"Lacks star power": Should there be more concern around the Bears?

As the Perth Bears get closer to Round 1, 2027, Michael Carayannis has expressed concerns over the club's lack of big-name signings.

With their entry into the NRL just months away, the dominant storyline surrounding the club has been their struggles to land a big-name signing following the failed pursuits of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Jayden Campbell and Cameron Munster, among others.

As a result, there are concerns about whether the side can have success early on to help generate interest within Western Australia.

While Carayannis notes there is a clear strategy to their recruitment, he wonders whether they have the speed to keep up with the competition's best.

“The way I would describe that Perth side is, I can see what they've done,” he told SEN’s Kick Off.

“They've built a side that's going to work hard, defend well and they're going to be built on defence, which is all good and well. “Unfortunately, the way the game's being played at the moment, it's all-around pace, speed (and) attacking flair.

“We did see the Cowboys win (against the Panthers) based on defence last week, right?

“But this side, it lacks star power. It lacks speed, it lacks a player where you go, ‘OK, that's the player I wanna play with’.

“Who's the recruitment magnet there to entice other players there? They don't have that.”

Currently, the most notable name rumoured to join the NRL’s 18th side has been Matt Burton.

The Bulldogs’ star has spent the majority of this season as the starting five-eighth before being moved to the centres in last week’s win against the Titans.

But the News Corp journalist has concerns about whether the NSW representative is a big enough name to bring other players along with him.

“One is Matt Burton,” Carayannis said.

“There's been Matt Burton and Cam Munster is sort of the other name, but I don't see him getting released 12 months early, right?

“I don't see him getting out of that Melbourne deal next season, and Melbourne have been quite definitive that they're gonna put an offer to Cam before November 1 to try and tie him down.

“But even still, is Matt Burton the guy that other players wanna play with?

“Is he a guy that can carry a side on his shoulder, cos this is what this team needs. They need someone that's gonna carry them on their shoulders, right?

“I don't think he's the right style of player.”

The Perth Bears currently have 21 players signed ahead of their first season.