The NRL’s bold expansion plan has taken a major step forward with the league approving a revised bid to bring back the Bears, this time out of Perth, from 2027.
But amid all the fanfare, former premiership-winning playmaker Braith Anasta has sounded a sharp warning: Is there enough talent to go around?
Speaking on the Dead Set Legends podcast, Anasta admitted he’s sceptical of whether the competition can support not just the incoming Perth Bears, but also the Port Moresby-based PNG side, which is expected to follow in 2028.
“There’s a lot going on,” Anasta said. “It’s going to become chaos, because they’ve got to sign players over the next year and a half, which is really going to rock the boat in the salary cap at every club.”
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'We’re searching for talent even now’
While there’s confidence from ARLC boss Peter V’landys, who managed to get the Vegas opener over the line in under a year, Anasta questioned whether the player pool is deep enough to support 19 teams.
“I hate to be a downer, but I don’t think so,” he said. “Even now, we’re searching for talent—halves, key playmakers, big-game players.”
He added that the sudden burst of movement could result in rushed decisions, particularly for Perth. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. “You’ve got to find a coach, an office staff, medical staff, marketing, pathways—there’s only one season between now and 2027.”
The WA government has pledged millions in support, with reports suggesting a $50 million deal across five years. But for Anasta, the concern lies not in dollars or infrastructure, but the players themselves.
“If you want to grow your game and get to that elite level, and you’re in that middle period of your career, it’s probably not a smart move,” he said.
As clubs prepare to fend off talent raids and weigh up the financial upside, Anasta’s fear remains: expansion might come at the cost of quality.