Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Thunder on the turf.
[00:00:02] Speaker B: Hear the crowd ignite Perk Bears charging
[00:00:05] Speaker A: in red and black tonight from the try line battles to the lead wide stats.
[00:00:10] Speaker B: We break it down, we bring it home.
[00:00:12] Speaker A: These are the bare facts per Fried. Game on. Let's attack. This is the Bear Facts.
[00:00:24] Speaker B: Hey, we are roaring with the bears
[00:00:26] Speaker A: and a real story shaking up the air.
[00:00:29] Speaker B: Big hits, big hearts, never looking.
[00:00:45] Speaker C: Hey, grizzlies, you've tuned into the Bear Facts, the only show where the chaos is organized, the banter is questionable, and the bear talk is absolutely guaranteed. We've got the full crew on deck tonight. Johnny reporting live from the sunshiny Queensland where the cane toes rule the land and the humidity rules him. Todd's chiming in from the central coast of New South Wales, where, let's be honest, absolutely no one rules anything. And of course, the queen of the studio, Roggie, proudly from Western Australia, where the sun shines hotter than a Queensland meter made and twice as bright when she walks into the room. It's a simple show tonight. No guests, no frills. But don't get too comfortable. Producer Paul's lurking in the background and we'll be jumping in somewhere, which means the wheels could fall off at any moment and we wouldn't have it any other way. Settle in. Tune it up. Here's Roggie.
[00:01:27] Speaker D: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the bearfax.
So I have a few little things to say. I want to say thank you everyone for sending in their photos of them wearing black and red. And we will show those soon throughout this film.
And then I want to say, if you haven't already, follow our socials. Instagram and Facebook will be put throughout this whole live in little QR codes. So if you haven't already, follow those, feel free to text in any questions you have and we will answer them as well during this live. So I want to invite Johnny in and we can say our hellos.
Hi, Johnny.
[00:02:12] Speaker A: Hi, Roshni. How are you doing?
[00:02:14] Speaker D: Good, how are you?
[00:02:16] Speaker A: Yeah, good, thank you.
[00:02:17] Speaker D: Yeah. Interesting start to the season. We had the first game already.
[00:02:27] Speaker A: Yeah, a couple of games that have started and we're often raring. In the 2026 NRL season, you could say an upset. It's already occurred with the Knights getting up. So, yeah, let's go. One year to go. Come on, Bears.
[00:02:45] Speaker D: Perfect. And I like to bring Todd in as well and we can say our hello.
Hi, Todd.
[00:02:51] Speaker B: Hello.
[00:02:53] Speaker D: What was your opinion on the first games happening in Las Vegas?
[00:02:58] Speaker B: Yeah, I thought the Knights look really impressive in the, you know, very early on in the piece and then when Fletcher Sharp went off, they sort of came back to the pack and the Cowboys got back into the game.
I wasn't impressed at all. Cowboys, I think they're in a bit of trouble. In 2026, the Dragons and Dogs was a good game, I think it was. You know, I don't go for either side, as people know, and I just think it was a bit impaired by the officials. But, you know, as a Dragons fan, I'd be a bit dirty, but that's footy and you move on.
[00:03:33] Speaker D: Yeah, perfect. I'll invite Johnny back and we can start our chats.
[00:03:39] Speaker A: Hey, Toddy. How you going, mate?
[00:03:41] Speaker B: How are you?
Yeah, very good last week, so.
[00:03:46] Speaker A: Yeah, it's good, mate. We. We held down the fort. We had. We had Paul absolutely championing the episode too, which was fantastic. For those that I know, Paul is basically the wizard from the wizard of Oz behind the curtain. He controls the show from a distance, but he's ever present and ever omnipotent.
Todd, I've got a random question to ask you straight off the bat, mate.
If you were a bear, what type of bear would you be as in the animal?
[00:04:20] Speaker B: I'd be a sun bear, Johnny.
Yeah, I'd be a sun bear.
[00:04:27] Speaker A: Because they like berries and lounging around in the sun all day or.
[00:04:31] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:04:33] Speaker A: Yeah, mate, that's good.
As I'm aging and I'm getting a white beard, I've gone from, you know, thinking I'm some sort of Kodiak bear to now being an old decrepit polar bear just on his last legs.
[00:04:47] Speaker B: A Bundy bear.
[00:04:48] Speaker A: Oh, mate, even better. Even better.
Hey, mate. So this week, guys, we're breaking down into a few segments, getting a little bit of cohesion. So Rosni, absolutely, as the master MC that she is, set us off on a wonderful path and we're going to go straight into the actual barefax segment.
So, Toddy, two massive signings have come ahead last week. Scotty Sorenson and Si Sifa Talai. Give us your thoughts and give us how you're feeling about that.
[00:05:23] Speaker B: I got Scotty there.
He'll add a lot of experience to the Bears.
Four premierships under his belt, four caps for New Zealand, over 100, nearly 200, nearly over 150. Is it game, NRL games.
So yeah, he'll had a lot of experience.
Like he, you know, Penrith is just a bench setters as far every year, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter if who they lose. Crichton Jerome, like Fisher Harris, they just always up there, you know, it's a credit to their nursery and everything. And having a player come from there like Scotty Sorence is, you know, it's great. You know, the average age of the Bears, you know, is what I think I saw. It was about 24 of the players they'd signed, 24 years of age. So yeah, he's an old head, but he's also probably one of the fittest players in the Penrith team. So I don't think it'll really hamper him that much. You know, he's good and the girls like him as well, don't they, Rosney? So, yeah, so.
And also we've got Talakai the wrecking ball.
The wrecking ball. Now as for where they'll play him, he could go anywhere. He can go in the back. So I don't know if I'd have him in the centers or, you know, maybe, you know, impact hard winger coming in or second row, like you can play anywhere. So he's a good signing as well. He's a very good signing.
[00:06:57] Speaker A: Yeah. I agree with your sentiments and I echo everything you just said to those that I know. Scotty Sorensen, he has played around that 150 game mark, could be potentially a little bit less, but he's been around for quite a while.
