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Sport Nation
How to tune into Sport NationBears Xmas Wishlist: Four players on Perth's radar revealed
Sam Kosack • November 27th, 2025 6:03 pm
The Perth Bears are still aiming to have ten signatures secured by Christmas with an additional four players in the sights of the expansion side.
Breakout stars Billy Burns, Sam Hughes, Tom Chester, and Jaimin Jolliffe have all been identified as targets by the Bears.
Burns enjoyed a massive backend to the 2025 season, ultimately keeping New Zealand international forward Briton Nikora out of the side for the Sharks’ finals campaign.
Hughes has been a strong performer in the Bulldogs’ forward pack, playing 25 games in his debut 2024 season, but was limited to only 10 games in 2025 after a syndesmosis injury hampered his year.
Jolliffe has made over 100 appearances for the Titans since debuting back in 2020, while Tom Chester is an exciting Cowboys’ outside back, who is returning from injury in 2026 after suffering an ACL in the 2025 pre-season.
Sydney Morning Herald’s Adrian Proszenko revealed the four names on SEN 1170 Afternoons as the club continues to build their inaugural roster.
“I spoke to their recruiter Dane Campbell, who said to me recently that we hope to have 10 signatures by Christmas,” Proszenko said.
“That may or may not be ambitious, but I know that, in speaking to a lot of the agents, they've been very active in that space.
“There are a lot of players that they want to speak to, and I can probably give you a couple of names that haven't been out in the public arena that I've just heard having made a few calls this morning.
“Billy Burns, who's off contract at Cronulla. He's had a terrific season, so much so that Briton Nikora, when he came back from injury, didn't immediately displace him from that Cronulla side that went all the way to a prelim final.
“Another one that I've heard is Sam Hughes at the Bulldogs… a front rower (who) had a bit of an injury interrupted season. (He’s) probably the new prototype front rower and not the big sort of bopper that we're used to.
“Another couple of other names, I've heard guys like Tom Chester at the Cowboys. Potentially, Jaimin Jolliffe, who's a prop up at the Titans, there's just a couple of other names that are in the mix.
“I'm not saying that they will be signed but if (their existing clubs) want to keep those players, and I think that certainly will be the case with Billy Burns, they definitely want to extend him, there's gonna be some competitive tension there.”
The Bears have struggled to land a marquee signing since players were able to negotiate on November 1, with Jayden Campbell and Beau Fermor amongst the stars to reject the club and re-sign with their current home.
They have rumoured deals with English star Harry Newman, as well as young duo Luke Smith and Marly Bitungane, who will link up with the club after a year with the London Broncos.
The club was also linked to Broncos' duo Gehamat Shibasaki and Jesse Arthars.
