NRL NRL 2026 General Recruitment Thread

[Chris Hodges]

Meaney and Curran are decent pieces.

If they can land Tyran Wishart then they may legitimately challenge for 16th.

It will be interesting Mal talking this team up. His career as a politician didnt last very long...primarily because 'we prepped for questions for 6 weeks, and not once was i asked why people should vote for me'. Its vastly different coaching a champion QLD team to coaching a cast of misfits in the NRL, in a city where noone cares about Rugby League.

 

[kos]

It will be interesting Mal talking this team up. His career as a politician didnt last very long...primarily because 'we prepped for questions for 6 weeks, and not once was i asked why people should vote for me'. Its vastly different coaching a champion QLD team to coaching a cast of misfits in the NRL, in a city where noone cares about Rugby League.

There’s r l people in Perth
Ex pat nsw
Ex pat qld
Ex pat nz
Ex pat uk

 

[Noitall]

Sounds like Kurt Mann, Connor Tracey and Sam Hughes are being eyed up by Perth too

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Sounds like Kurt Mann, Connor Tracey and Sam Hughes are being eyed up by Perth too

Exciting

 

[Blain]

It will be interesting Mal talking this team up. His career as a politician didnt last very long...primarily because 'we prepped for questions for 6 weeks, and not once was i asked why people should vote for me'. Its vastly different coaching a champion QLD team to coaching a cast of misfits in the NRL, in a city where noone cares about Rugby League.

If you didn't know of Mal's legacy in the game, no one would be excited about him coaching the Bears. He's pretty boring. I don't see it working TBH. I don't think he'll be the brains behind the coaching book though, more of the general/face of the team.

Exciting

They are all NRL starters, you can't build a squad of superstars. Not a Tracey fan though. You need solid NRL players with experience, sprinkled with guys with potential and a star or 2.

Looks to be some good players still on the table, Trai Fuller, Jesse Arthurs, Sione Katoa, Averillo, Jolliffe, Blore, TMM, Capewell etc etc.

 

[Noitall]

They are all NRL starters, you can't build a squad of superstars. Not a Tracey fan though. You need solid NRL players with experience, sprinkled with guys with potential and a star or 2.

Looks to be some good players still on the table, Trai Fuller, Jesse Arthurs, Sione Katoa, Averillo, Jolliffe, Blore, TMM, Capewell etc etc

Would be interesting to see where they see Connor Tracey playing because apparently Nick Meaney has been recruited to play fullback

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

They are all NRL starters, you can't build a squad of superstars. Not a Tracey fan though. You need solid NRL players with experience, sprinkled with guys with potential and a star or 2.

Looks to be some good players still on the table, Trai Fuller, Jesse Arthurs, Sione Katoa, Averillo, Jolliffe, Blore, TMM, Capewell etc etc.

I’ve been excited for Perth and what they could be. The star or 2 is the issue. And I don’t even see the real hard, seasoned pros or leadership candidates that you build a team around. Just a group of journeymen.

Seems to be a repeat of the dolphins where good players steer clear initially. Except the Dolphins were a much more favourable prospect for players being based in Brisbane.

Without some top end recruiting they could end up bottom 4. And once that’s their perception it could lock them there as a deterrent for players with ambition.

Come on Mal - pull some superstars out of the hat!

 

[Blain]

I’ve been excited for Perth and what they could be. The star or 2 is the issue. And I don’t even see the real hard, seasoned pros or leadership candidates that you build a team around. Just a group of journeymen.

Seems to be a repeat of the dolphins where good players steer clear initially. Except the Dolphins were a much more favourable prospect for players being based in Brisbane.

Without some top end recruiting they could end up bottom 4. And once that’s their perception it could lock them there as a deterrent for players with ambition.

Come on Mal - pull some superstars out of the hat!

Yes, I agree on everything you have said, and they have a rookie NRL coach, not a seasoned pro like Bennett to help them punch above their weight. To be honest, any finish above the bottom 4 would be a huge success. The reality is that the NRL doesn't have many "stars" and the ones that are around do not get onto the market.

If they can get Wishart, he's rep potential. Liam Henry is similar. Tino is probably their big target, but he's spent more time off the field than on it recently while bitching to the media and looking miserable. I don't think he will take the $1.1 million+ available, and would prefer to be in a winning team out of the spotlight for $900k (back to Storm was the rumour).

The reality is the Bears are going to have to sign guys who just want the cash and a longer contract. No one moving there will be chasing a premiership. Nearly no one is returning "home" because not many NRL players are from there. The majority of their squad will be guys taking the best offer (or only offer) on the table.

It seems like they are going for a younger core than the Dolphins, which will be harder to start with, but should build over time.