Really was the Penrith Panthers that gave him that consistent flow and his body hasn't really been destroyed by the rigors of football despite his age.
So he's a mature age player. He'll be 33, two year contract. I dare say that there's probably some sort of incentive for him to remain in Perth because his partner's from Perth as well with family there. He would be a great strength and conditioning coach in 2029 if that's, that's what happens. Like if anyone knows how to keep up the athletic rig, it is Scotty Sorensen. Like you said, mate, experience four premierships, five grand finals in a row.
[00:07:50] Speaker B: 121 games, Johnny.
[00:07:53] Speaker A: There you go, there you go. So he's just a system player and he also knows the hard times as well. Like he, he went through New South Wales cup when he was very early on with south.
Didn't break there, then he went. Yeah, exactly. There is pictures of Scotty Sorensen already in the red and black lingering around the Internet. And Talachi too. Just a random barefoot as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So Sorensen's awesome signing. Just that level headed leader. He's basically our Jesse Bromwich. Really at the moment, unless we sign someone else that's just as experienced.
And you're exactly right with CSF Italici, like, he really can play anywhere. I also wouldn't put him at center, mate. I think at center you kind of need the consistent reps there because it's such a hard defensive position to understand the reads, you kind of just need to play it week in, week out, year on year.
But mate, I can see him as a 13, not like an Isaiah Y, Cameron Murray 13, but definitely more like an old school Tamalolo 13, where it's actually like an extra mid, extra prop.
So things are looking up there, mate.
And I'll tell you what, mate, on the back of those two signings. So there were a 14th and 15th signing, but before that, when we were up at 13 officially, David Sharp, our great general manager of football on the podcast actually said that we had 17 signings, only 13 had been secured.
So if you take that on its value, we've got another two signings that haven't been announced yet. And we've been in the news with the rumors like always. Plenty of players.
Who do you think they might be, mate?
[00:09:45] Speaker B: Is it Nakoray from the Warriors? He's been, you know, rumored.
Marita Nicoro, Jack Cole from the Panthers, young half.
He hasn't been picked at all this week, so in the Penrith squad and I noticed he's running around. He'll be actually playing against the North Sydney Bears this weekend, so. In the New South Wales Cup. So, yeah, that's a bit of a.
A bit of a shock sort of there really.
And there's one that I'm trying to find his name, the Polish guy from Leeds. He didn't play on the weekend against Hulkar in Vegas, but Oletsky, he. He.
Yeah, he just won't leave the headlines with us.
So.
Yeah, yeah, I'm not really sure.
[00:10:35] Speaker A: Yeah, from my understanding with Alexki is I think he has a clause to come play nrl.
So whilst he is signed to Leeds till the end of 2028, that CL flaws can be activated.
He's like, geez, who would I compare him to?
It's got a bit of Morley about him. Just in the new age, he's very tough.
Very.
And well, we can talk about high shots later. I tell you what, it's a lottery at the moment. If you've got a good name, you're going to get off. If you've got your dad as a lawyer, you're definitely going to get off.
Yeah, that's gonna be Good, mate. A couple of names also been mentioned is Maverick Gaia that we've also talked about for a couple of weeks now.
Rosney, you'd like Maverick Gaia. He's one of those guys that gives energy to the side.
He's a. He's a squad player and that means, like, he's a pest. You need him. And he thinks himself as the best sort in the nrl and to be fair, you know, he's got a pretty good rig on him, but he's a larrikin straight off the. Chip off the old block like his old man Mark guy.
And hopefully, hey, a Gaia, it'd be good.
It's happened before.
Let's. Let's make it happen again.
[00:11:57] Speaker B: As we said the other week, we, you know, like we looked at it and with Marky, was that Penrith, Then he went to.
Was it Tigers and then had a little stint on the Central coast for a year and then he went across to the Western Reds. Whereas Maverick is sort of shaped out the same sort of path maybe, you know, like at Penrith and he's at the West Tigers this year and then possibly Perth Bears next year. So, yeah, it's just following in his dad's footsteps.
[00:12:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:31] Speaker D: We have a little video we wanted to show. We'll just put that up quickly and we can get back.
[00:12:37] Speaker B: Going back to late last year of
[00:12:39] Speaker C: about 10 signatures by Christmas. I think you fell a couple of
[00:12:42] Speaker B: signatures publicly short of that. Sharpie. Publicly.
[00:12:45] Speaker A: Beautiful wording. Thank you.
[00:12:46] Speaker C: But you probably privately knew you had the 10 in. In the bag. So you're sitting as we talk today. What about 13, 14 of the squat?
[00:12:54] Speaker A: We're at 17, right?
[00:12:55] Speaker C: 17.
[00:12:55] Speaker B: So you got to get to 30 is the magic number. Again, just because it wasn't in public didn't mean we had, you know, didn't have signings. We have. We've. The one thing we have done very, very well and it's been, you know, fed back to us is the confidentiality of the negotiation process. We've kept it very tight and there are still players. There are some players we've signed that haven't been named publicly because it's pre season and they want to focus on their football, not on the media.
And we'll do it our way. We're not going to just jump and
[00:13:25] Speaker A: announce because we have to, because we don't.
[00:13:27] Speaker B: We going to work with the players and. And what best meets their needs.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: Yeah, that's that. So it become. It becomes a good, like, guessing game and, and it sort of Gets the community.
Perth Bears official members at Facebook shout out join if you haven't yet. And the barefax Facebook and all their social medias join if you haven't yet. But it gets all the community involved because it's like, hm. I wonder who these two mysterious players are.
Yeah, another couple of, another couple of names is there's a good kid from the Gold coast who is the second row. His name's Arama Howe. He's actually been picked to start for the Titans against the Sharkies.
Real talent whispers that he's potentially got just hasn't been announced. Um, could be another building block of the Titans Bears rivalry that's slowly simmering away in the, in the background.
[00:14:29] Speaker B: It's starting, isn't it?
