Throw in the mix the acquisition of the NRL\u2019s all-time try-scorer Alex Johnston, and they have set a dangerous precedent.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776909012_441_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Now loud voices across rugby league are warning \u2014 this is only the start of what could be a monumental upheavel.<\/p>\n
The Perth Bears, meanwhile, will enter the competition next season and are arguably yet to land a marquee star and while they\u2019ve been linked to players, will they land one?<\/p>\n
It remains to be seen, but the NRL will be desperate for their Western Australian venture to be somewhat of a success.<\/p>\n
For that to happen, calls are growing for rugby league powerbrokers to step in and assist the Bears as the Chiefs begin their recruitment assault.<\/p>\n
Here foxsports.com.au breaks down where the Bears sit ahead of their inaugural NRL season \u2014 and how their team could look as it stands!<\/p>\n
THE BEARS\u2019 CURRENT TEAM<\/p>\n
As it stands, the Bears have signed a host of players in their bid to fill their top 30 ahead of the 2027 season, 18 to be exact.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how their best team would currently shape up:<\/p>\n
1. Nick Meaney<\/p>\n
2. Luke Laulilii<\/p>\n
3. Harry Newman<\/p>\n
4. Sean Russell<\/p>\n
5. Apa Twidle<\/p>\n
6. Tyran Wishart<\/p>\n
7. Toby Sexton <\/p>\n
8. Liam Henry<\/p>\n
9. N\/A<\/p>\n
10. Mikolaj Oledzki<\/p>\n
11. Siosifa Talakai<\/p>\n
12. Scott Sorensen<\/p>\n
13. Josh Curran<\/p>\n
14. Emarly Bitungane<\/p>\n
15. Luke Smith<\/p>\n
16. James McDonnell<\/p>\n
17. Iszac Fa\u2019asuamaleaui<\/p>\n
18. Chris Vea\u2019ila<\/p>\n
19. Kit Laulilii<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a solid side for a team who are arguably yet to land the big fish they are seeking.<\/p>\n
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n PNG signing ‘puts pressure on Perth!’ | 02:21<\/p>\n The halves pairing of Toby Sexton and Tyran Wishart is nothing to turn your nose up at, with Wishart showing in the past he has the potential to be a dangerous playmaking threat.<\/p>\n Sexton, meanwhile, could prove to be his perfect foil and was an impressive conductor during his time at the Bulldogs, before he was shown the door.<\/p>\n Nick Meaney is arguably better utilised in the centres or on the wing than in the No.1 jersey, and that\u2019s a position the Bears will undoutedly target as they continue their retention surge.<\/p>\n They don\u2019t have a hooker, while their back row is potentially the best aspect of their team with Test and Origin stars Siosifa Talakai and Scott Sorensen partnering.<\/p>\n Throw in the mix Josh Curran at lock, as well as Test prop Mikolaj Oledzki and Panthers gun Liam Henry \u2014 and the Bears have the makings of a solid forward pack.<\/p>\n Harry Newman and James McDonnell are also both internationals, having played for England and Ireland respectively.<\/p>\n But as aforementioned, their biggest issue is still luring marquee stars west \u2014 so how could that be fixed?<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n TEAMS RD 10: Wayne\u2019s halves shake-up, shock axing… and Tigers backline overhaul<\/a><\/p>\n PREDICTED QLD TEAM: Verdict on Munster call; veteran axed in EIGHT changes <\/a><\/p>\n Could Matt Burton be the solution? (Photo by Cameron Spencer\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n HOW TO FIX THE BEARS\u2019 BIGGEST ISSUE?<\/p>\n The biggest problem the Bears have is that there\u2019s no major incentive to make the move to Perth.<\/p>\n Yes, fringe players and those seeking a bigger opportunity can get the chance to play regular first grade and Perth do have the ability to offer lucrative contracts.<\/p>\n But they simply don\u2019t stack up to the tax-free salaries on offer to join the Chiefs, which have already lured Luai and Johnston into putting pen to paper more than 18 months out.<\/p>\n The Bears haven\u2019t been put in a position to succeed \u2014 and former premiership-winning playmaker Luke Keary has called for the NRL to step in.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think they haven\u2019t been helped at all, I am watching this Tasmanian team come into the AFL, (as well as) PNG. There\u2019s incentives to go and sign there,\u201d Keary said on The Bye Round Podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s signing bonuses, there has been absolutely nothing. There\u2019s been no great publicity for them.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think they can put a full football staff together yet because they haven\u2019t been ticked off (and) budgets approved. Everything they do has to be ticked off and go up the chain.