Corey Horsburgh's move to the Perth Bears has officially been confirmed, with the expansion club announcing the forward's three-year deal on Sunday morning.
The deal was first revealed early last week, but has now been formally confirmed by the Bears as they continue to build their inaugural squad ahead of their entry into the NRL in 2027.
The agreement is understood to be worth around $2.3 million across the three seasons, with Horsburgh reportedly earning $700,000 per year.
The contract is also understood to include ratchet clauses which will allow his earnings to increase following the record-breaking NRL broadcast deal kicking into gear in 2028.
Horsburgh will now join fellow Canberra Raiders forward Morgan Smithies in making the move, adding significant experience and aggression to the Bears' inaugural forward pack.
The prop's impending departure from the nation's capital was made known last month, when the Raiders allowed Horsburgh to explore his options on the open market despite him originally being contracted to the club until the end of the 2027 season.
The Bears were able to secure Horsburgh ahead of the Brisbane Broncos, who were unable to accommodate his price tag.
Horsburgh has played 132 NRL games for Canberra since making his first-grade debut and was part of Queensland's successful 2023 State of Origin campaign.
He also made his senior international debut for the Prime Minister's XIII in 2025.
Bears head coach Mal Meninga said Horsburgh was “exactly the kind of forward we want building the foundations of this club”.
“He's got the aggression, the work-rate and the Origin pedigree we've been targeting, and he slots straight into a pack that's already taking real shape,” Meninga said.
“This isn't just about signing good individual players — we're building a genuine forward unit, and Corey adds another layer of physicality to that.
“He sets a tone through the middle that opposition teams won't enjoy dealing with, and I think our fans are going to love watching him lead the way up front.
“We want HBF Park to be a fortress, and forwards like Corey are exactly how you build that.
“I'm really pleased to have him join us in Western Australia. I will be the first to give Corey a big ‘Bear hug' when he arrives and welcome him to our growing Perth family.”
Horsburgh has confirmed his excitement to move West and help build a new franchise.
“This is a decision I'm very excited about. The chance to be part of something from the ground up doesn't come around often, and I want to be one of the players who helps build this club into something special from day one,” he said.
“Having Mal as Head Coach was a big factor in this decision. He's an Immortal and a Queensland and Raiders legend, so getting the chance to learn from someone with his knowledge of the game and what it takes to win will be awesome.
“Playing under a coach like Mal, who's done it all in this game, gives me a lot of confidence in where this club is heading.”
