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
3. Selwyn Cobbo
Cobbo is another in the mix for positions at the Dolphins, but could well be out of favour if Tevita Naufahu impresses, or otherwise once Jack Bostock returns.
The issue for Cobbo is that he doesn't have a whole lot of runs on the board right now.
His form throughout 2025, where he fell out of favour in a premiership-winning side, wasn't good enough and ultimately it saw him make the move up the freeway to Redcliffe.
A one-year deal there gives him the chance to relaunch his career, but it doesn't feel as if it will be a forever home.
The Perth Bears could solve that, getting him out of the limelight of east coast media, and giving him an opportunity in a totally new set up to return to his absolute best, which was good enough to play State of Origin even at this early point of his career.
