The Perth Bears are to enter the NRL in 2927 and with less than a year left before entry, the countries 18th franchise have not finalised their squad.
Last year in October, the PNG Chiefs became the NRLS 19th Franchise and revealed to the worlds press that they will be approaching players with a tax free, Multi-Million dollar war chest.
And over the weekend, PNG Chiefs announced the 2 year signing of Jahrome Luai worth about $2million dollars per season.
The new franchise will be in part underwritten by the Australian government and is a move that will largely impact other NRL clubs.
While the Perth Bears have yet to build a roster for their 2027 entry, they have yet to land marquee player like Jahrome Luai just yet. .
Speaking on NRL 360 on Monday night, Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie stated that the club has “A few players up their sleeve”.
“I think PNG is a comparison but it’s not an apples for apples comparison and for us, we’re sticking to our mantra to sign the right players for the right reasons”, De Ceglie Said.
Some of those signings include the Melbourne Storm duo of Tyran Wishart and Nick Meaney. Not bad proposals to get the Bears off the ground.
One possible solution for the Perth side, is to offer UK based players in Super League direc pathways to the Bears. While the competition is not as strong, the current UK compeititon has seen a flurry of English players head south to Perth.
Current UK players include:
- Mikolaj Oledski
- Harry Newman who played in the Ashes series against Australia recently.
- Morgan Smithies (Signed from Canberra Raiders).
Full North Sydney Bears team for 2027: (Daily Telegraph):
1.Mason Barber (North Queensland Cowboys) – Fullback
2.Sean Russell (Parramatta Eels) – Wing/Centre
3.Gehamat Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos) – Centre
4.Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos) – Centre
5.Nick Meaney (Melbourne Storm) – Centre/Wing/Fullback
6.Jack Cole (Penrith Panthers) – Five-eighth/Hooker
7.Toby Sexton (Catalans Dragons) – Halfback
- Liam Henry (Penrith Panthers) – Front row
- Tyran Wishart (Melbourne Storm) – Five-Eighth/Hooker
- Corey Horsburgh (Canberra Raiders) – Front row/Lock
- Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers) – Second Row
- Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks) – Second Row/Centre
- Josh Curran (Canterbury Bulldogs) – Lock/Second Row
- Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield Trinity) – Hooker
- Apa Twidle (Parramatta Eels) – Fullback/Halfback
- Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos) – Front row
- Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders) – Second Row/Front Row
- Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Ipswich Jets) – Front Row
- Luke Laulilii (Wests Tigers) – Wing/Centre
OTHER SQUAD MEMBERS
Blake Wilson (Manly Sea Eagles)– Wing
Emarly Bitungane (London Broncos) – Prop
Luke Smith (London Broncos) – Second Row
James McDonnell (Leeds Rhinos) – Second Row
Mavrik Geyer (Wests Tigers) – Second Row
Kit Laulilii (Wests Tigers) – Lock
Niwhai Puru (Cronulla Sharks) – Halfback
Chris Vea’ila (Cronulla Sharks) – Centre
Jope Rauqe (Canterbury Bulldogs) – Wing, Centre
Jonathan Sua (Canterbury Bulldogs) – Wing
Cooper Watte (Junior Wallabies) – Outside back
DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS
Zane Murray (Elite emerging contract) – Fullback
AJ Gudgeon (North Sydney Bears) – Fullback, Wing, Center
Asher Chapman (St George Illawarra Dragons) – Hooker, Halfback
Jasais Ah Kee* (St George Illawarra Dragons) – Five-eighth
Zac Herdegen (North Queensland Cowboys) – Five-eighth
Zac Lipowicz (Catalans Dragons) – Second Row
Updated 31 October 2026.