Perth Bears embroiled in integrity scandal after allegations Ezra Howe used Titans salary-cap information for recruitment hit list
The NRL integrity unit has launched an investigation into explosive allegations that a former Titans recruitment boss used inside salary-cap knowledge to build a recruitment hit list for the Perth Bears – while still working for the Gold Coast.
The Perth Bears are embroiled in an integrity scandal after the Titans lodged a formal complaint with the NRL over the expansion club’s alleged pursuit of Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Gold Coast bosses have asked the NRL to investigate explosive allegations, first raised by The Australian, their ex-recruitment boss Ezra Howe used top-secret club information to build a signings hit list for the Bears – while still working for the Titans.
The hit list totalled up to 15 players.
It was allegedly compiled on a secret spreadsheet found on Howe’s Titans computer and featured some of the NRL’s biggest superstars including Fa’asuamaleaui, Melbourne’s Cameron Munster and Broncos prop Payne Haas.
The claims have the potential to rock the code to its foundations given that the Bears’ licence is owned by the NRL.
Howe was slated to join the Bears as coach Mal Meninga’s inaugural recruitment boss, but his formal appointment is on hold after Perth bosses and NRL authorities were made aware of the allegations.
The NRL integrity unit has been asked to probe conduct and integrity issues, including whether Howe breached the code’s strict anti-tampering rules by allegedly targeting Fa’asuamaleaui while the captain is still contracted to the Titans.
In 2023, the Dolphins were fined $50,000 by the NRL after being found guilty of attempting to induce Broncos star Deine Mariner to break his contract and sign with Redcliffe.
Gold Coast have supplied paperwork to the NRL alleging that Howe used knowledge of the club’s salary-cap position, and contract status and salaries of Titans players, to plot potential signings for the Bears.
Titans owner Rebecca Frizelle confirmed she has lodged a complaint with the NRL and is considering legal action against Howe, who resigned as Gold Coast’s recruitment chief in July.
It is understood Frizelle, who took full ownership of the Titans in July, would have terminated Howe had he not personally resigned.
“We have notified the NRL,” Frizelle said on Saturday.
“Our lawyers are currently in dialogue with the NRL.
“We have already engaged our lawyers and we are awaiting further advice.
“We are considering our position at this time.”
In their formal complaint to the NRL, the Titans submitted evidence claiming Howe:
* Forwarded key Titans information from his work address to a personal email account;
* Emailed to himself a letter of offer from the Bears on June 2;
* Told player managers to delay re-signing Titans players in a “go-slow” attempt to divert Gold Coast stars to the Bears.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.
An investigation by this masthead can reveal Gold Coast hierarchy hired forensic IT experts after seizing Howe’s Titans computer.
The IT experts allegedly found a separate spreadsheet detailing a potential hit list of recruits for the Bears, spanning seasons 2027-2030.
The spreadsheet contained proposed salary figures for targeted players such as Fa’asuamaleaui, Haas and Munster.
Other names included Titans quartet Jaylan De Groot, Jayden Campbell, Carter Gordon and Sam Verrills, plus Cronulla’s Kayal Iro and Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte.
Fa’asuamaleaui was to be offered $1.5 million in his first season to join the Bears in 2027.
Fa’asumaleaui is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2033, but his 10-year deal contains a get-out clause which enables him to be a free agent from November 1 this year.
Howe was the Titans’ recruitment boss when Tino’s 10-year contract was struck in 2023.
A former Junior Kiwis assistant coach, Howe joined the Titans in January 2019. He spent six years at the Titans and, as recruitment manager, was responsible for the Gold Coast’s salary-cap management, roster structure and recruitment-and-retention activities.
Perth coach Meninga, who has a long association with Howe, is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Reports in June linked Howe to the Bears. Despite the Titans’ claims of a letter of offer from Perth, Bears chief executive Anthony De Ceglie says Howe has no formal position with the NRL’s 18th team.
“Ezra Howe is not an employee of the Perth Bears,” De Ceglie said.
“Any matters involving Ezra Howe and the Gold Coast Titans is a matter between those two parties.”
This masthead has attempted to contact Howe, who played a key role in signing Fa’asuamaleaui to the Titans from Melbourne in 2021 with the help of then Gold Coast culture boss Meninga.
Howe had not returned calls at the time of publication.
The allegations are a potential black eye for the Bears and NRL, who in May announced the Perth-based team would enter the competition in 2027.
Gold Coast chief executive Steve Mitchell confirmed the Titans had made a formal complaint to the NRL.
“Our owners are taking a very strong stance on this matter,” Mitchell said.
“We can’t speak to the exact detail pending possible legal action.”
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Originally published as Perth Bears embroiled in integrity scandal after allegations Ezra Howe used Titans salary-cap information for recruitment hit list
