The Perth Bears have won a dual-code war for rising star Asher Chapman, with the Illawarra junior to push for NRL honours on the other side of the country.
Chapman is one of a host of emerging talent currently playing with the Illawarra Stelers where he played in the Harold Matthews Cup this year.
An under-16 City representative, Chapman has also played for the under-16 Waratahs and Australian Schoolboys rugby union teams, but has decided rugby league is the path forward, signing a three-year deal with the Perth Bears to become part of the NRL's 18th team.
Chapman will start out on a train and trial deal in 2027, doing a pre-season training block in Perth before returning to play SG Ball with the North Sydney Bears, where he could then push for Jersey Flegg honours in the second half of 2027.
The Bears have confirmed he will then move into the development squad for 2028 as he works his way through the NSW Cup system with the North Sydney Bears, before joining the Top 30 in 2029.
The prodigiously talented 17-year-old is rated as the best young hooker at his age bracket, and the loss is a bitter blow for the St George Illawarra Dragons who were likely looking at him as their future in the role currently occupied by Jacob Liddle.
The Kiama-born teenager said the opportunity to play for Perth was an exciting one.
“The chance to join a brand-new club like the Perth Bears was an opportunity too good to turn down,” Chapman said.
“Taking my game to the next level under a living legend like Mal Meninga is massive for my development.
“I'm incredibly grateful to the St. George Illawarra Dragons for everything they've done for me, but I can't wait to rip in, wear the Bears jersey, and give everything I've got to the fans in Perth.”
Perth head coach Mal Meninga said Chapman was a talent for both now and the future.
“Asher is the type of explosive, highly skilled footy player we want at the club,” Meninga said.
“His background dominating both codes shows he has a rare level of football intelligence that makes him a great talent now and into the future.
“What excites me most about Asher isn't just his raw athletic ability, but his character and hunger to learn.
“When building a brand-new club list from scratch, you want to invest heavily in the quality of the individual. He wants to work hard, he wants to be a leader, and we are confident he is going to develop into a premier NRL star who the West Australian fans will love watching for many years to come.”
He will link up with Perth for his pre-season training block at the back end of this year.
