The Western Bears are set to enter into the NRL in 2027 after an agreement was reportedly reached between the Western Australian government and the ARL Commission.
The Perth-based franchise will follow hot on the heels of the Dolphins, who were introduced into the competition in 2023.
Attention will soon turn to recruitment as the club attempts to build themselves up with one of the first major signings to be their inaugural head coach.
The Sporting News provides the latest news and updates on the Bears’ potential search for their first NRL coach.
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Who will be named Western Bears head coach? Brad Arthur the frontrunner for proposed NRL outfit
Brad Arthur is firming as the likely candidate for the NRL's latest club, according to a report from CODE Sports on the day when it was revealed a deal had been agreed in-principle for the WA club to enter the comp.
The new side, which will be based primarily out of Western Australia while also being aligned to the North Sydney Bears, still has two years to get things in order.
Arthur was previously reported as the early frontrunner for the gig after having a proven track record of safely and steadily building a club over a decade.
The former Parramatta coach was axed from his position last year after the Eels endured a poor start to their campaign, which saw him head overseas to head up Leeds in the Super League.
Leeds Rhinos have announced that Head Coach Brad Arthur has agreed an initial one year contract to keep him at AMT Headingley at least for the 2025 Betfred Super League season.https://t.co/p22g1INPVZ pic.twitter.com/H4XMjD5Ulk
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) August 22, 2024
The 14-week contract with the Rhinos raised eyebrows after Arthur signed it with his lack of long-term commitment sparking rumours of his potential move back to WA to front the NRL franchise.
But he then inked a one-year extension as the Perth franchise was put on ice.
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Arthur has a strong connection to WA with his wife hailing from the state, and he has put his hand up for the position during tentative discussions with power brokers.
"I’ve had one meeting with those guys and that was with the Perth Government," Arthur admitted last July.
"That was just around helping them with some questions they had and some ideas at what they’re looking at - pathways and stuff like that.
"Until any decisions are made, whether they are in the competition or not, or who is heading up the franchise and what it looks like - that’s as far as it’s gone."
These links grew even stronger when Arthur signed a short-term extension with the Rhinos to seemingly carry him over until the NRL launched it's newest team.
"Arthur has been sounded out by WA chiefs and is viewed as a frontline candidate to be the Bears’ inaugural coach," Code Sports reported.
However, he won't be the only name being discussed with the likes of Josh Hannay and Dean Young also likely to be in contention after going close to securing NRL head coaching gigs in the past year.