kick goals and play in the centres or on the wing. Perth have also reportedly signed English international Harry Newman, who is set to become one of the club\u2019s first official signings according to Code Sports. Newman will play one more season with the Leeds Rhinos before making the move to Australia, signing a three-year contract. The 25-year-old played in the third Ashes Test against the Kangaroos and made his Super League debut in 2017. Another potential target is the resurgent Broncos star Gehamat Shibasaki, who is due for a mammoth pay rise. Starting the year with a train-and-trial, the Broncos gun made his Origin and Test debuts this year after almost giving up on playing professional rugby league altogether. The Broncos handed the 27-year-old an upgrade to their top 30 for the 2026 season, but he is reportedly still only earning around $140,000. Brisbane will likely be unable to match their rival\u2019s contracts, already facing a mammoth salary cap squeeze with the likes of Payne Haas yet to re-sign. Therefore, the Bears are in a prime position to swoop in and secure his services.<\/p>\n ‘Made the right decision’ DCE | 00:48<\/p>\n FIVE-EIGHTH<\/p>\n Who they\u2019ve missed out on: The biggest fish the Bears were on the market for, Cameron Munster, made it clear he won\u2019t be departing the Storm. \u201cI will honour my contract and the club doesn\u2019t want to let me go,\u201d Munster said to Code Sports.<\/a> \u201cThere has been speculation (around me) for ages. \u201cIf they don\u2019t want me any longer than those two years, and they want to push me out in a wheelchair, then that\u2019s what they will have to do. \u201cI have spoken to Melbourne and, even if there was an inkling of the door being ajar to leave, they don\u2019t want me going.\u201d It\u2019s a hammer blow for Perth, who are desperate to land a marquee signing. <\/p>\n Who could arrive: As aforementioned, Tyran Wishart could also be included in this list, while there\u2019s a handful of other players who could be on the Bears\u2019 radar. Jaxon Purdue is the first, having been linked with a move to the Storm, while the Cowboys are also desperate to keep the young gun whose current contract expires at the end of the 2026 season. The 20-year-old has plyed his trade in the centres for majority of his short NRL career, but his long-term future is in the halves and Perth could make a bold play for him to wear the No.6 jersey long-term and table a mammoth deal to pry him away from Townsville. Elsewhere, Roosters gun Hugo Savala is set to test the open market after the arrival of veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans. Savala had a breakout season in the halves under Trent Robinson and the 23-year-old has landed on the Bears radar according to Code Sports.<\/a> The talented star has a huge boot and has developed immensely in his single first grade season, while many believe Savala could also have a future as a lock forward given his size, standing at 194 centimetres.<\/p>\n HALFBACK<\/p>\n Who they\u2019ve missed out on: Jayden Campbell was being tipped to become the club\u2019s marquee star after he was reportedly tabled a mammoth five-year, $6 million contract to make the move west. The 25-year-old snubbed that offer to re-sign with the Titans in a mammoth blow for Mal Meninga\u2019s side, who have now been left to look elsewhere for a marquee target. Young gun Coby Black has also signed a two-year deal to join the Raiders in 2027, having fallen down the halfback pecking order at the Broncos with Jonah Pezet set to arrive at the club that same year.<\/p>\n Who could arrive: Toby Sexton is reportedly still linked with a Bears move, having left the Bulldogs ahead of the 2026 season to sign with the Catalans Dragons. Despite putting pen to paper on two-year deal, his time in France could be shut short with The Australian\u2019s Brent Read previously tipping him to be the new franchise\u2019s first signing. \u201cThey\u2019re in town. They had five days of meetings last week and plotted their attack plan. devised a plan and they are meeting managers in Sydney and Brisbane this week,\u201d Read said on Triple M. \u201cToby Sexton has been linked with them for a while and it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if he\u2019s their first signing.\u201d Elsewhere, Storm gun Tyran Wishart has also been linked with a Bears switch for 2027, having emerged as a genuine first grade playmaking option under Craig Bellamy. Wishart is blocked by Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster at the Storm and it is unlikely he will remain and wear the No.14 for years to come. The 26-year-old is also equally capable of playing five-eighth and a variety of positions, making him the perfect recruit. Should an elite No.6 become available, Wishart can wear the No.7 jersey and vice versa. <\/p>\n PROP<\/p>\n Who they\u2019ve missed out on: Payne Haas would have made the perfect marquee recruit, but he\u2019s dwindled his options down to R360 or remaining at the Broncos. It would have taken a monumental offer to secure Haas\u2019 services, but the Bears could have been competitive considering they have a clean salary cap. Elsewhere, Griffin Neame, a prop whose value has risen significantly in recent years, re-signed on a fresh three-year deal to remain at the Cowboys.<\/p>\n Who could arrive: Liam Henry is set to join Harry Newman as one of the Bears\u2019 first official NRL signings, with Perth\u2019s contract offer blowing that of the Panthers out of the water. The Penrith prop has been a consistent performer off the bench under Ivan Cleary, but his path to the starting side is blocked by Moses Leota and Lindsay Smith, and as such he will look elsewhere for a bigger role. Former Cowboys enforcer Marly Bitungane is also reportedly set to link up with the Bears after a one-year stint with the London Broncos according to Code Sports<\/a>. The 23-year-old played two NRL games under Todd Payten this year, having began his rugby league career as a winger before he shifted to the middle of the park, with all of his appearances in 2025 coming in the front row or off the bench. Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui is another big fish that\u2019s still on the market and Mal Meninga has previously confirmed his interest in the Titans superstar. Meninga reportedly contacted Fa\u2019asuamaleaui\u2019s management to outline his vision for the club and discuss a potential move, with Code Sports <\/a>reporting it would take a seven-year contract worth north of $10 million to secure his services. Fa\u2019asuamaleaui has a get-out clause for the 2027 season, meaning he is currently a free agent and is free to negotiate with rivals clubs, with the Gold Coast and Storm also in the race for his services. \u201cThe Bears have expressed interest, yes,\u201d his manager Simon Mammino said. \u201cI spoke to Mal and he expressed interest and wanted to see if we are keen to talk at November 1.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n NOV 1 LIVE: Origin star set for Cowboys exit; Raiders poach another Broncos gun <\/a><\/p>\n WORLD CUP DRAW: Kangaroos\u2019 blockbuster opener as groups and full draw revealed<\/a><\/p>\n