The Perth Bears have moved a step closer to rounding out their roster following the signing of Niwhai Puru, who plenty of Sharks fans were sad to see depart.

Puru's just yet another player the Bears have poached from one of the more stable, well run and better performing teams of recent seasons - IP we will greatly benefit from in the West.

We have taken a closer look at the Junior Paulo contract and are now feeling better about that, plus how the 2027 roster is looking and how much cap space remains.

Plus, details emerged that the Bears weren't interested in Zac Lomax. If that doesn't fill you with confidence that this Perth Bears front office places strong standards and values on the players they're chasing, I don't know what will.

Plenty going on, as per usual!

1:45 - Jack Cole officially official

3:30 - We've added Niwhai Puru to our halves stocks

8:00 - The depth of our roster

10:00 - The difference in who we're signing vs PNG

10:45 - Links to Cam Munster

12:00 - The Junior Paulo contract

17:45 - Our roster health

21:45 - The Zac Lomax news

25:45 - The beauty of our roster

31:00 - It's nearly jersey time

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

What a big week for the Bears. If we weren't signing players, we were copping heat off the back of the Chiefs going after another high profile player demanding an over-inflated contract while drawing over-inflated praise.

The Perth Bears added Junior Paulo and Morgan Smithies (while also announcing Jack Cole after our record). The club also made. the Tyson Smoothy news official.

We've been linked to Tigers half Adam Douehi, which is met with mixed reviews.

CHAPTERS

4:00 - Adam Douehi links

14:00 - Morgan Smithies and Junior Paulo join Tyson Smoothy

22:00 - We've signed Jope (JayKay) Rauqe from the Dogs

23:45 - Ben Gardiner interviewed for the Dragons coaching job

29:30 - Our Best 19s

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Perth Bears have reportedly landed two players from Brisbane's 2025 premiership-winning team, Gehamat Shibasaki and Tyson Smoothy. Plus, we've been linked to a few other more-than-handy middle forwards in Moses Leota, Junior Paulo and Morgan Smithies. Fair to say it's been a big start to the week.

We unpack all the latest roster move in detail and tell everyone what we think.

Chapters:

1:00 - Let's just lean into this new team rivalry with PNG

3:30 - I think we've found an enforcer in Liam Henry

7:45 - We've reportedly signed Tyson Smoothy

17:00 - Two-year Shibasaki deal is done

23:45 - Links to Moses Leota, Junior Paulo and Morgan Smithies

30:00 - Recapping, the Bears roster looks more complete now

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Un-freaking-believable. A player we were incredibly excited to secure has opted to make an 11th hour backflip on the Perth Bears. So why did Jamie Humphreys lead us on and then bail at the last minute?

We unpack the mess from every angle and then try to clean up the mess by pitching off-contract players that could fill holes in both the halves, but also at lock where we projected Humphreys to play... names like Brodie Croft, Kodi Nikorima, Ronald Volkman, Jack Cole, Josh Rogers, Kurt Mann, Ray Stone & Shawn Blore.

Chapters:

4:45 - Jamie Humphreys backflips on the Bears

7:00 - We speculate as to why

12:45 - Jarome Luai has been linked to the Bears

18:00 - Options to fill the void at half and lock

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Which Bears-bound players are starring in the NRL and Super League right now? We hand out a fresh set of votes under the 3,2,1 system... considering names like Curran, Henry, Newman, Wishart, Humphries, Russel and McDonnell.

Also, we revisit the Gehamat Shibasaki. Are we having second thoughts on the Bears making a bid to land his signature for the next two seasons?

Chapters:

2:45 - Second thoughts on Gehamat Shibasaki

9:45 - WA product Zane Murray flashes at the ASSRL National Championships

12:00 - We give out votes to the best current Bear-bound performers across the NRL and Super League

21:45 - Bears NSW Cup update

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The NRL has granted the Perth Bears a conditional $500,000 in salary cap concessions. So how can we use it and who should we go after?

There are reports we've tabled Gehamat Shibasaki a two-year deal worth roughly $500k a season - what do we think?
Moses Leota's future at Penrith is suddenly up in the air. Is that a guy we should be in on?

