Can the Perth Bears Copy the Dolphins’ Blueprint for NRL Success?
- Perth Bears sign Toby Sexton and Harry Newman as foundational pieces.
- Aim to replicate Dolphins' strategy with mid-tier recruits like Shibasaki & Arthars.
- Recruiting in pairs to boost player support & cohesion for future competitiveness.
Can the Perth Bears Copy the Dolphins’ Blueprint?
The Perth Bears are finally on the board. After months of noise and very little action, the NRL’s newest club has landed Toby Sexton as their foundation halfback and English Test centre Harry Newman as a marquee piece for 2027.
It’s a solid start, but it doesn’t change the bigger question of if the Bears can’t land the superstars, can they build a contender the Dolphins way, with smart “second tier” signings and recruiting in pairs?
Big names missed, pressure rising
The Bears have already swung and missed at plenty of headline acts. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jayden Campbell both chose to stay on the Gold Coast, with Campbell now tied to the Titans until the end of 2031.
They’ve been linked to Harry Grant, Beau Fermor and others, but those deals never materialised.
Trav and Joel from the League of Inches Podcast were convinced Reuben Garrick was the perfect expansion signing, a proven finisher, goal kicker and professional who could bring instant credibility. Instead, Garrick has now officially committed to the Roosters from 2027 on a three-year deal, replacing Mark Nawaqanitawase and potentially Daniel Tupou in a reshaped Bondi backline.
For an expansion club desperately trying to land a face of the franchise, that one stings.
Shibasaki & Arthars – the right type of target
So where to now?
The Bears have reportedly moved hard at Brisbane pair Gehamat Shibasaki and Jesse Arthars, who both fit a very specific profile: NRL-ready outside backs, still with upside, squeezed by a stacked Broncos roster.
That’s exactly the type of player Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins built around in year one in Herbie Farnworth, Tom Gilbert, Jamayne Isaako, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Not superstars at the time, but genuine first-graders who became 7-8/10 performers every week.
Shibasaki stabilised Brisbane’s edge defence this season and gave them real punch with ball in hand. Arthars’ numbers of 18 games, 11 tries and consistent finishing in a premiership-winning side just scream “plug-and-play starter” for a new club.
They won’t sell memberships like a Haas or Munster, but if Perth can get them both, they suddenly have a genuine NRL edge pairing from day one.
The “recruit in pairs” idea
One of the smarter ideas thrown up on the pod was simple: recruit in pairs.
Bringing over existing teammates in Shibasaki and Arthars, or two Dogs, or two Panthers just makes it easier for players to relocate across the country. Built-in friendships, shared standards, someone to live with and lean on in Perth.
It’s exactly what a long-haul expansion side needs:
- Better off-field support for players
- Faster cohesion in key combinations
- A stronger pitch when you’re not offering a premiership window on day one
The Bears should lean into that. If they’re chasing a Bronco, chase two. If they’re into a Dogs forward, look for a second from the same pack.
What success realistically looks like
Perth fans dreaming of a “raid the comp and sign five Origin players” off-season probably need to reset expectations. The Bears are more likely to look like the Dolphins and Warriors than the Roosters:
- A long, patient build
- A squad stacked with honest first-graders
- One or two smart overseas imports like Newman
Then, when the cap clears and the club has a platform, a genuine marquee or two
If they nail that middle-tier recruitment and win at least one of the Shibasaki/Arthars battles, the Bears can be competitive sooner than people think. If they keep missing on both the stars and the workers, it’ll be a long few years in the west.
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