Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga keen to sign Bulldogs star Jacob Preston in 2028

Perth coach Mal Meninga has earmarked a Canterbury star as a future Bears captain, making inquiries about the availability of the Bulldog despite him not being able to join the club’s inaugural season.

Perth coach Mal Meninga has put a target on Canterbury star Jacob Preston as a future Bears captain.

And this masthead can reveal Meninga, when Australian Kangaroos coach, inquired about Preston’s availability for last year’s Pacific Nations tournament.

Meninga said Preston’s previous junior tenure with the North Sydney Bears would “double our interest.”

Preston, 23, comes off contract at Canterbury after 2027, meaning he could be formally approached by Perth on November 1 next year.

His existing deal at Belmore would prevent any chance Preston could join Perth for the club’s inaugural 2027 season.

Bears coach Mal Meninga has identified Jacob Preston as a recruitment target for 2028. Picture: Getty Images

Preston has insisted he wants to remain at Canterbury and finish a one-club player.

But Perth’s interest is genuine and Meninga wants to meet with Preston, who has twice been in NSW’s extended squad this season, when permitted.

Bears officials have also recognised Preston’s leadership qualities.

“He’s certainly on my radar, no doubt,” Meninga said. “He is a great player – I’m a fan of Jacob. And being a Norths junior doubles our interest.

“Being an ex-Bear is an important link. We are starting fresh but to have that Bears’ DNA is a bonus.

“Why wouldn’t we look at investing in him down the track? He’s got to be off contract, obviously, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t.

“I’d be very keen through our channels to have a chat with his management down the track. We can’t just think about 2027, we have to think beyond that as well.

“If he becomes available, why wouldn’t we be in the market for him?”

Preston playing for North Sydney Bears

Meninga conceded that he considered Preston for last year’s off-season Test series involving the Kangaroos.

“He was injured but I did ask about Jake when coaching Australia last year. He was certainly in the picture but unfortunately he wasn’t available,” Meninga said.

“I don’t know him that well but from what I have seen and heard, he is very impressive and his best years are ahead of him. If he is a leader then that’s fantastic and I have heard he’s a fantastic person.”

Preston has insisted he wants to remain at Canterbury and finish a one-club player, but the Bears offer could prove tempting. Picture: Getty Images

An energised and focused forward, Preston has become a mainstay of a Bulldogs forward pack charging headfirst toward a top-four finish.

He flew to Perth last month when named 20th man for the NSW Blues.

Preston progressed through North Sydney’s grades, captained multiple junior sides and also led the Sydney Roosters under-21s when the two clubs were affiliated.

He made his NRL debut in 2023 and has played 48 games for Canterbury.

Bulldogs general manager of football, Phil Gould, has already spoken about Preston being a future club captain.

Preston once claimed the Arthur Beetson Medal for Roosters’ Jersey Flegg player of the year

MENINGA’S MISSION BEGINS AS BEARS CLOSE IN ON FIRST KEY TARGET

—Travis Meyn, Peter Badel

Mal Meninga is set to make his first key appointment at the Perth Bears after long-serving Titans recruitment chief Ezra Howe departed the Gold Coast.

Howe has severed ties with the Titans immediately as the club stares down the barrel of a fourth straight bottom four finish and the 2025 NRL wooden spoon.

The former Junior Kiwis coach is expected to be appointed recruitment manager of NRL expansion club the Bears.

Bears foundation coach Meninga and Howe worked together at the Titans for five years while the NRL Immortal was a high performance and culture consultant with Gold Coast.

Together they played a key role in poaching Queensland Origin star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui from the Melbourne Storm and David Fifita from Brisbane.

Long-serving Titans recruitment chief Ezra Howe is set to join the Bears. Picture: NRL Imagery

Fa’asuamaleaui and Fifita are free agents from 2027 when the Bears enter the NRL and are expected to be prime recruitment targets for the Perth franchise.

The Titans confirmed Howe’s departure in a statement.

“The Titans can confirm that long-term recruitment manager Ezra Howe has finished in the role he’s held for the past seven seasons,” the club said.

“Howe joined the Titans in 2019 and has made a significant contribution to the club. Aside from the recruitment role, he’s also helped develop the club’s junior elite pathways programs.

“Howe will finish up his duties at the Titans effective immediately.

“The club wishes Ezra and his family all the best for the future and thank him for the significant contribution he has made over a long period of time on the Gold Coast.

“His replacement will be announced in due course.”

West Australian Premier Roger Cook and Inaugural Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast’s recruitment has come under fire amid the club’s prolonged stay in the NRL’s cellar.

The Titans have been criticised for spending too much money on forwards and neglecting key positions.

The halfbacks of the NRL’s current top three teams are also Titans rejects in Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Toby Sexton (Bulldogs) and Jahrome Hughes (Storm).

Meninga recently said he was determined to get his front office appointments right to ensure the long-term success of the Bears.

“Once we have some sort of freedom to make some decisions, then we’ll get into how we build the club,” he said.

“I think all those foundation things around your pathways and your recruitment and development programs are crucial.

“There’s a lot of things to be decided. It’s important we get our foundation right, then I believe everything will flow from there, decisions will flow from there and then you can go out and recruit the right people. That’s my plan.

“We’ll be talking to everyone available on the market with my recruitment guy and head of footy, so we’ll make sure that we don’t leave any stone unturned.

“That’s part of my role, is to get a good footy team together and be competitive from day one. I know that’s a challenge, so you’ve got to talk to everyone.”

Originally published as Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga keen to sign Bulldogs star Jacob Preston in 2028