Perth Bears

1990s: Early bids

There had been no elite-level national rugby league team in Western Australia (WA) since the Western Reds (1995–96) defected to the rival Super League one-season competition, where they rebranded themselves as the Perth Reds in 1997.^[4] The Reds' name was revived in 2006 as the "WA Reds", competing in the third-tier Bundaberg Red Cup (now Ron Massey Cup) in New South Wales (NSW). In 2012, the team rebranded as the West Coast Pirates;^[5] due to the Reds brand being associated with failure.^[6] The West Coast Pirates played junior rugby league in the NSW S.G. Ball Cup until the COVID-19 pandemic prevented interstate travel from 2020 onwards.^[7]

In August 2024, a consortium of WA businessmen were prepared to independently resurrect the previous Reds moniker to get a team back into the national competition.^[8] However, they wanted the team to be Western Australian controlled and owned, as opposed to being a relocated Sydney team.^[8] The NRL's highly preferred model was an alignment with the North Sydney Bears. Talks were held with NSW clubs the North Sydney Bears and the Newtown Jets, however the latter pulled out of talks when Australian entrepreneur John Singleton stated that the North Sydney Bears were always intended to be the partner.^[8]

2024—2025: Expansion process

In August 2024, the North Sydney Bears and a Western Australian consortium headed by Cash Converters founders jointly lodged an application for the "Western Bears" to enter a team ahead of the 2027 NRL season.^[9][10] The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) rejected this proposal in October, stating that the $20 million bid fell short of its expectations.^[11][12] Urgent talks were held in November between the Western Australian Government and ARLC chairman Peter V'landys about an expansion team in Perth.^[13] On 24 April 2025, the NRL agreed to a $50 million deal with the Western Australian Government, thereby securing the 2027 return of the Bears.^[14]

Under the terms of the final agreement with the ARLC, the WA government committed to spending a total of $85.6 million, including $35 million on grassroots rugby league over the next seven years, with the remaining $50 million consisting of $25 million on content over the next five years, $5.6 million to help with the costs of the new team, and $20 million to be committed to a Centre of Excellence. The WA government will not pay a licence fee, with a promise being made that there will be a likely upgrade of their home ground, Perth Rectangular Stadium (HBF Park).^[14] The NRL subsequently renamed the "Western Bears" to the "Perth Bears" in order to give the team a bona fide geographical link to the region in which they will be based and remove all links to the previous bid.^[3][15]

Inaugural preparations

In June 2025, Mal Meninga was named as the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears for the 2027 and 2028 NRL seasons, with the immediate focus of promoting the club and building the team roster.^[16] Ben Gardiner signed a five-year contract, initially as assistant coach and then as head coach from 2029 onwards.^[17]

In September, Tier-2 Queensland Cup side the Brisbane Tigers and British Super League team the Catalans Dragons in France agreed to act as a funnel to the new Perth NRL club.^[18] Australian insurance company Budget Direct were announced as the team's first major sponsor.^[19] On 1 December, New Balance was named as both on-field and off-field apparel supplier.^[20] Within two weeks, the Bears announced their major jersey sponsor would be Cash Converters—a major backer for the private "Western Bears" bid which collapsed in late 2024.^[21][22]

In April 2026, the Perth Bears "Tracks" Academy at the Western Australian Institute of Sport was launched to source and develop local junior talent.^[23]

2027 signings

More information Player name, Previous club ...

List of inaugural signings, with player name, previous club, contract length, and announcement date shown

Player name	Previous club	Contract length	Date	Ref.
Toby Sexton	Catalans Dragons	2 years	2 December 2025	[30]
Harry Newman	Leeds Rhinos	2 years	2 December 2025	[30]
Luke Smith	London Broncos	2 years	3 December 2025	[31]
Emarly Bitungane	London Broncos	2 years	3 December 2025	[31]
Liam Henry	Penrith Panthers	4 years	10 December 2025	[32]
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui	Catalans Dragons	2 years	10 December 2025	[32]
Sean Russell	Parramatta Eels	4 years	24 December 2025	[33]
Josh Curran	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	3 years	7 January 2026	[34]
Tyran Wishart	Melbourne Storm	5 years	10 January 2026	[35]
Nick Meaney	Melbourne Storm	3 years	10 January 2026	[35]
James McDonnell	Leeds Rhinos	2 years	12 January 2026	[36]
Chris Vea'ila	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	2 years	12 January 2026	[36]
Luke Laulilii	Wests Tigers	2 years	16 January 2026	[37]
Scott Sorensen	Penrith Panthers	2 years	25 February 2026	[38]
Siosifa Talakai	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	3 years	27 February 2026	[39]
Mikołaj Olędzki	Leeds Rhinos	3 years	17 March 2026	[40]
Te Hurinui Twidle	Parramatta Eels	3 years	1 May 2026	[41]
Kit Laulilii	Wests Tigers	2 years	1 May 2026	[41]
Anmaron Gudgeon	North Sydney Bears	1 years	11 June 2026	[42]
Mason Barber	North Queensland Cowboys	3 years	12 June 2026	[43]
Mavrik Geyer	Wests Tigers	2 years	23 June 2026	[44]
Jasais Ah Kee	St George Illawarra Dragons	3 years	23 June 2026	[45]
Jope Raque	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	2 years	23 July 2026	[46]
Gehamat Shibasaki	Brisbane Broncos	2 years	23 July 2026	[47]
Tyson Smoothy	Wakefield Trinity	3 years	27 July 2026	[48]
Jack Cole	Penrith Panthers	3 years	28 July 2026	[49]
Niwhai Puru	Cronulla Sharks	2 years	28 July 2026	[50]
Morgan Smithies	Canberra Raiders	3 years	6 August 2026	[51]
Asher Chapman	Illawarra Steelers	3 years	18 August 2026	[52]
Zac Lipowīcz	Wakefield Trinity	2 years	19 August 2026	[53]

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