Looks great! Way better than the Bulldogs one.
NRL Perth Bears
- Thread starter WahsaurusRex
- Start date
Apparently red and black hoops and being released mid year
Good logo, curious if Perth fans think it’s too NS? Apparently the left cheek is the WA coastline and the right cheek spells WA but it’s a little reaching
The Western Reds started off with some decent game day crowds but that quickly dropped away. Can see that happening again if they don't get at least some competitive results. That Dolphins team and coach is very good for a first up game. Mal is an interesting pick as coach (not a good one IMO) and so far it looks like they have signed a lot of average players, though I do think Toby Sexton is underrated. No 'stars' in that line up though. They will need to get busy with recruitment soon. They really do need a big name even if it's just from a PR perspective.
WahsaurusRex
❤️
- Thread starter
- #71
Boom Parramatta utility back Apa Twidle has shocked the Eels by quitting the club to join rugby league’s revolution in Perth.
This masthead can reveal Twidle will leave the Eels at season’s end after agreeing to terms on a three-year deal with Perth as Bears coach Mal Meninga pulled off a Parramatta poaching raid.
The parties are in the 10-day cooling off period, giving the Eels one last opportunity to convince Twidle to renege on his Bears deal.
But the 21-year-old believes Perth’s offer is too good to refuse and is set to become the 18th player to join the Bears for their foundation season in the NRL in 2027.
The New Zealand-born young gun made a stunning NRL debut earlier this month in Parramatta’s Easter Monday clash with the Wests Tigers.
Thrust into the action off the six-man bench, Twidle scored with his first touch and remarkably had two tries in three minutes in one of the most remarkable debuts in NRL history.
That performance piqued the interest of Meninga, who has got his man after weeks of negotiations with the Waikato whiz.
Twidle’s management had also fielded inquiries from Phil Gould’s Bulldogs and the Dolphins, but Meninga has won his signature, securing Twidle until the end of 2029.
Twidle was off-contract at season’s end and his preference was to stay at Parramatta, but it is understood the Eels’ preliminary offer was an $80,000 development deal for next season.
The Kiwi rookie saw greater security at the Bears, as well as the opportunity to play in the halves.
Twidle is one of the most versatile players in the league, capable of playing wing, centre, five-eighth or halfback, making him a handy option to support Bears first-choice No.7 Toby Sexton.
Twidle took up league at age five before moving to Australia to attend Marsden State High, the school which has produced generations of league stars including Cameron Smith and Israel Folau.
Twidle has been a star in Parramatta’s lower grades and scored 12 tries in 21 for the Eels’ NSW Cup side over the last 12 months before graduating to the top grade.
Meninga has spoken of the challenges of signing 30 NRL players amid fears over the tyranny of distance in travelling across the Nullarbor.
But Meninga made it clear the Bears would not hit the panic button with recruitment and dismissed concerns life in AFL-mad Perth, a four or five-hour flight away from Sydney, was a turn-off for NRL stars.
“The distance is not an issue,” Meninga told this masthead recently.
“Building the foundation from the start is a challenge but we have the great traditions of the North Sydney Bears and Western Reds.
“We won’t be having a crack at just anyone.
“We will have a crack at people we want.
“We have our pillars and the type of player we want because that’s what we will build our foundations on.
“We have some standards we want to uphold, so we won’t have a scattergun approach and throw big money around willy-nilly.
“We’re set on players that we believe are going to fit the DNA of the Perth Bears and we’ll go from there.
“How long it takes to sign players doesn’t particularly worry me to be honest.”
This masthead can reveal Twidle will leave the Eels at season’s end after agreeing to terms on a three-year deal with Perth as Bears coach Mal Meninga pulled off a Parramatta poaching raid.
The parties are in the 10-day cooling off period, giving the Eels one last opportunity to convince Twidle to renege on his Bears deal.
But the 21-year-old believes Perth’s offer is too good to refuse and is set to become the 18th player to join the Bears for their foundation season in the NRL in 2027.
The New Zealand-born young gun made a stunning NRL debut earlier this month in Parramatta’s Easter Monday clash with the Wests Tigers.
Thrust into the action off the six-man bench, Twidle scored with his first touch and remarkably had two tries in three minutes in one of the most remarkable debuts in NRL history.
