NRL Perth Bears
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Mal Meninga’s Bears have made a last-ditch attempt to blow Gold Coast out of the water by tabling a monster $6 million offer for Titans sensation Jayden Campbell.
Code Sports can reveal Perth have tabled a five-year deal worth an estimated $1.2 million a season in a bid to make Campbell the poster boy for rugby league’s expansion newcomers in Western Australia.
But the Titans remain confident they can stave off the Bears to keep the Gold Coast product at the club at which his father, Preston Campbell, became an NRL legend.
Currently a free agent, Campbell is off-contract with the Titans at the end of 2026, prompting Bears bosses to open talks with his management in the hope of securing the classy playmaker as Perth’s marquee signing for 2027.
Having ruled out Storm champion Cameron Munster, the Bears need a quality scalp at the scrumbase and they are throwing mega bucks at Campbell to spearhead the NRL’s 18th team.
The Perth offer would make Campbell the NRL’s newest millionaire and put him alongside the code’s highest-earning playmakers including Nathan Cleary ($1.3m), Mitchell Moses ($1.3m), Kalyn Ponga ($1.2m) and Jarome Luai ($1.2m).
But the Titans believe they are closing in on a new deal, with the 25-year-old reluctant to leave family and friends on the Gold Coast.
Titans football boss Scott Sattler is aware of Perth’s big-money poaching bid, but hopes Campbell will be part of the Gold Coast rebuild under new coach Josh Hannay.
“It’s a live situation, but what’s important for us as a club is to ensure players like Jayden stay at the Titans and enjoy the environment that’s been created for them,” Sattler said.
“We want to show them the club is moving forward in a really positive direction.
“I’m confident Jayden will see that when he comes back into the building.
“He’s a Gold Coast kid. His dad made his debut with the Gold Coast in 1998 and I’d like to think Jayden can help bring the Titans’ very first premiership.
“We want him to create a legacy at a club that has been so close to him and his family.
“He’s a quality player and quality players do garner interest.
“It’s on us to create a culture that players will really enjoy and I’m positive that we will do that.”
The Titans held a fresh round of talks with the Campbell camp last week. It is understood the Titans are flexible on an extension ranging from three to five years, depending on Campbell’s preference.
Gold Coast’s offer is north of $850,000 a season, which will reach the $1 million mark with the activation of ratchet clauses when the salary cap rises in 2028 in line with the NRL’s next TV rights deal.
Over a five-year term, Campbell would be giving up at least $1 million if he knocked back the Bears, but the 78-game playmaker is weighing up other factors, including family and the relocation to Perth.
Sattler concedes it will be difficult to win a bidding war with the Bears for Campbell, who made his NRL debut in 2021 and is one of the most exciting players in the league with his fast feet and attacking instincts.
“Any new club is a threat to all the current clubs,” Sattler said.
“What I have learnt over time is that new clubs obviously have a clean canvas with the salary cap and going after a marquee player is really important.
“The Bears are a threat to every club, but with Jayden, we have to ensure there will be progression for him and a lot of upside.
“We have to back ourselves to provide that and not be too concerned with what a new club is going to offer under the salary cap.
“We have to keep him under the cap, simple as that. We’ve had to put a lot of work into our salary cap and Anthony Laffranchi (recruitment boss) has done an amazing job.
“I know Jayden loves the club and we would love to keep him at the Titans for life.”
Bears coach Mal Meninga said he isn’t hitting the panic button as pressure builds on Perth to sign a big name.
“There’s a process for us to sign guys,” he said.
“November 1 is about officially making contact to start negotiating and I just don’t know how long it will take.
“We’re going to go after the players that we believe are going to fit the DNA that we are trying to develop at the Bears.
“How long that takes doesn’t particularly worry me to be honest.”
Code Sports can reveal Perth have tabled a five-year deal worth an estimated $1.2 million a season in a bid to make Campbell the poster boy for rugby league’s expansion newcomers in Western Australia.
But the Titans remain confident they can stave off the Bears to keep the Gold Coast product at the club at which his father, Preston Campbell, became an NRL legend.
Currently a free agent, Campbell is off-contract with the Titans at the end of 2026, prompting Bears bosses to open talks with his management in the hope of securing the classy playmaker as Perth’s marquee signing for 2027.
Having ruled out Storm champion Cameron Munster, the Bears need a quality scalp at the scrumbase and they are throwing mega bucks at Campbell to spearhead the NRL’s 18th team.
The Perth offer would make Campbell the NRL’s newest millionaire and put him alongside the code’s highest-earning playmakers including Nathan Cleary ($1.3m), Mitchell Moses ($1.3m), Kalyn Ponga ($1.2m) and Jarome Luai ($1.2m).
But the Titans believe they are closing in on a new deal, with the 25-year-old reluctant to leave family and friends on the Gold Coast.
Titans football boss Scott Sattler is aware of Perth’s big-money poaching bid, but hopes Campbell will be part of the Gold Coast rebuild under new coach Josh Hannay.
“It’s a live situation, but what’s important for us as a club is to ensure players like Jayden stay at the Titans and enjoy the environment that’s been created for them,” Sattler said.
“We want to show them the club is moving forward in a really positive direction.
“I’m confident Jayden will see that when he comes back into the building.
“He’s a Gold Coast kid. His dad made his debut with the Gold Coast in 1998 and I’d like to think Jayden can help bring the Titans’ very first premiership.
“We want him to create a legacy at a club that has been so close to him and his family.
“He’s a quality player and quality players do garner interest.
“It’s on us to create a culture that players will really enjoy and I’m positive that we will do that.”
The Titans held a fresh round of talks with the Campbell camp last week. It is understood the Titans are flexible on an extension ranging from three to five years, depending on Campbell’s preference.
Gold Coast’s offer is north of $850,000 a season, which will reach the $1 million mark with the activation of ratchet clauses when the salary cap rises in 2028 in line with the NRL’s next TV rights deal.
Over a five-year term, Campbell would be giving up at least $1 million if he knocked back the Bears, but the 78-game playmaker is weighing up other factors, including family and the relocation to Perth.
Sattler concedes it will be difficult to win a bidding war with the Bears for Campbell, who made his NRL debut in 2021 and is one of the most exciting players in the league with his fast feet and attacking instincts.
“Any new club is a threat to all the current clubs,” Sattler said.
“What I have learnt over time is that new clubs obviously have a clean canvas with the salary cap and going after a marquee player is really important.
“The Bears are a threat to every club, but with Jayden, we have to ensure there will be progression for him and a lot of upside.
“We have to back ourselves to provide that and not be too concerned with what a new club is going to offer under the salary cap.
“We have to keep him under the cap, simple as that. We’ve had to put a lot of work into our salary cap and Anthony Laffranchi (recruitment boss) has done an amazing job.
“I know Jayden loves the club and we would love to keep him at the Titans for life.”
Bears coach Mal Meninga said he isn’t hitting the panic button as pressure builds on Perth to sign a big name.
“There’s a process for us to sign guys,” he said.
“November 1 is about officially making contact to start negotiating and I just don’t know how long it will take.
“We’re going to go after the players that we believe are going to fit the DNA that we are trying to develop at the Bears.
“How long that takes doesn’t particularly worry me to be honest.”
And yet people on here were blowing up about Metcalf not being worth 1 million/season. I can’t believe how desperate the bears are offering Cambell marquee money
NZWarriors.com
IMHO Campbell has gone to elite level this year.
Titans are paying him enough to stay I reckon and should improve in 2026 as opposed to going to a team who I fear might become an epic fail.