Perth Bears Recruitment

[hunsletgreenandgold]

Perth seem to be having another cluster of signings and there's rumours about more joining from SL. 

Here's who they have so far: 

• Harry Newman 
• Toby Sexton 
• Luke Smith 
• Emarly Bitungane
• Liam Henry 
• Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
• Sean Russell
• Josh Curran
• Tyran Wishart
• Nick Meaney 

 

If the James McDonnell rumours are true, he could well be the next to add to the list. Perth will end up with at least 5 English players in their squad I reckon. 

Overall, they still need at least 2 'marquee' signings to be competitive in 2027. 

 

[The Rocket]

13 minutes ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

Perth seem to be having another cluster of signings and there's rumours about more joining from SL. 

Here's who they have so far: 

• Harry Newman 
• Toby Sexton 
• Luke Smith 
• Emarly Bitungane
• Liam Henry 
• Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
• Sean Russell
• Josh Curran
• Tyran Wishart
• Nick Meaney 

 

If the James McDonnell rumours are true, he could well be the next to add to the list. Perth will end up with at least 5 English players in their squad I reckon. 

Overall, they still need at least 2 'marquee' signings to be competitive in 2027. 

 

Really starting to put together a solid squad and it`s only going to make it easier sign more.

Burton and Fa`asuamaleaui would blow things out of the park.

[Sports Prophet]

Meaney and Wishart from Melbourne are massive gains!

[The Rocket]

1 hour ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

If the James McDonnell rumours are true, he could well be the next to add to the list

If you don`t mind me asking how good is this McDonnell bloke, what type of player is he and what is his background, I saw he made the Super League Dream Team which is a good sign.

There`s rumours down here that Trey Fuller from the Dolphins might be next, you`d think that`d push Meaney into the centres or wing and with Newman and Russell signed they would be starting to get a bit of depth in the outside backs.

[hunsletgreenandgold]

1 hour ago, The Rocket said:

Really starting to put together a solid squad and it`s only going to make it easier sign more.

Burton and Fa`asuamaleaui would blow things out of the park.

I agree Tino would really be a statement signing and his brother being there as well certainly adds to the appeal. My only concern from a career perspective is he's unlikely to win another comp for the rest of his career if he makes the move and whilst I know he got one with Storm early in his playing days, will feel a travesty for a player of his calibre to never win another. 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

14 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

If you don`t mind me asking how good is this McDonnell bloke, what type of player is he and what is his background, I saw he made the Super League Dream Team which is a good sign.

There`s rumours down here that Trey Fuller from the Dolphins might be next, you`d think that`d push Meaney into the centres or wing and with Newman and Russell signed they would be starting to get a bit of depth in the outside backs.

For me he should've been in the England squad for the Ashes - certainly better than Bateman. He'll suit the NRL perfectly as he's solid in defence and in attack think more Matty Nicholson than Whitehead - i.e really good line runner but not much of a pass/offload game. 

[Spotty Herbert]

1 minute ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

For me he should've been in the England squad for the Ashes - certainly better than Bateman. He'll suit the NRL perfectly as he's solid in defence and in attack think more Matty Nicholson than Whitehead - i.e really good line runner but not much of a pass/offload game. 

I mostly agree. Very solid defender, runs a good line on the right edge at Leeds, but his handling can be a bit iffy at times. Initially I felt he might have been a bit on the small side for international rugby, but he is deceptively tall and broad.

[The Rocket]

20 minutes ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

I agree Tino would really be a statement signing and his brother being there as well certainly adds to the appeal. My only concern from a career perspective is he's unlikely to win another comp for the rest of his career if he makes the move and whilst I know he got one with Storm early in his playing days, will feel a travesty for a player of his calibre to never win another. 

Very true, he can probably forget about winning a premiership and as you say there`s blokes who you think deserve them and a lot who just get lucky.

[The Rocket]

15 minutes ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

and in attack think more Matty Nicholson

I like the sound of that, Nicholson seems to have, despite not being overly big, that ability to find the line and being a bit hard to handle.

[DoubleD]

44 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

If you don`t mind me asking how good is this McDonnell bloke, what type of player is he and what is his background, I saw he made the Super League Dream Team which is a good sign.

 

Like most of Perth's recruits, fairly ordinary at that level. 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

55 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Like most of Perth's recruits, fairly ordinary at that level. 

SL team of the year at back row…but yeah ordinary. Or are you of the Shaun Wane ilk, where that means nothing and just go off vibes and personal opinion? 

[DoubleD]

38 minutes ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

SL team of the year at back row…but yeah ordinary. Or are you of the Shaun Wane ilk, where that means nothing and just go off vibes and personal opinion? 