Would be interesting to see where they see Connor Tracey playing because apparently Nick Meaney has been recruited to play fullback

Well it's speculated that is their current plan. But that would all depend on who they sign over the next 10 months. Meaney as a solid goal kicking centre would have to be their preference if they managed to sign a gun fullback.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

The reality is that the NRL doesn't have many "stars" and the ones that are around do not get onto the market.

I think every team has 4-5 stars or at least exciting players to build around.

For us the stars players include - RTS, Metcalf, Barnett, JFH, Clarke (Dally M lock)
Exciting players include - DWZ and Leka

I see nothing at anywhere this level let alone a solid core for the Bears unfortunately.

 

[Naynay]

with the bears the most concerning part for me is that WA is not a league state or place. There are no path ways really from junior to first grade (even in a union sense)

Like at least the dolphins had the benefit of being in Brisbane to get some juniors behind them. I know thats why its a “bears” merger but juniors aren’t going to want to come up through north sydney and have to transfer to perth to go first grade.

 

[Viking]

with the bears the most concerning part for me is that WA is not a league state or place. There are no path ways really from junior to first grade (even in a union sense)

Like at least the dolphins had the benefit of being in Brisbane to get some juniors behind them. I know thats why its a “bears” merger but juniors aren’t going to want to come up through north sydney and have to transfer to perth to go first grade.

TBH, North Sydney are where players went when they couldn't make it into any other NRL clubs pathways system. Now I know of one Kiwi boy that's gone over to join their SG Ball side and I'm hearing managers tell their juniors that Perth is shorter path to first grade.

The Dolphins have one of the strongest pathway systems in the NRL now, they've thrown a ton of resources at it.

 

[Viking]

How is Curren listed at a similar height and weight to JFH but looks half the size?

 

[Damo]

How is Curren listed at a similar height and weight to JFH but looks half the size?

Josh is fat

 

[enterthewarrior]

We really do need a second NZ team in the NRL.

 

[Cces]

Imagine signing for the Bears & being at the bottom of the roster then going back & forth to Sydney twice every 7 days to play NSW Cup

 

[Bushman]

It will be interesting Mal talking this team up. His career as a politician didnt last very long...primarily because 'we prepped for questions for 6 weeks, and not once was i asked why people should vote for me'. Its vastly different coaching a champion QLD team to coaching a cast of misfits in the NRL, in a city where noone cares about Rugby League.

Actually a fair few grassroots RL clubs and grounds around Perth, plus expats etc.
The bigger issue is Perth media networks owned by companies aligned with AFL, hence no other sport gets any coverage.
NRL and SOO, 1-3 a year seem to draw large capacity crowds, understand a regular season would be lower, but the support is there.

Imagine signing for the Bears & being at the bottom of the roster then going back & forth to Sydney twice every 7 days to play NSW Cup

Roughly same distance as Auckland to Sydney i.e warriors NSW cup, without having to go through customs

 

[Bushman]

with the bears the most concerning part for me is that WA is not a league state or place. There are no path ways really from junior to first grade (even in a union sense)

Like at least the dolphins had the benefit of being in Brisbane to get some juniors behind them. I know thats why its a “bears” merger but juniors aren’t going to want to come up through north sydney and have to transfer to perth to go first grade.

Google bruz,
Current Local Perth RL Teams (NRL WA)
These clubs form the base of rugby league in the Perth area and surrounding regions:

• South Perth Lions: A historic and prominent club in WA.
• Joondalup Giants: Based in the northern suburbs.
• North Beach Sea Eagles: Another long-standing club in the metro area.
• Ellenbrook Rabbitohs: A newer club in the north-east.
• Fremantle Roosters: A foundation club from the port city.
• Kwinana Titans: A relatively new addition.
• Alkimos Tigers: Another northern suburbs team.
• Willagee Bears: Serving the southern suburbs.
• Rockingham Coastal Sharks: A coastal team south of the city.

 

[Cces]

Roughly same distance as Auckland to Sydney i.e warriors NSW cup, without having to go through customs

True, but if their NSW Cup side play predominantly out of North Sydney that's a whole lot more travel than a Warriors player does in a season as the Warriors play in Auckland almost every other weekend

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Google bruz,
Current Local Perth RL Teams (NRL WA)
These clubs form the base of rugby league in the Perth area and surrounding regions:

• South Perth Lions: A historic and prominent club in WA.
• Joondalup Giants: Based in the northern suburbs.
• North Beach Sea Eagles: Another long-standing club in the metro area.
• Ellenbrook Rabbitohs: A newer club in the north-east.
• Fremantle Roosters: A foundation club from the port city.
• Kwinana Titans: A relatively new addition.
• Alkimos Tigers: Another northern suburbs team.
• Willagee Bears: Serving the southern suburbs.
• Rockingham Coastal Sharks: A coastal team south of the city.

Been to a few Giants games when in town. A lot of kiwis

 

[Bay39er]

Wishart and Meaney leaving Storm at end of season