Perth Bears predicted best team for 2027, recruitment targets, roster, salary cap, PNG Chiefs

The PNG Chiefs have made a big splash, signing a genuine superstar in Jarome Luai.

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Throw in the mix the acquisition of the NRL’s all-time try-scorer Alex Johnston, and they have set a dangerous precedent.

Now loud voices across rugby league are warning — this is only the start of what could be a monumental upheavel.

The Perth Bears, meanwhile, will enter the competition next season and are arguably yet to land a marquee star and while they’ve been linked to players, will they land one?

It remains to be seen, but the NRL will be desperate for their Western Australian venture to be somewhat of a success.

For that to happen, calls are growing for rugby league powerbrokers to step in and assist the Bears as the Chiefs begin their recruitment assault.

Here foxsports.com.au breaks down where the Bears sit ahead of their inaugural NRL season — and how their team could look as it stands!

THE BEARS’ CURRENT TEAM

As it stands, the Bears have signed a host of players in their bid to fill their top 30 ahead of the 2027 season, 18 to be exact.

Here’s how their best team would currently shape up:

1. Nick Meaney

2. Luke Laulilii

3. Harry Newman

4. Sean Russell

5. Apa Twidle

6. Tyran Wishart

7. Toby Sexton

8. Liam Henry

9. N/A

10. Mikolaj Oledzki

11. Siosifa Talakai

12. Scott Sorensen

13. Josh Curran

14. Emarly Bitungane

15. Luke Smith

16. James McDonnell

17. Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui

18. Chris Vea’ila

19. Kit Laulilii

It’s a solid side for a team who are arguably yet to land the big fish they are seeking.

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The halves pairing of Toby Sexton and Tyran Wishart is nothing to turn your nose up at, with Wishart showing in the past he has the potential to be a dangerous playmaking threat.

Sexton, meanwhile, could prove to be his perfect foil and was an impressive conductor during his time at the Bulldogs, before he was shown the door.

Nick Meaney is arguably better utilised in the centres or on the wing than in the No.1 jersey, and that’s a position the Bears will undoutedly target as they continue their retention surge.

They don’t have a hooker, while their back row is potentially the best aspect of their team with Test and Origin stars Siosifa Talakai and Scott Sorensen partnering.

Throw in the mix Josh Curran at lock, as well as Test prop Mikolaj Oledzki and Panthers gun Liam Henry — and the Bears have the makings of a solid forward pack.

Harry Newman and James McDonnell are also both internationals, having played for England and Ireland respectively.

But as aforementioned, their biggest issue is still luring marquee stars west — so how could that be fixed?

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HOW TO FIX THE BEARS’ BIGGEST ISSUE?

The biggest problem the Bears have is that there’s no major incentive to make the move to Perth.

Yes, fringe players and those seeking a bigger opportunity can get the chance to play regular first grade and Perth do have the ability to offer lucrative contracts.

But they simply don’t stack up to the tax-free salaries on offer to join the Chiefs, which have already lured Luai and Johnston into putting pen to paper more than 18 months out.

The Bears haven’t been put in a position to succeed — and former premiership-winning playmaker Luke Keary has called for the NRL to step in.

“I just think they haven’t been helped at all, I am watching this Tasmanian team come into the AFL, (as well as) PNG. There’s incentives to go and sign there,” Keary said on The Bye Round Podcast.

“There’s signing bonuses, there has been absolutely nothing. There’s been no great publicity for them.

“I don’t think they can put a full football staff together yet because they haven’t been ticked off (and) budgets approved. Everything they do has to be ticked off and go up the chain.”

Therefore, recruitment becomes extremely difficult.

“I just think they are pushing up a very steep hill to get boys there,” Keary said.

“Even the boys who went last weekend said it was such a long flight... we need to be succesful over there, because we will look absolutely ridiculous if we’re not.

“I can’t see one NRL club complaining that they get an incentive, even if it’s just for two or three years to get them going.

