Perth Bears

Foordy

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with Perth starting to get a few deals over the line, I thought a thread might be good to keep track of their squad and see how they're shaping up for their debut season.

confirmed signings:
1. Toby Sexton
2. Harry Newman
3. Luke Smith
4. Emarly Bitungane
5. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
6. Liam Henry
7. Josh Curran
8. Sean Russell
9. Nick Meaney
10. Tyran Wishart
11. James McDonnell
12. Chris Vea’ila
13. Luke Laulilii
14. Scott Sorensen
15. Siosifa Talakai
16. Kit Laulilii
17. Mikolaj Oledzki
18. Apa Twidle
 
Tough sell, that's $7.5 million of their salary cap gone.

How did you come up with that figure? I doubt any of those guys would be on huge money, not that i've seen any figure reported yet
 
Which NRL / other players are from Perth / WA?

Josh Rogers
Kalyn Ponga born there?
Billy Smith grow up there?
Waqa Blake has a connection to Perth
Royce Hunt too
Jackson Topine grew up there
 
Which NRL / other players are from Perth / WA?

Josh Rogers
Kalyn Ponga born there?
Billy Smith grow up there?
Waqa Blake has a connection to Perth
Royce Hunt too
Jackson Topine grew up there

Depressing stuff.
 
you just qualified to be a rugby league reporter

It was more a commentary on the likelihood that those players will likely have been paid overs to entice them. A fringe player like Liam Henry, just because he's played for the Panthers, will likely have to be paid established-first-grade money like $400k - $600k when, out of that system, he could very well be a spud. The concern is that they will end up with a lineup where each player is a step down from their pay grade, across the board, which will not end well.
 
with Perth starting to get a few deals over the line, I thought a thread might be good to keep track of their squad and see how they're shaping up for their debut season.

confirmed signings:
1. Toby Sexton
2. Harry Newman
3. Luke Smith
4. Emarly Bitungane
5. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
6. Liam Henry
Let's start building a team.

Liam Henry is a great pick up... he looks an absolute gun.
Sexton will be serviceable as a halfback, but he'll need attack around him.

Newman I know nothing about

Other guys are more likely squad / depth players so they can be chucked on the bench for now.


Perth Bears

1.
2.
3. Harry Newman
4.
5.
6.
7. Toby Sexton
8. Liam Henry
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

14.
15. Luke Smith
16. Emarly Bitungane
17. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
 
It is going to be tough for them for a while.
They really should have been given some concessions such as the ability to sign players before 1 Nov 2025 by at least 6 months and at least another 10% higher salary cap.

I presume the NRL will want to sell the club at some stage down the track but the way things are likely to pan out for the bears it will be at least 5 yrs before anyone would be interested unless the NRL are willing to give it away.

I really hope I am wrong about all this because I want them to be competitive but I can't help but see hard times for them for quite a while.
 
It is going to be tough for them for a while.
They really should have been given some concessions such as the ability to sign players before 1 Nov 2025 by at least 6 months and at least another 10% higher salary cap.

I presume the NRL will want to sell the club at some stage down the track but the way things are likely to pan out for the bears it will be at least 5 yrs before anyone would be interested unless the NRL are willing to give it away.

I really hope I am wrong about all this because I want them to be competitive but I can't help but see hard times for them for quite a while.

Their hype and chance of success died the day they signed Mal over Burgess
 
I think Shibasaki and Arthurs are big chances to leave for the Perth Bears. But if this Coates kid is as good as we're being told and seeing it might be win win.
 
I think Shibasaki and Arthurs are big chances to leave for the Perth Bears. But if this Coates kid is as good as we're being told and seeing it might be win win.

I think it’s more Verhoeven who makes it ok. Kid looks a superstar and there’s Mariner as well
 
Their hype and chance of success died the day they signed Mal over Burgess
Also didnt help that NRL announced PNG at basically the same time.

Any sort of hype Perth could've generated was killed by announcing that PNG were coming 12 months later... makes it harder to recruit if players are hanging out for that pay day
 
Not official yet, but it's understood the Bears have signed Sean Russell on a long term deal.

Josh Curran also expected to sign
 
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