In the wake of Jarome Luai’s PNG bombshell, a spotlight has shone on the perceived disadvantages the Perth Bears have compared to their fellow expansion team the Chiefs.
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The big drawcard the Chiefs can offer that other teams cannot are the tax-free contracts.
It’s helped PNG land a massive name in Jarome Luai ahead of their entry into the NRL in 2028.
Luai is only the first domino though. There are several stars that could end up following the star playmaker.
For the Bears and coach Mal Meninga, well it’s been a tougher slog.
While they’ve so far constructed a squad consisting of several decent players, they haven’t been able to land a marquee star like the Chiefs already have.
Foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley believes the Bears are being left behind of sorts and won’t be able to match motors with the Chiefs on the recruiting front even though the two teams will enter the comp just a year apart.
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“The poor old Perth Bears are up against it. It’s deadset not a fair fight the fact they get absolutely no help from a salary cap perspective or anything else,” Crawley said on NRL360.
“Papua New Guinea is a three-hour flight from Brisbane, four hours from Sydney whereas Perth is five or six hours from Sydney. It’s just as far away if not further for all the families that are going to go over there.
“They (Chiefs players) are also getting tax-free money. Not just on their salary but on third party deals.
“(General manager) Michael Chammas and (head coach) Willie Peters are doing an exceptional job to get this out there and get Jarome’s signature but from a Perth perspective, it’s no wonder they’re struggling.”
NRL legend Gorden Tallis countered that there are other clubs who struggle to recruit compared to other clubs, naming the Raiders and a recently added expansion side, the Dolphins.
That led NRL360 host Braith Anasta to interject that the Bears and Chiefs are easier to compare because of how close together they are set to enter the league.
“They’re going toe-to-toe though. The Bears and Chiefs are pretty much going toe-to-toe,’ Anasta said.
The Bears have 17 players confirmed for next season with a couple more yet to be officially announced but they’ve struck out on a number of superstars including Jayden Campbell, Cam Munster and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
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