“It’s going to be very difficult over there, but I feel like we need it as a game to become a national game.”

That incentive could have taken many shapes, with the AFL’s Tasmanian franchise being handed a $5 million signing bonus pool to hand out.

However, they also have to trade six of their first 11 first-round draft picks across their first three seasons in the competition.

Other options could include an increased salary cap, which isn’t dissimilar to the Chiefs when you factor in the salaries they are handing out are essentially double what other teams can offer.

Take Luai for example, if the Chiefs are matching his salary worth north of $1 million, he is set to earn that amount extra by making the move to PNG.

Alex Johnston is also reportedly earning a tax free $325,000 salary.

And without these incentives, the Bears have failed to land their marquee target — which is incredibly important according to Matty Johns.

“You need a really iconic or you need a major player as your first signing because they’re the queen bee. They attract the rest, and this is what they’ve (the Chiefs) been able to do,” he said on SEN.

“Where the Perth Bears have really struggled to find a legitimate marquee player, (PNG) have just nailed one straight away.”

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But, as Keary touched on, the playing ground isn’t even — and the Bears are feeling it.

“The poor old Perth Bears are up against it. It’s deadset not a fair fight the fact they get absolutely no help from a salary cap perspective or anything else,” Fox League’s Paul Crawley said on NRL 360.

“Papua New Guinea is a three-hour flight from Brisbane, four hours from Sydney whereas Perth is five or six hours from Sydney. It’s just as far away if not further for all the families that are going to go over there.

“They (Chiefs players) are also getting tax-free money. Not just on their salary but on third party deals.

“(General manager) Michael Chammas and (head coach) Willie Peters are doing an exceptional job to get this out there and get Jarome’s signature but from a Perth perspective, it’s no wonder they’re struggling.”

So without the incentives many argue the Bears need to build a competitive roster, who is still on the table to land in Perth?

WHAT THE BEARS NEED AND WHO COULD THEY TARGET - NOT DONE

A marquee man, a hooker and some serious depth.

As aforementioned, landing a marquee star is the toughest aspect of their recruitment bid — with the Dolphins failing time and time again to sign some of the game’s biggest names.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, haven’t had any issues.

Cameron Munster, Jayden Campbell, Beau Fermor and Zac Lomax have all been linked to the Bears, and have been missed.

Throw in the mix Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who was arguably the most attainable star in the ‘marquee’ bracket, but decided to remain with the Titans.

So, like the Dolphins did, could Perth’s idea of a marquee star be shifted?

The 17th franchise recruited Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, a player resigned to a bench spot at the Cowboys, to be the face of their franchise alongside several battle-hardened forwards.

The Bears are taking a slightly different approach and are building a younger, more inexperienced pack — which we can touch on later.

As for their big-name signing, hitting the market for an up-and-coming star could be key — and one name ticked the boxes in Selwyn Cobbo.

But he signed on for a further year with the Dolphins.

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That doesn’t rule him out as a target, it simply means he can link up with his new side a year later after they spend their first year embedding in the NRL.

The Bears could table a mammoth deal for his services, although the gun flyer has previously been unwilling to make the move out of Queensland and away from his hometown of Cherbourg.

Regardless, Cobbo has the ability to play on the wing, in the centres, and more importantly, at fullback as a potential X-factor player — like Tabuai-Fidow has been for the Dolphins.

Another potential option is Trai Fuller, who is clearly too good to be left out of the Phins’ first grade side and has slotted in at centre in recent weeks.

He is without a contract for the 2027 season and has been offered a three-year deal to make a move to the Super League, while he is also said to be negotiating with the Dolphins.

As for their hooker situation, a host of players could be targeted.

In the NRL, Sam Verills and Billy Walters shape as two viable options and that pairing are without a contract for the 2027 season.

In the Super League, Jez Litten is an obvious target despite signing a fresh four-year deal until the end of the 2029 season in September last year.

