Corey Horsburgh has lifted the lid on his exit from the nation's capital, making the switch to the West Coast and becoming an inaugural Perth Bear.
The Canberra Raiders prop signed a three-year deal with the Bears to take part in their foundation pack, revealing the brief conversation he had with Mal Meninga in Canberra got him over the line.
The Maroons representative admitted the talks “happened quickly” as Mal made him "fall in love with the ideas he had around building a club" in the Bears' early years as an NRL team.
“I just felt like I needed a change, a bit of a refresh if you will,” Horsburgh said when featuring on the club's Big Bears Podcast.
“I feel like I have so much more to offer. I am keen to show the Perth people what I can do.
“I can't wait for this move. My missus and family, we're excited.
“We've all seen what Canberra has to offer. I loved my time there, but I am ready for a change and ready to restructure my life.”
Horsburgh made the decision to postpone the announcement following Josh Papalii's farewell match in Canberra and conceded he was quickly convinced after speaking to Mal.
"We talked a little bit, and then all of a sudden he flew to Canberra and had a chat with me and my girlfriend," he added.
"He made me fall in love with the ideas he had around building a club.
"The way he was talking about Perth and footy in general, it seems like he knows a lot. I am very excited to have another chapter in my life and learn a lot."
Horsburgh was contracted with the Raiders for 2027, but was granted permission to speak with rivals early, sparking the chance to catch up with big Mal to strike a deal.
Despite reports over previous months suggesting a fallout between him and coach Ricky Stuart, Horsburgh remained full of praise for the Raiders club legend.
“Ricky taught me everything I know,” Horsburgh said.
“I've been with him since the end of 2017. He's a very, very good coach, good bloke, and he's taught me pretty much everything I know in rugby league.
“Now I'm coming to Mal, another Raiders legend, which I'm very excited (about). Just the way he was talking about Perth and talking about footy in general, he seems like he knows a lot and I'm keen to move on to a new chapter in my life and learn from Mal.”
Horsburgh is expected to lead the way and become the Bears' enforcer in the engine room during their early years as a franchise.
He will be joined by Raiders front row partner Morgan Smithies, who is also making the trip across the country to join the Bears in 2027.
Smithies has signed a three-year mega deal, with a player option of an extra two-years following.
“We were very close in Canberra, so it's obviously going to make the transition a bit easier,” Horsburgh said of his relationship with Smithies.
“We're both looking forward to just a change — weather change, lifestyle change.”
Horsburgh played the entirety of his career in lime green since his debut in 2019, but made a brief appearance in Belmore on a loan-deal during the 2021 NRL season.
With Canberra all he's ever known, he is embracing the challenge and has bought into Meninga's vision of a successful franchise outside of the busy East Coast of Australia.
The club only has a handful of spots remaining in its Top 30 before they undergo the rigours of preseason training over the summer, kicking off in just over two months' time.