\u201d<\/p>\n Therefore, recruitment becomes extremely difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think they are pushing up a very steep hill to get boys there,\u201d Keary said.<\/p>\n \u201cEven the boys who went last weekend said it was such a long flight… we need to be succesful over there, because we will look absolutely ridiculous if we\u2019re not.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t see one NRL club complaining that they get an incentive, even if it\u2019s just for two or three years to get them going.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be very difficult over there, but I feel like we need it as a game to become a national game.\u201d<\/p>\n How will Mal fare at the Bears? (Photo by Paul Kane\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n That incentive could have taken many shapes, with the AFL\u2019s Tasmanian franchise being handed a $5 million signing bonus pool to hand out.<\/p>\n However, they also have to trade six of their first 11 first-round draft picks across their first three seasons in the competition. <\/p>\n Other options could include an increased salary cap, which isn\u2019t dissimilar to the Chiefs when you factor in the salaries they are handing out are essentially double what other teams can offer.<\/p>\n Take Luai for example, if the Chiefs are matching his salary worth north of $1 million, he is set to earn that amount extra by making the move to PNG.<\/p>\n Alex Johnston is also reportedly earning a tax free $325,000 salary.<\/p>\n And without these incentives, the Bears have failed to land their marquee target \u2014 which is incredibly important according to Matty Johns.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need a really iconic or you need a major player as your first signing because they\u2019re the queen bee. They attract the rest, and this is what they\u2019ve (the Chiefs) been able to do,\u201d he said on SEN.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere the Perth Bears have really struggled to find a legitimate marquee player, (PNG) have just nailed one straight away.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Ivan not bothered by PNG interest | 02:50<\/p>\n But, as Keary touched on, the playing ground isn\u2019t even \u2014 and the Bears are feeling it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe poor old Perth Bears are up against it. It\u2019s deadset not a fair fight the fact they get absolutely no help from a salary cap perspective or anything else,\u201d Fox League\u2019s Paul Crawley said on NRL 360.<\/p>\n \u201cPapua New Guinea is a three-hour flight from Brisbane, four hours from Sydney whereas Perth is five or six hours from Sydney. It\u2019s just as far away if not further for all the families that are going to go over there.<\/p>\n \u201cThey (Chiefs players) are also getting tax-free money. Not just on their salary but on third party deals.<\/p>\n \u201c(General manager) Michael Chammas and (head coach) Willie Peters are doing an exceptional job to get this out there and get Jarome\u2019s signature but from a Perth perspective, it\u2019s no wonder they\u2019re struggling.\u201d<\/p>\n So without the incentives many argue the Bears need to build a competitive roster, who is still on the table to land in Perth?<\/p>\n WHAT THE BEARS NEED AND WHO COULD THEY TARGET – NOT DONE<\/p>\n A marquee man, a hooker and some serious depth.<\/p>\n As aforementioned, landing a marquee star is the toughest aspect of their recruitment bid \u2014 with the Dolphins failing time and time again to sign some of the game\u2019s biggest names.<\/p>\n The Chiefs, meanwhile, haven\u2019t had any issues.<\/p>\n Cameron Munster, Jayden Campbell, Beau Fermor and Zac Lomax have all been linked to the Bears, and have been missed.<\/p>\n Throw in the mix Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui who was arguably the most attainable star in the \u2018marquee\u2019 bracket, but decided to remain with the Titans.<\/p>\n So, like the Dolphins did, could Perth\u2019s idea of a marquee star be shifted?<\/p>\n The 17th franchise recruited Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, a player resigned to a bench spot at the Cowboys, to be the face of their franchise alongside several battle-hardened forwards.<\/p>\n The Bears are taking a slightly different approach and are building a younger, more inexperienced pack \u2014 which we can touch on later.<\/p>\n As for their big-name signing, hitting the market for an up-and-coming star could be key \u2014 and one name ticked the boxes in Selwyn Cobbo.<\/p>\n But he signed on for a further year with the Dolphins.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n HE\u2019S BACK: Why Latrell lifted 18-month media ban with shock press conference<\/a><\/p>\n