The Perth Bears have turned their attention to the St George Illawarra Dragons for their next contract target, with Connor Muhleisen a possible recruit for 2027.
Muhleisen returned to first-grade on the weekend following Jacob Liddle's season-ending injury.
Once rated as the best talent anywhere in the Dragons junior pathways, Muhleisen's career has stumbled from one injury to another.
Most recently, an ACL injury ruined most of his 2026 NRL season, but after impressive form at NSW Cup level, he was rewarded with a recall to first-grade for the final weeks of the campaign.
The dummy half, now 25 years of age, has spent most of his career in reserve grade and has 89 appearances there for the Dragons, while the local junior who played for the Thirroul Butchers as a kid has made 11 first-grade appearances since his debut in 2023.
ESPN are reporting his future may be away from the Dragons though, with the Perth Bears interested in his signature.
The Dragons have not ruled out keeping Muhleisen yet, but it's not a surprise to see the Bears looking for depth in the hooking department.
As it stands, Tyson Smoothy is the only out and out dummy half they have on the books for their inaugural season with just a pair of Top 30 spots left.
Tyran Wishart can also play at the number nine, but will likely instead be used in the first-choice halves alongside Toby Sexton, or potentially one of the other recent signings in Niwhai Puru and Jack Cole, when they run out for their opening game early next year.
Mal Meninga's side targetting Muhleisen may be a move that they can pull off with relative ease, given the hooker will likely have to bide his time again at the Dragons next year.
It's expected Red V head coach Dean Young will simply shuffle Jacob Liddle into the starting time on a full time basis, something that was already happening in the weeks leading up to his most recent injury, while the arriving Connor Watson will slot in as the bench utility for a year before jetting off to Papua New Guinea.
2028 could be Muhleisen's way into first-grade, but there is also the small issue of the emergence of Haele Finau at NSW Cup level this year, who could well be the Dragons' long-term rake.