[00:14:32] Speaker A: Yeah. We need a rival and you know like we don't like Melbourne Storm because they stole the, the, the Reds bones, you know, that made their team. But we do like the Storm because they're also successful. But we also don't like them again because we know they send conspicuous texts to the nrl. Naughty naughty.
But also,
[00:14:57] Speaker B: yeah, another player that's been rumored to sign a actually a development contract maybe is that Papua New Guinea 58. It looks like Jerome Lula G.
[00:15:11] Speaker A: Yep, yep.
Yeah, Yeah. I don't know how you get.
[00:15:18] Speaker B: Yeah, Chiefs aren't happy already.
[00:15:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:20] Speaker B: So,
[00:15:23] Speaker A: yeah, you're right though. I've heard, I've heard the same thing, read the same reports that potentially could even just be a one year development deal. Maybe they'll try and sell the dream before Papua New guinea, you know, get him. But either way, whether it's the Bears, hopefully always with the chase like a talent like that deserves to be in the NRL and you know, it just means as we've known for a while, Toddy, that Papua New guinea, which is our brethren that's also entering the competition, there's a lot of talent coming out of there. Doesn't necessarily mean they all have to be playing for the Chiefs. They can be playing for other clubs as well and who knows, we might see Voro playing playing for the Bears.
Moving on, mate.
Yeah. 100 agreed. In London.
[00:16:16] Speaker B: Yeah, well I watched him in the Pacific Championships and yeah, he's very good at. Very nippy on his feet and he has a dig so he'll be, he'll be a decent pickup or decent backup if, if we did get him on a development contract, like you know, if Sexton got hurt or someone, it'd be good.
[00:16:37] Speaker A: Yeah, he, he, he's very much like rugby leagueur. He says he's a cba. It could be anything. So let's see where it lands. Hey, Toddy, another thing we should probably bring up is the Perth Bears have a new sponsor. Atlas Building.
Looks like a tier 2 commercial building company construction.
Hey guys, if you need a good construction manager or commercial manager, who knows, maybe I'll over there, I'll give you my data and if you need me to have a good offsider, that, that. That's very cleared on. Unless he wants to retire soon. Toddy, if we move over to Perth, shout out to Atlas Building, another sponsor. Back of the. The jersey at the bottom there so it'll be pronounced underneath the numbers. Good on him. What a big commercial strengthening that the Bears are doing under Anthony DEI and the team there. Great work, mate. Vegas round two games. Roshney led with this.
You gave your brief views it any players stand out?
[00:17:44] Speaker B: Any players stand out? Yeah, as I said, Fletcher Sharp was on fire and his combination with Ponga is going to be very dangerous during 26.
Yeah, as I said, I was very disappointed for Cowboys. You know, I just kept. As the commentators were saying on Fox, they just kept going left, then right and left and right and there was. There was no inside underpasses anything. You know, like, it was just.
Yeah, it's just very.
Especially when Scotty went off, they just lost it. Like, I know Tom Dearden's a good defender, but they just need someone to take the reins and guide that team. The Bulldogs. Well, they're the Bulldogs there, you know, they were good. I just thought they got a leg up.
[00:18:32] Speaker D: What did you think of the high tackle Steve Critter did.
[00:18:38] Speaker B: It's hard. He was. I think the player.
Yeah, I think the player was fallen into. You know, he took the ball and was then was fallen back and then Stephen Crichton had come in to clean him up anyway. And it did get him high. Like, you know, as people are saying, you know, like if there's anyone else, they'd probably.
They probably would have got 10 minutes or whatever. So, you know, who knows?
[00:19:04] Speaker D: Favoritism or just,
[00:19:08] Speaker B: I don't know. I'm not gonna go there yet. I'll wait till the season pans out a bit.
Yeah, like, I think it's one of them 50, 50 calls that could have gone either way. And it just went the Bulldogs way, you know, like got off. So, you know, like, I just, I don't. You know, I sort of think I'm glad they're looking at tackles like that now where the player is falling because I think big Nelson who was with Melbourne, you know, like it sort of virtually rubbed him out of a game with players slipping and all of that and because he's such a big unit, he just always take them high, he couldn't change his direction. So you know, I think I'm glad they're taking that into consideration because you know, you don't mean to hit the guy across the head half the time and if he's fallen into you like you expect some leniency like you can't, you know. So that's just my view.
[00:19:59] Speaker D: Yeah. No, no.
[00:20:04] Speaker A: Brayden Burns probably unlucky to get ruled out for. Was it three games?
That's. That was the one that the Cowboys did and then obviously about 70 minutes later critter did his look.
Yeah, both, both players were falling.
Sometimes it's looks worse when it's a lesser known player hitting a big name as opposed to a big name hitting a lesser, lesser known player.
It's kind of.
[00:20:34] Speaker B: Or when they stay.
[00:20:36] Speaker A: Yeah, it's kind of a metaphor for life too. It's just kind of how it is whether it's fair or not. It's just how it is.
Look, I thought a penalty if they go by the interpretations. Yeah probably could have get given 10.
The, the dragons player was very low though. He was probably three feet off the ground and, and Critter was very low too. He was, he was going to whack him right around the, the guts.
You know a second later or a second early would have been right around the guts and would have been a really good tackle. Yeah, it just, it just is what it is.
Didn't even go through to the MRC which was interesting but it is what it is. Every team will get the calls against and forum as the year plays out. So.
Yeah.
[00:21:24] Speaker D: Yeah.
Sorry, did you want to say anything else?
[00:21:29] Speaker A: No, I was just gonna go. Next segment into it leads into next segment into Bear Watch. Obviously a couple of Bears played Joshi. Karen didn't get many minutes. Hey Toddy.
Bit weird.
[00:21:43] Speaker B: Not much at all.
You know it's a bit of shame actually. Like I think he came on in virtually the last minute of that game and luckily for Josh they went into like extra time and yeah, so at least he got a few minutes there. But yeah, like I don't know like makes you sort of look at this six man bench and how they are going to use it in 2026 because Josh Curran was a guy who got lots of minutes in 2025 and is one of your first bench players you used. So yeah I'm gonna watch that of interest this season, see how it pans out.