NRL clubs have in the past flexed their financial muscles to get players out of Super League deals, and the Bears certainly have the cap space to do the same.

“Obviously I’m happy at Hull KR but you can never write off playing in the NRL,” Litten said to TotalRL when asked if he was interested in playing in Australia.

“It’s the best league and you want to challenge yourself against the best.”

Litten impressed during the recent Ashes series and English hookers have prospered in Australia in the past, with Josh Hodgson enjoying a stellar career.

Elsewhere, Edwin Ipape shapes as an interesting prospect although he will likely be more enticed to turn out for the PNG Chiefs given he plays for the Kumuls.

Tyson Smoothy also departed for England after winning a premiership with the Broncos in 2025, and there’s an argument to say he could be a starting No.9 in the NRL.

As for their forward pack outside of the hooker positions, the Bears have some work to do when it comes to depth.

Having a deep forward pack, and one that can carry your team forward, is absolutely crucial to compete and as such the Bears need to make a host of signings.

Storm back rower Shawn Blore could be one recruit, being without a contract for the 2027 season, having proven to be a hardy defender amongst some solid attacking attributes.

Parramatta edge Kelma Tuilagi is another who could be free to make a move depending on the Eels’ cap situation, and he has been running a hard line so far in 2026.

In the middle of the park, a pair of Sharks forwards shape as obvious recruitment targets — Cameron McInnes and Toby Rudolf.

McInnes has already made it clear he is facing retirement if the Sharks don’t offer him a new deal, and he is currently returning from an ACL injury.

But if he recovers well, the Bears could do worse than include him in their pack as an experienced figure who has the ability to churn out big minutes.

Toby Rudolf, meanwhile, has also previously put his hand up to be a marquee recruit for the Chiefs, meaning he is open to a club switch.

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The gun prop is also managing himself, and will test his own value on the open market, but made it clear to foxsports.com.au his priority is to remain at the Cronulla club.

While the Bears need depth in the forwards, injuries don’t discriminate and outside backs also go down — while some further quality is desperately needed.

Tom Chester, who has the ability to play in the halves, at centre and at fullback, shapes as an obvious option.

He has been impressive to start the year and is an obvious talent, showing no fear and hitting the line incredibly hard for a man of his stature.

It’s unlikely North Queensland bosses will stand in his way if he is handed a long-term deal, especially considering he only put pen to paper on a one-year extension in his last contract.

In a similar vain, Jack Cole is a player the Bears will almost definitely have their eyes on after he slipped down the halves pecking order at the Panthers.

He began the 2025 season as Penrith’s first-choice halves pairing, but Blaize Talagi has a lock on the No.6 and Jack Cogger is the preferred utility option.

Cole’s talents are clear, but he has yet been unable to convert it at the top level and turn himself into a regular NRL fixture.

The 22-year-old has a contract until the end of the 2026 season but will likely be on the move, and the Bears shapes as a likely destination.

Especially given he can provide halves back-up for Sexton and Wishart while also slotting into the centres, a position he has proven he can defend impressively in.

But outside of all of these options, one man is consistently linked — Matt Burton.

Although Burton remains contracted at the Bulldogs until at least the end of 2027, that hasn’t stopped his name from constantly finding itself in the middle of the news cycle.

Mitchell Woods is coming through the club’s halves ranks, while Lachlan Galvin was recruited midway through the 2025 season.

He’s arguably best in the five-eighth role, which Burton currently occupies, although reports have surfaced stating he has kicked off negotiations to remain at Canterbury.

“At the moment I’m just playing my best footy for the Dogs and see what happens from there,” Burton said to foxsports.com.au.

“But I’ll leave it with my manager and the club to sort things out.”

Long-term, Burton could be shifted into the centres — or take a lucrative pay day to slot into the Bears halves, which would allow Tyran Wishart to move to hooker.

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