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'Don't really care': Bears-to-be unfazed by roster chat
Jasper Bruce, AAP •  August 12th, 2026 7:29 am
Perth Bears-bound Jack Cole (centre) will have opportunities aplenty with the Perth expansion club | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Jack Cole does not care if critics dismiss Perth's foundation roster but says it's difficult to pass judgement before the Bears have even played a game.
Cole last month followed Penrith teammates Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen in signing with the NRL's forthcoming 18th team, eyeing regular opportunities to start at five-eighth.
Panthers winger Brian To'o this week finalised his own move to an expansion side by becoming the latest big name committed to PNG from 2028.
The four-time premiership winner's signing only widened the chasm between the talent pools lured to the Chiefs, who can offer tax-free salaries, and the Bears.
The situation has become urgent enough for the NRL to bend its own rules and offer financial dispensation in Perth's search for a marquee player.
But criticism of the Bears' roster, which features no players from this year's State of Origin series, has done little to spook Henry.
"It doesn't annoy me one bit, if I'm honest," the Panthers prop told AAP.
"People are entitled to their opinion and I've got 100 per cent confidence in what Mal (Meninga) and the coaching staff are building over there.
Liam Henry (centre) is not concerned by the Bears' lack of big-name signings | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"I absolutely love the squad they've built."
Cole pointed to the five players signed from Penrith and Melbourne's enduringly successful systems as reason to celebrate the club's recruitment.
"(There are) boys that have been in those strongly cultural clubs that work together when they're competing ... if you get a team of competitors, versus a team of individuals, I think the team of competitors can win," Cole said.
"I don't really care too much (about the roster criticism).
"No one's seen us play yet. We haven't even trained together yet or anything, so I think it's a bit hard to make assumptions of how we're going to go."
Since making his NRL debut with the Panthers in 2022, Cole has had to wait patiently to piece together his 19 first-grade games.
He only briefly served as first choice five-eighth while Blaize Talagi adjusted to Penrith's system at the beginning of the post-Jarome Luai era last year.
But a regular starting gig appears on the cards at the Bears, who have also signed back-up Cronulla playmaker Niwhai Puru and former Canterbury No. 7 Toby Sexton.
"(Perth) is a new team, not really filling the shoes of anyone before you," Cole said.
"When I was at Penrith, obviously Jarome leaving, that was the next sort of role. Being a bit younger, I didn't have really the tools to handle that correctly as what I do now."
Cole would take a different approach if given a regular chance to start at the Bears.
"(I would) not be as conservative, put myself out there a bit more, back myself a bit more and just play with a lot more confidence," Cole said.