[00:22:23] Speaker A: So yeah, I, I agree with you and you know we do have a segment that we talk about rules and stuff and probably should have mentioned the six man bench because it's so fresh but we can talk a little bit about it now.
The, the odd thing is like players are getting fitter and more players especially in the forwards can go the 80 minutes.
So it kind of makes a six man bench a little bit redundant unless you need to change out a player because they've been taken out or there's been injury or whatever the reason be. Do you know what I mean? So someone like Josh Curran, him wanting more, more game time kind of, you can see why he's landed part of the reason why he's landed at Perth which is to our, you know, it's beneficial to us and we're winners of that. So I was a bit surprised like you though mate. Like 12 minutes is a bit strange for a guy that has a pretty big motor, can play mid or edge but who knows. So Raldo's probably got all those boys fit and firing. So if anything, hopefully Josh takes that, that skill set and that and that conditioning over to Perth and help sets the standards. Another player. I'm not sure if you've been keeping up to date with him but Toby Sexton over in the UK who's been playing six for less. Catalan's Dragons had a loss on the weekend, you know, actually got smashed to be honest, but before that they'd won both their games.
Have you seen much of him, mate, how he's going?
[00:23:57] Speaker B: I have just watched like the highlight. So I switched. I did put St Helens and Catalans on on the weekend and I just sort of zoomed through it pretty quickly just to the tries and that sort of.
But yeah, he's been pretty good. Isaac, Tina's brother came off the bench, I noticed. So yeah, I think he's just finding his feet there as well in the.
At the game at Vegas between Leeds and Hulk.
Two of our other players, James McDonnell and Harry Newman played in that game.
And yeah, I thought James McDonald had a pretty decent game. He was always around the ball, always hitting it up and always in defense. So yeah, he's pretty consistent. Harry Newman not so much. I think they'll go on Civo side more because that's where all the tries are scored. But yeah, 10 years I think. Pardon?
[00:25:00] Speaker A: Yeah, I was going to say Harry Newman, who's. He was pretty good defensively. He didn't get much. Didn't get many attacking opportunities in that, in that whitewash route. But it was pretty good defensively. He did some good reads from Senna.
He didn't get beaten.
I kind of like that. Hey, sometimes, you know, everyone's got that attacking flair but to see a guy in a game like that hold his own defensively.
Yeah. And you're right about James McDonald. He'd look good.
[00:25:30] Speaker B: Yeah. Hey, Harry Newman's a bit of a. Like a. Revs the crowd up and we could see that he was doing a bit of that in this game. Like when, when, when, when Harry Newman, like he was our first ever signing like so, you know, like official big name Perth Bears.
[00:25:44] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:25:45] Speaker B: And when he signed I was looking at all the English Super League pages and a lot of the fans and that were giving it to him sort of like because he, he looks like he does stir up the crowd a bit and. And then, you know, on the weekend one of their players scored. I think it might have been Brody Crofton and he went up to a crowd touching his ears and giving it to him and it was right in front of a whole KR people. So yeah, so I think he's. He might be a bit of a lair soever he plays and he's really good under the high ball. I've noticed in a lot of his clips on the weekend. On the weekend he did a good take as well. So I'm.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's a winger so it'll be interesting.
[00:26:30] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. That's a good shout mate. That's a good shout mate. Going on Cub watch, Norse and Tigers played, played some junior games.
Yeah. Roshni, obviously the girls play for both the Tigers and also that's exciting because we'll see a Perth. Perth Bears women's side eventually. And then the lads take us away, Toddy.
[00:26:58] Speaker B: Yeah.
In the New South Wales junior competitions, Howard mats, they came up against like the Penrith Panthers squad. So it was always going to be very hard against the Panther system. As I mentioned earlier in the program with Scotty Sorenson and that and like Howard mats for boys, they went down 54 nil.
In the other boys game the Panthers got up as well.
SG ball, they got up 38 12.
Then in girls, Lisa Fiola, they also had a big loss. They went down 50 nil to the Panthers females. And in Natasha Gale, the probably best performing junior side for the Bears so far after four rounds is Natasha Gale. Bears they had an eight all draw. So that takes them to two wins, one lot, one draw and one loss. So they're actually going pretty good. They are this weekend that's actually split up. The juniors are like the boys head down there, they head down to Canberra and you know both the Harold Matson SG ball play the Canberra Raiders and the girls Tashka and Lisa Fiola they play the Parramatta Reels. So yeah a bit of a mixed bag there. And yeah Johnny, your Queensland update.
[00:28:26] Speaker A: Yeah mate. So the Tigers both the lads got wins.
So that's the.
That's the Malmeninga 22 blop over the Burly Bears and the Cyril Connell got Got up by two points 24:22 over the jets and then the Gals both fell Harvey Norman under 1926-14 and that was also to the Bears. Burly Bears and the under 17s lost 20 to 14 against the Jets.
So mixed bag but you know onwards and upwards. And on the back of that mate Tim Lee's Tuesday has been dropped. So stand aside. Here come the Bears mate. I will. I'll just quickly say that the Mal Meninga side's not playing this weekend but the Cyril Connell is.
And in the Cyril Connell side Jordan Tuga Stevenson, Levi Langman, both Perth Bears development players will be playing and I believe Tapicki Hendrix Tapicki will finally make his long awaited debut for the North SG Bull side.
Going on to the seniors. Mate, what's your feelings? There's a couple of signed Perth Bear players playing this weekend. A couple out of position.
Any stand out for you mate
[00:30:00] Speaker B: for New South Wales? Couple nrl.
[00:30:03] Speaker A: NRL Mate.
[00:30:05] Speaker B: Oh okay. Yeah, yeah. With the nrl.
[00:30:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:09] Speaker B: You know Nick Meaney, I've. I don't think he's played wing for a few years now. It's always been center and fullback. So he finds himself on the wing for Melbourne this weekend. Tyrone Richard, he's back. He's on the bench as usual.
