Perth Bears expansion causes stir with WA gay social club Bears Perth
A leading gay social club in Western Australia has moved to distance itself from the NRL’s expansion into Perth, encouraging rugby league fans not to buy their Bears memberships.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NRL’s announcement of the Perth Bears as the next expansion team has caused a stir with a leading gay social club in Western Australia.
Bears Perth have existed in WA since 1993, with its website saying the club proudly “celebrates LGBT inclusion, acceptance and body positivity.”
But the organisation has moved to distance itself from the impending arrival of the NRL’s version of Perth Bears.
The rugby league team will enter the NRL competition in 2027 and Bears Perth have posted a disclaimer on their website to provide clarity for any league fans wishing to buy a membership.
“We are NOT associated with the newly announced NRL club called ‘Perth Bears’,” the club said.
“Please do not sign up for membership if you are here to join the rugby club.”
The Bears Perth club is just a 600-metre walk from HBF Stadium, the future home of the NRL’s 18th team.
BRISBANE’S HOSPITAL HELL
The commitment of Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo can’t be questioned.
The Queensland Origin ace underlined his toughness by running out against Souths last Friday night after spending two days in hospital treating a staph infection.
The infection bug has been sweeping through Red Hill. Jordan Riki was the first to go down, missing Brisbane’s clash against Canterbury three weeks ago, while skipper Adam Reynolds also carried a leg infection into the Bulldogs showdown.
Now Cobbo is the latest Broncos player fighting off infection. The Cherbourg sensation was close to missing the Souths clash but insisted on playing in a sign of his team-first attitude.
The Broncos were already missing the injured Reece Walsh and Cobbo was determined to run on as Brisbane’s fill-in fullback against Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell.
Cobbo made a few handling errors but still finished as Brisbane’s best player, charging for 176 metres and setting up a try with a sublime tap-on for Deine Mariner.
SATTS READY TO GO WEST
Former Penrith grand final hero Scott Sattler has emerged as a possible contender for the Perth Bears’ head of football role.
With the Bears unveiling Anthony De Ceglie as their first CEO, the NRL’s 18th team will now turn to sorting out their inaugural coach and football boss for Perth’s entry in 2027.
It’s understood the coach will be named in the next week, while the Bears will move swiftly to appoint a football manager to begin preparations for the franchise’s arrival in the big league.
Newcastle football boss Peter Parr is one option, while Sattler is another NRL identity who would be open to taking on the Perth gig.
Sattler has experience in building start-up clubs. He was the Titans’ inaugural football manager in 2007 and helped build a star-studded roster headlined by Scott Prince, Luke Bailey and Mat Rogers.
Sattler has forged an impressive career as a media commentator and is off-contract in January with radio SEN.
MAL’S BIG JOB
Immortal Mal Meninga continues to give back to the game after being appointed patron of the Family of League.
Meninga is the foundation’s first patron since John Fahey, who died in 2020 following 18 years in the role.
“I have followed the work of Family of League from their early days as Men of League,” Meninga said.
“There is no doubt that they are an incredible charity focused solely on the rugby league family and for 23 years they have been shoulder to shoulder with men, women and children as they face a range of battles.
“It is a great honour to be invited to be patron and I look forward to doing what I can to make sure their fantastic work continues long into the future.”
In the past year, Family of League has supported more than 200 individuals with upwards of $900,000 in wellbeing support.
SAINTS’ AUSSIE RAID
St Helens bosses have begun scouring the Australian coaching market in the strongest sign yet embattled mentor Paul Wellens is on borrowed time.
Sport Confidential can reveal Saints powerbrokers have reached out to an Australia-based third party to draw up a hit list of potential candidates to replace Wellens.
The English powerhouse is currently sixth and pressure is building on St Helens club legend Wellens.
It is understood some Australian coaches that have been suggested to Saints as a possible successor to Wellens include Souths assistant Ben Hornby and Queensland Origin assistant Josh Hannay.
The third party has begun due diligence on possible Australian replacements, with many believing the highly-regarded Hannay is ready to take charge of his own team.
Hannay has been a valued right-hand man for Queensland mentor Billy Slater and Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
The revelation comes as Wellens said overnight he is doing everything possible to get results at Saints.
“First and foremost I am a St Helens boy myself, so I understand the disappointment when the team isn’t winning and quite naturally that adds to a lot of frustration,” he told British media.
“But what I’m here to do is support the players to try and get the best out of them.
“Ultimately I know that the results stop with me and that was the case at the back end of 2022 when I first took the job. And that’s not changed from day one to where I am now.”
BUD’S MONSTER AUSSIE TOUR
One of the biggest names in world sport is coming to Australia.
Last year, it was NFL legend Tom Brady. Now boxing superstar Terence Crawford is coming Down Under in a huge coup for Australian sports fans.
The 37-year-old is a four-division world champion rated the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in the sport today, having beaten Brisbane’s Jeff Horn in 2018.
Crawford will touch down in Australia on Monday week for a week-long promotional tour overseen by former Australian boxer Grant ‘Tassie’ Brown.
‘Bud’ will kick off his visit on the Gold Coast on Monday, May 26 with a speaking gig at the Burleigh gym of leading trainer Fidel Tukel.
He will then make guest appearances in Brisbane (May 27), Melbourne (May 28) and Sydney (May 29) at a series of gala dinners.
It will be Crawford’s last major tour before he heads straight into camp for his blockbuster showdown against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in September at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“This is huge,” said Brown, who brokered the trip as a personal friend of Crawford’s.
“It’s a massive moment for Australian sporting fans to have Terence Crawford coming to our country.
“This is one of the biggest sporting stars on the planet coming to our doorstep.
“Last year we had Tom Brady in Australia and now there’s another huge American name coming town.
“Not many legendary fighters come to Australia in general. With Canelo, he is the face of world boxing and right up there with the greatest boxers we have seen.
“Bud will discuss his journey and how he has become a two-time undisputed, four-division world champion.
“He is doing this one promotional tour of Australia, then he will go straight into training camp to fight Canelo, so I hope Australian boxing and sports fans get right behind it.
“He is a very humble guy, really down to earth and Aussie fans will love meeting an all-time great.
“Terence has never been to Australia before so he can’t wait. His wife is worried he will get eaten by a crocodile but I’ve assured her he will be safe.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Perth Bears expansion causes stir with WA gay social club Bears Perth
‘I’d still have Mam in reserves’: Cronk’s brutal Broncos call
Maroons legend Cooper Cronk has delivered a brutal assessment of Ezra Mam ahead of his NRL return, suggesting that the Broncos should not have picked him, regardless of their injury woes.
Why the NRL’s biggest star is also its quietest
It’s been nine months since Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell went on a self-imposed media ban. With likely Origin selection around the corner, how will the Blues handle the expectation? BRENT READ and TRAVIS MEYN report.