Bears assistant coach lauds Perth's latest signings

Perth Bears assistant coach Ben Gardiner has heaped plenty of praise onto the club’s latest signings as the side gets closer to their NRL entry.

Over the week, the NRL’s 18th side has continued to build out its inaugural roster, officially adding five-eighth Jack Cole and hooker Tyson Smoothy to their top 30 list ahead of their 2027 start date.

Cole signed a three-year deal with the Bears, coming from the Penrith Panthers, where he played 18 games across four seasons, having been behind the likes of Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Blaze Talagi in the halves throughout his time at the club.

With plenty of versatility across multiple positions, the Samoa head coach believes the 23-year-old will add plenty of value to the squad given the amount of travel the club will have.

“Young Jack Cole from the Panthers was a great signing,” Gardiner said on SEN’s NRL Crunch Time.

“So (plays) halfback, five-eighth, also plays a number of other positions, plays in the outside backs as well, so brings a lot of value to the squad.

“We're sort of feeling in our first year; we do need that value in our squad because we're gonna be doing more travelling than any other NRL team ever has.

“So, making sure that we're conservative and looking after players around injuries and all of that recovery type mechanism.”

Having played with the Storm and Broncos in 46 games across four seasons, which included a premiership in 2025, Smoothy has spent this year over with Super League side Wakefield Trinity, who currently sit second on the ladder.

But with an ability to play as a lock as well as hooker, Gardiner is confident the 27-year-old will serve a need for the side.

“We also signed Tyson Smoothy, previously of the Broncos,” he continued.

“So, two guys from great clubs, and I know Tyson has gone to England, and he's had a stint over there, and now he's coming back.

“But he won the Grand Final last year with the Broncos, plays hooker, plays 13, so both roles we're looking for a guy that can ball players as a 13, but also do a really good job as a starting hooker.”

The Perth Bears have now officially signed 24 players to their roster ahead of their inaugural season, which begins in over six months' time.