Sean Russell who's just. He destroyed it in the for Parramatta in. In the pre season comp. He played center. He's on wing I notice as well so you'll probably mark Nick Meaney Talachi with the Sharks.
He's on the bench.
Kurt Sorens. Scotty Scott. Scotty Sorenson. Sorry. Kurt Sorenson. Scotty Sorensen he's in the second row for Panthers so we'll keep an eye on him the game against Brisbane but
[00:30:57] Speaker A: yeah.
Yep. So it looks like yeah we've got players absolutely going to be firing this weekend all scattered through the six games this. This weekend coming.
Speaking of which, are there any matchups this weekend, mate, that have got you raring to go.
[00:31:18] Speaker B: Oh, I'm heading down to Melbourne on Thursday, so I've decided to call in and watch a Storm play the Eels. It might be a bit spiteful after the Johnny Lomax court case, so I'll be looking forward to, you know, to watching that and I'll be looking forward to seeing our Bears perf Bears play. Future Perth Bears players run around and see how they all go.
And yeah, Penrith Broncos, that looks like a good clash coming up as well.
So, yeah, I'm actually looking forward to watching most of the games just to get a, you know, get a feel of where everyone's starting off this year. And, you know, we've seen four teams play already, so, yeah, we'll get to see the rest of it now and, yeah, go from there.
[00:32:06] Speaker A: Yeah, I agree with you, mate. I. I agree with you. There's some banger of games this weekend. I think all of them are pretty much a good matchup.
Even a game like The Canberra Raiders vs the Manly Moringa Sea. Sea Chickens.
The Sea Eagles, good line. Good, good matchups all across the board.
You know, explosive back lines. Probably Raiders have them with the Ford Pack Panthers Broncos is the one I'm looking forward to.
Panthers have had the wood over the Broncos for a couple of years now, but Broncos did technically end the reign of consecutive grand final appearances for the Panthers.
I was there.
I did not enjoy myself at. At full time, but, yeah, no, this should be a cracker of a game. I'm happy that Nathan Cleary got off and he's playing because he would be ashamed to have, you know, arguably the best player not there.
[00:33:03] Speaker B: And Liam is injured, so.
[00:33:06] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, he's, I think with a cough injury.
[00:33:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:14] Speaker D: For the Broncos chat, they've got a new player playing for them. Corey Pakes will be on.
He's finally in the team list. I was looking at it today and then they've got as well.
What's his name?
Someone else has just arrived in the team list. Let me take a quick look at my team list.
[00:33:35] Speaker C: Is it Reese Walsh?
[00:33:37] Speaker D: No, he's still at number one, thankfully.
Jack Kaskowski at number 11.
He's new in the team list as well. He's a big player.
I want to see how they all match up on the field.
And then they've got Jess Jesse Others is back at 19th. Man, I was surprised to see that. I didn't think they were in the team list, but is so.
[00:34:04] Speaker A: Yeah,
[00:34:06] Speaker B: it's got to be interesting that six man bench, you know, like you don't know who they're going to use until they actually use them on the day. So it's just.
That's a bit. Bit intriguing. Like before the players would drop off before they, you know, like the other extra two players would drop off before the game and you just had the 18th man sitting there for an injury.
So.
Yeah, it'll be interesting how, you know, I'm intrigued to watch how the six man bench actually, you know, comes to the core this weekend. So.
[00:34:41] Speaker D: Oh yeah, all the new rules will be place.
[00:34:46] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah, you're right.
Those Broncos lineup do have some exciting players. Roshni.
Another new face that people should look out for is coming off the bench is.
Is Oblix Tower.
So he's come from.
Yep, yep. I'm actually surprised he didn't get a start over Jackowski, but to be honest, Jackowski, he plugged in there last year when the either Ricky or Piakura were out. So he's done a job then. He's a very magic McGuire sort of player but. Or Blix Tower is very, very skilled. He is a good pickup by the Broncos. He would have been. He would have been really good if, if he was off contract this year and Bears could have sniffed him.
[00:35:36] Speaker B: Actually, the Dolphins. The Dolphins struggled to keep him. That's why they let him go. Because. Just because of a Z cap, you know, because.
[00:35:44] Speaker A: Oh yeah, yeah. And they're stacked. That Dolphins Ford pack is arguably the most stacked Ford pack as far as like how deep it goes. It's ridiculous.
[00:35:53] Speaker B: They don't get injuries. They're going to be like. I noticed on the weekend I brought. I got a Sunday Telegraph and I had this lift out and they had the Dolphins at number two.
Their predictions for, you know, the ladder for the end of the year. So.
[00:36:11] Speaker A: Yeah, and there's a few players, you know, off contract at the end of this season for the Dolphins that I'd be very surprised if Male David and you know, our recruitment team aren't looking at any other games, Toddy. Any other games, Roshni, that you're looking forward to this weekend?
[00:36:33] Speaker B: Not nrl, but I was looking at the teams for the New South Wales cup and the lineups and I just noticed is, you know, usually you don't see gaps in the New South Wales cup squads but there was to be announced on there. So whether that's because of that six man bench.
[00:36:56] Speaker A: Yeah, 100.
[00:36:57] Speaker B: Yeah. I've just never seen it before. And I did notice that there's a player from Wa he's playing in the centers this weekend for the North Sydney Bears against Penrith. Amaran Kudgeon and his brother Kanoa plays for the WA Premiers Willagy Bears.
So Amaran's father actually signed on to the Perth Bears supporters Facebook page just the other day.
[00:37:27] Speaker A: So shout out.
[00:37:28] Speaker B: So yeah, shout out. And his son Amaran Jr. I suppose we could call him, he was with the Rabidos last year and he's also before that the Dragons and in the Melbourne Storm system. So he's a full black as well like his brother K Canoa Koa. Sorry. And. But he's playing centers this weekend against Penrith. So you know, I'll be, you know I'll be excited to watch how he goes.