Mahe Fonua made the SL dream team 2 years running which says it all 

[V02]

2 hours ago, The Rocket said:

I like the sound of that, Nicholson seems to have, despite not being overly big, that ability to find the line and being a bit hard to handle.

Would say he’s a fair bit off Nicholson as an attacker. Far better defender, both D movements and tackling. Tough bloke with some leadership qualities also. 

[OffTheMark]

Yeah I don’t think you can fault McDonnell’s efforts in defence, but he’s not a player that’s going to trouble NRL defences. Gannon and Watkins were far superior attacking players last season.

[hunsletgreenandgold]

2 hours ago, V02 said:

Would say he’s a fair bit off Nicholson as an attacker. Far better defender, both D movements and tackling. Tough bloke with some leadership qualities also. 

 

1 hour ago, OffTheMark said:

Yeah I don’t think you can fault McDonnell’s efforts in defence, but he’s not a player that’s going to trouble NRL defences. Gannon and Watkins were far superior attacking players last season.

8 tries for a back rower who’s terrible in attack. Okay lads

[hunsletgreenandgold]

2 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Mahe Fonua made the SL dream team 2 years running which says it all 

I feel like your grievance is with the quality of super league…not sure what that has to do with McDonnell? 

[OffTheMark]

35 minutes ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

 

8 tries for a back rower who’s terrible in attack. Okay lads

Five of them against Salford (four in one game).

In fact, his try against Saints in the play offs was his only try against a top 6 side all season. And that’s my point, he’s not a game breaking back rower against top defences. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a success in the NRL (see Bateman for example).

Edited January 10 by OffTheMark

[DoubleD]

1 hour ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

I feel like your grievance is with the quality of super league…not sure what that has to do with McDonnell? 

I don’t have a grievance. I’m making the point that being in the SL dream team isn’t a good metric for determining whether someone will be a success in NRL

[M j M]

McDonnell is a big loss for Leeds, particularly in the context of the departure of Gannon. In years past, before the attraction of the NRL vs SL became quite so skewed, you would have envisaged those two anchoring Leeds back row for the next decade.

Now McDonnell isn't as big a loss as Gannon who is more of a generational talent but combined it's very bad news offset only slightly by the potential of the following generation.

[N2022]

Perth Bears -

an anagram is PR, HR : "beats E"

[StandOffHalf]

9 hours ago, The Rocket said:

If you don`t mind me asking how good is this McDonnell bloke, what type of player is he and what is his background, I saw he made the Super League Dream Team which is a good sign.

Good defence, good attacking support lines in the red zone (been mostly playing off Connor on the right). He's got a bobble and an error in him, but his best thing is his energy and work-rate. He loves putting himself about.

He's a player I like watching. Not necessarily ever going to be elite, but he does catch the eye and put in solid shifts. I think he could be a success in the NRL.

[JDM]

11 hours ago, The Rocket said:

If you don`t mind me asking how good is this McDonnell bloke, what type of player is he and what is his background, I saw he made the Super League Dream Team which is a good sign.

There`s rumours down here that Trey Fuller from the Dolphins might be next, you`d think that`d push Meaney into the centres or wing and with Newman and Russell signed they would be starting to get a bit of depth in the outside backs.

My Leeds player of the year in 23/24 and up there again last year

For me - excellent work rate and stamina, very good defence, OK attack but always running good lines.

IMO the amount of errors is down to the number of hospital passes that Croft sends his way from about 3 yards away. Croft often chooses the wrong pass for him or leaves it too late.

[Szymala]

On 10/01/2026 at 16:47, hunsletgreenandgold said:

 

8 tries for a back rower who’s terrible in attack. Okay lads

4 in one game v Salford...brings it into perspective.

[hunsletgreenandgold]

James McDonnell now confirmed for the Bears. 

[NRLandSL]

On 10/01/2026 at 20:52, hunsletgreenandgold said:

Perth seem to be having another cluster of signings and there's rumours about more joining from SL. 

Here's who they have so far: 

• Harry Newman 
• Toby Sexton 
• Luke Smith 
• Emarly Bitungane
• Liam Henry 
• Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
• Sean Russell
• Josh Curran
• Tyran Wishart
• Nick Meaney 

 

If the James McDonnell rumours are true, he could well be the next to add to the list. Perth will end up with at least 5 English players in their squad I reckon. 

Overall, they still need at least 2 'marquee' signings to be competitive in 2027. 

 

They’ve signed Judah Rimbu aswell. I think they haven’t announced it as he isn’t in the top 30 squad. Which is very silly to be honest, I can’t remember a time the QLD cup player of the year isn’t good enough for at least a top 30 spot.

I’m sure he he’ll solidify his place in the team very soon though. I can see him being Perth’s 14 through out the year.