The Perth Bears have managed 13 signatures to date, but with none for more than a month, anxiety is building around who may be next, and what they will need in 2027 to be competitive.
Mal Meninga has made it clear the expansion outfit will not rush the process of bringing players to the club, but by the same token, more faces will only help their push to recruit.
Their misses - having chased Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Cameron Munster - will be felt in a big way.
There has been speculation in recent times around Siosifa Talakai and Billy Burns relocating from the Sharks, and while the duo would help, there are plenty of other names the Bears are surely locked in discussions with.
Here are the five players they must look to sign next.
» Players off-contract at the end of 2026
» Perth Bears signing tracker
2. Sam Verrills
If signing X-Factor is the top priority for Mal Meninga and his coaching staff, then a dummy half must be the next priority.
As it stands, the number nine role is the only position the Bears haven't signed a specialist player for.
When you look at the free agency market, that frankly becomes an even bigger concern - the lack of depth in talent off-contract at the number nine position is alarming.
That's not to say other players won't become available during the course of the season - they always do as things change around the competition and everyone, players and coaches alike, remember contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on quite often.
But Sam Verrills is the best of the number nines off contract, and not only that, he will bring a solidification through the middle third, and an experienced voice to a club who will be desperately chasing just that for their first season as the Dolphins did when they entered the competition.