[00:37:57] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. And for all you New South Wales Bear supporters that want to go out, that game's being played at St Mary's League Stadium in Sydney at 1pm on Saturday. And for all the Queensland fans that want to go see the, the feeder in the Brisbane Tigers, it'd be a bit of a drive. They're playing out to warmer sports ground on Sunday at 2:30pm so that wraps up for our feeder team Toddy. We've got another segment that we're going to try and evolve and we're going to try and bring up and it's basically like a little history lesson. It'll be North Sydney Bears. It'll be Rugby League Western Australia. That includes the state team, that includes all the clubs within the state competition.
I thought so the bare pit trivia. I thought just start something easy because for our listeners we will have guests that have intricate knowledge of Western Australian Rugby League and the clubs that are there.
And Toddy's got much better knowledge than I do.
I don't want to make a fool myself and, and just be, you know, spitting out things that may not be 100 to the money. I'd rather someone that actually knows exactly what they're talking about like Toddy talk about it. But I thought bears in the 90s, that, that's, that's the popular North Sydney Bears era. That's what people remember.
You know your Floramos, your Ben Eichens, your Larsons, you know your Billy Moore's, your Brett Dallas's, your Matt Sears, your Nigel Roy's, your button is Trindles. It just keeps going and going and going fairly, you know Soden, it just keeps going mate, what's your fondest memories in the 90s? And it's a two sided question.
Did you prefer 1990 to 94 or did you prefer 95 to 99?
[00:39:58] Speaker B: Well, yeah, 99 wasn't a good year on the field either for the Bears, so.
And off the field near the end of the season, it ended up being worse.
I'll put that one back in the cupboard.
Yeah, probably.
You know, there's a lot of heartbreak in the 90s as well. Like, you know, like Daryl Halligan when he missed those shots. Like, you know, like Daryl Halligan was probably one of the best goal kickers ever, you know, along with Hasan El Masri. And he never used to miss shots. And then in that final he just missed, you know, he just couldn't land one to save his life. It felt like, you know. So there was a lot of dramas in the 90s, like against Canberra as well against Penrith. I could go through them all.
[00:40:52] Speaker A: It was three prelims, wasn't it? Or was it four prelims? I'm counting three. I'm counting.
So 91. 91 was a prelim ride. And then we lost to Penrith. Penrith made the grand final.
94.
The Raiders beat us.
90.
[00:41:14] Speaker B: Raiders.
Raiders got us in. No, it was 94. Sorry, I was thinking of Newcastle. So. Sorry. Yeah, my bad.
[00:41:21] Speaker A: 90.
[00:41:22] Speaker B: 97. When the.
[00:41:25] Speaker A: Yeah, 97 was. Was. That's actually 4 because 96 was. Somehow that Dragons team beat us. I. That if I had to pick a year that I was like certain the Bears were going to do, it would have been that 1996 because that team was arguably at the top before the comp got split. Super League arl.
We were a top two, top three all year long and we'd beaten every good team leading into the finals. We had a good final start campaign and then I don't know what happened, man, that that ragtag St. George team that half the players had been removed to go play for the future Super League teams, etc, I don't know how they beat us, but that was probably the most heartbreaking one that I can remember.
[00:42:15] Speaker B: In 97 as well when the competitions were split into two like IRL and you had your Super League. So Varl was sort of had no Brisbane Broncos, they had no Canberra Raiders.
So you know, like the Bears following on from 96, you know, they had a strong side taken the field and.
And then, you know, Manly were like the standout team all year in 97 in the ARL competition. And then Newcastle just started. I suppose they started with us. Really?
[00:42:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:51] Speaker B: Maddie Sears. And then it just went from there. So.
[00:42:55] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. And to the listeners, listeners out there, if you Want to make a comparison to that 90s Bears team to a team now? I'd probably be the Cronola Sharks. Granola Sharks have made finals a lot of years in a row and made prelims three years in a row, I think, and just really can't get over that last hurdle. And a knock on the Bears back in the 90s was as good as our halves were, they said our halves just went that next little step, do you know what I mean? Like they just went that extra incremental percentage better to get us over those tight games. So a lot of heartbreak, mate.
[00:43:37] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a good comparison, Johnny. We've been Allah. I reckon, I reckon, yeah.
[00:43:42] Speaker A: Sorry to open up old wounds.
[00:43:47] Speaker D: I wanted to move on for our viewers. Just to give everyone a quick recap of all the players we. Of all the guest people we've had on our show and I want you guys to tell us who was your favorite, what was the most interesting thing you learned. So I'll just read them out. We had firstly we had Greg Florine Moon, then we had Peter Cummins from the Cash Converters. Then we had Matt Fuller, Mark Graham and finally last week we had Don McKinnon.
So if you do remember what they chatted about, what was your best thing you learned about them?
Story wise life.
[00:44:24] Speaker B: You go, Johnny.
[00:44:28] Speaker A: I enjoyed them all.
Don. And Don and Mark came from a really hard nosed era and their yarns were absolutely spectacular.
And Matt Fuller is just, he's such an enjoyable, lovable character.
I really enjoyed that chat as well.
Greg is a legend like Greg is, is, is like those fellas. Don and Mark is rugby league royalties, Bears royalty. But surprisingly Peter Cummins just because of the headgear, so the, the Game Gear headgear, it's just such a revolutionary thing that I still talk about it to people today. I'm actively trying to promote it with word of mouth I'm not getting paid for or anything. Shout out to Peter Cummins and Game Gear if you do want to pay me. If you want to sponsor us, hop on board, guys. We'd love to, but yeah, it's such a, it's such an innovative thing that I think will be a game changer both for players and kids coming through. So yeah, they're all awesome. I just really like that headquarters segment that was, that was fantastic.
[00:45:37] Speaker B: Now it'll be interesting how Jake Javic comes along this week wearing it. See how he is.
He's donating it. Is it this weekend? He's wearing it.
[00:45:49] Speaker A: So yeah, yeah, yeah. What a big. Yeah,
[00:45:56] Speaker B: I enjoyed having flow on. He was good, you know, like, he's funny. Flow. He throws a lot of questions back at you. What do you think? And you're like. Like a deer in headlights. You're like, I'm the one asking the questions and you just got me flow.
