Meninga declares ‘handover time’ after leading Bears march
Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga has officially declared the dawn of a new era for rugby league in Perth.
The face of the Perth Bears led a march on Saturday afternoon to HBF Park, where the Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm squared off.
Tyran Wishart scored in front of his new home crowd. Paul Kane.
Inside the stadium, ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys and WA Premier Roger Cook watched on as Meninga kept a close eye on Bears recruits Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart.
“Today’s officially the handover time. This is the last of the NRL games and then the Perth Bears become the real thing. We’re really looking forward to ... after the game taking control of WA sport,” Meninga said on Fox League.
“A lot of logistics still to happen, obviously our facilities, really pleased with the roster. I think it’s a tremendous bunch of fellas that are going to go over here and do WA proud.”
Despite the slippery conditions in the Perth rain, Wishart proved unstoppable as the playmaker gave his future home crowd plenty to roar about, scoring a try with five minutes to go in the first half.
Meninga was quick to praise his future stars, noting the excitement building ahead of the team’s inaugural pre-season.
“Got a couple playing today, which is good, Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart,” Meninga said.
“They’ll get a bit of a taste of their talents, but we’ve got a talented roster, looking forward to kicking off our 2027 season soon in November with our training, and just get into it.
“We’ve seen over here ... it’s a sport-crazy state, honestly. And there’s been great support from the government and the sporting community and that we’ve had a lot of conversations with all the different sports over here and they’ve been really supportive.
Bears assistant coach Ben Gardiner and head coach Mal Meninga. Paul Kane.
“And it is a rivalry, I sense over here. It is the west and it is versus the east and we’re putting national into the National Rugby League, as the saying says, and looking forward to representing rugby league here over in the west.”
