There’s only 45 days until the Perth Bears can begin building their squad ahead of the their debut season in 2026 — and November 1 can’t come quick enough for the new franchise.
Like the Dolphins, and every other team in the NRL, the Bears will be on the lookout for marquee stars and there’s no shortage of players they could have a crack at.
The first player I’d be looking at could be another star squeezed out of Belmore — Matt Burton.
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Rumblings have emerged that Burton could be open to a move to Perth, despite his current contract expiring at the end of the 2027 season.
Phil Gould shut that idea down, but where there’s smoke there is fire, and I believe the Bulldogs supremo has a plan in place.
Gould went and plucked Lachlan Galvin out of the Tigers, a player he considers a genuine superstar of the future — but not in his current position.
Galvin is a five-eighth, which is where Burton has done his best work under Cameron Ciraldo, meaning he either accepts a spot in the outside backs or looks elsewhere.
Mitchell Woods is considered the club’s long-term No.7.
So the Bears need to put their best foot forward to pry Burton away from Belmore, given he looks the odd man out.
Another option is Cameron Munster, who has also been heavily linked with a move due to a similar situation.
An emerging playmaker, Jonah Pezet, looks to be the next big thing, and blocking his path is both Munster and Jahrome Hughes.
Now, a simple solution would be for the Bears to take Pezet off the Storm’s hands — but it looks unlikely Melbourne bosses will let him depart.
Pezet’s father, Troy, also has previous experience joining start-up clubs, having played 19 games for South Queensland in 1996 and 1997.
He ruptured his Achilles during his time with the Crushers, and it was the end of him, while the club struggled immensely before folding.
That experience could mean Troy is against his son making a similar move, and leaving the green pastures of the Storm who have been incredibly patient with the talented youngster.
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That journey to first grade has been deliberate and he doesn’t need to go to a new franchise. Pezet is in demand everywhere.
Munster, meanwhile, could cash in for what could be his final NRL contract and be the face of a new franchise. Everybody wins.
In the halves, there’s a handful of other players who shape as good transfer options, with one also being at the Storm.
As the Dolphins have proven, you need depth in your playmaking ranks.
Jake Clifford would be a very good signing for the Bears. A playmaker with NRL experience, while they should also monitor Toby Sexton’s situation in the Super League closely.
Sexton has been excellent for the Bulldogs this year and showed his quality against the Storm in the first week of finals.
It would be a travesty if he is lost to the Super League, and he would be a perfect fit for expansion clubs. Never says a bad word and has a great attitude.
Tyran Wishart is the other Melbourne player that clubs will be swooning for come November 1 and he has the ability to play in almost every position on the field.
Securing the 25-year-old’s signature would be a huge coup, because no matter who else you sign, he still fits into your squad.
At hooker, Tom Starling is the guy I’d be going after.
The Raiders have Owen Pattie in their ranks and also Jayden Brailey arriving at the club, with Pattie likely considering their long-term No.9.
Starling has enjoyed the best year of his NRL career and as such earnt himself a fresh contract, signing until the end of the 2027 season.
But as we’ve seen in rugby league, players can leave despite having long-term contracts.
I really like him as a player and as a character and he would add a lot to the Bears, being one of the key figures in transforming the Raiders this year.
Joining him in the forwards, another star of the future could be Griffin Neame — a middle forward who you can build around.
At only 24-years-old, he has already played for New Zealand but with the Cowboys stacked pack, potentially hasn’t had the role he has been seeking.
Similarly to Tom Flegler joining the Dolphins, Neame could be the linchpin in Perth’s new pack and bring that hard-edge needed to compete in the NRL.
Joining him could be the likes of Jack de Belin, Davvy Moale and Angus Crichton, who could be looking to move back to rugby union after his contract expires at the end of 2026.
In the outside backs, Herbie Farnworth is the superstar I’d be throwing the cheque book at.
The English gun is off-contract come November 1 and has already proven he is happy to join a new franchise, becoming a genuine marquee man at the Dolphins.
Farnworth is a centre and one of the best in the game. But I believe he is more than that and could wear the No.1 jersey with ease.
He is a prime target and the first man I’d be sitting down with if I was Mal Meninga.
In the back row, Beau Fermor could be on the move with a new coach landing at the Titans and he’s an Origin star.
There has previously been rumblings Fermor is unhappy on the Gold Coast, and he’s another who will be free to negotiate with rivals once November 1 rolls around.
Throw in the mix Sea Eagles star Tolu Koula, who the Bears should have a crack at despite his contract running until the end of 2027.
He is another who can play all across the backline and at fullback, despite falling down the No.1 pecking order at Brookvale.
Koula has speed to burn and at only 23, has years ahead of him at first grade level, while Will Warbrick is another option I’m big on.
A lesser known name to throw out there would be Jack Cole, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Panthers.
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Another hardworking player, who I previously tried to recruit at the Knights, and one that is deserving of an NRL opportunity.
While we can name all the transfer targets under the sun, the Bears have also received a huge boost in their recruitment department.
Dane Campbell has been named Player Recruitment Manager — and he’s a savvy operator with links across the game, and positive ones.
He departs the Broncos, while he has also held roles in recruitment at the Storm and Cowboys, working under talent guru Paul Bunn in Melbourne.
Campbell could be the man build a competitive roster because he has no limitations. He is a well respected operator and has links with a plethora of player agents.
Some recruitment managers refuse to work with certain agents or coaches, meaning the pool of players they can sign is limited — which isn’t the case for Campbell.
WHY NEWCASTLE NEEDS A MENTALITY SHIFT
Every time a new coach comes to this town, they all talk about the same thing.
I’ve been here for 12 years and I have seen it time and time again.
The new coach arrives, attempts to connect to the community by preaching how Newcastle is a “hardworking place, players have to be tough, opponents have to fear coming up the road”.
It’s the same script every single time. I get it and the fans might like it.
But it’s time to do something different, Justin Holbrook.
As I wrote a fortnight ago, Holbrook was the right man for the job and already has links with the Knights as a player.
Now I’m urging him to flip the script and connect with the Newcastle fans in a different way, bring your own style, and find success.
Sure Newcastle is a tough town, sure there’s miners, sure it used to be the Steel City. But it’s not anymore.
Come in and bring your own spin on how to find success at the Knights. Please don’t rinse and repeat the same tired mentality.
We don’t have Paul Harragon, Bill Peden, Danny Buderus, Mark Sargent, Tony Butterfield. We don’t have them anymore and we will never again.
Do something different, not only because Newcastle has changed, but so has the game of rugby league.
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