Matty Fuller, he was, as you said, Johnny, he was just sensational to talk to. He was good. Peter Cummings, his experience, especially in and sponsoring and business, that was good. And then the two hard knights, Mark Graham and Donnie McKinnon. That was like. I wasn't on with Donnie McKinnon, but I watched it and yeah, he's a bit of a character. It was good to watch. I enjoyed it.
[00:46:39] Speaker A: 100.
[00:46:41] Speaker D: Yeah. No, I like them all because, like, they're from such a different era that I'm obviously in and just to, like, hear their stories and everything was pretty cool. You get a bit of a different insight added to the rugby.
Yeah.
Also, we have a few thank yous to say as well. So we want to thank Maddie H for a Buy me a coffee.
I was told he bought three coffees, so that's a big thank you.
And then. Yeah, and then I also want to just remind everybody that I am still looking for dances for the cheer squad that I am doing.
There are auditions from the 13th to the 15th of April, 22nd, 2020 and 22nd, 27th and 29th of April.
All details are on Ruby's website and on the Fairfax website.
Just boys and girls, 18 plus, just so it's easier to go around live schedules and everything.
So, yeah, I think that's all from me if you guys wanted to keep chatting. Chatting away.
[00:47:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
Well, before you go, Rosny, I was going to say I want an honest answer.
What are your tips? I know only two games have happened, but what are you guys at tipping right now?
[00:48:00] Speaker D: Oh, next week's game.
[00:48:04] Speaker A: No, like, no, no. Like, what's your active tip? So there's been two games. So you'll either be 0 from 2, 1 from 2 or 2 from 2. 2.
Where are you sitting at?
I'm sitting at 1 from 2.
[00:48:16] Speaker D: Well, I said go 2 for 2. I got my predictions right.
[00:48:21] Speaker A: You. You ti.
[00:48:24] Speaker B: I nearly did.
[00:48:26] Speaker D: Yeah, I did. I got 2 for 2.
[00:48:30] Speaker A: Awesome.
[00:48:31] Speaker B: Well, I was gonna do that change at the last minute.
[00:48:35] Speaker A: Same.
Honest.
Yeah, I actually, I was, but then I. I didn't.
[00:48:42] Speaker B: And, yeah, I just thought, yeah, changed it in the past. The team I've changed to has lost. Why didn't I stay who I was with?
So I sort of, I stayed with the Cowboys and then when Newcastle got the 12th nil, I was kicking myself. I'm thinking what have you done? Follow your gut. And then the Cowboys came back. But yeah, Newcastle just had two. Newcastle just had too much tacking weapons for the Cowboys. I felt.
[00:49:12] Speaker D: Yeah, no, I did, yeah. Nights I tipped Knights and Bulldogs. I just did Bulldogs because I like Critter. And then nights I was just like, why not?
[00:49:23] Speaker A: And footy fantasy toddy. You're playing right? You're up there with a fantasy. What, what, what, what's your, what's your points at the moment? How many players have.
[00:49:34] Speaker B: I haven't looked.
I, I was a bit silly, you know, like not silly. I, I went with sort of like a Perth Bear side instead of trying to win it, you know, like I just want to see how the boys go all together.
So I sort of have been the gaps. I just filled in with potential Perth Bears signings.
So yeah, I sort of did that. I have to admit I haven't hopped on and have a look at it how I went. I'm probably down the bottom but you know like it's all just fun. I'm like my son came in the other day and he said oh, I'm killing it in fantasy this week. And you know, I was listening. I'm going okay. I wish I was but anyway.
[00:50:20] Speaker C: Hey guys, just jumping in quickly. I hope you can hear me. All right. Yeah, there you go. Just jumping in quickly. Just to give everyone a bit of a reminder that we have our fantasy league.
You go to the NRL fantasy team fantasy website, AFL NRL fantasy website and you can join our league. There will be a code in the comments. I'll put it in the comments. And if you go to our website www.thebearfacts.com you can set up an account and once you set up an account you can then join and our footy tipping competition. So it's not a very serious footy tipping competition. We're just doing it for fun and so if you want you can sign up there and each week we'll tell it, you know, get online and we'll show everyone who's coming where and who's winning, who's not winning.
Just for an update on two from two already and I think my fantasy team in is still not too bad as well. But next week we'll have a big session, a bit of a video breaking down all our teams and the tipping competition. So anyway I'll get you back to the boys and girls. Here's Johnny, Todd and Rosney, apparently. If I can get them.
[00:51:39] Speaker A: There you go.
Thanks, Paul.
[00:51:44] Speaker B: Okay, so with the other games coming up this weekend, who have you guys tipped?
[00:51:53] Speaker A: That's a what? Good question. You go, Roger.
[00:51:56] Speaker B: Individually. Okay. We'll start with the Storm and Parramatta.
[00:52:01] Speaker D: Storm.
[00:52:03] Speaker A: Storm.
[00:52:05] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going Storm.
Okay, next game, Warriors. Roosters.
[00:52:11] Speaker D: Warriors.
[00:52:14] Speaker A: Roosters.
[00:52:15] Speaker C: Gotta go to Chooks.
[00:52:17] Speaker B: I'm going Roosters.
[00:52:19] Speaker A: Damn.
[00:52:19] Speaker B: Okay. Broncos. Panthers.
[00:52:22] Speaker D: Broncos.
[00:52:25] Speaker A: Panthers.
[00:52:26] Speaker C: That'll be a good game, will it not?
[00:52:30] Speaker B: I think I'll go. I don't know. Yeah, I'll go Panthers. The upset away from, you know, now it is an upset because, you know, like Brisbane's playing at home, every defending premiers, etc.
[00:52:44] Speaker A: Etc.
[00:52:45] Speaker B: Then you've got the Sharks and the Titans.
[00:52:50] Speaker D: I'm going Sharks.
[00:52:53] Speaker A: I was going the Titans as an upset and then Jaden Campbell's out for a month, so. That reminds me, I gotta change my tip to the. To the Sharks now.
Yeah. So Sharks.
