Mal Meninga unfazed despite Perth Bears falling behind expansion team signing deadline

Despite their goal of 10 new signings by Christmas, the Bears have struggled to keep up with the signing timeline established by the Dolphins, but Mal Meninga has denied he is feeling pressured.

Bears coach Mal Meninga has implored east coast stars to be “bold and courageous” by joining Perth but then declared the new NRL franchise may not sign a player until early next year.

While contract offers for players have been lodged, Perth is yet to announce an inaugural signing despite the NRL’s November 1 player deadline passing nearly three weeks ago.

Perth’s first premiership match is just 16 months away.

The Bears are yet to finalise a logo and haven’t yet flown any potential recruits to Perth for meet-and-greet visits.

Some of the six-member staff remain living on Australia’s east coast.

The Dolphins started quicker than Perth with the Brisbane club signing its first player, Harrison Graham, on November 9, 2021 – 16 months before the club was admitted to the NRL - and the first major signing, Felise Kaufusi, on November 26, 2021.

Bears recruitment manager Dane Campbell had wanted to have ten players signed before Christmas – a goal that would now appear unachievable.

Perth are still searching for their ‘Kaufusi’ signing.

But Meninga isn’t panicking, saying: “There is no pressure on us to sign anyone before Christmas, or even into the New Year. We’re taking our time. We will be patient, won’t be pressured and don’t want to put any players under pressure publicly.

“We want to make sure that when we do approach someone then we make it very difficult for them to turn us down. We’ve been busy but it’s only been a couple of weeks since we started on the trail.

“We have been talking to a lot of players and player managers and we’re happy with the people we’ve been talking to. How long it takes to sign players doesn’t particularly worry me to be honest.”

The Bears have been linked to multiple stars, including Tyran Wishart, Toby Sexton, Payne Haas, Hugo Savala, Cam McInnes, Scott Sorensen, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Deine Mariner, Jacob Preston, Liam Henry, Harry Grant, Selwyn Cobbo, Jayden Campbell and Gehamat Shibasaki.

There are also suggestions Perth may target some English Super League players but the playing roster remains empty.

“At the end of the day, players will have to make some tough decisions around whether they want to be bold or not. It will take a fairly courageous decision to come over to the west, to take that initial step. They would be pioneers,” Meninga said.

“It’s a daunting move but there’s a lot of upside and we want to invest in the players and their families. There is the travel component and being away from family is critical.

“Perth is a very liveable city so I don’t think we have to sell Perth. If a player gets to love Perth, like I love Canberra, then it becomes a lifestyle.

“The cost of living is pretty good in Perth. Most suburbs in Perth are quite nice and not too far from the beach.

Meninga is confident in his ability to lure top NRL talent to Perth. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“Once players get there and understand how well the state of WA will look after them, they will grow and be part of a system that will take care of them.”

Perth management will shift into newly renovated yet temporary offices at the WACA with an all-purpose training facility to be built nearby at Waterbank, on the Swan River.

A Centre of Excellence will be completed at Malaga, a 14 minute drive from the CBD to north Perth, in 2028.

The upgrades will cost $13m.

“The WACA is a beautiful location in the heart of the city. You could walk to Optus Stadium and (home ground) HBF Stadium. There are some beautiful communities being built around the river,” Meninga said.

Originally published as Mal Meninga unfazed despite Perth Bears falling behind expansion team signing deadline