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Find your Sport Nation frequencyWho could be the Bears’ marquee man?
Nicholas Quinlan • April 25th, 2025 12:09 pm
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio has given his thoughts on who might be the marquee signing for the Western Bears.
This comes after the ARLC has reached an agreement in principle with the West Australian government for the 18th NRL team licence to be in Perth by the 2027 season.
While the deal has not been officially confirmed, the news has already seen speculation about who will be the marquee signing for the Western Bears bid.
While fellow Daily Telegraph writer and SEN 1170’s Breakfast host Michael Carayannis believes that the current Dally M medallist Jahrome Hughes could sign with the Bears given his relationship with the rumored coach Brad Arthur, Riccio believes that there will be a plethora of options for the Bears to look into.
“There is a stack of players coming off contract at the end of ’26,” Riccio acknowledged.
“Including the likes of Viliame Kikau and Jahrome Hughes is a good one as well and I can’t argue with Jahrome, Payne Haas is a big one.
“Every new franchise needs a marquee signing, a flagbearer.
“And what a signing Payne Haas would be; to be able to prize him out of the Broncos and (be) that huge face for the Western Bears.
“But they (The Bears) are stacked; I mean the Trbojevic brothers (Jake and Tom), imagine that package deal going to Perth.
“The likes of Tyran Wishart, Jahrome Hughes makes a lot of sense, (and) Xavier Coates as well.
“I can’t nail one but Payne Haas, I would have him as my priority target.”
Other players who are also out of contract in 2026 that the Bears may want to sign include the Rabbitohs' Jye Gray who is second on the Dally M leaderboard, Wests Tigers five-eighth Lachlan Galvin, Storm captain Harry Grant and Roosters captain James Tedesco.
Whenever any competition expands the number of teams it has, there are always concerns that there is not enough talent to go around thus creating disparity amongst the teams.
Riccio believes that there is enough talent to spread amongst the competition with both Perth and PNG teams to come in after speaking with Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
And in particular, those currently in the development competitions will be the ones to benefit the most.
“If you’re an SG Ball or Jersey Flegg player, I reckon you’re doing cartwheels today,” Riccio said.
“It will fast-track the development and your possibility as a footballer to play first grade.
“The opportunity for those players in those grades today and their ability to play NRL within the next two to three years, the percentage increase has tripled.
“It’s an absolute goldmine for younger players and their possibility in the game.”
The deal between the ARLC and WA Government needs to be signed off by all 17 clubs and the RLPA for the team to become official.
