Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
How to tune into Sport NationWhy Carayannis is encouraging Campbell to accept Perth's $6 million offer
Charles Goodsir • November 20th, 2025 1:24 pm
Gold Coast Titans star Jayden Campbell has been urged to accept the mammoth offer from the Perth Bears to become their marquee player ahead of their 2027 arrival.
The Bears have offered the 25-year-old a $6 million contract over five years which would catapult the playmaker into being one of the highest paid players in the NRL.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis believes it is unlikely that other clubs would table a $1.2 million salary and has advised Campbell to cash in on the Bears’ lucrative offer.
“That’s his ceiling. I don’t think he will ever be worth any more than that,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I think Jayden Campbell would be crazy for not taking that deal.
“Another club could make him a $1 million player but I don’t think he would get $1.2 million from anywhere else.
“I understand why the Bears have made this offer because Campbell is a really good attacking player.
“Also, when you work out the dynamic of the squad and the big jigsaw for Perth, they have to sign 30-plus players and fill positions out.
“The benefit of singing Campbell is that when you jot down your best 17, you can put him at one, six or seven.
“If Ryan Papenhuyzen says he wants to play for Perth, you sign him and you can put Campbell to the halves.
“He doesn’t hamstring you because he has the ability to play in multiple positions.
“The money on offer is ridiculous. It puts him into the top echelons of players paid in the game.
“If he earns $1.2 million per season, that’s double what Reece Walsh earnt this season.
“It’s what Mitch Moses gets at Parramatta and what Tom Trbojevic earns at Manly.
“It would put him as a top-10 paid player and he’s not a top-10 player. I don’t think he’ll ever be a top-10 player.”
Campbell is in the final year of his contract in 2026 and can sign with rival clubs for the 2027 season.
Campbell’s potential departure could also be a blessing in disguise and help the Titans manage their unbalanced roster.
“I’ve been banging on for the last three or four years. They can’t have Keano Kini, AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell all in their top-30 squad,” Carayannis added.
“There is too much money invested in players that are too similar.
“The three of them are all very good players and representative players.
“I couldn’t balance my squad with three players like that in it.
“Both Brimson and Kini are on long-term deals. Kini is a fullback and Campbell can be in the halves. So what do you do with Brimson?
“I think he’s a good fullback and an okay centre.”
The Titans being their 2026 campaign against the Cronulla Sharks at Sharks Stadium on March 7.
