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.
The Perth Bears have still to sign a decent player ...
NZWarriors.com
Garrick would be a good start I reckon- so versatile.
Hes not gonna attract other players to go there though.
Basically these clubs need to wait for the first lemming to jump, it’s difficult to convince someone to sign when they don’t know the other pieces of the team
NZWarriors.com
Would assume there are a few signings in the books, and they are waiting to announce a bunch at a time. I really hope they can snare some exciting players, Dolphins suffered from not grabbing that elite level player, so had to settle on too many older players.
Munster and Anasta stringing along another new club I see? I wouldn't bother and throw the cash at Campbell for sure.
Munster and Anasta stringing along another new club I see? I wouldn't bother and throw the cash at Campbell for sure.
NZWarriors.com
The Dolphins were all ready a well established club before entering the NRL. thus probley making the transition into first grade alot easier then a new franchise becoming established
Here in WA, the quality & pool of players is no where near the same level as most other states. The bears will experience how traveling long distance constantly can take a toll on week to week performances. We never get enough credit for the miles we clock up year in year out.
I guess they have the strategic partnership with the North Sydney Bears so it's not totally from scratch.
It's going to be fascinating how it all comes together.
I agree with Falcon they need to pull their heads in and go after the Ray Stone's of this world.
NZWarriors.com
Agree about good and solid. What I call Attitude Players should be a priority.
They might not get heaps of points/make super highlight reels, but they will help instill a good culture. Then the Performance Players (who generally are also Attitude, there are some not, though!) might be interested.
They might not get heaps of points/make super highlight reels, but they will help instill a good culture. Then the Performance Players (who generally are also Attitude, there are some not, though!) might be interested.
I think they’ll end up with a mix of older players looking to wind up their careers and younger guys looking for an opportunity- so not too different to the dolphins- gonna be very hard to sign players in their prime.
Perth Bears sign landmark apparel deal with global giant New Balance
Perth Bears have secured a major coup by signing with New Balance, joining the same athletic brand stable as billion-dollar baseball star Shohei Ohtani and cricket legends Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.
The Perth Bears have links to some of the world’s most recognisable – and richest – sports stars after the NRL new recruits penned a four-year partnership deal with an athletic brand giant.
Global footwear and apparel company New Balance has an extensive list of individuals and teams on their books, from Aussie cricket heroes Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, to US tennis ace Coco Gauff and Major League Baseball pitcher Shohei Ohtani.
The Japanese superstar signed a $1 billion 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in late 2023, the largest professional contract in sports history.
Now the Perth Bears are part of the same stable having finalised a team apparel agreement which includes New Balance designing the team’s on-field kit for the club’s inaugural NRL season in 2027.
Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said the Bears were “the most exciting story in Australian sport”.
“We’re incredibly honoured that a brand with such incredible global recognition as New Balance would team up with the Bears … in its first foray into the NRL at a club level,” he added.
“New Balance has a commitment to elite-level performance and authentic community engagement that aligns perfectly with the Perth Bears.”
Coach Mal Meninga said the Bears were building a club that represents communities on both sides of the country.
“When you are uniting two such passionate rugby league heartlands, the standard must be elite,” he said.
“New Balance is a globally competitive apparel brand, which the Perth Bears are striving to emulate both on and off the field for every single fan, regardless of where they are.”
Perth Bears have secured a major coup by signing with New Balance, joining the same athletic brand stable as billion-dollar baseball star Shohei Ohtani and cricket legends Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.
The Perth Bears have links to some of the world’s most recognisable – and richest – sports stars after the NRL new recruits penned a four-year partnership deal with an athletic brand giant.
Global footwear and apparel company New Balance has an extensive list of individuals and teams on their books, from Aussie cricket heroes Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, to US tennis ace Coco Gauff and Major League Baseball pitcher Shohei Ohtani.
The Japanese superstar signed a $1 billion 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in late 2023, the largest professional contract in sports history.
Now the Perth Bears are part of the same stable having finalised a team apparel agreement which includes New Balance designing the team’s on-field kit for the club’s inaugural NRL season in 2027.
Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said the Bears were “the most exciting story in Australian sport”.
“We’re incredibly honoured that a brand with such incredible global recognition as New Balance would team up with the Bears … in its first foray into the NRL at a club level,” he added.
“New Balance has a commitment to elite-level performance and authentic community engagement that aligns perfectly with the Perth Bears.”
Coach Mal Meninga said the Bears were building a club that represents communities on both sides of the country.
“When you are uniting two such passionate rugby league heartlands, the standard must be elite,” he said.
“New Balance is a globally competitive apparel brand, which the Perth Bears are striving to emulate both on and off the field for every single fan, regardless of where they are.”
NZWarriors.com
Getting this deal over the line might have played a part in the delayed release of the inaugural playing strip.