Perth Bears Recruitment Tracker: How the Expansion Roster Is Quietly Taking Shape

Joel Johnston

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Fact Checked by Jeremy Darke

Last updated: Mon 04 May 2026 09:22

Joel Johnston 04 May 2026

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The Perth Bears focus on recruiting NRL-ready players for long-term growth.
Perth Bears have signed 18 players, focusing on potential growth rather than immediate stardom.
Strategy inspired by the Dolphins, avoiding early superstar signings.
Recent signings include Laulilii, Talakai, Sorensen, emphasizing young talent and reliability.

Perth Bears head coach Mal Meninga. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Latest Recruitment Updates

The signings keep rolling on for the Perth Bears and the countdown is well and truly on, with less than one year left until they run out on the park for their NRL debut. The team has made 18 player signings as well as inaugural coach Mal Meninga being contracted. Those players are:

Kit Laulilii
Apa Twidle
Mikolaj Oledzki
Siosifa Talakai
Scott Sorensen
Luke Laulilii
James McDonnell
Chris Vea'ila
Nick Meaney
Tyran Wishart
Josh Curran
Sean Russell
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
Liam Henry
Luke Smith
Emarly Bitungane
Harry Newman
Toby Sexton

This list will be updated once new signings are announced by the club.

Perth Bears Recruitment Tracker & Analysis

The Perth Bears are finally starting to feel real.

For months, the expansion club lived in rumour, speculation and frustration in the NRL world. Fans were told to be patient. Big names were linked, then disappeared. Jersey launches were delayed. Announcements were pushed back. From the outside, it looked like a club stuck in neutral before it had even started.

But beneath the noise, something far more important has begun to happen. The Bears have started to build a roster. Not loudly. Not with headline grabbing superstars. But deliberately.

And the longer this recruitment period goes on, the clearer their strategy becomes.

See which players have already signed for the Perth Bears in the tracker at the top of the page.

A Slow Start That Was Always Likely

Expansion clubs do not get to shop in the same aisles as established contenders. That is the reality of modern NRL recruitment. Salary cap pressure, premiership windows and lifestyle preferences all work against new franchises early.

The Dolphins learned this lesson the hard way. When they entered the competition, they missed out on marquee names and instead pivoted quickly. They targeted players just outside first choice roles. NRL ready bodies. Professionals who wanted opportunity, stability and a fresh start.

The Bears appear to be following the same blueprint.

Rather than panic when early targets fell through, Perth has shifted focus toward players who can grow with the club instead of carry it on day one.

The First Wave of Signings Sets the Tone

Toby Sexton headlining the early list matters more than some realise. This is a player who has already felt the pressure of expectation, survived it, and come out the other side better for it. Sexton brings first grade experience, composure and organisational ability. That is a foundational signing for an expansion side.

Luke Smith may be even more important long term. Captaining a New South Wales Cup side at the Bulldogs and earning NRL minutes in a competitive system tells you everything about how he is viewed internally. Players like this often explode when given responsibility. Perth can offer exactly that.

Emarly Bitungane from the Cowboys and Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui add depth and size without demanding spotlight. These are roster glue signings. You win nothing without them.

Harry Newman brings international experience and versatility. While his Ashes series did little to elevate his profile, that works in Perth’s favour. He arrives motivated, hungry and undervalued.

This is not a flashy opening hand. It is a sensible one.

The Dolphins Blueprint Is Clearly in Play

There is a pattern emerging here and it is not accidental.

Perth is targeting players who:

are blocked at their current club
have proven NRL or near NRL readiness
bring professionalism and resilience
can handle being part of a long term build

This is exactly how the Dolphins built credibility. They did not chase superstardom. They chased reliability. Then they layered star power later.

Perth appears to understand that the first two seasons are about survival, culture and competitiveness. The wins come later.

The Tino Watch Changes Everything

No recruitment tracker for the Bears can ignore the Tino Fa'asuamaleaui conversation.

While confidence remains mixed around whether Perth can land him, the fact the club has shifted full focus toward Tino tells its own story. Signing Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui was not just depth. It was leverage. It was relationship building.

If Tino commits, everything changes. The Bears instantly gain leadership, identity and legitimacy. Every future recruitment conversation becomes easier.

If he does not, the strategy still holds. Perth is not betting the house on one signing. They are building optionality.