[00:53:05] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going Sharks. It's that Shark park, you know. Okay, Manly and the Raiders.
[00:53:16] Speaker D: Maybe raiders.
[00:53:25] Speaker A: I, I've picked Raiders but not with much confidence because it's up rookie and. And Ricky has picked like a side that I didn't think he was going to pick. Like we've known martyrs starting over like Hosking and stuff, which I like. I like. But yeah, I'm just not confident. So I'll go Raiders with. No, no, no confidence.
[00:53:45] Speaker B: Yeah, I'll go Canberra because I like seeing Manly get beat.
And then you got Dolphins and the Rabidos.
That's a tough one.
[00:54:00] Speaker A: But I think I'm gonna go Dolphins Just because
[00:54:10] Speaker D: that one covers.
[00:54:13] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just because I think. I think there's a few outs. So Cheese is out obviously. Obviously. Jamie Humphries is out. So Ashton Water will be. Will be a defensive target.
But yeah, Dolphins have not much confidence.
[00:54:35] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going Dolphins.
Yeah, I like the Dolphins.
You know, I hope they have a good year this year and not too many injuries and you know, there's. Yeah, like a Dolphin. So what did you guys think of the four teams that are rumored to be heading to Vegas in 2027?
[00:54:55] Speaker D: What are these rumors? I didn't hear the rumors.
[00:54:57] Speaker B: Well, the strongly rumored games are Dolphins, Melbourne, Storm, West Tigers and Parramatta Eels. The other teams favored. Do they.
[00:55:09] Speaker D: I can see Storm.
[00:55:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I.
[00:55:16] Speaker D: Oh, Storm, Warriors, Roosters, Broncos.
[00:55:18] Speaker A: No, that's not the teams.
No, not the team. Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't know if they'll play their Tigers and Eels there because That's a good Monday.
That's a good Monday. Game isn't a totty like they, they always draw massive, massive crowds.
[00:55:42] Speaker B: They've got to take one of them because.
[00:55:45] Speaker A: No, they'll take both. I don't think they'll play each other. They'll take both, but I don't think they'll play each other. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:55:52] Speaker B: Interesting. Who plays who? I. I do think this, you know, Dolphins playing the Storm and the Tigers playing Eels. I. I have a feeling you got to go that way, you know, like.
[00:56:04] Speaker A: Yeah, it makes sense.
It makes sense. It makes sense. The Titans were the team to lose out only because probably their fan base isn't as big even as the Dolphins because Dolphins have been around for a long time beyond NRL. So, yeah, hopefully it turns out and maybe in 2028, final year, it'll be the Bears. Time to shine and we'll be there.
[00:56:34] Speaker B: Question, Johnny, with a World Club Challenge, like, do you think that should be taken to Vegas, neutral ground?
[00:56:45] Speaker A: I think we need just two games. I'm. I'm probably in the minority. I think three games. So I know that doesn't answer. That doesn't answer the question, but I think if we're going to take the World Club Challenge, we only take one game there. NRL game there, so we make it two games max. I think the three games, by the time you get to that last game, it's. It's late locally, like really light locally, so there's not as many people in the crowd. I know Vegas doesn't sleep, I get that. But it's also quite late in the UK as well at that time. It's like middle of the night or something. And I think, I think we just need two games, like the first year. Yes, the World Club Challenge makes sense. And then you just take a season opener like another two NRL teams and that's just me.
[00:57:34] Speaker B: I'd take. I'd take three games and I'd have two normal NRL games and then the World Club Challenge. I know that's five, five NRL teams going over there, but it was an NRL concept I believe you need to. And POMI fans, they're just, they're just phenomenal to watch. They're just so good to watch, you know, they just. Their chance up and they're just so parochial behind their teams. You know, they're just good value, I reckon.
I heard, I actually heard along the grapevine that with the Bears in Perth that there might be a little English group coming together, doing similar chants etc for the Bears. So
[00:58:24] Speaker A: Hope so. It'll be something.
[00:58:26] Speaker B: Yeah, something different, wouldn't it? You know, like. And there's a little place, there's a little spot in HBF's park in the oval behind the goal posts. They call it the Shed. And you know like when I went over there last season to watch the Dolphins play the nights, you know, I can see that becoming a little spot where everyone's. Until they probably upgrade it because it does need upgrading that end. But yeah, I can just see like the pommy fans, you know, who are all based in wa, being in the shed section and doing their little chants and all of that. It would certainly separate the Bears from all the other NRL clubs, sort of. We've got different.
[00:59:15] Speaker A: So yeah, I agree with you. I agree with you.
Well, I think that's almost it. We're almost, we're almost wrapped up. I just want to say one quick thing that I thought of on the spot. So obviously everyone's has their shirts that have been getting delivered and everyone's dropping their wonderful photos on the Perth Bears official supporters group.
There's Timmy with Ian Milwood rocking the shirt and there's. There's a couple other supporters there where the bear. Show us your colors. Coming back in red and black.
So fantastic. So let's keep up this trend. Let's send in your photos with. With jersey. Sending your photos with the new shirts.
Give us a. Like go to the barefax, all social media platforms. Get on the tipping comp, get on the fantasy group.
Please get on the cheerleading squad because if we can't find enough members, Todd and myself will have to. We'll have to go to Perth and cheerleader wearing leotards. And no one, and I mean absolutely no one wants to see that, including myself. So do us a favor.
[01:00:33] Speaker D: Very tempting.
[01:00:33] Speaker B: You've been interested in 2026 so that's fine.
[01:00:38] Speaker A: Yeah, mate, like I said 10 years ago, I look like a big mean Kodiak bear and I probably could have done it back in my gym days, but now, now I look like I've been eating way too many fish and just bloated and no good. No good.
So.
Nah. Thank you all. Thanks Roshni for being the master of ceremonies, the master number one mc. And thanks Toddy for being the awesome co host and thanks most of all Paul for making all the magic happen from behind the curtain.
[01:01:14] Speaker B: Thanks guys.
[01:01:16] Speaker D: Thank you guys. See you next time.