Also, Luke Laulili'i's signed with the Warriors for the rest of this season.

And the boys at the Leeds Rhinos are absolutely carving!

Chapters:

1:45 - Phil's exchange with Bears new GM Gareth Holmes

4:30 - Luke Laulili'i to the Warriors

8:40 - The salary cap handout from the NRL

13:40 - Does this extra cash accelerate Matt Burton conversations?

18:00 - The Shibasaki offer

24:30 - Moses Leota might be available

29:00 - The Leeds Rhinos boys are flying

A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player.

The Perth Bears are getting stuff done, appointing Gareth Holmes as their GM of Football, which is a huge gig for a startup club. Plus, we've given none other than David Campese an intriguing role.

There's another Geyer in Perth, as the Bears announce they've landed Mark's son Maverick in a nice multi-generational moment for WA Rugby League.

And what would fans think about going after Storm centre Jack Howarth, who has fallen out of favour at Melbourne?

Chapters:

2:00 - Bears sign Mav Geyer

7:50 - Gareth Holmes is our new GM

18:30 - David Campese's new role, targeting South African talent

26:00 - Player movement involving Jesse McLean, Starford Toa, Alex Seyfarth and Jack Howarth

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

There have been mixed reviews about the Perth Bears' roster build so far. But who would your favourite signing be? We have our say, but we're keen to hear from others - feel free to leave a comment below (for those tuning in via Spotify), or head to our socials on insta & YouTube - @theGrizzwoldsNRL.

Also, Jacob Preston has paused extention talks with the Bulldogs, and since he's a Bears Academy product, that's noteworthy.

Also, another Perth Bears signing has been on fire.

Chapters:

1:30 - Mason Barber is official

3:30 - AJ Gudgeon is official

4:30 - Wjy our NSW Cup team is rising to the challenge

8:00 - Tom Jenkins won't be joining the Bears

11:30 - Love to the Fa'asuamaleauis

12:30 - Jamie Humphries looked great at lock for Souths

18:00 - Our favourite Perth Bears signing so far

24:00 - The Jacob Preston saga

26:30 - Harry Newman's high flying form

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Fresh off the news the Perth Bears have landed highly-rated outside back Mason Barber (plus a North Sydney fan favourite on a train and trial), it's time to target a couple of fan favourites the locals can rally around.

Also, the Tigers' recent form is a timely reminder that high profile players don't guarentee winning, despite what those comparing PNG to Perth would have you believe.

Chapters:

2:00 - Bears' top NSW Cup form

3:15 - Why extending AJ Gudgeon is cool for Perth fans

4:20 - Now we need to target WA products in Royce Hunt and Josh Rogers

7:00 - Why Hunt fits

12:30 - The Mason Barber deal is reportedly confirmed. He's a star in the making.

16:45 - Jasais Ah Kee's family connections

18:00 - Who are our starting ventres?

19:30 - We love James McDonnell

23:45 - Jarome Luai and the Tigers offer us lessons and takeaways

28:00 - Let's target Tom Jenkins and here's why

We are the Grizzwolds! A Perth Bears podcast. Independent and fan-focused, run by two life-long Bears tragics.

Follow us on insta (@thegrizzwoldsnrl), youtube (@TheGrizzwoldsNRL) and please follow and subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast player; like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Coach Mal Meninga and the Perth Bears are being investigated by the NRL's Integrity Unit for publicly courting contracted players. So were we in the wrong and what do we expect happens now?

Also, the club has reportedly signed very exciting prospect Jasais Ah Kee on a three-year deal, plus is closing in on landing the prized signature of Cowboys young gun Mason Barber. These have gone under the radar until now, so we unpack them from every angle.

Chapters:

1:45 - The Bears are being investigated for tampering

7:30 - This is sloppy from Mal

9:45 - We invent 'inverted tampering'

13:30 - Thoughts on the Jacob Preston noise

15:00 - We are reportedly signing young gun Jasais Ah Kee

20:00 - We are reportedly on the verge of signing Mason Barber

25:30 - The shape of our roster