That performance piqued the interest of Meninga, who has got his man after weeks of negotiations with the Waikato whiz.
Twidle’s management had also fielded inquiries from Phil Gould’s Bulldogs and the Dolphins, but Meninga has won his signature, securing Twidle until the end of 2029.
Twidle was off-contract at season’s end and his preference was to stay at Parramatta, but it is understood the Eels’ preliminary offer was an $80,000 development deal for next season.
The Kiwi rookie saw greater security at the Bears, as well as the opportunity to play in the halves.
Twidle is one of the most versatile players in the league, capable of playing wing, centre, five-eighth or halfback, making him a handy option to support Bears first-choice No.7 Toby Sexton.
Twidle took up league at age five before moving to Australia to attend Marsden State High, the school which has produced generations of league stars including Cameron Smith and Israel Folau.
Twidle has been a star in Parramatta’s lower grades and scored 12 tries in 21 for the Eels’ NSW Cup side over the last 12 months before graduating to the top grade.
Meninga has spoken of the challenges of signing 30 NRL players amid fears over the tyranny of distance in travelling across the Nullarbor.
But Meninga made it clear the Bears would not hit the panic button with recruitment and dismissed concerns life in AFL-mad Perth, a four or five-hour flight away from Sydney, was a turn-off for NRL stars.
“The distance is not an issue,” Meninga told this masthead recently.
“Building the foundation from the start is a challenge but we have the great traditions of the North Sydney Bears and Western Reds.
“We won’t be having a crack at just anyone.
“We will have a crack at people we want.
“We have our pillars and the type of player we want because that’s what we will build our foundations on.
“We have some standards we want to uphold, so we won’t have a scattergun approach and throw big money around willy-nilly.
“We’re set on players that we believe are going to fit the DNA of the Perth Bears and we’ll go from there.
“How long it takes to sign players doesn’t particularly worry me to be honest.”
HAPPIEST TEAM IN THE COMP ... St George Illawarra Dragons (they wont get the spoon in 2027)
They still might
Danny Wilder saying that the NRL may now look at giving the Bears some sort of salary dispensation ….
Is it too late ??
Is it too late ??
Yes, why would anyone who want to take a career risk and sign with the Bears when they can wait a year and so to PNG.
PNG’s advantages have wrecked the opportunity for Perth.
Absolutely. This tax thing wasn't really thought through all that well and is opening a can of worms imo.
Will Aussies playing for the Warriors for example be entitled to some tax breaks as well or should they pay more tax based on the exchange rate differential?
Funny old world
Falcon
🎲
I still think Bears will put out a competitive team for Rnd.1 next year. They will also go to the market for higher profile players for season 28 as well.
Other than the Broncos coming into the comp there hadn’t been a star studded debut expansion side.
Im sure there will be some more good signings and they have intimated that too. I suspect these will be announced when they release their playing strip in the next few months and look to build some momentum for next year.
Other than the Broncos coming into the comp there hadn’t been a star studded debut expansion side.
Im sure there will be some more good signings and they have intimated that too. I suspect these will be announced when they release their playing strip in the next few months and look to build some momentum for next year.
tyrael
🍻
I'm on the opposite thinking. They are going to be hot trash. Png will take those players willing to go somewhere far. Then the travel will wreck them. NZ travel is bad enough but Perth to Sydney is an hr more, though no customs.
Wahs_Ultras
🌶️
1. Nick Meaney (Melbourne Storm)
2. Apa Twidle (Parramatta Eels)
3. Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)
4. Sean Russell (Parramatta Eels)
5. Luke Laulilii (Wests Tigers)
6. Tyran Wishart (Melbourne Storm)
7. Toby Sexton (Catalans Dragons)
8. Liam Henry (Penrith Panthers)
9. No player signed
10. Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
11. Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers)
12. Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla Sharks)
13. Josh Curran (Canterbury Bulldogs)
14. Emarly Bitungane (London Broncos)
15.Luke Smith (London Broncos)
16. James McDonnell (Leeds Rhinos)
17. Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Catalans Dragons)
18. Chris Vea’ila (Cronulla Sharks)
19. Kit Laulilii (Wests Tigers)
That lineup wouldn’t give me much confidence as a fan going into 2027.